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.”

time to adjust to all this.

remarkably well,” he said, squeezing my hand once before releasing it.

I whispered, grateful

“For what?”

“Not pushing.”

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

compliment warmed me as I closed

through the massive windows and the sound of waves crashing

1/3

Chapter 90

was, the unfamiliar

remembered: honeymoon. Island.

turned to find his side of the bed empty, the

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

brushing my teeth, I changed into shorts and a

coffee while reviewing something on his tablet.

voice warm

tried not to stare at his chest, the defined muscles catching the morning sunlight. “Better than expected. The

said with a slight smirk, setting his tablet

‘God, yes. Please.”

from the silver carafe

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

be ready soon,” Alexander said, leaning back in his chair. “I told the chef

have been surprised. Of course, Alexander Carter would have a chef,

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

if on cue, a man in crisp white appeared at the terrace entrance. “Breakfast

stood, offering me his hand.

took it, feeling the warmth of his palm against mine as he led me to a different section of the terrace where an elaborate