Strong hands clamped around Ava's upper arms, steadying her against the muscular torso she'd collided into. Her senses were instantly assaulted by the intoxicating aroma of crisp, masculine cologne mingling with warm, suntanned skin.
She found herself staring up into a chiseled face framed by tousled golden-brown locks. The man's jawline could have been hewn from granite, his full lips twisted in a bemused smirk.
"You must be the new missus," he rumbled in a voice like velvet scotch. "Though neither Jackson nor I were expecting such an...ahem, informal greeting so early in the morning."
Ava jolted backward, nearly tripping over her ridiculous stripper heels in her haste to escape the handsome stranger's viselike grasp.
"I-I'm so sorry, I was just leaving and—"
That's when she noticed the expensive-looking suit and tie the man wore. And the gleaming silver streaks in his tousled hair. Definitely not an overnight guest.
Ava's gaze flicked over his broad shoulder, where the sprawling grounds of a vast, lush estate sprawled out before her. Stone fountains and hedgerow gardens surrounded an ornate driveway loop big enough to land a jet on. At its end sat an imposing wrought-iron gate flanked by brick walls overgrown with ivy.
She'd been so desperate to escape her new husband and his absurd mansion that she'd failed to consider the security nightmare involved in an actual jailbreak.
"I believe you're looking for the exit, my dear," the man cut into her thoughts with a twinkle in his eye. He swiveled and gestured to the circular driveway. "My apologies, you seem to have gotten a bit...turned around inside. Shall I summon a cab for you?"
There it was again - that infuriating yet charming assumption that she was just some random bimbo Jackson had smuggled into his palatial estate for a night of fun. But no matter what her situation was, there was no way in hell she was leaving through the front entrance like some cheap booty call.
"Actually, do me a favor and tell Jackson he needs to get off his tight ass and see me out the back way," Ava shot back, gritting her teeth. "Tell him his new wife has errands to run in town, and won't be disrespected like some sleazy Vegas hookup he can kick to the curb after the main event."
The man arched one silver brow. "Ah, I see the pup hasn't informed you about certain...upgrades to your relationship status." His assessing gaze roamed over her disheveled appearance without even a hint of judgment. "No matter, it seems you two have much to discuss. Say no more, Mrs. Reynolds - I'll ensure he comes to retrieve you promptly."
With a wry smile, the dapper gentleman turned on his heel and strode down the driveway toward what looked like a secondary staff residence on the estate grounds.
Fuming, Ava watched him go. Obviously this smug codger wasn't bright enough to spot her escape attempt for what it was, or take her seriously as Jackson's "wife." Though she still wasn't sure if that title was mere delusion on the billionaire jerk's part or some inconvenient legal truth.
All she knew was the pristine morning sunshine filling that vast, open driveway would have been the perfect opportunity to make a clean break for it. She couldn't risk being swarmed by security goons or worse - coming face to face with Jackson again. Not until she had her bearings and an exit strategy planned.
With a resigned sigh, Ava retreated back inside the chilly, cavernous house. She'd deal with the arrogant billionaire on her own terms and timing this time. Not as some flighty, scantily-clad fling from whom he could demand his twisted desires.
Back in the grand receiving room where the double staircase towered, Ava plopped her butt down on the velvet cushion of a high-backed settee. She'd simply wait right here for Jackson to strut his rippling, naked ass out and confront her like the entitled prick he was.
And then she was going to read him the riot act, loud and clear. If he truly thought Vegas vows gave him unlimited access to her body and obedience, he had another thing coming. There would be no consummating anything between them until—
"So you're the little wildcat who tamed my boy's heart at last."
Ava startled at the unexpected feminine voice drifting from the shadows near the massive fireplace hearth. She peered closer, and a statuesque, impeccably dressed woman emerged like a hardened panther from the dimness. Her angular, aristocratic features looked as if they'd been carved from fine marble - appearing both exquisite and slightly menacing at once.
"W-who are you?" Ava demanded, shrinking back against the luxurious divan.
"Don't be coy, my dear. I realize we weren't properly introduced last night at your...quaint little chapel, shall we say?"
The woman slinked closer, her musky floral perfume wreathing Ava as she sat perfectly poised on the opposite end of the settee.
"I'm Vivienne Reynolds," she purred, pinning Ava with a look of razor-sharp feminine intensity. "Jackson's mother. And you...well, you're the last filly this ranch daddy expected his stallion to lasso."
Ava blinked, struggling to process the verbal onslaught. Surely she'd misheard this woman claiming to be Jackson's own flesh and blood? There were few conceivable scenarios more alarming than being ambushed by her absurdly wealthy new mother-in-law fresh off a drunken Vegas mistake.
"Wait...so you actually know about me and Jackson...?"
Vivienne fixed her with an inscrutable look. "Of course I'm aware. Why else would I be inviting his new bride here to Estancia Vista at this ungodly hour?"
The implications rattled Ava to her core. So this massive estate did belong to Jackson's family rather than just the billionaire himself? And rather than dismissing their sham marriage, Vivienne seemed to have fully embraced it.
Which begged a terrifying question - just how committed was Jackson to keeping Ava bound to him? Enough to flaunt their sordid mistake before his high society parents?
As if reading her trepidation, Vivienne smiled thinly. "I imagine you're feeling quite overwhelmed right about now. Another sheltered little sparrow gulped down whole by my son's great big world."
She edged closer, till her piercing hazel eyes bored straight through Ava. "But make no mistake, all this - the trappings, the titles, my son himself - is no fantasy. This is the life you so rashly bargained for when you sold your future to Jackson Reynolds."
Vivienne's elegant hand captured Ava's bare fingers, giving them a motherly squeeze. "Best get used to it quickly if you hope to survive the rules of our family's stratosphere."
Ava stiffened, recoiling from the woman's presumptuous touch. She opened her mouth to spit furious protests about the ludicrous terms of her so-called "bargained future." About how she was a normal, minimum wage single mom who'd never set foot on a horse ranch in her life, let alone entertained marrying into one of America's richest dynasties.
But before she could speak, three sharp raps sounded on the room's threshold. Ava glanced up to see the dapper butler silhouetted in the arched entrance.
"Pardon me, Mrs. Reynolds. Mr. Jackson has requested your presence in the west drawing room at once." His clipped tone brooked no defiance.
Ava's pulse hammered, frantically weighing her options here. Let Jackson's officious butler drag her before the arrogant billionaire on his terms? Or seize control of this runaway train while she still could?
One look at the woman's imperious stare settled her resolve. There was no way in hell she was letting Jackson's snooty mother dictate the terms of their "marriage."
Rising, Ava smoothed the flimsy skirt of her cocktail dress and summoned every ounce of dignity. If Jackson expected kow-towed submission from his new "wife," he had another thing coming.
"You can tell Jackson I'll be speaking to him shortly," Ava announced in a tone as regal as her ratty appearance could
Here's the continuation of Episode 2 - The Billionaire's Demands, keeping the language very simple and the pace fast with cliffhangers:
Ava held up a hand, cutting off the butler's protest. "But not before I've had a chance to make myself presentable first. I won't be parading in front of Jackson like some drunken floozy fresh off the Strip."
She leveled a pointed look at Vivienne. "I'm sure you can appreciate the importance of proper etiquette when addressing one's new husband, Mrs. Reynolds."
The older woman's expression soured briefly before smoothing into an inscrutable mask. "Of course, my dear. Marcus will show you to a guest suite where you can freshen up at your leisure."
She waved a languid hand toward the butler. "Do send Jackson my apologies for the delay. We certainly wouldn't want to start this marriage off on the wrong foot with ill manners."
Ava bristled at the thinly-veiled condescension in Vivienne's tone. But she kept her chin high as the butler - Marcus - gestured for her to follow him up the curved main staircase.
With as much poise as her throbbing head could muster, Ava swept past Jackson's imposing mother. She wasn't going to be bullied and scrutinized by these hoity-toity people, no matter how grossly wealthy they were. Keeping her pride was the only way she'd survive being thrown into their glittering shark tank.
Marcus led her down a maze of hallways adorned with antique vases, gilded mirrors, and oil paintings of stern-faced men in military garb. Clearly Jackson's family had old money flowing through its veins.
Finally, they reached an arched oak door which the butler opened with a diffident sweep of his arm.
"These will be your accommodations for now, Mrs. Reynolds. I've instructed a maid to bring you proper attire, though I'm afraid we have no undergarments in your...precise measurements on hand."
His eyes politely raked over her skimpy dress in a way that made Ava's cheeks burn.
"That will be all," she dismissed him curtly, ducking into the lavishly-appointed guest room. At least here she could collect herself away from prying eyes.
Once alone, Ava took in her plush surroundings with a weary sigh. A towering four-post bed dominated the space, with heavy velvet drapes and antique mahogany furnishings. Out the broad windows, the estate's lush grounds and mossy fountains could be glimpsed through manicured treetops.
This whole scenario still felt like a bizarre dream. Just hours ago she'd been working a graveyard shift at the Denny's off the Strip, hoping to scrape together enough tips for Matty's new school clothes. How had one night of drunken stupidity transported her into this opulent, alien world of tycoon mansions and families?
She shook her head to clear the disorienting fog. First, she needed to make herself look as dignified as possible before facing that arrogant billionaire jackass Jackson again.
After locating the attached bathroom, Ava quickly stripped off her rumpled cocktail dress and stepped into a steaming shower. As the pounding water sluiced away her hangover funk, she tried to rehearse the scathing speech she'd unleash the minute she saw Jackson's smug, chiseled face again.
But despite her best efforts, Ava's thoughts kept slipping back to the positively indecent outline of his naked body beneath that flimsy robe. Those ripped, tanned abs tapering down to his deeply etched Adonis belt and powerful thighs...
She shut off the water with a frustrated groan. There was no denying Jackson Reynolds was the most stunningly gorgeous male specimen she'd ever laid eyes on. A gut-punch of pure masculinity, wealth, and virile physical perfection.
Yet his arrogance and naked attempts to dominate her made Ava's blood boil just as hotly as that glimpse of his glistening physique. How dare he sneer at her desperation to escape his lascivious clutches, as if she were property to be chastised? Just because some ditzy part of her subconscious had mistakenly wed the billionaire didn't give him license to sleep with or control her.
As Ava toweled off, she noticed a fluffy white robe and matching slippers had appeared on the sumptuous bed, along with a beige day dress suitable for the country club set. She slipped into the robe, already dreading having to garb herself in the snooty outfit despite her empty stomach's grumbling.
Looking marginally more presentable, Ava strode to the bedroom door and flung it open before her courage could falter...
...only to nearly slam headlong into the unyielding male torso looming inches beyond.
"Well, if it isn't my radiant new bride," Jackson's deep, sonorous voice rumbled with amusement. "I'd ask how your morning is going, but I can already smell your sweet floral body wash from here."
He leaned in, giving her a deliberate onceover that made Ava's nipples tighten beneath the plush robe. "And might I say, that innocent cream color makes your cheeks look utterly delicious when you blush."
Ava's mouth went dry as she craned her neck back, finding herself nearly chest-to-chest with the billionaire's hulking frame. His smoldering dark eyes bored into hers with undisguised desire scorching in their depths.
"Y-you have some nerve, barging in here while I'm barely dressed—" she managed.
"This is my home, wife." He cut her off, crowding her personal space in a way that made the guest room's boundaries shrink alarmingly. "I'll go wherever I please. And have whatever...or whomever...I desire."
His heated stare lingered on the plunging V of her robe's neckline. Suddenly Ava was hypersensitive to the way the terrycloth parted over her breasts, leaving her cleavage all too visible to her new husband's carnal perusal.
She sucked in a sharp breath, furious and bewildered by the arousal prickling through her at Jackson's proximity. This level of palpable alpha dominance shouldn't inflame her like this. Revolted by his imperious objectification of her, yes. But turned on?
Never.
Still, her body had other ideas as Jackson advanced another audacious step. She instinctively pressed her back to the door frame, trapping herself even as her brain commanded the opposite.
"If you think I'm just going to be another one of your eager little playthings you can—"
"This is no game, Ava."
Jackson's oiled baritone sliced through her bravado effortlessly. In a beat, his aggressive expression melted from undisguised lust into something far more menacing.
"Our marriage may have been an impulsive mistake, but it's legally binding all the same. And no matter how messy our...unconventional circumstances last night may have been, that doesn't change the terms I spelled out for you."
His tongue traced his full lower lip in a way that made Ava shiver despite herself. "You agreed to be my wife - in every sense of the word. Which means you'll submit to my authority...and my body."
His warm breath caressed her cheek, making her dizzy with his cologne's dark, virile essence.
"That smart mouth of yours spewed some deliriously hot vows about clawing my back to shreds while I pounded you into the mattress. Ring any bells, wifey?"
A rough finger trailed up Ava's inner thigh beneath her robe's hem. She froze, too stunned to break the heated spell of his dominance.
"It may have been drunken lunacy for you to agree to be possessed by a billionaire like me," he breathed against the hollow of her throat. "But those vows were no drunken joke for me. I always keep my all-in commitments...no matter how filthy they may be."
His finger inched higher, searing her flesh with the promise of dark, ravenous lust. Ava's pulse thundered in her ears, her starved body betraying her with its visceral surrender.
She needed to wrench free of this twisted animal magnetism before it consumed her entirely. But he was like a UV blast of masculinity searing away her willpower...
His mouth only a hairsbreadth from hers now, Ava rasped out one last plea.
"Don't do this. Please...you're not who I thought—"
His response was to seal their mouths together with searing, unbridled hunger. Fierce as a man laying claim
Jackson's mouth devoured Ava's with overwhelming possession. His large hands cupped her face, tilting her head to deepen their searing kiss. She could taste the sweet cinnamon of his tongue as it invaded her, stoking her body into feverish surrender.This wasn't some sloppy, drunken make-out at a dive bar. No, Jackson Reynolds kissed like a man who'd been starving for decades - ravenous for her, claiming her utterly as his own. The demanding flex of his sculpted lips and the prickle of his day-old stubble set every one of Ava's nerves alight.She knew this was so wrong - that she should be shoving him off with every ounce of strength. Calling for security, running as far from his ravenous clutches as possible. But instead, her fingers tangled into that thick, glossy hair as a helpless whimper escaped her lips.How could she possibly resist the earth-scorching passion of a billionaire alpha like Jackson? A man who had the world and everything in it at his feet, yet craved her specifica
Ava stood in stunned silence as the door swung shut behind Jackson and his staffer. Her fingers clutched the plush lapels of the robe he'd hastily wrapped around her, still bearing his imprint of scorching body heat.One minute, he'd been poised to undress and ravage her like a pagan savage staking claim. The next, every alpha instinct had pivoted toward defending his realm against some mysterious threat from this Harrison Drew person.She shivered, feeling whiplash from the tornado of lust and confusion currently upending her world. Part of her was deeply rattled at how easily Jackson could discard their intense intimacy to deal with mere business matters. But then, this was the same man who'd blatantly objectified and groped her minutes earlier, all while promising dark "punishments" with casual menace.Ava sank onto the edge of the towering bed, burying her face in her hands as unwanted tears pricked her eyes. Everything was spiraling so rapidly, shifting between harsh cruelty and
"What the hell are you doing here, Jackson?" Ava demanded, hastily ending the call with Matty and whirling to face her looming husband.His eyes flashed, jaw tightening. "We have an urgent situation. Harrison is waiting for us downstairs."Ava crossed her arms. "I'm not going anywhere with you until you tell me what's happening!"Jackson raked a hand through his hair, clearly agitated. "Suffice it to say, new information has come to light that affects both of us. We need to get our stories aligned before this meeting.""What kind of information?" Ava pressed. The look on his face made her stomach clench."The kind that could blow up my company and our little arrangement here," he bit out. "Harrison doesn't make unannounced visits unless it's serious."Ava's mind raced with possibilities as she followed Jackson out of the bedroom. His lawyer had dirt on their drunken wedding night...or her trashy background...or both. Panic rose in her throat.As they entered the opulent study, Harriso
Ava steeled herself as she entered the opulent bedroom suite that had become her gilded cage. She rifled through the racks of designer dresses and shoes, each worth more than she used to make in a month slinging hash."Wear something wifely," she muttered under her breath, echoing Jackson's directive. Did he expect her to play dress-up like some living doll?Her hand landed on a slinky red number with a plunging neckline. Ava's lips curved. If she had to put on a show, why not give the arrogant bastard an eyeful he wouldn't soon forget?She slipped into the dress, the silk caressing her curves like a lover's hands. A swipe of lipstick, a tousle of her mane, and she was armored for battle.Ava sauntered into the dining room, head high. Jackson was seated at the head of the long table, a king presiding over his domain. His eyes widened fractionally as he took in her appearance, a muscle ticking in his jaw."Wifely enough for you?" Ava purred as she slid into the chair beside him. She cr
"You clean up nice," Jackson murmured appreciatively as Ava descended the grand staircase.She fought the urge to tug at the hem of her dress, a scrap of crimson silk that clung to every curve. "Amazing what a designer label can do."Jackson's eyes gleamed as he took her arm, his touch searing through the thin fabric. "It's not the dress, Ava. It's you."Ava's heart stuttered at the compliment, but she brushed it off. Empty flattery, that's all it was. A means to an end.As they glided into the ballroom, the opulence took Ava's breath away. Crystal chandeliers cast a golden glow over the cream-and-gilt space, waiters wove through the crowd with trays of champagne, and a string quartet played softly in the corner.It was like stepping into a fairy tale...or a gilded cage."Mr. Reynolds! So glad you could make it." A silver-haired man in a tuxedo approached, his smile wide and polished. "And who is this stunning creature?"Jackson's hand tightened on Ava's waist. "Senator Bradshaw, allo
"Rise and shine, sleepyhead." Jackson's deep voice cut through the hazy tendrils of sleep, rousing Ava from her slumber.She blinked, disoriented, taking in the sumptuous bedroom that was still so foreign to her. And there, perched on the edge of the bed, was her temporary husband, looking far too put-together for this early hour."What time is it?" Ava croaked, pushing herself upright. The sheet pooled around her waist, and she suddenly realized she was wearing nothing but a flimsy silk camisole.Jackson's gaze dipped to her chest, lingering on the peaked outline of her nipples against the fabric. "Early. But we have a busy day ahead of us."Ava's sleep-fogged brain struggled to catch up. "We do?""Mmhmm. Starting with breakfast with the board of directors." He stood, buttoning his suit jacket. "I need my wife by my side, looking pretty and playing nice."Ava's stomach knotted. Another performance, another charade to keep up. She was so tired of pretending."Do I have to?" she blurte
"Ava, darling! You look absolutely stunning!"The effusive compliment startled Ava out of her brooding thoughts. She turned to see a stylish older woman gliding towards her, arms outstretched."I'm sorry, do I know you?" Ava asked, plastering on a polite smile."Oh, forgive me! I'm Evelyn, Jackson's mother." The woman air-kissed Ava's cheeks, enveloping her in a cloud of expensive perfume. "I've been dying to meet the woman who finally snagged my son!"Ava's smile felt frozen on her face. Jackson's mother. The one person who might see through their charade."It's so lovely to meet you, Evelyn. Jackson's told me so much about you." The lie tripped off her tongue with surprising ease.Evelyn trilled a laugh. "All good things, I hope! Now, let me look at you." She held Ava at arm's length, her gaze assessing. "Well, aren't you just a vision! No wonder Jackson's been hiding you away."Ava fought the urge to squirm under that penetrating stare. Did Evelyn suspect the truth? That their marr
"Ava, wake up. We need to talk."Ava groaned, burying her face in the pillow. She didn't want to talk to Jackson. She didn't want to talk to anyone. She just wanted to sleep and forget about this whole mess for a while.But Jackson was insistent. "Ava, come on. This is important."With a sigh, Ava rolled over, squinting up at him. He was already dressed, his hair damp from the shower. "What is it?"Jackson sat on the edge of the bed, his expression serious. "We've been invited to a weekend getaway. With the board of directors."Ava shot upright, suddenly wide awake. "What? Why?""It's a team-building thing. A chance for everyone to bond outside of the office." Jackson ran a hand through his hair, looking frustrated. "Normally, I'd make an excuse. But with everything that's going on with Veronica and Drexler..."He trailed off, but Ava understood. They needed to present a united front, to show that their marriage was rock solid. Even if it was all a lie.She sighed, pushing back the co