The CEO's Contractual Wife

Olivia

I lay in the darkness, acutely aware of his presence beside me. Despite the enormous bed, I could feel the heat radiating from his body. I shifted, trying to get comfortable.

“Can’t sleep?” his voice came through the darkness.

“Just adjusting,” I replied. “It’s a new bed.”

“And a new husband,” he added, a smile in his voice.

“That too.”

Would it help if I moved to one of the guest rooms?”

The offer surprised me. “No, that’s… It’s fine. We’re adults. We can share a bed.”

Just because we can doesn’t mean we should,” he said. “I meant what I said on the plane. I can be patient.”

rolled onto my side to face him, though I could barely make out his silhouette in the dark. “Why did you really bring me here, Alexander? The whole island to ourselves, this massive bedroom… it feels like you expected more than sleep.”

I hoped,” he admitted. “But I didn’t expect. There’s a difference.”

What exactly did you hope for?”

felt him shift closer, his voice dropping lower. “I hoped you might realize how compatible we could be. In all ways.”

My heart pounded as his hand found mine under the covers. “This is moving very fast.”

‘We’re already married,” he pointed out. “Hard to move faster than that.”

I laughed despite myself. “You know what I mean.”

His thumb traced circles on my palm, sending shivers up my arm. “I do. And I’ll respect whatever pace you set. But I won’t pretend I don’t want you.”

need time to adjust to all this. The wedding, the

adjusting remarkably well,” he said, squeezing my hand once before releasing it. “Get some sleep. Tomorrow we can

whispered, grateful

“For what?”

“Not pushing.”

rather than saw his smile. “I told you, I can be patient.

warmed me as I closed my

massive windows and the sound of waves crashing against the cliffs below. For

1/3

Chapter 90

I forgot where I was, the unfamiliar surroundings

I remembered: honeymoon. Island.

side of the bed empty, the sheets cool to the

the windows and gasped at the view. In daylight, the panorama was even more spectacular; endless blue ocean meeting an

and a t–shirt from the carefully stocked

shirtless in board shorts, drinking coffee while reviewing something on

voice warm

not to stare at his chest, the defined muscles catching the morning sunlight.

he said with a slight

‘God, yes. Please.”

a cup from the silver carafe on the

said, taking the cup and sitting in the chair beside him. The coffee was perfect, rich

his chair. “I told the chef to prepare a little of everything.

have a chef here?” I shouldn’t have been surprised. Of course, Alexander Carter would have a chef, even on

Miguel. He’s fantastic. Trained in Paris but specializes in incorporating local ingredients.” Alexander sipped his coffee. Wait until

white appeared at the terrace entrance. “Breakfast is served, Mr.

stood, offering me

as he led me to a different section