Chapter 18
Though society wasn’t as harsh en women as it had been in the past, in prominent families, repotation wat merything Grace had been de riched, and had anyone seen her like that, it would no douts hurve become the talk of Jadused.
Cole’s shim and trousers were sked with water splashes, yet he remained remarkably calm. A knowing smile tugged at the corner of his lips as he asked. “So, you really want to marry into
Grace‘ deny it. “No woman in all of
woods up the chance to marry into the Jennen tamil
“So, you agreed to Zane’s proposal simply because of his status?”
Cola’s piercing, gaze locked onto hers. Being a woman hepall, Grace could tell that Cole had some interest in her.
She wwware of his good looks, a body that other women ecled.
Aber all men we al catures, Even Zane, a man who had been with countless wown, had been charmed by her She didn’t believe that Codes truly indifferent to her.
He hand that had been eating on his chest loosened, and the relaxed, lewering into him. She moved a chake, sliding close to her, her breath warm agrist his skin.
She whispered “agreed to date Zane because of his status, but now, compared to him. I think you’d make a better marriage parter Cole, will you marry me?”
Herskem pressed against him, water dripping down her chin onto his neck, sending a chill through him
As she practically threw hersell into his armis, he chickled lightly “I’ve said before, I have plenty of options. It’s not that I have to marry you But Ms. Harper, businesswoman, you should that negotiations requler leverage ?
When he had insisted on taking responsibility earlier, Grace hadn’t realized how difficult he could be.
She
dead his mind hot his eyes were as deep as the ocean, Impossible to decipher. Sin was his piercing pare that seemed to pierce her soul
“As far as
you’re not faced in the Harper family. Your mother’s wedding gifts are with your stepmother, and the Langford family is too distant to offer you much support”
His words hit their mark, but his eyes wandered lazily over her drenched face, lingering on her beauty.
Other women’s beauty stade once their makeup wore off, but Grace had only applied a light touch. Without the cover of cosmetics, her natural, stunning features stood out even more. The dropletstalling from only highlighted her allure, leaving Cole almost less,
“So, Ms Harper, what do you think gives you the advantage, that makes me want to marry your
Grace wasn’t naive. If Cole had wanted a marriage alliance, he wouldn’t have waited until he was 33.1rlier Insistence on taking responsibility showed that he didn’t mind her background
A history, she knew it was because she had contity rejected him, putting him in an awkward position.
The men were all chauvinisi:, and Cole seemed determined to assert his dominance Grace leaned in, her fingers teasingly tracing his jawline.
Her volo, so and alluring, said, “Wasn’t that night satisfactory, Mr. Jensen?”
Over the years, many had been infatuated with her, but she had never used her body as leverage. But Cole was different, he had already had her.
Alterwards, Cole’s hand rested on her call. The coldness of her body contracted sharply with the heat of his palm. When he pressed against her, she shivered.
His fingers tealingly brushed aside the fabric against her skin, slowly moving up, like a snaks slithering along har smooth flesh-
Grace’s heart raced. She hadn’t expected him to be so forward.
When his hand neared her thigh, she grabbed his mischievous hand and panicked “Please, not here..”
They wer- tight by the shoe, and anyone passing by could sadly see them
With a word, Cole stood, bent down, and other into his arms, carrying her in the traditional wooden boat Inside, there was a small bed it seemed he had been resting there are The wooden bed fudnoching but a pin matress on it, making it a bit uncomfortable.
half–dreached, Cole leaned over her, his hands bracing on either side of her body. “Now that no one’s around, I’m curious—just how far are you willing to go to marry me, M. Harper? His gaze wasn’t filled with last. It was like sunlight hisden behind douds–unreadable.
Geminded Cole was so unpredictable. She had dealt with many people, but never anyone so tem
Even though her basso close, there was a desire or ungency in his eyes.
para no temperamenikų
Imutantly wrapped i Cartes decund tuin neck, just a tilt of her head away from kissing his lips.
Collined the didn’t want to do this, but the thought of his late mother and the years she had struggled in the business wald weighed heavily on
why, she clued her eyes. Nothing mattered more than power and influence. She needed this manage alliance with the jensen Landly.
Her Upe mdding Lashes fluttered. She leaned in, intending to kiss him, but just as the lips almost touched, his grip on her chin stopped her. Graor slowdy opened lær eyes and that lui pare, so close that she could see her uw.codedom tellected in his eyes
ach a meaningless question, il just anyone were good enough, she would’t have gone to such length deceive Zane anding him to
Finade, letaker attange for people to delay him
she replied calmily
Gigate filinked. “I not Zane, then de only suitable option lett is you, LVL INT
Tatlattes him, ale added, “I’ve heard you’re quite the sputanding man. Yourely the beat choice for a marriage alliance ”
that hoped beri flattery would satisfy him, in Code’s lips curled into a smile that was far from pleasant me mocking than pleaseil.
Thraldi consider this an honos?” he asked, lils valor dipping with sarvasm.
Grace grabbed hin sierer. Marwasiti
Winterested in playing genes anymar and decided to be straightaward. “Mr. Jensen, if you’ve bothered by what I said at the airport, tean apologize.” The gently brushed his finger arross her liga: “list Ms Banjer, an apology needs to hirer sincechy behindic”
inked, confused. “What do you mean by that F
“Takrull pun skathes,” he replied sinosililj
a’s fire flushed with embattainment. Even though the bear’s hull and the curtain after cover, the could not being herself to do what i twas asking.
- delicate lines of her face, his voler low and texting “What about your sincerity, Ms Harpe
cace hit her lip, her mind cacing as she weighed the consequences, Slowly, she reached for her collar, unbuttoning it one by one.
Throughout it all, Cole’s pare never left her, and the intensity of it made her feel utterly exposed, almost humiliated. Despite her drunken hare from earlier that night, she was completely
he senses sharp
mal drew slid to the floor, revealing the perfect curves of herb
“Mu. Harper, your figure is quite beautiful,” he said, his voice detached, as it commenting on an object
Amples expression flashed in his eyes, and between his teeth, he coldly muttered, “Everything. Take it off.”
