Chapter 3Bound To The Reckless Heir

Nate laughed, a low, husky sound that should have been beautiful but felt like a serrated blade.

"Sure you did. The second you agreed to move into my bedroom, we both knew what you were after."

I didn't know how to defend myself. I’ve always been the kind of person whose emotions leak out of their eyes before they can find the words. Tears began to blur my vision. "I didn't ask for this. I didn't have a choice!"

Nate clicked his tongue, his brow furrowed in annoyance. "Oh, for God's sake. Don't start crying. You’re the one who moved into a stranger's bed."

I shook my head, a sob escaping despite my best efforts. "I... I can't help it. It’s a reflex."

Nate stared at me, something dark and unreadable flickering in his eyes. I watched his Adam’s apple bob as he swallowed hard.

"If you keep crying," he whispered, his voice dropping to a dangerous, gravelly register, "I might actually give you something to cry about."

The threat hung heavy in the air. I squeezed my eyes shut and pressed my lips together, trying to force the sobs back down. My body was still trembling, and Nate’s expression shifted from irritation to something sharper, more intense.

"Just... stay on your side," he muttered, finally pushing himself off me.

He flopped back down, creating a literal "no-man's-land" in the middle of the California King. He seemed to fall asleep almost instantly, but I remained wide-eyed and terrified, my nerves frayed to the point of snapping.

I didn't drift off until the sky began to turn a bruised, pre-dawn purple.

I was jolted awake by the sound of a door slamming. I blinked, seeing Nate standing by the vanity, his chest bare and his skin glowing like burnished bronze in the morning light. He was drying his damp hair with a towel, wearing nothing but a pair of grey sweatpants that hung low on his hips.

He caught me staring. His eyes were cool, assessing.

I was too sleep-deprived to hide my reaction. He was breathtaking, in a way that felt unfair.

Nate’s eyes narrowed slightly. "See something you like?"

I looked away immediately, my face heating up. "No. Nothing."

He let out a dry, humorless laugh. "Good. Keep it that way."

He disappeared into the walk-in closet and emerged minutes later wearing a crisp white tee, a varsity jacket, and relaxed-fit dark denim. It was a simple outfit, but on him, it looked like a million dollars.

He walked out without a second glance. I got up and pulled on the most decent thing I owned—a simple, white linen dress. It was modest and clean, the armor I chose for the day I’d officially become a Garrison.

Downstairs, the atmosphere was thick with tension. Nate was slumped on the sofa, staring at his phone with a dark scowl, while Arthur and Evelyn sat across from him, looking like they were presiding over a court-martial.

Evelyn spotted me and her face instantly softened into a maternal smile. "Riley, sweetheart. You look so pale. I’ll have to get you some brighter dresses. After breakfast, you and Nate are heading to City Hall."

Nate let out a sharp, irritated sound.

"Evelyn," I said softly, "isn't this... a bit fast?"

"Fast?" Evelyn raised an eyebrow. "You two spent the night in the same bed. We need to make this legal before the rumors start."

Nate looked up, his eyes flashing. "Oh, so now we care about rumors? After you practically held a gun to my head to stay in that room?"

Evelyn’s expression flipped in a heartbeat. The warmth vanished, replaced by a gaze of pure steel. "Watch your tone, Nathan."

Nate looked like he’d been slapped. He went silent, a look of utter defeat on his handsome face. I had to bite my lip to keep from smiling. It was the first time I’d seen someone actually manage to handle him.

But then Nate caught my eye. His gaze was icy, a silent warning that if I laughed, I’d regret it. I immediately wiped the expression from my face and stood there, waiting to be told what to do.

Nate stood up, grabbing his keys. "Let’s go," he snapped at me. "I have things to do today."