His Ward

By Matilda Martel

Pretty Mara Oliver has spent the last five years at a boarding school in Switzerland, out of sight and mind from her guardian, who only took her in when one one else stepped up to care for her.
Now that she's 18, billionaire, Levi Moore has summoned her home. He’s never paid her much attention and always treated her like an inconvenience, but now he wants something in return for his years of investment.
He wants Mara to marry him.
For years, he's been too busy to find a decent relationship, marry and have a family. Levi wants someone he can trust, and he trusts Mara. She’s beautiful, but she’s also sweet and humble. After he bullies her into saying yes, he realizes there’s so much more to her than the quiet, shy girl he once knew.
Mara has crushed on Levi for years, her fixation for older, dominant men started with him. He saved her from destitution, she feels she owes him, but can they make a future together?
Find out!
If you like over-the-top erotic romances with hot, older, dominant men and eager young ladies anxious to be corrupted by strong, powerful hands, this is the novelette for you!
It's a short read- just under 10k words- a quick snack before bedtime with a guaranteed HEA.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Matilda Martel
• Release date: Mar 7, 2020
• ISBN: 9780463517215

Matilda Martel

Matilda loves many things---her husband, dachshunds, cats, the two terrible Chihuahuas who live with her, Paris, New York, a few select friends and family, Nutella, books, lots and lots of books, and writing sweet, steamy romance for nerdy girls-- because that's who I am.If you like your romances steamy but sweet. Sexy, but on the shorter side. With smart and sassy heroines who fall for soulful Alphas- then you might like my books.I write A LOT of OMYW, cause that's just my bag. But no matter what kind of story it is, my ladies are always adored and my endings are always HEA.Please head to my blog: www.matildamartel.com, to learn what's in the final stages and will be coming out soon!Want a free Ebook? Join my mailing list to get my monthly newsletter at : www.matildamartel.com/mailinglist/

Book preview

PROLOGUE

I am a fortunate girl. I’ve been given so much more than others and thanks to my guardian, I’ve never lacked for anything, not material things anyway. Mr. Moore buys me whatever I need or want in order to avoid having to give me his time or affection.  

It’s not his fault. 

I was dumped on him. He had a company to run and it was never his intention to care for his ex-girlfriend's 13-year-old daughter. But he did what he could and threw money at me to make himself feel better. 

Levi Moore is not technically my guardian, not officially, but he was briefly engaged to my mother. When I was younger, I might have called him Daddy for a few days, on my mother’s insistence, but he never liked it. I distinctly remember him cringing at the sound. He wasn’t my father, and, in the end, he never did become my stepfather. Their relationship was brief and volatile, no one was surprised they never married. 

A little more than a year after they split, Mom was gone. Too many plastic surgeries, too much booze, and too many pills did her in and left me without anywhere to go. Without a father or living grandparents, there was no one around to take me in. There was a cousin who lived on the other side of the world and an aunt no one could find, but in the end, Levi stepped up. He could have washed his hands of me, but he took over my education and sent me off to an American boarding school in Switzerland.  

Although he has sent me presents and taken care of all my needs for the last five years, I’ve only seen and spoken to him a handful of times since I was sent away. Now that I’m 18 and school is over, he’s asked me to come home. 

CHAPTER 1

MARA

A driver picks me up at the airport and drives me to Levi’s midtown office. I am exhausted after my long flight, but he wants to see me before I head back to his penthouse uptown.  

I’m not sure what I’m going to say to him.

It’s not like I’m not grateful for all he’s done for me. He could have just thrown me in foster care and be done with it, but there are only so many times you can say thank you. I ride the elevator up the 28 floors to his office and walk to the receptionist’s desk. 

Excuse me, my name is Mara Oliver, I’m here to see Levi Moore. 

Of course, he’s expecting you. I’ll show you to his office. How was your flight, dear? She is only making small talk. 

It was fine, but I’m sleepy. I’m dying to go home and take a nap. I seriously hope this visit is just a formality. 

Well, here you are. Mr. Moore, Miss Oliver is here. 

Send her in. Come on in, Mara. His voice is abrasive and commanding. He doesn’t sound thrilled to see me. I’d forgotten how much he used to frighten me. Peeking into his enormous office, I make my way to his desk, trying not to do or say