Page 51 of The Rented Bride

Chapter Ten

Cassie lay awake, aware of the noises Trent made. Not snoring, but groans and mumbles. She wasn’t sure if he dreamed or not. Moonlight streamed into the room. If she turned, she could see him, but she didn’t want him to know she lay awake. When she’d stepped out of the bathroom and saw the broad expanse of his tanned chest, the trim waist, and the downy hair that disappeared into his kilt, she’d nearly choked on her tongue. She groaned inwardly. Was she actually getting wet? God, he was too handsome for words.

She carefully stretched her legs trying not to make a sound. The scent of his cologne clung to the pillow. Dear Lord, give her strength. It was going to be difficult enough keeping an in-name-only marriage secret. How would keep secret a real marriage she’d consummated? Could she look Father Victor in the eye and lie in order to get an annulment?

Cassie started at a thump. Trent cursed. Her heartbeat jolted into rapid rhythm. What the hell was going on? She resisted the urge to turn toward him. Covers rustled, followed by another curse then an exasperated sigh.

Cassie remained still, trying to fall asleep, but the words ‘I do,’ spoken by her, played over and over in her mind. Married. She’d been taught that marriage was sacred—and forever. She was a modern woman and no saint, and she couldn’t exactly say she regretted their business deal. Still, it was weird.

Another rustle of his covers and she tensed. What would she do if Trent crawled into bed with her? Kick him out! That would be a complete violation of their agreement, and really would make her a whore. On the other hand, if they’d met under normal circumstances, if she’d been a guest at one of his parties, perhaps, she could have invited him to dinner, then another dinner and another, and then she would have invited him back to her place where she would have let him crawl into bed with her.

She’d had those large hands on her wrists, arms, the small of her back when they’d danced. What would they feel like sliding around her waist, up her stomach to her breasts and across her nipples? A tremor rippled through her. Warm, his lips would be warm when he dipped his head to take a marble-hard areola into his mouth. The juncture between her legs tightened. Sweet God in heaven, his easy touch could bring her to orgasm. His weight on her, pressing her into the mattress, his cock hard against her sex, then probing, pushing, stretching—Cassie jumped when Trent muttered something.

She held her breath, heart hammering against her ribs. Had she inadvertently moaned? Oh, she would never live it down if he guessed her thoughts. Silence followed and Cassie slowly released her breath. By all that was unholy, she’d lost her mind. If she—

Her phone rang.

Cassie bolted upright. The tone was muffled. Her purse. She threw back the covers. Where had she left her purse? She turned, unable to home in on the location. Then it sounded again, near the window. Doris must have put it on the desk when she moved her things into Trent’s room. Cassie hurried the four paces to the desk. Moonlight illuminated the desktop. She grabbed the purse then started to open it. No! The ring would blare once out of the purse.

She started for the bathroom, then thought better of passing Trent and turned right toward the walk-in closet. Cassie reached the closet, stepped inside, then eased the door closed. Her heart pounded. Who was calling her this time of night? She pulled the phone from the purse, then froze at sight of Antonio Bionchi’s number flashing on the screen. Her mother had set Cassie up on one blind date with the guy and he acted like they were engaged. He’d called four times in the last week. This is what she got for ignoring his calls. Cassie turned off the ringer, slumped against the clothes and released a breath. God was punishing her.

Keeping her life with Trent separate from her real life might not be as easy as she thought. Thought? She hadn’t given the matter much thought. Tomorrow, she had to call her family and— The phone vibrated in her hand. Her cousin Sophia’s number displayed in the screen. Cassie stared for two heartbeats before realizing that Antonio must have called Sophia when she hadn’t picked up. Cassie’s mother and Antonio’s mother attended the same church bingo group and Sophia had met him several times at mass.

Cassie hit the accept button and pressed the phone to her ear. “That asshole called you, didn’t he?”

“He’s not an asshole, Cassie. He’s smitten with you. It’s a compliment. The guy is gorgeous.”

Cassie rolled her eyes. “We went on one date. Sophia, we had nothing to talk about, he speaks very little English.”

“Think of all the fun you’ll have teaching him anatomy.”

“I’m not interested and I resent your interference.”

Sophia laughed. “I answer to a higher authority than you.”

Cassie groaned. “Mom.”

“You got it.

“I’ll deal with Mom.”

Sophia laughed again. “I’d like to see that.”

The door burst open and the overhead light flared to life. Cassie blinked against the sudden intrusion, then took a startled step back. Trent stood in the doorway.

“What’s wrong?” he demanded.

“Is that a man’s voice?” Sophia said.

Cassie stared at Trent. He wore only boxer briefs. His eyes were dazed slightly, as if he’d woken suddenly and his hair—oh god, that adorably mussed hair was too cute. Don’t look at his legs, don’t look at his legs, she mentally repeated. How could a man possibly have such perfect tanned legs that seemed to go on forever? God really was testing her.

“What’s wrong, Cassie?” he said.

“That is a man’s voice,” Sophia cried. “No wonder you didn’t want to talk to Antonio.” Sophia’s whoop blared through the phone. “You’re with another man.”

Trent’s eyes jerked onto the phone and Cassie realized she’d pulled it from her ear.

“Antonio?” Trent repeated.