“Sweetheart, how are you?”
“I’m okay. Have you heard from E—my sister yet?”
Mama’s silent for a long moment. “No. She’s missing. I think she ran away from home.”
That just… doesn’t seem like something Elena would do. She’s a home-body, her books are more precious to her than anything else. I just don’t see her up and leaving, especially without taking her most prized possessions with her. And she has no money. She can’t survive on her own. So where is she?
“If Elena isn’t at home pretending to be me, then where does Papa think I am?”
Another extended pause. “I’m so sorry. I had to tell him the truth. He’s a little upset—” Which means he’s furious. “—but he does agree that we did the right thing. O’Rourke can never know about the swap. I’m going to tell anyone who asks that my daughter Ravenna is in Italy visiting family.”
I inwardly groan, and close my eyes. This is getting more and more complicated. “What happens if she comes home?”
“I’ll inform her that she’s now Ravenna and she just returned from Italy, and that you’re Elena and you married O’Rourke in her place. Everything will be fine.”
“Sure.”Doubtful.
“Oh, and R—Elena, please be your most charming self with Mr. O’Rourke. He’s not the type of man who wants a sassy, stubborn wife. Do try to be more like your sweet sister.”
I roll my eyes. Like I haven’t heard that all of my life. I give her my usual response, “Of course, Mother.”
“How are you two getting along?”
“I hate him.”
“Oh, sweetheart, I’m so sorry. Arranged marriages can be difficult in the beginning. It took me a long time to adjust to being with your father, but we worked it out. You will too. Just be obedient and have faith. Your husband knows best. Remember that and everything will be fine. Plus, I’m so looking forward to having a grandbaby. Have you two… started trying yet?”
“Yes, Mama. We consummated our marriage last night.”
“That’s a relief. I’m sorry you had to go through that, but you won’t have to endure it often unless he’s a pervert. Once you’re pregnant he’ll leave you alone, and once you give him a few children he’ll forget about you all together. That’s the way of things. Something to look forward to for sure.”
Confusion gnaws at me, but I keep my questions to myself. “Okay. Call me if you hear from my sister.”
“Of course I will. Try to enjoy your honeymoon and stay on your husband’s good side. Chat soon.” She hangs up.
I sigh. Am I weird for having enjoyed the physical pleasures of last night? Maybe I am. That would explain why Cian doesn’t want to touch me again, because he didn’t enjoy it. Perhaps both men and women generally don’t take pleasure in the act? I suppose it’s possible. I guess I’m some kind of sexual freak.
Ugh, why am I thinking about that huge bastard when I should be trying to figure out what’s going through my sister’s head? What is Elena thinking? Why run? I mean, sure, marrying a stranger, especially our enemy, takes courage, but Elena has always been the obedient one. She wouldn’t run away. In my gut, I know that’s the truth.
Something is very wrong, and I’m not in any position to figure out what it is right now. Once this stupid honeymoon is over, and we’re back in New York, I’m going to find out what happened to my sister.
CHAPTER 6
Cian
Housekeeping has come and gone. I returned to the bungalow to find all of Elena’s things neatly put away in the closet, the bed made, and the bedside lamp’s remains cleaned up. They must have thought we had a wild night. Now all of that evidence is gone.
I sit at the table, overlooking the ocean, and try to get my head on straight. Even with this place cleaned, I swear I smell Elena’s amber scent. My palms tingle with the memory of touching her silky skin. My cock grows hard thinking about the way she felt beneath me, and how much I want to bury myself in her sweet cunt again.
Fuck. Fuck, fuck!
She’s a siren, my wife, and I want to spend our entire honeymoon wringing every last drop of pleasure from her body. To drink in her moans, revel in her shudders, and fill her with my cum until it leaks from her pussy and drips down her thighs.
The last time I found myself this obsessed over a woman, it was my undoing. I won’t let that happen again—I can’t. The next time might actually kill me, as my ex intended but failed to do. I swore then that I’d never be blinded by a woman’s wiles again.The more I want her, the more she’s guaranteed to be nothing but trouble.
Now I’m married to my worst nightmare—a woman I find desirable. That I can’t stop thinking about.
My fist slams down on the table top. Frustration and pent up energy zing through my muscles, demanding release. With a curse, and a sense of defeat, I unzip my jeans, taking my throbbing cock in hand. I don’t bother with lube. Instead, I enjoy the friction that brings both pain and pleasure.
