Page 20 of Angel

‘We’re all dying to know, were you always the intended bride?’

‘Wouldn’t you like to know?’ I breathed, giving her a tight smile.

Trudy’s brow arched at my side step.

‘Well, it’s a surprise, if not a touch unconventional.’

Her gaze darted between us, but Angel glanced away with pursed lips, making it clear he’d no time for her bullshit.

Trudy plowed on, undaunted.

‘Where’s Evangeline? Rumor has it she had a sudden emergency.’

‘An emergency?’ a younger brunette whose name I couldn’t remember chimed in, her voice dripping with artificial sweetness. ‘Oh, not according to all the rumors. People are saying she left, and that you two -.’

Her voice dropped to a sotto whisper.

‘- Were secret lovers this entire time? The other sister who bagged the prince like a fairy tale?’

My throat locked up.

The scrutiny was overwhelming, and not knowing how to respond, I grew flustered.

Until Angel stepped in.

His gravitas had the women gasping as his hand encircled my waist.

‘This ain’t no fairy tale, it’s freakin’ real, ladies,’ he growled.

His hand slid from my hip up to the nape of my neck, his lean fingers tangling into my hair.

He pulled me up to him, and then he kissed me.

This was no gentle, polite, staged kiss for the cameras.

It was a possessive, breathtakingly intense claiming that sent a shockwave straight through me.

His flavor was intoxicating, like expensive whiskey and sensual promise; from the mastery of his full lips, firm and yet soft at the same time, to the solid mass of his ripped, muscled frame.

He pressed his hand to my back, pulling me even closer, and I went lightheaded at the proximity.

My hands flew to his broad shoulders to keep myself upright as my head spun.

For a fleeting, delusional second, it felt so real.

The women around us let out collective sighs of yearning, the thrill of the display silencing their interrogation.

Just as fast as he claimed me, Angel tore his mouth from mine and pulled away, his eyes unreadable.

‘Excuse us, ladies,’ he muttered, his grip tightening on my arm as he pushed a path through the dense crowd.

Angel kept his touch on my waist as he prowled away, heading back to the bridal table.

As he did, he dipped to growl into my ear.

‘Apologies, Rox but I had to put a stop to the speculation, per our agreement.’

Per our unfair contract terms with Reese. Damn.