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As the man drew the rope taut, the woman’s lashes fluttered, and she let out a husky moan.
I felt the phantom embrace of rope around my own body, and hazy memories drifted back to me. Mateo had tied me up when he’d drugged and kidnapped me. I’d been bound and disoriented while Adrián threatened my father over the phone.
“Is that what you did to me?” I asked, forgetting his command for my silence. “When you kidnapped me. I remember you tying me up. Was it like this?”
The woman’s breasts were caught between the intricately knotted rope, trapped in a lewd display. The thought of Mateo putting me in a similar position to intimidate my father made my stomach roll with nausea.
Mateo’s entire body tensed at my back.
“I shouldn’t have brought you here.”
He shifted his hold on me, wrapping his arm around my shoulders and pulling me close to his side as he started striding toward the exit.
“No,” I agreed softly. “You shouldn’t have.”Chapter 20SofiaSmile, I reminded myself, arranging my features into a joyous expression.
I stood in the chapel vestibule, waiting my turn to process down the aisle. I didn’t want to ruin Valentina’s pictures by revealing my angst on her big day.
Just get through the wedding, and deal with everything else after. I repeated the plan that had become my mantra over the last thirty-six hours.
Mateo and I had barely spoken since he’d hustled me out of the perverted club. We’d returned home, gone to our separate rooms, and I’d stewed in uncertainty. My feelings for him hadn’t changed since he’d taken me to meet his mom. But there was a huge leap between wanting to start a relationship with him and…whatever that was in the club.
I would own you.
I suppressed a shiver at the overwhelming statement that had been burned into my mind. Ever since Mateo had taken me as his hostage, my life had spun completely out of my control. I’d ceased to be a human being with a will of her own; I’d been reduced to a pawn in power plays between ruthless, amoral men.
A few times since we’d left the club, I’d felt a surge of anger toward Mateo. After he’d taken me to that deviant place, it had become impossible to gloss over the fact that he’d claimed the right to my body, my virginity, without my consent. I cared for him deeply, but that was still a bitter pill to swallow.
Yesterday had been fully booked with my class schedule, followed by a women’s sleepover at Valentina’s house the night before the wedding. The activities had given me a welcome reprieve from discussing the club incident with Mateo. That conversation was going to be emotionally raw and potentially painful.
I could deal with it after the wedding.
The organ music that signaled the beginning of the ceremony filled the chapel, the notes powerful enough that the space practically vibrated with the jubilant tune.
Valentina’s sister-in-law, Samantha, tucked her copper hair behind her ear in an anxious gesture. Despite her nervous energy, she kept her spine straight and shoulders back as she stepped out of the vestibule, starting the procession.
A few beats later, it was my turn as maid of honor. The entire wedding party included Samantha, me, and Mateo. Valentina’s brother—Samantha’s husband—Andrés had arrived in town just in time to walk the bride down the aisle.
With so few of us involved in the proceedings, it would be even more challenging to divert my attention from Mateo.
I took a breath and braced myself to face him, clutching my blue hydrangea bouquet more tightly than necessary.
As soon as I stepped onto the red carpet leading up to the altar, my attention caught and fixed on Mateo. Taking his place as best man, he stood next to Adrián, and I couldn’t keep him out of my field of vision.
He was as darkly gorgeous as ever, but he appeared endearingly uncomfortable in his tux. He’d made an attempt to style his black hair with some sort of product, and it wasn’t quite as wild as usual. He tugged at his jacket sleeves and shifted his massive shoulders, frustrated within the confines of so much extra fabric. I was certain he’d much rather be dressed in his usual cotton t-shirt and well-worn jeans.
His onyx eyes widened when they landed on me, his fussing over his tux completely forgotten. His jaw dropped for a second then clenched tight when his features drew harsh with familiar hunger.
My heart leapt into my throat, and my carefully crafted smile faltered. I continued my smooth progression up the aisle, but I was no longer moving toward the altar with the proper purpose in mind. I should have been focused on my duties as maid of honor, but my body was being pulled toward his. I felt as though I had a rope knotted somewhere low in my belly, and Mateo tugged on the opposite end, compelling me to come to him. His magnetic energy made my sex pulse with awareness, and my nipples pebbled against the structured bodice of my organza gown.
