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“I don’t believe a single damn lie from your mouth anymore.”
Realization knocked the wind out of her. Drake wasn’t angry. He was lashing out because he was hurt. Their eyes met for a moment, and she saw their genuine longing. But the moment she attempted to approach, he turned away.
Damn his pride.Alessandra knew she had to do something to convey her true feelings. Words weren’t enough when she had the papers in her hand. She dropped them as if burned and rushed to Drake.
“Please stop. Don’t say anything we can’t come back from.”
Drake deflated and turned back to her. Searching his eyes, she tried to figure out who had hurt him. Cautiously, she grabbed one of his hands and intertwined their fingers and cupped his stubbled cheek in the other.
“What are you doing, Alessandra?” he whispered.
“I care about you, Drake. I’ll prove it—”
Without waiting for a response, she pressed her lips to his. She started off slowly to convey compassion and firm to show conviction. Drake dropped her hand and wound his arms around her. She sighed into him, becoming pliant in his strong arms, answering his questions, and soothing his doubts with her body.
Drake responded with passion. Alessandra opened to his demands, and his tongue assaulted her mouth, showing her who was indeed in charge. He wrapped her hair in his fist and pulled gently, changing the angle.
Their bodies slid together, spilling secrets, giving a name to words neither of them could admit to in the cold light of day. When they finally broke apart, breathing heavily, Drake rested his forehead against Alessandra’s.
“Damn it, bella. I don’t want you to leave.”
“Then don’t make me. I don’t know any other way around this. I don’t want you to get hurt.”
Drake gently stroked her cheek. “I never wanted to care about you, Alessandra. But you rooted yourself in my heart.”
“I’m choosing you, Drake. I want to be here with you. Please let me protect you, too.”
Drake stepped away, severing their connection.
“I have a gift for you.”
“Really? Even though we’re getting divorced?”
Drake picked the papers up and tore them to shreds before her eyes.
“All I wanted was for you to be honest with me. You wouldn’t push for divorce if it weren’t for Luca’s threat. We’re in this together.”
“Oh, Drake, thank you.” She jumped into his arms.
He held her for a minute letting the hug comfort them both. He stepped back and said, “I must warn you that if you accept my gift, it means you’re mine forever.”
Drake disappeared into his room and returned with a blue velvet gift box wrapped with a ribbon.
“I have special plans for us.”
***
Chapter Eighteen
Drake had been to hell and back in the span of ten minutes. He was raked across the fires that burned his soul and had ice water poured through his veins. But they finally resolved the divorce nonsense and would put it behind them. Luca Donato didn’t scare him. Alessandra was his. She belonged to him; he wouldn’t let some bastardo take her away.
Drake’s heart kicked up in anticipation as he handed Alessandra the box. He had personally chosen everything inside for his wife.
“What is this, Drake?”
“Open it, bella,” he encouraged.
A smile spread across her face as her manicured fingers tugged the ribbon and opened the box.
