Save the Date (Modern Arrangements, #1)

Moving fast, I was out the door and at the elevator before she could take a step inside it. Acting on pure instinct, angered at the thought of her with another man, I grabbed her arm and swung her around.

Once facing me with her eyes widened in shock, I had no idea what I was going to say to stop her from going to meet that…guy. I did the first thing that came to mind the moment my hands touched her. I pressed my lips to hers, firmly.

The feeling intensified and I slid my tongue against her lips. Her mouth started to part. Then pain shot across my bottom lip, Lilli’s teeth clenched down on it, painfully.

"Christ! Shit! Ow!" My hand flew to my lip, eyes squeezed tight. "What the fuck, Lilli?" Shouting, I scowled at her.

"Me? What the fuck do you think you’re doing?" She shouted back.

"We’re engaged," I shrugged. "You are committed to me. We have an agreement." I pulled my hand from my lip, red dotting my finger. "You drew blood!" I glared at her.

"You touched me without my permission, asshole!" She crossed her arms over her chest and glared more. "Have you ever heard of personal space?"

Pointing my finger at her, "We have an agreement, an arrangement, and I won’t let it be screwed up!" Grabbing her arm, I pulled her back to my wide open apartment door.

"Let go of me!" She slapped my arm. "You don’t own me, Iverson!"

"Just stop," I snarled, pulling her through the door, shutting it behind me.

"Move," she shouted.

I stood with my arms over my chest.

"You’re insane, you know that. I don’t want anything to do with this." She sneered.

"Too damned late, you already signed the agreement," I smirked. "Now, what do you want to eat. I’ll have whatever you want delivered." I stalked to the phone.

"I want to leave." She headed toward the door.

Quickly, I jumped to stand in front of her.

"I don’t think so, fiancée." I stressed her new label.

She punched me in the stomach. The wind rush out of my body and I gasped for air. Hunched over in pain, she yelled.

“You’re a complete selfish, spoiled asshole!" She stomped up the stairs, disappearing into her room with a slam of the door.

Catching my breath, I stalked up the stairs and burst through her door.

"What the hell! You have seriously never heard of privacy, have you?" she screamed.

"I can’t believe you hit me!"

It was her turn to smirk. "Don’t treat me like I belong to you because, no matter what I agreed to, I am not a possession!" She moved to stand directly in front of me.

I scowled down at her.

"Don’t give me that look! You deserved everything you got, jerk. Now get out of my room!" She shoved my chest.

"No," I growled. "Not until you understand that there will be no outside arrangements with other men." Planting my feet, I refused to leave.

"Fine Aidan, what the fuck ever." Then she added "But the moment you run to some other woman or give in to someone’s interest, then it is fair game for me! What you can do, I get to do too." She smiled in her own victory.

"That’s fine." I smiled large. "My wife will be all I’ll need." Wrapping my arms around her waist, she growled and shoved me away.

"Oh, I don’t think so. You and your hand will have plenty of alone time." She smiled. "I’ll even make sure to get extra lotion when I fetch the groceries, dear hubby," she grinned with malice. "Unless you prefer lube?" She titled her head in an innocent manor before she batted her eyelashes.

"I think you forget that we will be having a child together, dear wife," I reminded. "That will involve physical interaction." I mimicked her head tilt and batting of eyes.

"Hmmm…well I think that is where invitro fertilization comes to play," she smiled.

"Hmm, but we have to consummate the marriage, my love, so trust me that once I make you scream my name, you will be begging for it again and again." I stepped closer. Arousal began to urge me on.

She took a step back, made a face like she was going to throw up. I furrowed my brow.

"Oh God, I’m going to be sick. Does that really work on women? Is that your pick up line?" Lilli’s fake illness turned to mirth.

"I only speak the truth," I shrugged. "Plus, I don’t have to pick any women up now that I’ll be married." Smiling, I walked out of her room.

Leaving her to cool off, I went back downstairs. In the kitchen, I pulled one of the menus out of a drawer and placed a delivery order. The local restaurant didn’t deliver but I had ways to convince people to do what I wanted.

Hoping the forty-five minutes apart calmed her down enough, so we could talk this out, I went upstairs to tell Lilli dinner arrived.

Turning the knob of her closed door, I found it locked. Huffing, I knocked a little too hard.

"What?" Her voice carried through the door.

"I ordered some food," I yelled at the closed door. "Open the door."

"No thanks," she shouted.

I sighed and ran my hand through my hair.

"Lilli, please open the door." I stood waiting. When it didn’t seem she was going to open up, I turned to go downstairs. Then the door opened. I spun back around.

"Hey," I said.

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