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Taking a tentative breath, I made sure that one foot continued to move in front of the other, even if the rate in which I was travelling had slowed.
Turn, Salvatore, turn.
Inside my head, I willed him to get this over and done with. Everything that had ever been between us needed to be over. With each second that passed, my blood flew faster around my veins, the small intakes of breath that the slim boned corset of my dress allowed, quickened, and desire found its home once again inside of me, making my core clench tightly in response.
I’d thought at home, that the hardest part of today was going to be facing my parents in the black dress I’d chosen for the day. Not only was it my statement piece, but I silently admitted that I’d hoped worrying over their reaction, would take my mind off the awful truth that I was marrying a stranger. In truth, as my eyes fixated on the back of the man I knew would always be in my thoughts and unfortunately my heart, I comprehended that him turning to face me was going to be the highlight and lowest ebb of my day, just as his visits to our beach had been, for as long as I could remember.
‘Leave us.’ The demand he made was simple. His men backed away and I felt my siblings close their ranks around me, even Mia was perceptive enough to stand her ground.
‘Ask your family to wait inside, little bird,’ he insisted.
‘Don’t do this, Salvatore.’ I closed my eyes fleetingly, unable to watch him turn, seemingly incapable of having the man consume all my senses at the same time. When my eyes reopened, he’d turned and taken the one long stride to meet me and was stood only a few inches away.
‘Ask them to leave us, Serafina.’ I felt his breath on my face, detecting the unmistakable smell of grappa on his breath. Usually, I found the aroma of alcohol off putting, but the rich, sweet scent on him only added to his attractiveness. If only I could have pulled my eyes away from his, I’d have rolled them up high at my ridiculousness.
‘Dante, Mia, please go inside, I’ll only be a few minutes.’
‘I’ll step away. But I’m not going inside,’ Dante replied, his voice laden with anger.
With my eyes fully focussed on the dark brown orbs looking down at me, I hadn’t noticed that Salvatore had lifted his hand, but my body reacted as his fingers ran over my bare shoulder. My breathing faltered as he continued his exploration by trailing his nails over my prominent collarbone, until finally he covered my neck with his hand and took hold of my jawbone with his forefinger and thumb. Cupping my chin in his hand, he stared down intently at me.
‘Your dress.’ The two words left his tight-lipped mouth. Just by his expression I could see he wasn’t amused by my choice. ‘Don’t you think you’re showing off far more flesh than a good Calabrian girl should be showing on her wedding day?’
I tried hard to shrug off his criticism, but knew I hadn’t managed it when he slowly raised one eyebrow at me in question.
‘No,’ I answered with absolute conviction, knowing he wouldn’t accept anything less.
‘Well, I do.’ Salvatore hissed the words through his teeth. Words that sounded very much like he was jealous and then just as quickly he corrected himself.
‘It has nothing to do with you. I dreamt it… I designed it and even better than that... it’s completely my choice.’
‘Your choice.’ Laughter left him, but his hand still held me firmly in his grip. ‘Like all of this today?’ I saw in my peripheral view as his other hand lifted to gesticulate the church behind him. But he had no need, the utter sarcasm in his voice would have been enough.
‘Serafina,’ he whispered and my heart bloomed as his deep voice caressed each syllable of my name, ‘you must know you have no choice, not now, not ever…’
‘This is for my husband-to-be, it has nothing at all to do with you.’ I tried to shake my head, hoping to dislodge his hand and fingers from me, so I would then be able to move away from him. ‘You put my family in this position and I’m going to save them. I thought my husband-to-be deserved his wife looking her best.’
I knew I was antagonising the beast, but couldn’t help myself.
‘I’m sure he’ll be happy to see everything that the dress allows, as you walk into church and if not… well, I’m convinced you’ll feel his wrath later tonight when you’re alone.’ As he left the intentional threat hanging in the air Salvatore moved his hand and releasing his hold on my jaw, drew his fingers down my neck until I felt his thumb dip into the hollow at the base of my neck.
I felt my eyes open wide at his touch and his lips parted as he gauged my reaction. It was erotic and strangely pleasurable, mixed with dark and menacing at the same time and I was suddenly damp between my legs.
‘No, no, no. You need to let me go,’ I voiced unconvincingly.
‘Did you honestly think I’d just let you go?’
Anger started to bubble up inside me. I was furious he was here, yet overwhelmingly happy to be alone with him, even if it was for one last time. Anger, fury, happiness and fear that at any minute the church congregation would come out to look for me and find me looking like a harlot in his arms.
‘Yes, I did… becauseyouneed to.’
His eyes burnt into mine, as he branded me with his hate and his love all at the same time.
The anger in his eyes was too much, far too much. In a few minutes, I would have to walk away, knowing I would never again feel the way he made me feel, calmly compose myself and promise to love, honour and obey another. This had to stop, if only for my own survival. I pulled away by a couple of inches. In response, his arm came around my waist to hold me still and his hand lifted. Once again, he took hold of my jaw, just to remind me I had no choice in the matter between him and me.
‘I asked you to marry me… it’s that simple.’ His statement rang in my ears.
‘You can’t have me. I can’t choose you. The flowers, decorations, and my dress were the only choices I had... Do you understand?’ My voice was beginning to sound how I felt. Emotional, terrified, and experiencing loss like I’d never experienced before. I cleared my throat, hoping to give my tone some clarity and started again to try to convince him of what had to be. ‘Those weremychoices, unlike the guests here today… including you.’ I stopped speaking momentarily. ‘And who on earth invited you?’ My voice rose in volume.
