Poisonous Kiss: Chapter 8

I try to scream. But my throat closes from the shock of seeing him, and nothing comes out but a squeak.

What the fuck.

“What the fuck!” My mouth catches up a second after my brain screams it internally. I whirl, yanking a towel so hard that it rips its hook right out of the wall. I turn away, my entire face crimson as I wrap the towel around myself, feeling his eyes burning into my backside.

On the bruises still marring the skin there.

Bruises that he put there…

In an alternate reality, I’d be livid that my boss just walked in on me fresh out of the shower. Or, at least, panicked and horrified.

But then again, this is the same man who had me on my knees and under his complete command two nights ago.

The same man who did things to me I’ve only ever fantasized about. A man who shattered so many walls and hang-ups that I’m still getting up from the rubble and choking on the dust.

I wrap the towel tighter around my torso, hiding my bruised ass away. A shaky breath fills my lungs before I turn, still throbbing with heat as I meet his eyes.

I mean, it’s not like he hasn’t seen it before. But that was then, and there. In another world. A fantasy. Not the reality of my crappy little bathroom off my cruddy little bedroom in my crummy little apartment.

With my dad right down the fucking hall, no less.

“Your father is sleeping.”

I stiffen, my eyes snapping to his and my mouth making an O-shape.

What the fuck. Is he in my freaking head?!

“He…” I clear my throat. “He gets tired.”

I don’t mention the cancer. I don’t want or need Gabriel’s sympathy. From the hard look in his eyes, what I do have is his ire.

I mean, I did just kind of pull that whole fake wife rug out from under him.

I remember the looks on those people’s faces in the front rows of the auditorium. A focus group, for sure. And way in the back, shrouded in shadow, I could see Gabriel sitting there next to the bitchy blonde Meredith person and some other guy. And while I was up on that stage using every trick in my book to charm and wow the focus group, I could sense Gabriel’s eyes boring into me.

Igniting me.

Turning me to ash.

“So…”

“I think you can guess why I’m here.”

Fuck yes.

I resist the urge to scream or jump around, even though I know—I know—from his tone and his look that I got it.

I won.

My pulse races, elation exploding through my veins as I realize what this means for my dad and me. It means getting Takato and his goons off our backs and out of our lives.

But it also means I’m marrying Gabriel.

I swallow, the sobering thought quickly dampening down the freak-out threatening to explode from me in a scream.

“I…”

“You tested the highest,” Gabriel’s eyes narrow. “Though I’m sure that’s unsurprising to you, given your methods.”

“My methods?”

“Cheating is another word one could use.”

My lips purse. “I didn’t cheat. I just know you.”

“Watch your tone, Ms. Yamaguchi.”

“Am I in the office right now?”

“Thus attired? I would hope not.”

I simmer, wrapping the towel a little tighter around myself.

“I used the tools I had available to win.”

“Which I would find admirable if we were in court, not talking about my life,” Gabriel snaps back.

“It’s a fake marriage, right?”

His jaw ticks. “It’s a real marriage. The relationship it’s based on is, presumably, not.” He sighs. “Ms. Yamaguchi, my team says you’re it.”

“Is that why you’re here?”

He frowns. “That and the free show, apparently.”

My core clenches as his eyes drag over my towel. Then his gaze lifts to the bruises on my neck I’ve been hiding with high collars, and the ones on my cleavage and shoulders I’ve been hiding with concealer.

More bruises from him, I should add.

I shiver when I see the way his jaw clenches and his eyes narrow.

“I hope it goes without saying that your extra-curricular activities⁠—”

“I’m allowed to have a sex life, Mr. Black.”

“Mr. Black seems a bit formal for your fiancé,” he snarls. “And you know damn well what I mean. If we do this,” he says grimly, pointing at my neck, “that stops. Is that clear, Ms. Yamaguchi?”

“I thought it was fake⁠—”

“Don’t test me, Fumi,” he rumbles in a low tone that makes my breath suck in sharply. “You and I will announce tomorrow that we are, and have been, dating. There will be press, for which you will be prepped. Then, we’ll get married before my campaign starts.”

“How…” I clear my throat. “What am I supposed to tell people?”

He shrugs. “That we’ve been dating, and keeping it quiet due to⁠—”

“The negative connotations of me screwing the boss?”

Jesus Christ, my mouth sometimes. I cringe, trying to cover it with an awkward smile.

“I’d suggest not using that exact verbiage,” he growls. “But yes.”

“What about my dad?”

“What about him?”

I roll my eyes. “What am I supposed to tell him?”

“I trust you to figure that out yourself.” He frowns. “I’m entering the race late, but well-prepared, and well-financed. And I have…well, information on the incumbent…”

I stiffen, the smile dropping quickly from my face as I feel my shoulders curl inward, cocooning myself.

“Governor Hall is going to fall out of favor. We just need to be perfect on our end so that when he does, we’re the best second option for the voters. Now,” he says sternly, with authority, “we’ll begin your briefings⁠—”

“Let’s talk money.”

Gabriel huffs. “Straight to the point.”

“This is a business arrangement.”

He nods. “True. You’ll be paid four million⁠—”

“Five.”

Obviously, this has been on my mind. I know the deal is for four million. But four is not five, and five is what gets the Yakuza off my and Dad’s ass.

Gabriel levels a hard look at me. “Excuse me?”

“I want five million.”

“That’s a shame, because it’s four.”

I smile, shaking my head. “Four is for the bubblehead socialite who turns out to have a nasty cocaine habit. Four is for some movie starlet who won’t stop fucking her personal trainer after the wedding. Four is what you pay to come close in but not win the election.”

I pause, trying not to tremble at the frankly livid look on his face.

“I hope you don’t play poker, Mr. Black.”

“I hope you don’t either,” he snaps. “Given the smugness on your face right now.”

I swallow, smiling weakly at him. “My price is five.”

“That isn’t happening. I’m already offering you four million for me to essentially do you the favor of a lifetime, Fumi.”

My brows lift. “How so?”

“You’re a talented young attorney who’s about to marry a New York gubernatorial candidate who has a very good chance of winning. Do you have any idea what this will do for your career?”

“I know what it’ll do for your career. And I know it’ll cost five million. Take it or leave it, Mr. Black.”

Gabriel’s lips curl dangerously. “Are you sure you want to play this game with me?”

“Is that a threat as my boss?”

“No, it’s a threat as the man you really only know as your boss.”

That’s what you think.

The reality is no, I’m not so sure I do want to play this game with him. But I also don’t really have a choice. So I pretend I’m in court, facing down a jury who’s all but begging to get in my corner in the most important case of my career.

“Well?” I smile at him. “Do we have a deal or not, Mr. Black⁠—”

I gasp sharply as he surges into me like a beast going in for the kill. I jolt, my throat clamping shut as I hit the wall behind me and Gabriel looms over me with something feral in his eyes.

“Well?” I choke.

He draws in a slow, deep breath.

“Provided you’re willing to play exactly how I ask, and when, and where…”

He lowers his face to mine a little.

“Then yes, Ms. Yamaguchi. We have a fucking deal.”