Arranged by R.K. Lilley
“I didn’t read this book, I devoured it. Arranged marriage is one of my favorite tropes and RK Lilley completely blew it out of the water. Arranged is angsty, sexy, and heartbreaking. Immediately adding it to my future re-read list. Banks is my new favorite alpha bully.” Claire Contreras, New York Times Bestselling Author
"Fatally beautiful. Gut-tightening intensity. Off the charts sexual chemistry and a love story unlike any other. You will devour this tale by RK Lilley and only want more." Audrey Carlan, #1 NYT Bestselling Author
"Classic RK Lilley with all the angst, steam, and edginess she does so damn well. I loved it!" Kylie Scott, NYT & USA Today Bestselling Author
“Some books are simply better than others. This is one of those books. Calder Banks Castelo is a jerk of epic proportions. Jerk-a-licious perfection. Banks and Noura together light the pages on fire. Sensual, angsty, exquisite. Don’t miss it.” Jana Aston, New York Times Bestselling Author
There were rules in the cash-for-beauty game. The money held the power. The beauty followed the rules and jumped through the hoops.
THE BRIDE
I knew what everyone would think if they knew the truth about my marriage.
They'd be shocked and appalled. And rightly so.
I was a young, modern, independent woman, and I'd done the unthinkable.
I'd sold my virginity to a spoiled, rich boy. To a stranger who didn’t love me.
And yes, I'd done it all for money.
THE GROOM
My bride was as gorgeous as she was unwelcome.
As desirable as she was unwanted.
I wanted nothing to do with her, but that didn’t seem to matter exactly the second she got close enough to touch.
I wanted her to hate me more than she loved the millions she’d sold herself for.
I wanted to spurn her, but unfortunately, I wanted to fuck her more.
ARRANGED is a standalone erotic romance.
Copyright ? 2019 R.K. Lilley All rights reserved.
ISBN-13: 978-1-62878-052-9
ISBN-10: 1-62878-052-5
All rights reserved. This book may not be reproduced, scanned, or distributed in any printed or electronic form without permission. This is a work of fiction. Any resemblance of events to real life, or of characters to actual persons, is purely coincidental. The author acknowledges the trademarked status and trademark owners of various products referenced in this work of fiction.
This one’s dedicated to all the people who didn’t take the opportunity to kick me while I was down and are still here after all this time. I am unspeakably grateful for your support. Especially you, Chris. Always. I’m positive I wouldn’t have finished another book without your inexplicable encouragement of my every random whim, and your willingness to go with me absolutely anywhere at the drop of a hat.
CHAPTER
ONE
NOURA
I’d memorized exhaustive details about the man standing beside me at the altar, and yet I didn’t know him at all.
My groom was a stranger.
His name was Calder Banks Castelo. He was a beautiful spoiled, rich boy, and I’d just handed him the unmitigated power to make my life hell.
I stole a glance at him. He cut an imposing figure in his black tux. He was tall, slim hipped, broad shouldered, and he held himself with a stiff, proud posture. He was carelessly handsome, and he struck me as just the kind of man who was cruel and calculated enough to use that very thing against me.
Our gazes clashed with a direct hit. His eyes were a striking, stormy gray and remarkably dispassionate.
I hadn’t had much time to judge him face to face, but so far he was beyond hard to read. He was utterly stoic. Unemotional. Cold. And if I had to guess at reading him just then, I’d say he was disinterested to the point of bored.
I wished I was bored. I wished my lips and the tips of my fingers would stop trembling.
I looked away first.
This is worth it, I told myself firmly. This is what I want. Wealth beyond my wildest dreams.
I made myself repeat the words in my head all throughout our stilted ceremony.
I knew what everyone would think if they knew the truth about this marriage.
They’d be shocked and appalled. And rightly so.
I was a young, modern, independent woman, and I’d done the unthinkable.
I’d sold my virginity to a spoiled rich boy.
And yes, I’d done it all for money.
Because let’s be real. Money is no small thing. It’s a lot of things. Comfort. Stability. Security.
And the amount of wealth I’d just tied myself to was a whole hell of a lot more than a paltry bit of cash. It was—potentially, if I lasted long enough—the keys to an empire.
I was deep in my thoughts, but I didn’t miss a beat when I heard my cue. “I do.” The words left my lips with no hesitation. Not so much as a catch in my breath. Nerves of steel. Or at least the right kind of nerves to fake it all, and by that point, what was the difference?
I’d been modeling full-time since I was fourteen, which gave me just the right skillset for something like this. I could pose. I could act. I could smile on command. I could fake just about any damn thing.