"Anne? You okay?" Ryan asked as I held Jackson's stare-stare that told me he was just as surprised to see me as I was to see him.

How the hell did this happen? Jackson was British. He had a different last name. Brothers? My head was spinning as I replayed the previous night in my mind...in vivid detail. I couldn't stop hearing the sound of that thick British accent whispering in my ear-commanding me to do what he said. Even now I could feel his hands on my body. Christ...Just remembering the feeling of him thrusting deep inside of me nearly had me moaning.

The expression on Jackson's face told me he knew exactly what I was thinking about. His expression also gave me the impression that he was very interested in repeating the events of last night.

He stuck out his hand and offered it to me. "It's nice to meet you," he said with a knowing smile.

God, why did he have to be so fucking good-looking? His smile alone was a panty-dropper. "You, too." I looked from Ryan to Jackson. "So, brothers? I'm surprised we haven't met already."

Well, we did. Vigorously.

Ryan laughed. "Well, we've been estranged. He grew up in London. It's a long story." Ryan glanced to the front door as someone walked in. "You guys talk," he said to me and Jackson, "some new people are here."

After Ryan left, Jackson looked at me and I turned and started to walk away. I needed to be anywhere else right now. Perhaps in another city or state. Maybe another planet. Venus is habitable, right?

The sound of heavy footsteps behind me indicated he had followed. Even without the sound of his footsteps, my body seemed to know whenever he was near.

Once he caught up to me, he reached for my hand and stopped me in my tracks. "So, Anne, is it?"

Don't let him affect you, I reminded myself. "Anne is my middle name. I don't know why Ryan calls me that. I hate it." Ryan does a lot of things I hate and that's why I'm so trapped in this relationship. If it weren't for the sake of our parents, I wouldn't be in this situation.

"Good. I definitely prefer princess," he replied in a throaty voice.

A shiver went down my spine at the nickname. Change the subject, Harper. "What about you? Jackson Reese. Is that your real name?"

"Yes. Jay is a nickname."

"And you grew up in London?" God, was this an interrogation?

Jackson took one of the flutes of champagne the waiter offered him before he answered me. "We're half-brothers. Same father, different mothers. My mom gave me her last name."

I remained quiet for a few seconds. I couldn't stop staring at his face, trying to make sense of this new information. I was completely overwhelmed. I was overwhelmed by this arranged marriage. I was overwhelmed by the fact that I broke a big rule last night. Unknowingly, but still. And also, I was very overwhelmed by Jackson Reese.

"Listen," I said, trying not to look at him, "can we just pretend last night didn't happen? I don't know you and you don't know me." I meant it, even though I wanted nothing more than to get to know him. The way he handled my body last night was engraved in my mind. Ryan could never make me feel that way or make me come as many times as Jackson had. After witnessing what he was capable of, I didn't think anyone could.

A low chuckle escaped him. "Oh, princess. On the contrary. I got to know you very well last night. More than once if memory serves."

Oh, God. Unfortunately, he was right. My body heated and my hands started to shake. Our night of passion went well into the early morning. I remembered clearly what happened after the first tryst. I told him I wanted more. I basically begged him for it. He started kissing his was down my body, and he reminded me about my "one night" rule. What did I say to that? The sun isn't up yet. And hen we had mind-blowing sex until sunrise. But I refused to allow myself to think about that. Well, I was going to try not to. "Look-"

"Jay?" Ryan called from inside the large house. He spotted us talking and Ryan waved him over. "Come here, I want to show you something."

Jackson looked back at me, his eyes lingering on the way my dress hugged my skin. "This talk isn't over, princess."

I watched him leave and tried to ignore the sudden wave of desire that enveloped me. He went inside the house with Ryan and I headed over to the open bar. "Vodka-soda, please. Hold the soda."

I sat at the bar and waited while the bartender made my drink. How could this have happened? The rules of my personal arrangement with Ryan were simple. Then again, how was I supposed to know that a British man with a different name would be related to my husband-to-be? I still wasn't sure how I felt about all this. Not the wedding stuff; I was still completely against that. But...Jackson Reese. That man made me feel things I didn't know were possible. Seeing him today, even with the shock, made me want him all over again. But that would be breaking another rule, wouldn't it? I was almost certain I was going to see him often, which wasn't going to make matters any better.

"Hey, sweetie."

My mom came to stand beside me. She had been acting extra motherly towards me lately. It was her attempt to get me to forgive her-something I didn't think I would ever be able to do. She didn't seem to understand what she was taking away from me. She was taking away my choice of who I want to spend my life with. She was taking away my choice of how I want to live my own life. When it came down to it, she was taking away my free will.

"Hey, Mom."

She smiled and looked around the party. "This was a lovely turnout, wasn't it?"

I scoffed and grabbed my drink when the bartender set it down. "Yeah. It's nice to have all these strangers here under false pretenses."

"Harper, please behave. You know what's at stake."

Not my happiness, that's for sure.

"Yes, I do. And I'm here shaking hands and acting like I'm the happy-in-love fiancée. Isn't that enough?"

I didn't mean to be a bitch to my mother, but I couldn't seem to help myself. This whole thing just felt...wrong. I always thought I would be doing what I wanted to do-not bending to the will of others. But family was family.

"Harper, there are women out there that would be glad to be in your shoes. Be grateful and socialize with your guests."

"Like I have a choice anyway."

My mom forced a smile, "That's life for you."

Wow. This really wasn't a big deal to her. "I'll see you later, Mom."

I went into the house and made my way upstairs. I passed multiple people wishing me congratulations and a lifetime of happiness. Blah, blah, blah. I slipped into one of the many guest bedrooms in Ryan's parents' house. I started pacing back and forth in the big bedroom, trying not to hyperventilate.

I heard the sound of the bedroom door open and shut. I knew who it was, but I didn't look up. I couldn't look at him right now. I knew what he wanted to talk about, and I knew I had to tell him the truth about everything.

"I didn't cheat." I said quietly.

"Look, it's okay that--"

"I didn't cheat. Ryan and I...We have an, uh, arrangement." Jackson was standing at the opposite side of the room and his eyes met mine when I finally looked up at him.

He was quiet for a moment-clearly surprised by my statement. "An arrangement?"

I nodded absently as I answered. "We knew we didn't have a choice about the marriage, and we both knew the sex wasn't good. So, we decided to have a...semi-open relationship. To, I guess...scratch the itch."

He came and sat beside me on the bed. "Then why do you look so guilty?"

Guilt wasn't necessarily what I was feeling. I was feeling lonely, trapped, angry, even...but not guilty. I had no reason to suspect that Jackson was Ryan's brother last night. Ryan had never even mentioned that he had a brother. No, I wasn't feeling guilty about what we did. I did feel a little guilty about wanting to do it again. Even now, I wanted nothing more than to straddle his waist and kiss him. Unfortunately, it wasn't time for that right now. He had asked me a question. God, how do I put this? "I don't...feel guilty. It's just, there are rules to this-rules that Ryan and I made for a reason."

"Which are?"

This was the unfortunate part of the conversation. "Never more than once with the same person. Don't catch feelings."

When I didn't continue, he said, "I'm guessing there's another."

Yeah, Jackson. A pretty fucking big one. "No one who has ties to the family."

As the brother of the groom, Jackson was a pretty fucking close tie. Any member of the family could find out about us if this continued. It just simply wasn't an option. As much as I wanted to jump back in the sack with Jackson Reese...it just couldn't happen.

"I see," he said. His voice carried an odd tone. Whatever it was, it had my body aching for him. "I don't think that will work for me."

When he got up and started walking towards the door, I asked, "And why's that?" But I already knew the answer, didn't I?

He opened the door and paused before leaving. He looked at me with that same hunger he had last night. "Because, Princess, it's definitely going to happen more than once."

When the door shut behind him, I fell back on the bed and let out a groan. Fuck, I'm in trouble...