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“I’ll kill her.” The stone-cold face of a killer made Drake’s heart stop.
“She’s your daughter!” Drake might be a merciless bastard, but he was looking into the soulless eyes of the devil himself.
“Alessandra served her purpose to save my heir. After today, I have no further use for her. If you divorce her, she becomes a loose end. In my business, loose ends are dangerous.
“It’s not a good idea to keep your bride waiting. I’m sure you want to celebrate. She’s worth the price, and I've never had a complaint about her services. Alessandra’s trainer prepared her for such an occasion. While he was heavy-handed, there was no permanent damage.” Anthony pulled a folded document from his jacket pocket. “I had her tested to ensure she was in pristine condition and ready to consummate the wedding night. I’ve been assured her pussy is still tight.”
“You’re disgusting,” Drake spat.
Considering himself victorious, Anthony walked down the paneled hall, whistling a tune that Drake vaguely recognized. Drake clenched his fist as he watched the other man disappear around the corner. Things between them were far from over.
Alessandra had clearly been eavesdropping and jumped away from the door as Drake re-entered the bridal. He flicked the lock again and turned to his wife.
“I’m sorry for all of this, Drake. I know you hate me,” she said as her lower lip trembled. “If you let me go, I’ll leave. You’ll never have to see me again.”
White-hot panic clawed at Drake’s throat at the finality of Alessandra’s words. He was used to being in control, and this situation was slipping through his fingers quicker than sand. He needed to know Alessandra was tangible—his—and not some beautiful mirage. He removed a handkerchief from his back pocket and cautiously raised his hand to her face. Even though he dabbed lightly at her tears, she still flinched beneath his gentle hand.
He silently cursed her father for doing this to her, to them. For better or worse, Drake and Alessandra were married. A single piece of paper had fucked up his whole life. If his life was going to shit, he would relish the ride.
Drake leaned in and kissed Alessandra on the forehead. A whimper escaped her at the contact. Their eyes met, and Drake knew their inexplicable connection was undeniable.
“I don’t know what I’m going to do with you, Alessandra, but I promise I’ll protect you,” he vowed, and he intended to keep that vow forever.
Alessandra shook her head and stepped back to distance herself from him. Drake yearned to hold her in his arms and have her soft feminine curves yield to his hardened planes. He tugged her close, not allowing her to pull away. He ran his nose against the delicate skin of her neck, nuzzling at a sensitive spot behind her ear while inhaling the warm amber and jasmine scent of her perfume.
His lips brushed against the shell of her ear as he spoke, causing her to tremble in his arms. She latched onto his muscular biceps for support. He couldn't deny how good it felt to be her anchor.
“I thought I told you to stay. You’ve been a naughty girl. Disobedient little girls earn punishments.” His seductive promise sent a shiver down her spine.
Alessandra regained her wits and pushed out of Drake’s arms, wheeling on him. “This isn’t the time or the place for your games, Drake Walker!”
“You’re right, bella. It’s time to head home and enjoy our wedding night.”
There was a reception waiting at The Drake Hotel. Four hundred guests had RSVP’d and expected to celebrate his nuptials in the grand ballroom. The luxurious Goldcoast suite with a view of Lake Michigan was reserved for Mr. and Mrs. Drake Walker. As tempted as he was to take his wife, their marriage was a farce, and he couldn’t face everyone tonight.
He’d apologize to his parents tomorrow, unsure how to explain everything. But tonight, he couldn’t wait to get Alessandra naked. He planned to use a crop on her ass until it was bright pink. Once her pussy glistened, he would taste her sweet nectar, licking the juices that ran down her thigh. Then he’d punish her mouth before making her ride his cock into oblivion.
“Home?” she gulped.
Alessandra sat in the limo with her hands politely folded in her lap. Her posture was ramrod straight, and her eyes stared ahead, seeming to take nothing in, or maybe she was taking in everything. Either way, she didn’t speak a single word, throwing a wet blanket on his mood.
Drake’s professionally-decorated penthouse offered a sophisticated vibe. The vaulted concrete ceilings added to the loft appeal. An open floor plan was a modern classic, and he loved the all-hardwood flooring. An architectural staircase led to his king loft with a large balcony that included access to a large private roof deck. In the congested city, having space to breathe was a necessity.
He often ate at the breakfast bar, which separated the kitchen from the living room. The dining room table was reserved for entertaining guests, which wasn’t often with his work schedule. Drake used the wood-burning fireplace often during the cold winters. The stone hearth added a welcoming touch, making it the room’s focal point. If it ever became too cold, the loft had heated floors.
Growing up in the suburbs, Drake often took the Metra downtown. He fell in love with the city during his many excursions. When he returned from Italy, the first thing he did was rent an apartment. He bought his penthouse a few years later. The West Loop penthouse was far from the Lake Forest home he grew up in, and he was proud to call it his.
Alessandra’s head swiveled in awe. “I didn’t expect a bachelor pad to be so welcoming,” she said. “Did your fiancée live here with you?”
Drake became livid when Alessandra mentioned Riley. The two women weren’t synonymous, though his wife’s tone implied otherwise. He wondered how much to disclose. There was a lot Alessandra didn’t need to know, but there was no hiding the walk-in closet full of Riley’s things. He had allowed her to move her belongings in before she left for Europe, so she didn’t need to rent storage space.
“What the fuck do you think?” he barked.
“I’m sorry, Drake.” Alessandra gently touched his arm. Drake looked at the point of contact, which made his heart pound. “I swear I had no idea what my father’s plans were. But—”
“But what?”
“Maybe we can make this work. If you want to try,” she said shyly.
