Imperfect Match (Elixir Bachelor Billionaires #1)

I’m quite familiar with this low menacing tone of Charles’, but until today, I never noticed how his eyes narrow, his lips twist, and above all, how his heart rises and falls like a raging storm, each beat echoing his turmoil. With his face inches away from mine and my hands resting over his warm bare chest, I experience the complete package of pissed-off Charles Hawthorne.

“You left for me?” I ask slowly, unable to believe it.

There’s a 99.9 percent chance that the board was ready to announce that they’d vote in his favor. How the heck could he walk away from something like that, when becoming the CEO has been his biggest dream?

He freaking married me for this, and now he left it all like it was nothing.

“How much of an asshole do you really think I am?” He grits his teeth.

But right now, he doesn’t look like an asshole. Sitting before me, he looks like a man pulled out of my every dream.

Caring. Loving. Protecting.

“We need to fix this, Charles.” I jump out of the bed, forgetting the scrapes on my knees, and a hiss escapes my lips.

“You need to sit down.”

He pulls me back, right against his chest. My lips brush the side of his neck.

The subtle foresty smell of his cologne and the feel of his prickling five o’clock shadow against my soft lips is enough to bloom heat in my stomach, spreading like wildfire across my skin. Everything about this moment feels unreal, including the man before me.

The way he’s looking at me, talking to me, caressing my arms for Christ’s sake—this version of Charles is almost like a familiar stranger who feels safe yet gives my heart those first meeting sparks.

But what curls my insides the most is the knowledge that he left something important…for me. I can’t just sit here and let everything Charles has worked for over the years go down the toilet.

“We need to find out what happened in the meeting. I’ll be damned if they don’t make you the CEO. I’ll threaten, beg, or kiss every board member if they don’t give you what you deserve.”

An amused grin takes over his face. I thought Charles Hawthorne had no facial muscles to smile, but right now, I’m thankful for the lack of it all these years. Because when those lips curl up, Charles is like my personalized wet dream.

“First, calm down. I’m going to call Grandma tomorrow morning. Second, I’ll remember about your threatening capabilities should the need arise. Other than that, you’re my wife. You don’t beg and kiss anyone.”

“Anyone?” I gulp.

Showing that killer grin once again, he grabs my hand so lightly that I almost want to die. Mindful of the gauze, he nods toward my diamond wedding band and the beloved daisy engagement ring.

“These give me the right to do some things that might involve begging and kissing. Don’t you think?”

I’m not prepared for the quick kiss he places on my lips, and it takes me a few seconds to calm down my breathing.

“I hope it’s on your part, because I’m not begging you, Charles A. Hawthorne.”

The smirk that lights up his face gives me the same feeling as if I’m sitting beside the fireplace in my parents’ home with a cup of hot cocoa on Christmas Eve. It’s personal and a prelude to the best happiness.

“I can’t wait to abolish these nonsense thoughts out of your mind, my dear wife.”

I’m just about floating in a fluffy pink cloud, which is probably what heaven feels like.

“For someone who hated the idea of marriage, don’t you think you like calling me that a tad too much?”

“Believe me, I’m equally surprised.”

The clock in his bedroom hits as the hour completes, and a cuckoo comes out. Last night, every time it did that, I almost jerked out of bed.

“Why do you have it in your bedroom? Doesn’t it disturb you repeatedly?”

I spot a familiar look of irritation on Charles’ face, the one I’ve seen numerous times whenever anyone tries to get a peek of his private life.

“I’m sorry. I—” I pause.