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As I stared down at the ring, I thought about Clarice. She’d given her life because she cared about me.
The game was getting out of hand. Alessandro remained on edge, the book yet to be found. He’d had his men stay in Raleigh, scouring my house as well as Clarice’s in the off chance she’d returned to my place for some unknown reason after storing the book.
He’d been angry, making phone call after phone call, the night before and remaining downstairs. I’d needed the time alone in order to shift into someone other than the girl who’d been thrilled to open a book and wine shop. That seemed so far in the past at this point, as if I’d died and been reincarnated into someone else.
I pressed my hand down the front of the dress, glancing over at the full glass of champagne I’d yet to take a sip from. Alessandro had it smuggled in, one of his men bringing it only twenty minutes before. Other than that, I was and felt entirely alone, no longer emotional about anything I’d gone through.
Although I was nervous, a numbness had settled throughout my mind and body, preventing me from conjuring up the fear and anger, sadness and angst. I could get through today, pretending to be something I wasn’t. What then?
I hadn’t told my parents that I was getting married. Who did that? Then again, what could I say?Hey, Mom. I’m getting married to a man I met a couple of weeks ago. The same one who’s been stalking me on the phone for months.That would go over well. I couldn’t stand the thought of worrying them. Besides, if the marriage was only for six months, they didn’t need to know a thing.
I glanced at the small clock, realizing I still had almost thirty minutes to wait. Maybe a single glass of champagne would calm the anxiety. The stem was heavy, prisms dancing across the cut crystal from the afternoon sun. Alessandro had spared no expense, the reception at a posh establishment, a promise of wicked things to come at the penthouse suite we would retire to later. My handsome Spaniard had done everything in his power to provide the perfect setting, all created with my desires in mind.
He required my forgiveness, so he’d made the moment enchanting.
But it was fake.
Maybe if I continued to remind myself of that I’d start to believe it.
The champagne was scintillating, the bubbles tickling my nose as I walked to one of the windows. Guests I didn’t know were arriving, all dressed festively as required by invitations I’d selected in five minutes, the wedding planner running me through a long list of requirements in less than two hours. None of this would have been possible without her.
As I leaned against the aging wooden frame, I felt a presence behind me before I heard slow and deliberate footsteps coming toward me. The bright sun prevented any reflection, but just by the musky scent of sandalwood and spices and by the way my body tingled, I knew the identity of my mystery visitor.
“I’ve been thinking about you.”
The deep baritone was enticing, seductive, and my nipples hardened from the sound alone. I refused to turn around, playing a little game of my own. “Who is this?”
After taking a deep breath, he chuckled, continuing to walk closer. And closer.
A tingling of fire-branded sensations coursed through me, skittering down my spine as my panties dampened.
“An admirer and you are my salvation,mi dulce gatita,” he growled, his voice vibrating through every muscle.
“What? I’m no one’s salvation.” I used the same defiance I had from the very first time I’d met him, engaged immediately from the sensual smile he’d given.
“You’re a beautiful woman and you should be cherished. There is much we can do together.”
He remembered exactly what he’d said to me during the first phone call.
“I don’t know who you are, but my fiancé will be very angry if he finds you here.”
“I don’t think you understand,” he whispered as he crowded my space, the heat of his body resonating through me. My heart thumped wildly in my chest, a slight echo beating within. “I’ve finally come for you. Now, you do belong to me.” He brushed his fingers over my naked shoulders, taking his time trailing them down my arms as he lowered his head, pressing kisses against my neck.
“Mmm…” I closed my eyes and as he pressed his groin against me, I moaned. “You’re not supposed to see the bride before she walks down the aisle. It’s considered bad luck.”
“I don’t need luck when I have you,gatita. Now, the two of us will create a world of magic.” He bit down on the same spot as he pulled me against him, running his fingers down the cleft of my breasts, slowly shifting them to my stomach.
“Is that what you want, Alessandro?” I pushed my palms against him, lifting my head.
“You study my eyes as if you’ll find the answers you seek. If I had it in my power, I’d give you everything you asked for.”
“There’s only one thing I want.” And he didn’t have the capability of providing it.
While he ignored my comment, dropping his head a second time, I could tell by his expression what I’d said pained him. His response was to slide his finger past the bodice of my dress.
I placed my hand on his, stopping him from going any further. “You don’t want to soil the dress. Do you?”
“I couldn’t care less about the dress,” he murmured then dragged his tongue across the bite. “I’ll buy you a thousand dresses. Then I’ll rip them off you.”
