Secret Billionaire’s Contract Bride: Marrying My Enemy’s Lover

Chapter 17

When consciousness returned to me, I was alone. The bed was empty except for me. My clothes were still thrown all over the floor. I clutched the blanket to my chest, covering my bare body as I sat up in bed.

It took a minute until I realized where I was and what exactly had happened. Once I did, I fell back into the pillows with a big oof. I was still in disbelief over what happened.

My arms were covered in red marks, and I was sure the rest of my body was much the same.

His voice still rang in my ears, my name the last thing I heard as he repeated it over and over before I finally fell into an exhausted sleep.

I felt like I had been run over by a truck; there was not a single part of me that wasn’t bruised or aching. I glanced at the clock on the nightstand. It was already well past noon.

I was lucky I had the day off today. I was going to need time to recover.

It took me a while to muster up the strength and energy to get out of bed, take a shower, and peel my clothes off the floor.

Once I was dressed, I headed into the kitchen, my stomach rumbling for sustenance. But it turned out, I didn’t need to.

On the counter sat a simple black mug and three pancakes in an even row on a plate. Butter and syrup had been left out. The apartment was strangely quiet.

I frowned, gazing around the empty apartment in case Damon suddenly showed up to claim the food. With a shrug, I approached, squeezing onto one of the kitchen barstools. There was a note left to the right of the food, and I read it as I took a sip of my cooled coffee.

‘Addie,

I made breakfast and coffee. Have as much as you want. I had to leave on a business trip for a week and a half, but I’ll be back in time to have our wedding. We’ll need to have some kind of ceremony if we want the press to stop being so nosy. Sorry for leaving without telling you, but you were too cute to wake up.

Chapter 17 -Damon’

I nearly choked on my coffee, my face burning bright red at the last words. Cute? Me?

I crumpled the note in my hand and dropped it to the side. I glanced at the pancakes. Topped with strawberries and a dollop of whipped cream.

He really knew me too well. And he thought I was cute. How long had he thought that?

I wasn’t really sure how to feel about everything that had happened. Last night was… impulsive.

Most of it was a blur once I had shut my brain off. All I could remember was the feelings.

It wasn’t bad, though. I thought blushing as I drank the rest of my coffee. Damon knew what he was doing, and while I felt exhausted, I also felt extremely satisfied.

force myself to stop thinking and sighed, rinsing off the plate and

still-full pot when I spotted. something large and dark moving in the corner of

in my hand at the figure as if that would stop an intruder. The man screamed as soon as I did and somehow caught the mug in his hand with barely a

screamed, rounding on the man as

protect me.

his hands in defense, the cup still clutched

hands. held up in surrender. The man before me did not look like

Rocky. He looked like he’d just stepped out of a sci-fi movie, a comic book,

Chapter 17

friend, what are you doing here?”

like he was trying not to spook me. I appreciated it, but

ex-marine.” Peter explained, slowly. “Damon sent me to watch over you while he’s gone. To make sure you’re safe. I didn’t think you’d be up yet.

Peter was still very much a stranger as I set down the coffee

at me, thinking I’d be happy about the news

I was not.

grabbed the basket of oranges sitting on the counter and threw them at him, one

kicked puppy as he followed me around

was ready to leave the house, but Peter didn’t seem to

appearance, especially since he was dressed in a black suit with black sunglasses, looking like a

home, you know,” I grumbled,

casino.

the P, still grinning like a mad fool. “Damon would kill me if I left

outside, however, I heard the click of a camera. I whirled my head around looking for the source of the

in the bushes was all I saw before

Chapter 17

arm and pulled me back into the casino, blocking me behind his huge body. I huffed but

take the backdoor,” Peter said, seriously.

I protested as he ushered me through

pick it up later. I’m taking you back to your house so you can pack,” Peter told me,

bewilderedly but Peter was a master of his craft. His

as he led me through the gardens. I didn’t

staying in the penthouse?” I asked, still not following the logic. My brain was still trying

opened the door to the car for me.

any hint of sunshine, seeming dark and depressing without it.

I realized his sunny disposition

above the speed limit and taking turns at 50 mph. Enough that I kept sliding