A Stand-in Bride

Chapter 41

Zhan

I sigh as I turn my phone off. It hasn’t stopped buzzing since our announcement went live and though the initial media attention was exciting, it quickly became exhausting. Most gossip pages started to look into our relationship instantly but needless to say, they haven’t been able to find anything. How could they, when our relationship didn’t exist before our wedding day?

I’m worried that if they look hard enough, they’ll find traces of Cheng Xiao and Yibo’s relationship and there’s no doubt that it’ll be shameful for all three of us. I don’t want anyone to find out that this thing between us isn’t real.

I bite down on my lip as I rummage through our dressing room, needing a distraction. Yibo walks out of the bathroom just as I fish my trusty old measuring tape out of one of my boxes. His eyes widen when he sees me bent over, on my hands and knees and the way he bites down on his lip sends a rush of desire through me. He’s in nothing but a white towel that hangs low on his hips, drops of water running down his chest.

“Yibo,” I say, my voice huskier than I wanted it to be. “Don’t get dressed.”

His eyes flash with desire and he smiles wickedly.

I hold up my measuring tape and grin at him. “I want to measure you. I’ve got something in mind that I want to design for our first official event together.”

He lifts his hand to his neck, his gaze heated. “You want to measure me… right now?”

I nod. “Yeah. I prefer to get accurate measurements. It’s not quite the same over clothes, you know?”

“Fine.” He beckons me forward and I approach him nervously. I haven’t taken this much initiative since the last time I tried it. Every time we sleep together, it’s Yibo who initiates it. It’s stupid, but part of me is still scared he’d reject me again. Realistically, I know he won’t, but somehow my heart hasn’t healed from the pain he inflicted.

“Lift your arms,” I tell him. My hands tremble as I wrap my measuring tape around his arm, barely thinking straight. I needed a distraction and I suppose I got one.

I can feel his gaze burning on my skin and look up nervously to find him staring at me, his eyes filled with desire. He’s sexy as sin on the worst of days but right now, standing here in front of me in just a towel? Delicious.

I place my hand flat against his chest and smile at him. “Do you have any favorite colors?”

He reaches for me and pushes my hair behind my ear, his gaze dipping down to my chest, where it lingers. “Whatever you create for me will be amazing, I’m sure.”

I wrap my measuring tape across his torso and lean in close to read the measurement, brushing my body against his as I do so. Yibo inhales sharply and clears his throat uncomfortably, making me smile.

“Oh, I forgot your neck.” I rise to my tiptoes and press my breasts against his chest as I wrap my measuring tape around his neck, my lips brushing over his jaw. He groans softly and a rush of desire rushes through me when I feel him harden against my stomach.

He raises his hand and threads it through my hair, tightening his grip and keeping me in place. “This is how you take measurements, wife?” he snaps, sounding angry.

I lean back a little to look at him and shake my head. “No. I never do this myself but I wanted to for you.”

“Hmm,” he grunts. “Very well. No one but me Zhan.”

I nod nervously as I let my hand roam down his body. His face is so close to mine… should I give up on this charade and just kiss him? His eyes drop to my lips and I tilt my face, hoping he’ll make a move.