Page 125 of Wicked Lord

Ignoring everything but the feel of Axel’s body enveloping me in his warmth and strength, I kissed him harder, held him closer. My heart thumped out a manic beat, dancing a stupid little jig. I’d never been this happy in my life.

Axel finally released my swollen lips, eyes locked on mine. With my dad and the crowd finally dissipating, he whispered, “Nice job, blondie. We definitely deserve an Oscar for that performance.”

Fuck. My insides crumbled, realization hitting me like a bucket of ice water. God, I was such an idiot. Of course, this wasn’t real. He’d warned me before he got down on one knee.

Still, I kept my beaming smile firmly in place. It wasn’t Axel’s fault I was stupid enough to think he actually wanted to marry me. We’d only been dating for real for a few weeks anyway. He hadn’t even told me he loved me yet. Maybe he didn’t… Ugh, what was wrong with me?

“You okay?” Axel’s light brow arched, and I should’ve known he’d be able to cut right through my bullshit.

“Yeah, I’m totally fine. I think I just got wrapped up in the moment for a second.” I drew in a deep breath, trying to clear my frazzled thoughts and limping, battered heart.

He tangled his fingers through mine then brought our hands up and slipped the ring on my finger. I stared at the enormous diamond winking up at me. I could practically feel my father’s gaze jumping from the ring to my new fiancé and back, dollar signs flashing across his greedy little eyes.

“Where did this come from?” I whispered, pretending to nibble on his soft lobe.

“It’s my mom’s.”

“Oh, no, Axel, so she thinks this engagement is real, too?”

He dipped his head.

“This doesn’t feel right. I don’t want to lie to them about this again.”

“Shit, I’m sorry, I should’ve talked to you about my crazy idea first. It was just a gut reaction.” He cupped my cheek, his thumb brushing my flushed skin. “When I saw that asshole Brock forcing you to dance, I just lost it. And then your father and his constant condescending remarks…”

“Thank you,” I whispered, as I ogled the gorgeous ring I had no right wearing. “I know you were only trying to help. It’s only that we just stopped pretending, and I was really looking forward to our relationship finally being real.”

“We’ll figure it out, Lore. I promise.” He brushed his lips against my forehead and despite the tangle of emotions crashing through my insides, I leaned into his touch. I was so damned lucky to have him in my life. That was what I should’ve been focusing on.

He offered me his hand, and I slid my palm into his, that incredible princess-cut diamond glittering beneath the recessed lights. My hand looked perfect nestled in his enormous one, like it belonged there.

Axel finally turned me toward the semi-circle of onlookers who still lingered nearby, and a wave of applause and congratulations filled the hallway. Despite the smile I’d plastered on, a prickle of unease surged up my spine as a pair of icy, cold eyes met mine.

Brock stood in the background, murderous gaze shooting daggers at my fake fiancé.

CHAPTER 51

SOMETHING EXCEPTIONAL

Axel

I palmed my nape while studying the glittering diamonds the sales associate brought from the jewelry store’s vault. “I don’t know. She deserves something exceptional.”

This engagement might have been completely fake, but I wouldn’t let Lorelei walk around with a subpar ring.

When her asshole of a father slapped her, my mind blanked except for the intense need to rip his head off. Adding up all the little clues—Lorelei skipping the nail salon, slacking on her shopping sprees, and her car getting taken away—I guessed the Battenbergs were having serious money troubles.

It all made sense after Lorelei’s father attempted to convince her to marry Brock right in front of me. She’d become the family’s sacrificial lamb, and they didn’t give a damn what Haversham did to her as long as their pockets were lined.

So I did the only thing I could think of to protect her. I proposed.

In hindsight, it wasn’t the smartest choice considering we just officially became a real couple. We’d have to think of some reason to postpone our nuptials. We could blame it on being young and in love or some sappy shit like that.

“How about this one?” The woman, Melanie, handed me a massive, cushion-cut diamond ring and blabbed about clarity and crap.

Her chestnut hair was slicked back in a high ponytail that pulled her skin so much that it looked like she’d had a facelift. She couldn’t have been more than twenty-five, but I wouldn’t be surprised if she’d already had some kind of age-defying procedure.

As I twirled the ring, the diamonds gleamed under the row of recessed lighting and the elaborate chandelier dangling from the center of the store. I should have been sweating bullets at the mere thought of getting married so young.