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The music begins anew and everyone stands as the phone vibrates in my hand, indicating a text has come through. I glance down and read the message, not bothering to hide my grin. How’d you get into my phone?
Meet me at the reception and I’ll show you.
By the time the music sounds again, announcing the end of the ceremony, I’m so anxious to be the first at the reception I practically exit on the couple’s heels, then jog the short distance to the sumptuous hotel where all the guests will gather for the reception. I take up my position near the door, scanning everyone as they enter. Surveillance like this comes easily to me, but today, it’s for a reason more important than any job I’ve ever taken on for the family.
When she walks through the door, I practically forget to breathe.
There she is, Raina Darcy. And there’s only one word to describe her.
Mine.
I blink with the sudden, primal force of the word, but in my soul, I know it to be true. Still, I school my expression into one of casual good humor as she catches sight of me. She clearly remembers me, though I can tell at a glance she doesn’t know who I am. Nevertheless, she changes direction and strides toward me with a smile that belies the haunting beauty of her eyes, and I find myself smiling back.
“So, you’ve come to return my stolen property,” I say gravely.
She laughs, the sound like music to me, and shakes her head. “I’m sorry. I was in a little bit of a rush. I must have grabbed yours by mistake.” She extends her arm to hand me my phone, and I stare at her long, delicate fingers, her slender wrist. I take my phone from her and replace it in my pocket, but make no move to return hers.
“Ah…” She bites her lip. “You do still have my phone, right? I mean, you have to. You texted me.”
“I do,” I say. “But I find myself in need of a date for this reception. I feel it’s the least you can do, for assaulting me on the steps.”
“Assaulting you!” she gasps, and her beautiful eyes widen. “You can’t be serious.”
I know instinctively I’ll spend the rest of my life staring into those eyes, but I don’t want to frighten her away. I will claim Raina Darcy for my own…but in such a way that she will also claim me.
My body instantly reacts to that thought. My muscles tense, my hands clench, and my cock thickens enough to strain against the fabric of my tailored pants. Fortunately, Raina Darcy is transfixed by my face, or she’d flee the building at the sight of my girth.
“I’m very serious,” I answer. “I do need a date.”
She blushes, suddenly unsure of herself, and her feelings. I, however, am very sure, and my cock twitches in urgent agreement. “Oh. Well, I…I guess I can do that,” she murmurs hesitantly. “I’m done with work for the evening and I…”
Work.I suddenly remember her words from the steps of the church. She’s a jeweler, working with the master Donatelli, and I press my advantage. “Do you want to meet the bride and ask her if she likes her rings?”
“Oh, yes, I do!” she says, her eyes rounding. “Very much! Do you think I could?”
“I do,” I say, my mouth quirking into a smile. I don’t miss how Raina’s eyes drop to my lips again, and I shift toward her, feeling her rising heat. I inhale sharply, sure I can pick up her scent above all the other aromas floating in the room. She’s pure, untouched, I can feel it in my bones. This attraction between us is affecting her as much as it is me. “We’ve both said I do—and at a wedding no less. That seems prophetic, wouldn’t you say?”
“I…I guess it does.” She glances up to me, her face flushed, her lips parted. And then she says something I would never have expected in all my years.
“Would you—would you mind very much if I asked you to kiss—oh!”
I silence her with my mouth over hers, knowing what she wants…what she needs. I swipe my tongue and instantly, her sweet lips part for me. At first, she stiffens at the unexpected intrusion as I plunder her soft, wet heat, but then she softens in my arms and makes a sound that’s little more than a hum. I swallow the noise and kiss her more deeply, searching for another.
The doors open again and several others enter the room. Raina attempts to pull back, but I’m not through exploring her mouth and take my time finishing the kiss. I then lift my arm and spin her before guiding her to a side corridor off the grand reception hall. I’m supposed to sit at the family table, but I don’t want to share my time with anyone but this delicious gift the universe has brought to me. Inside the reception hall is too public for what I want to do with Raina.
“Where are we going? The bride—”
“The bride will wait. This, my beautiful Raina, will not.”
