THE CONTROL: An Arranged Marriage Romance by Elena Monroe (ebook reader android .txt) 📕

I toyed with the idea of telling him, pushing his buttons. Then I toyed with the idea of him not knowing at all until they showed up.

The blanket was barely draped around me, and the towel was basically acting like a sheet when he looked at me probably wondering why I was still naked beside him.

Tossing his legs over the edge of the bed, I debated sitting up, but I laid there longer letting him bask in how naked I was.

Of course he wasn’t looking.

Standing up stark naked with my hands on my hips, I was feeling especially pointed when I dropped the bomb I knew he missed. “Your mom arranged to have all your friends stay over so they wouldn’t get stuck in traffic.”

The look he gave me over his shoulder was priceless—worth it. “What did you say?”

“Guess we’ll have to share a bed again…”

Padding to my room, I casually found whatever I wanted to wear this time that could torture him. His mom was coming over, so I couldn’t be too on display even though she’s seen parts of me that mean more than some skin.

Shouting from across the hall, I heard him say, “You better be joking, Eve.”

I smiled to myself and contemplated why I enjoy making him so angry with me.

It was our friendship showing through the tension.

All of this felt so unreal; I was marrying my best friend this weekend. In a few days, I wouldn’t carry a name that doesn’t matter, I would be his.

Eve Leona Astor.

I would be born again into a new life, only this one was the one I had wanted all along.

Bowen made it a part of his demands to have the wedding at his house, which seemed oddly personal for someone who is a lockbox. I only knew because I eavesdrop like a pro.

A drunk Bowen was less quiet than normal.

Tying a robe around me, I settled on a ribbed cami and some soft shorts with my slippers.

Appropriate, sadly.

Bowen was standing in the hallway, apparently waiting for me. I practically danced my way over to the door to meet him, but his cold gaze stopped me in my tracks before he walked away.

Oh, good, sullen Bowen was back. I had the barely talking, made of stone, limited edition horseman.

Closing my eyes, I could still imagine his lips on mine. My fingertips touched my lips softly, rubbing whatever was left of him in like lip balm.

Now I knew what to expect on our wedding day. I was worried he’d kiss me, and I would turn the whole wedding into a funeral.

At least I would die happy.

Downstairs, I found Bowey with his phone on speaker while he threw veggies into a blender like he did every morning.

“Absolutely not. Is it a fucking wedding or a shootout? Handle the guys or I will.” Bowen pressed blend when Vic’s unmistakable voice spoke out of the phone.

Vic was laughing, understandably. “You know Jus will love this. The mystery solved, you in fact live in Calabasas and not a bat cave as a vampire.”

Demon. The devil, himself. Get it right.

The doorbell rang, a familiar sound, since I didn’t have a car or proof I even knew how to drive. All I did was feel hostage to his house and that resulted in me ordering everything.

Pulling the door open, I saw CeCe in all her glory holding garment bags. She was much younger than my own mother or at least looked it with her high, sleek pony and Versace print matching track suit.

Her heels looked like a weapon, and it suited her personality. She would kill you and get her clothes to the dry cleaner on time before the stains set in.

Wrapping her free arm around my neck, she pulled me into her. “Thank god, I can finally hug you. Your mom gave me Jeffrey Dahmer eyes at the negotiation.”

CeCe was never a fan of my mom or her antics, and I took solace in that.

Leaning into me more her, lips found my ear and whispered, “If you ever need me, I’m a call away, Evey.”

I could feel her remorse like it was her fault I was dragged to Denmark when I knew better. My blame was placed accurately and fiercely.

Pulling away only to let her in, she breezed by with her eyes wide like she had never been inside his home. It was making me wonder just how tall the walls were that he built and why they crumbled only for me. His mom should be important enough to skip the line.

My feelings were validated when he buzzed around the kitchen, ignoring his mom completely. Her eyes sunk into an empty stare like she needed to brace herself for the amount of affection that wasn’t coming her way when she greeted him. “Sweetie, how are you?”

She made no attempts to bridge the gap between them, and it made me question when he stopped being such a mama’s boy. He was practically surgically attached to his mom when we were younger, and his brother was always closer to their dad.

We all knew their relationship was unbreakable since he was grooming Braeden to take over his position in the Clave. Until I arrived in LA to find out that Bowen was now working for the Clave instead, in the place of his dead brother.

No wonder Bowen was cold and cruel, he didn’t even have a safe haven in his own mother.

“Bowen, your mom said hi,” I prompted him to say something in return when he brushed past me, his shoulder smoothing over mine in his quick getaway. He didn’t acknowledge his mom at all, and it hurt my heart.

Waiting for Bowen to be out of earshot, her hand clamped down over mine on