A Marriage of Convenience by Aliyah Burke Read Free Book Online

us pleasure?”
     
    Reality washed over her, and she shoved him away.
    She jumped from the counter and headed for the door, only to be jerked back against Michael’s chest.
    “You can’t keep running.” He pressed her hand over his swollen erection. “This…this is what being around you does to me. I can smell your arousal. We belong together.” He put his coated fingers in his mouth and licked them clean. “You still taste like heaven.” He groaned even as he released her. “Soon, Ayanna. Very soon.”
    She bolted from the kitchen, her heart pounding like she’d just completed a marathon. I can’t believe I let that happen. Her body still felt electrified from the encounter as she ran upstairs. I was like a goddamn pole dancer and used his hand as the pole.
    In her room, she slumped against the cool wall and tried to sort out her feelings. How long could she truly fight her desire for this man? Sure, she was married to him, but he’d only done it for his son. “What am I doing? I can’t get involved with him. Can I? ” She shook her head violently. “No. No. No! I can’t.”
    Why not , her mind taunted.
    “This is just a business arrangement.” The throbbing between her legs told her she was wrong. Then he wouldn’t have insisted on getting married. He could have just put Devon on his health plan.
    “Fucking conscience,” she swore. “I don’t want to be involved with him. It’s better to protect myself now before he finds the woman he really wants to be with. It won’t hurt as much that way.”
    What was the interaction in the kitchen if he didn’t want you?
    “I better figure it out.” The wet panties she wore had her adding, “And fast.” As she changed, she began a mantra of ‘business relationship.’
    She was no fool. She’d sensed him watching her at night, while she put Devon down for bed. His eyes would grow all soft and tender until he met her gaze, then his killer eyes would turn possessive and damn near primal. Flames would lick her skin where his eyes touched her.
    Everyday he’d found more and more reasons to linger with each caress he gave her, be it when he took Devon from her, offered to help her clean, or just walked past her. He seemed to be shirtless a lot more, as well. And as soon as Devon went down for the night, Michael would invariably show up at her door to say goodnight.
    Every night, his wishes for a wonderful night’s sleep were echoed by contact. A touch which grew longer, more personal, and more heated every time it occurred. It had started as a stroke on the back of her hand, now he ran his fingers down the side of her face and along the back of her neck, before leaning in close and whispering in her ear. “Have a wonderful night, my wife. My beautiful Ayanna.”
    If she was awake when he left for work, he’d make sure to say something similar and leave her longing for more. For the life of her, she wanted to give in and see what it would be like to have a true relationship with him.
    Pasting a smile on her face, a calmer Ayanna opened her door and headed downstairs to finish their meal. Five minutes later, Michael strolled in with Devon who’d just woken. This time her smile was unforced.
    “Mama!” Devon said as he stomped across the floor and latched onto her leg.
    “Hey, baby.” One hand tenderly brushed the top of his head before she returned her attention to putting the final few items on the table. Even so, her eyes kept drifting back to Michael. His eyes were on her and they still blazed with unquenched thirst and a promise. A promise to finish what they’d started.
     
    Michael watched as she moved. Instinctively she seemed to know where Devon was and always managed to step around him. As they sat down for dinner, Devon played with his spaghetti, eating it one piece at a time.
    “Are you still free this afternoon or did you need to get more studying done?” Michael asked. His voice showed none of the ardour he felt for her. He realised he