"Look, you can try and hide your mother all you want, but the evidence on there also points to the cover-up, so there goes your shot at running Pendragon. You have your board votes, of course. There's not much I can do about that. But she can't vote in your favor if she's not here. And if she is here, she'll go to jail. So it's up to you. Protect your mother, or get married tomorrow and fight me. But I will be pushing for a vote of no confidence, and you will have the fight of your life."

  He dusted off his lapels. "I'm going to go now. You have until tonight to make up your mind. I am eager to see what you'll choose."

  Chapter 38

  Gwen

  I was impressed with Morgan.

  She'd actually kept the bachelorette night simple. She did make me promise her a full all-out party in Vegas after the merger was done, but there was no way I could handle that now. We went to dinner and then to see Six. God, it was so good. And she'd even resurrected some of my old friends who had been thrilled to get the announcement. She wanted to throw me a reception later, which was so beautiful.

  See, you have people who love you.

  I was happily buzzing from the few drinks I'd had. And when Gavin dropped me off, he made it a point to walk me to the elevator. I kicked off my shoes, padding through the foyer. "Is my husband-to-be here?"

  Micah had made a point to tell me that he wasn't going to be home tonight and to feel free to shag all over the penthouse, so maybe I was going to do that. Yes, it was bad luck to see the bride before the wedding, but honestly, who even did that anymore? It wasn’t like we were having the most traditional wedding in the world.

  The light was on in the kitchen, and I turned to search the living room for Atticus, but he wasn't there. I eventually found him in the study. The lights were low, and he'd poured himself a drink as he stared at the computer monitor. "There you are," I said with a smile.

  The light in the room glinted off the sapphire bracelet Clarissa had loaned me for tomorrow as my something old, borrowed, and blue.

  "Did you have a good night?"

  "Yeah. Shocker, Morgan actually listened and kept her promise. Six was fantastic."

  He gave me our secret smile.

  "Are you okay? You seem tired. Please tell me you actually enjoyed your bachelor party a little."

  He swallowed hard and nodded. "You know, like Micah said, just the lads and some drinks."

  "Okay, then why aren't you tipsier?" I nodded at his glass that looked untouched.

  He lifted a dark brow. “Are you trying to get me tipsy?”

  I sauntered over to him, moved his chair back, and planted myself onto his lap. “I would very much like for my husband-to-be to kiss me.”

  He swallowed hard for a moment, and then his hand slid up my arm, over my shoulder, and onto the nape of my neck before plunging into my hair. He held me steady. When he leaned forward, what I thought would be a slow, lingering kiss was harsh and desperate. His hand at my hip tightened like he was holding on for dear life. When he dragged his lips off mine, he panted, dropping his forehead to mine.

  “Gwen,” he whispered harshly.

  “Hey, what’s the matter?”

  He swallowed hard. And then he released me, easing me off his lap to my feet. “I need to talk to you about something.”

  “Okay. You look serious. What’s the matter?”

  “We’re not going to get married tomorrow.”

  I blinked at him, unable to process the words that had just tumbled out of his mouth. “What?”

  “The wedding is off.”

  Suddenly, my world spun. The steady bedrock that I’d just felt in his kiss wavered, tumbling as the world tilted with tiny tremors and earthquakes. “I—I don’t understand.”

  “There’s nothing to understand. It’s not going to work, you and me.”

  “What are you talking about, Atticus? You said⁠—"

  He swallowed hard and scrubbed a hand over his face before pushing to his feet.

  I backed up automatically as he reached for me. “No, you said that you were choosing me. That we—" I couldn’t finish. My words broke off in a sob.

  Get yourself together.

  But I couldn’t. Something deep inside me cracked. "You said that you were choosing me regardless of the merger. You said that. You chased me down and you said that."

  He winced and swallowed hard, avoiding my gaze. "It seemed like you needed to hear that."

  The words hit me like blades, and I staggered backward. "What?"

  "It seemed like you needed to hear that from me. For you to feel comfortable with me."

  "So, those were just—" I couldn't even finish.

  "Everything about this was designed to move you forward. But we won't be getting there tomorrow. You are already part of Pendragon. I've worked out another deal with your father."

  "What? M-my father knew?"

  "Why do you even seem surprised?" His voice was harsh, his words bludgeoning me in every sentence.

  "Why would you do this, Atticus? Why are you doing this to me? I don't believe you."

  "I'm telling you that we are over. I got what I wanted. I've already blended your team. Your father and I have an arrangement. I won't marry you. I don't want to."

  Those last words hit me in the gut, and I wrapped my arms around myself, trying to hold on. This wasn't true. He was lying. This wasn't the Atticus I knew. This wasn't the man who had told me he loved me just a few days ago.

  What is true?

  "So you want me to believe that you don't care about me, that everything you said was a lie."

  "Yes. I had another deal working all the time. Your father was bluffing."

  I swallowed hard. "So that's it then? You got my algorithm, and I got what?"

  "You have money, don't you? And obviously, you have a job."

  "So all my hard work was just for nothing."

  "You are part of one of the largest technology companies in the world. You have saved your employees. You saved your sister. What more do you want?"

  What more did I want indeed?

  I staggered backward another step. "You never wanted me?"

  "No. As a matter of fact, you should go be with Lance. He at least wants you."

  "So you were faking it this whole time?"

  "Yes."

  I knew what he was saying, but his body language looked so rigid and stiff. He looked broken. This was a lie. He was lying.

  I tentatively took a step toward him, reaching out, unwilling to believe what his mouth was saying. "Atticus…"

  He took a step back from me. "Go be with Lance. Be with someone who actually loves you."

  Then he marched from the room, leaving me to fall on my knees.

  Thank you so much for reading TAKEOVER! Desperate to know how much groveling Atticus has to do? Can’t wait to see how he has to make it up to Gwen? Will she actually marry him? FIND OUT IN ACQUISITION!

  Want more Atticus and Gwen? Read the Bonus Epilogues here and here!

  A hostile takeover. An arranged marriage. A dangerous game.

  It was supposed to be cold-blooded corporate warfare, but somehow my heart got involved.

  My wife penetrated my shields until I could see nothing but her...and her safety.

  Because the game has only just begun.

  I'm going to claim her...along with my birthright.

  The stakes have never been higher.

  Manhattan is going to be mine.

  One Click ACQUISITION now!

  * * *

  WHILE YOU WAIT, dive in to Liv and Ben’s story with Big Ben:

  It began with a stolen almost-kiss.

  And ended in revenge.

  When Ben meets Olivia, sparks fly and danger follows. In a world where secrets reign, their forbidden attraction could be the key to survival or a path to destruction.

  * * *

  ➜ Yes, you can pick up Big Ben now!

  * * *

  Can’t get enough ? Meet a cocky, billionaire prince that goes undercover in Cheeky Royal!

  He’s a prince with a secret to protect. The last distraction he can afford is his gorgeous as sin new neighbor.

  Turn the page for an excerpt from Cheeky Royal…

  Also from Nana Malone

  Cheeky Royal

  “You make a really good model. I’m sure dozens of artists have volunteered to paint you before.”

  He shook his head. “Not that I can recall. Why? Are you offering?”

  * * *

  I grinned. “I usually do nudes.” Why did I say that? It wasn’t true. Because you’re hoping he’ll volunteer as tribute.

  * * *

  He shrugged then reached behind his back and pulled his shirt up, tugged it free, and tossed it aside. “How is this for nude?”

  * * *

  Fuck. Me. I stared for a moment, mouth open and looking like an idiot. Then, well, I snapped a picture. Okay fine, I snapped several. “Uh, that’s a start.”

  * * *

  He ran a hand through his hair and tussled it, so I snapped several of that. These were romance-cover gold. Getting into it, he started posing for me, making silly faces. I got closer to him, snapping more close-ups of his face. That incredible face.

  * * *

  Then suddenly he went deadly serious again, the intensity in his eyes going harder somehow, sharper. Like a razor. “You look nervous. I thought you said you were used to nudes.”

  * * *

  I swallowed around the lump in my throat. “Yeah, at school whenever we had a model, they were always nude. I got used to it.”

  * * *

  He narrowed his gaze. “Are you sure about that?”

  Shit. He could tell. “Yeah, I am. It’s just a human form. Male. Female. No big deal.”

  * * *

  His lopsided grin flashed, and my stomach flipped. Stupid traitorous body…and damn him for being so damn good looking. I tried to keep the lens centered on his face, but I had to get several of his abs, for you know…research.

  But when his hand rubbed over his stomach and then slid to the button on his jeans, I gasped, “What are you doing?”

  “Well, you said you were used doing nudes. Will that make you more comfortable as a photographer?”

  * * *

  I swallowed again, unable to answer, wanting to know what he was doing, how far he would go. And how far would I go?

  * * *

  The button popped, and I swallowed the sawdust in my mouth. I snapped a picture of his hands.

  * * *

  Well yeah, and his abs. So sue me. He popped another button, giving me a hint of the forbidden thing I couldn’t have. I kept snapping away. We were locked in this odd, intimate game of chicken. I swung the lens up to capture his face. His gaze was slightly hooded. His lips parted…turned on. I stepped back a step to capture all of him. His jeans loose, his feet bare. Sitting on the stool, leaning back slightly and giving me the sex face, because that’s what it was—God’s honest truth—the sex face. And I was a total goner.

  * * *

  “You’re not taking pictures, Len.” His voice was barely above a whisper.

  * * *

  “Oh, sorry.” I snapped several in succession. Full body shots, face shots, torso shots. There were several torso shots. I wanted to fully capture what was happening.

  He unbuttoned another button, taunting me, tantalizing me. Then he reached into his jeans, and my gaze snapped to meet his. I wanted to say something. Intervene in some way…help maybe…ask him what he was doing. But I couldn’t. We were locked in a game that I couldn’t break free from. Now I wanted more. I wanted to know just how far he would go.

  * * *

  Would he go nude? Or would he stay in this half-undressed state, teasing me, tempting me to do the thing that I shouldn’t do?

  * * *

  I snapped more photos, but this time I was close. I was looking down on him with the camera, angling so I could see his perfectly sculpted abs as they flexed. His hand was inside his jeans. From the bulge, I knew he was touching himself. And then I snapped my gaze up to his face.

  Sebastian licked his lip, and I captured the moment that tongue met flesh.

  * * *

  Heat flooded my body, and I pressed my thighs together to abate the ache. At that point, I was just snapping photos, completely in the zone, wanting to see what he might do next.

  * * *

  “Len…”

  “Sebastian.” My voice was so breathy I could barely get it past my lips.

  “Do you want to come closer?”

  “I--I think maybe I’m close enough?”

  His teeth grazed his bottom lip. “Are you sure about that? I have another question for you.”

  * * *

  I snapped several more images, ranging from face shots to shoulders, to torso. Yeah, I also went back to the hand-around-his-dick thing because…wow. “Yeah? Go ahead.”

  “Why didn’t you tell me about your boyfriend ‘til now?”

  Oh shit. “I—I’m not sure. I didn’t think it mattered. It sort of feels like we’re supposed to be friends.” Lies all lies.

  He stood, his big body crowding me. “Yeah, friends…”

  I swallowed hard. I couldn’t bloody think with him so close. His scent assaulted me, sandalwood and something that was pure Sebastian wrapped around me, making me weak. Making me tingle as I inhaled his scent. Heat throbbed between my thighs, even as my knees went weak. “Sebastian, wh—what are you doing?”

  “

  Proving to you that we’re not friends. Will you let me?”

  He was asking my permission. I knew what I wanted to say. I understood what was at stake. But then he raised his hand and traced his knuckles over my cheek, and a whimper escaped.

  * * *

  His voice went softer, so low when he spoke, his words were more like a rumble than anything intelligible. “Is that you telling me to stop?”

  * * *

  Seriously, there were supposed to be words. There were. But somehow I couldn’t manage them, so like an idiot I shook my head.

  * * *

  His hand slid into my curls as he gently angled my head. When he leaned down, his lips a whisper from mine, he whispered, “This is all I’ve been thinking about.”

  Read Cheeky Royal now!

  Nana Malone Reading List

  Looking for a few Good Books? Look no Further

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  * * *

  Cheeky Royal

  The Heir

  Bridge of Love

  * * *

  Mistletoe Series

  Mistletoe Kisses

  Mistletoe Hearts

  * * *

  Gentlemen Rogues

  The Heir

  The King

  The Saint

  The Rook

  The Spy

  The Villain

  * * *

  Royals

  Royals Undercover

  * * *

  Cheeky Royal

  Cheeky King

  * * *

  Royals Undone

  Royal Bastard

  Bastard Prince

  * * *

  Royals United

  Royal Tease

  Teasing the Princess

  * * *

  Royal Elite

  * * *

  The Heiress Duet

  * * *

  Protecting the Heiress

  Tempting the Heiress

  * * *

  The Prince Duet

  Return of the Prince

  To Love a Prince

  * * *

  The Bodyguard Duet

  Bodyguard to the Billionaire

  The Billionaire’s Secret

  * * *

  London Royals

  * * *

  London Royal Duet

  London Royal

  London Soul

  * * *

  Playboy Royal Duet

  Royal Playboy

  Playboy’s Heart

  * * *

  London Lords

  See No Evil

  Big Ben

  The Benefactor

  For Her Benefit

  * * *

  Hear No Evil

  East End

  East Bound

  Fall of East

  * * *

  To Catch a Thief