Chapter Twelve.

"No diamonds," Lara insisted as Connor drew her toward a large jeweler at the mall. It had a reputation as one of the higher-end retailers. There were a few other stores that catered to her budget, but he'd already dismissed that suggestion.

"If you want people to believe our marriage is real, you need a diamond," Connor insisted.

They entered the store, and were immediately greeted by a male clerk. "Is there anything I can show you?"

"Wedding rings," Connor said.

"Sets or just bands?"

"Sets," he replied.

The man smiled. "Right this way."

They followed him across the carpeted floor to a series of long gla.s.s cabinets.

"What kind of diamond are you looking for?"

Connor shrugged. "A big one."

"Any special shape?"

"Lara?"

She shook her head.

"Oval," he said, as if it were the first shape that came to mind.

The man nodded and went behind a counter.

Connor started to walk after him, but she put her hand on his forearm and squeezed. "Stop. Would you listen to me, please? I don't even wear jewelry."

"I imagine a lot of women say the same thing before they get a wedding ring."

"A ring, yes. I agree that I need a ring. It doesn't need to have diamonds and I certainly don't need a big-a.s.s diamond."

"A big-a.s.s oval diamond," he corrected.

She exhaled a ragged breath. "Connor, please."

"It's an investment."

"In a two-year marriage?" she countered. "Let's be serious. You're talking about a serious waste of money."

"Are you going to give me a cost-per-wear a.n.a.lysis?"

She saw a smile tugging at the corner of his lips. And it made it impossible to be mad at him. "I think you're making fun of me."

The clerk waited, a wad of keys in hand.

"We'll disappoint him if we don't at least look," Connor said.

"And be keeping him from making a commission from someone who may actually want to make a purchase."

"Humor me."

Which meant the argument was over. Just like the numerous others that had come up in the last forty-eight hours. What time to go to bed, the fact he insisted she take a bath to relax at the end of the day, the way he got her up in the morning to hit the treadmill while he rowed. He was right about the need to take care of herself, and about the benefits of them talking while she soaked in the tub.

Their nightly discussions helped keep her more focused at work the next day. He provided helpful suggestions when she wanted them, kept his mouth shut when she didn't want them. Impressively, he seemed to know the difference.

But that didn't mean she wouldn't rather have a gla.s.s of wine, eat a big hunk of chocolate for dinner, sleep in then drag through the day with no energy.

Connor pointed out a couple of rings and the man pulled out the first. He polished it with a cloth, then offered it to her. Connor intercepted it. "Is the other one bigger?"

"Slightly," the man said.

"We'd rather see that." He gave the ring back.

It was a good thing the marriage was temporary. There were parts of his high-handed antics that wore her down.

With a gracious smile that said he was happy to wait on them all night if necessary, the man took out the other ring, polished it and offered it to Lara.

This time, she accepted it.

She slipped the ring on, and the diamond caught her breath. Light seemed to explode from it, and as she moved her hand, it winked. It was so simple and elegant that she couldn't help but stare.

"It suits you," Connor said. "I can see you wearing this to work or with a certain black dress when we go to dinner."

No matter what she did, she couldn't look away.

He was right. It was her style-understated, timeless.

But she was also right. It was a terrible use of his financial resources. Even though she couldn't look away, she said, "A simple band is sufficient."

"And my wife will not wear something that's merely sufficient."

His implacable tones broke through her reverie and she took off the ring and handed it back to the clerk. Obviously sensing a conflict, the man locked the case and moved away to give them some privacy.

"Connor, will you listen to me?"

"I promise I've taken your objections into consideration."

"Is this the part where you act like the big bad Dom?"

"I a.s.sure you, Lara, this is no act." He signaled for the clerk to return. "We need it by noon tomorrow. Can you have it ready by then?"

"Of course, sir." He excused himself and went to fetch the sizer.

Still steaming, she tried on two different rings before they found the right fit.

As the man slipped it into a box, she couldn't help a last glance at it.

"This comes with a wedding band, right?" Connor asked.

"Matching," the man a.s.sured him.

"And is there a man's ring?"

"One is available, certainly, sir."

The man was a mad shopper. She'd wanted a simple band, and he was buying everything available. "Is that included in that outrageous price?"

"Lara," Connor warned her.

She watched while Connor tried on the matching platinum band, and the sight of it took her aback. Somehow, when she'd been dazzled by the diamond then disagreeing with him over the budget, the reality of them getting married tomorrow had been pushed to the back of her mind.

It was moments like this that brought it to the front and stole her breath, reminding her of reality and its ball of lies.

Despite her resolve to treat their relationship as nothing more than a business arrangement, Lara's feelings were becoming more and more complex.

Sleeping with him, talking, brainstorming, strategizing, walking to the bakery for treats on Sunday morning and their fun sparring...all of that was what she wanted in a marriage. Until she'd met him, the idea of D/s had been foreign. She'd wanted some kinkier s.e.x, but the world he'd introduced her to was one she found seductive. Now that she'd had the experience, she couldn't imagine wanting anything else.

"Lara?"

The sight of the ring on his hand made her feel as if a fist were squeezing her heart. She realized she'd lost the battle. She wasn't just starting to fall in love with him, she was all the way in the deep end without a life preserver. As if she were drowning, she couldn't breathe.

She wasn't sure what his question was, so she replied noncommittally. "It looks fine." Lara forced herself to smile, using the opportunity to look away and to regroup. She wondered where she was going to find the strength to go through with this.

Desperately, she wished there was another way...a chance for her to get out now, before the future devastated her.

Connor told the man to ring up the purchase, and she took the opportunity to escape. She left the store and waited for him on a nearby bench.

It took him a full ten minutes to complete the purchase.

"Everything okay?" he asked, sitting next to her.

This was neither the time nor the place to discuss her thoughts. He'd likely tell her she was just having the jitters, and maybe she was. She'd turn to him. He'd comfort her. And she'd be even more in love. "Fine." She lied to save her sanity.

"Is it the money?"

"It's..." She grabbed the excuse he was offering. "Eighteen dollars and fifty-seven cents," she said.

He frowned.

"That's the cost per wear. Without tax. I figure the tax adds another dollar, give or take."

"Give or take," he agreed. "And worth every penny. It really is beautiful on you."

It was. A beautiful sham that threatened to leave her heart in pieces.

"Is that what you're getting married in?" he asked, sweeping his gaze over her.

Heat simmered in his steely gray eyes, and she felt a corresponding pulse deep inside her. Her future husband, her Dom, always showed his appreciation. And tension constantly seemed to hover on a slow boil between them. "No. I figured I'd change after lunch."

"I'll pick you up around two?"

"I'll be ready." Physically, anyway.

Since he wasn't quite ready to leave, she asked if April could give her a ride.

"Absolutely. But if you think you're getting out of the house without saying goodbye, you're mistaken."

As always, when his tone was tinged with a slight edge of danger, she began to moisten.

"Yeah," he said.

Without him issuing a command, she went to him. He sat on a chair and parted his legs, and she stood between them.

"Lift your skirt."

She exhaled deeply and did as he instructed.

Through the sc.r.a.p of her panties, he mouthed her. Suddenly off balance, she reached for him, grabbing handfuls of his workout shirt. "Oh, Sir." No matter what was on her mind, his brand of sensuality distracted her.

He thumbed aside the silk and swirled his tongue over her c.l.i.t. "That's it, little Lara. Give me your o.r.g.a.s.m."

She moved her hips, offering him more of her p.u.s.s.y. s.e.xually, she held nothing back from him.

He slipped a finger inside her and crooked it so that he touched her G-spot.

A hundred pinp.r.i.c.ks of light exploded behind her eyelids and her knees weakened as the unexpected force of the o.r.g.a.s.m rocked her.

"Now that's a good morning kiss," he said.

After she'd steadied herself, she leaned down and kissed his mouth, tasting her own pa.s.sion. Everything about him was erotic.

He set her away from him, then stood and walked her to the door. "See you soon," he said.

She paused for a moment, and they looked at each other. "Connor, I..." The words, the confession were right there, between them. And she couldn't speak them even though he waited for her to go on. Instead, she picked up the garment bag she'd hung from the coatrack.

Thankfully, April refrained from chit-chat, and Lara checked email on the ride. One of the board members, Mary, had asked for more information about Connor's communications proposal, and she'd copied Pernell also.