KIMBERLY'S POV
I felt the needling evening air against my skin as Xavier leaned into me with his eyes fixed with aggression. I'd expected the heat of his temper but not his contempt and distaste.
“Explain,” he said, his voice low, even, dangerous. Why didn't you answer your phone? Why didn't you report where you were?”
I blinked up at him in surprise; his anger had stolen my breath for the moment.
It was a second before my indignation released my voice. "Report?" I echoed. "I wasn't aware I was supposed to account for my every…”
Xavier's face had turned to stone, his lips clamping together. "You're my wife, Kimberly. You don't just disappear-especially to a place like that."
I felt my irritation rise. "We are not a real couple, Xavier. This is a marriage of convenience, remember? We agreed to stay out of each other's way. So why would it matter where I go or what I do?”
Another step clos

XAVIER’S POV
"Darn it, Kimberly," I cursed at nobody, pounding the door of my penthouse behind me.
The echo of her words, her indifference and the way she looked at me as if my case was the case of any man who only wanted to have fun with her, snacking on my sanity. ‘A prostitute for you to sleep with at will.’ Words so different from a knife plunged into one's chest.
Amber liquid sloshed in the glass I now tried to steady while pouring a drink. I’ve handled billion-dollar mergers more calmly than i felt at the moment. Kimberly knew precisely how to unravel me.
‘This is not the way I wanted to spend my night.’
I growled to myself, pacing over the lounge: "She doesn't care, why should I?"
But the image of her-those feiry eyes, shaking lips, defiance-wouldn't leave me. My cell phone buzzed on the counter. I ignored it.
I needed a distraction-something to numb the sting she had left.
I rais

Kimberly's P.O.V.
Jane leaned in, her eyes wide with curiosity. "You're married to one of the most powerful, richest, and, let's be real, sexiest men in the city, and you're telling me this like it's nothing? Kimberly, spill everything. Right now."
"It's not what you think," I said-the exhaled breath of my resigned voice churning the wine in my glass, "It's just a contract marriage. One year and that's it.”
An eyebrow quirked its way up on Jane's face. "One year? That's it? You really expect me to believe that you'll just walk away from him without falling head over heels?" She raised an eyebrow. "Come on, Kim, have you seen the man?”
And there it was again, that picture that had plagued me all day long in a vain attempt at exorcism: Xavier, standing before me last night, his muscles taut, the outline of his. In an instant, I felt the rise of heat to my cheeks.
"Kimberly!" Jane waved her hand in front of my face. "Hello? Earth to Kim! Did you hear me?”
I shook my head furiously to clear such improper thoughts away. "I won't fall for him," I said, though my tone was not quite even.
Jane snorted, falling back in her chair with a knowing glint. "Sure, sure. You keep telling yourself that. But a man like him, how can you resist?”
I let out a deep sigh and leaned farther forward. "Because I know he has options. Women that far more qualified than me, for instance. He chose me for two reasons: one, he hates my family and wants to spite them, and two, I'm new to his world. I probably felt fresh and excited."
"Or," Jane said, one brow rising, "he saw something in you that's more than your ridiculous self-doubt.”
"Self Doubt?" I snorted. "It is the reality. I know on what level I stand. The last thing that would want to happen with me, though, is to fall for him and he just becomes bored and throws me away.”
She stared back, her expression unreadable, before yanking me into a tight hug. "You're so stupidly blind to your worth, Kim. But don't you worry, I'm here to snap you out of it. And if Xavier ever does anything to hurt you, I'll personally burn his empire to the ground."
I laughed, and the loyalty in her words warmed me. "Thanks, Jane, but I don't want his money or his pity. That's just why I was getting myself together-putting some heft into me and my career. At the end of this year, I won't be an easy mark for anyone."
Jane leaned back, an impish smile dancing on her lips. "Speaking about strength and confidence, there is only one thing you need to work on right now, and that's dancing. Let's hit the club. Come on."
*************
The club was loud, the music vibrated in my chest as Jane pulled me onto the dance floor. I had resisted at first, but after a glass of wine, or three, I gave in.
“This is it!" Jane yelled over the music, spinning me around. "Let loose, Kim! Forget the world!"
I laughed and let my guard down for the first time in weeks, finally letting go of everything that troubled me.
That was short-lived. The touch to my waist was so close it didn't seem decent. A man, his leer-like grin sent a chill through my very pores as he turned.
“Hey, beautiful," he slurred, stooping. "Want to dance?"
"No, thank you," I concluded, averting my gaze.
"Ah, come on, don't play coy," he said, his hand reaching out for my arm.
Without having to do anything, Jane insinuated herself between us and glared at him. "Leave her alone, perv, she said no."
He flung his hands up in a mock surrender but never lost the smirk. "Alright, alright. No need to get feisty.”
It was one step backward before another sleazeball emerged from the back of the bunch, gutsier than the others, it seemed, jammed his way against me in attempting to pass by.
"Leave her alone!" at once shouted Jane with a shove.
"Oh, calm down, baby," he sneered, "we're just having some fun here."
Before I'd even opened my mouth, an inordinately strong, familiar hand yanked my arm out from the mess.
XAVIER’S POV
My assistant droned on about profit margins and quarterly forecasts, but I wasn't listening. It was 9:15 p.m. Kimberly was supposed to be back early, and I hadn't heard from her.
I shifted uncomfortably in my seat and feigned interest.
"Sir, is something wrong with the report?" my assistant ventured, nervous.
"No," I said shortly, rose and grabbed my coat. "We'll conclude this later."
"Later?" he echoed in a tone of remonstrance. "But—
Then his eyes went wide in surprise. "Leaving? Now?"
"Yes." I stared deadpan. "I have to see my wife."
His face was a picture, had the circumstances been less serious. Scenes of Kimberly just would not leave my head as I walked out.
I dialed her number the minute I was inside the car. Automatically, the image leaped in my brain from last night-how she parted her lips, soft skin going hard in an instant. I shook the thoughts away.
She didn't answer.
Frowning, I dialed again. Still nothing.
"Where the hell is she?" I growled as my temper flared up.
"Find out where Kimberly is," I growled into the phone with my assistant. Minutes later, I had my answer: she was at a bar.
The more I thought of her being surrounded by some drunk guys, her beauty just begging to be noticed, my anger boiled.
It was worse than I thought: dark lights, pounding music; then those two men bothered her.
I pushed my way forward, my eyes glued on Kimberly. One even had the audacity to touch her-to lay his hand on her waist and not take it off right away.
That did it.
I reached out and grabbed her arm, hauling her close. Firm yet gentle.
"Kimberly," I growled. "We leave. Now."
She stared up at me, apparently taken aback. "Xavier? What's wrong-"
“Not here,” I snarled, cutting her off.
We were outside the club, and I never turned in their direction again. They weren't worth my time-thought wordlessly I promised myself that I'd get to them later.
Outside I whirled on Kimberly, anger not quite contained.
"What the hell were you thinking?" I asked her.

KIMBERLY'S POV
I felt the needling evening air against my skin as Xavier leaned into me with his eyes fixed with aggression. I'd expected the heat of his temper but not his contempt and distaste.
“Explain,” he said, his voice low, even, dangerous. Why didn't you answer your phone? Why didn't you report where you were?”
I blinked up at him in surprise; his anger had stolen my breath for the moment.
It was a second before my indignation released my voice. "Report?" I echoed. "I wasn't aware I was supposed to account for my every…”
Xavier's face had turned to stone, his lips clamping together. "You're my wife, Kimberly. You don't just disappear-especially to a place like that."
I felt my irritation rise. "We are not a real couple, Xavier. This is a marriage of convenience, remember? We agreed to stay out of each other's way. So why would it matter where I go or what I do?”
Another step closer and instinctively, I went a step back, the racing of my heart loud in my chest. His voice came ev

Chapter 10