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.”

to all this. The wedding, the contract, being Mrs.

before releasing it. “Get some

I whispered, grateful

“For what?”

“Not pushing.”

smile. “I told you, I can be patient. Especially when the

me as I closed

sunlight streaming through the massive windows and the sound of waves crashing against the cliffs

1/3

Chapter 90

where I was, the

remembered: honeymoon.

side of the bed empty, the sheets cool to the

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

and brushing my teeth, I changed into shorts and a t–shirt from the carefully stocked closet and went

terrace, shirtless in board shorts, drinking coffee while reviewing something on his tablet. He looked up as I approached, his eyes

his voice warm and inviting.

to stare at his chest, the defined muscles catching the morning

Carter,” he said with a slight smirk,

‘God, yes. Please.”

from the silver carafe on the

sitting in the chair beside him. The coffee was perfect, rich and smooth without being

the chef to prepare a little of everything. Wasn’t sure

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

ingredients.” Alexander sipped his coffee. Wait until you try his coconut

cue, a man in crisp white appeared at the terrace entrance. “Breakfast is served, Mr.

offering me his

of his palm against mine as he led me to a different section of the terrace where an