When I looked at my reflection, I gasped.I had never seen myself look so beautiful.Tears instantly welled up in my eyes.
The silky dress had a halter neck, molding against my tits.It fit my frame like a glove, highlighting my curves and dropping to my feet in a puddle of silk.It was a backless dress, and the ropes that held my turtleneck in place at the back fell down my back in wide, flat ropes, giving the illusion of a train.
It was simple, minimalistic, and breathtaking.It looked like something I’d wear on my wedding day.
“You are the most beautiful bride I have seen in a long time,” the attendant whispered behind me.She looked awestruck like she had just seen a goddess.
“Thank you,” I croaked.
“I’ll give you a moment.”She quietly slipped out of the room, leaving me to my thoughts.
I smiled, running my palms over the dress.As I saw the curtains shift through the mirror, I looked over my shoulder.
“I thought you were—”
The words died on the tip of my tongue, choking me, as Luciano stalked into the room.His white button-up shirt flexed around his muscular frame as he moved, tucked in a pair of black slacks.
Those electric-blue eyes shifted into a much more possessive gaze when they landed on the dress—on me.They crawled up and down my body, searing my skin with heat so that I wanted nothing but to shrink into my own skin.
My throat closed up.
“You are fucking beautiful,” he rasped out.“And that dress?It looks like sin on your body,” he complimented me, slowly stalking toward me.
Red exploded all over my face and neck.“Thank you.”
“What are you doing here?”I tried to suck in some breath, but I failed woefully.
I can’t be in the same room with this man.
“I followed you here since all you have done these past few days is avoid me.”His expression closed off as he folded his arms across his chest.
I exhaled.“Can we not do this, please?”
“Oh, we are doing it, all right.”He strode across the room over to where I was.
His smell hit me instantly, making me suck in a harsh breath.
“You have been hiding from me, and I want to know why.”He closed the distance between us, invading my space like darkness.“I told you I hate it when you run from me, and after all this time, you still haven’t learned your lesson.”His voice was much darker now.
“Stop...”I breathed.
“No, you stop,” he growled.“Stop running from me, Andrea.You can’t hide from me.I already told you that.I don’t know why you’re being so fucking stubborn.”
“Well, I have to be!”I snapped shakily.“This whole thing you are doing, being so nice, acting so obsessed with me.You need to stop it.There’s only so much I can take.I already told you.This is an arrangement.You were supposed to come here as my fake fiancé and keep up with the charade until the wedding is over.Not get under my skin and fuck me like you can’t live without me.”
He cupped my face so daintily.“What if I want it to be real?”
“W-what?”I stammered.
“I don’t just want to be fake engaged to you.I want to be engaged to you for real.I want to marry you,amore mio.I want to be your husband.”His words struck me across the face like whiplash.
“Don’t say that!”I quivered.
“Why?Because you think you don’t deserve to be loved?”He narrowed his eyes at me.
“I’m a mess, okay?”I raised my voice.“I’m grumpy.I’m bossy.I’m needy.I’m demanding.I’m bad for you, okay?I’m broken.I can’t give you happiness.I can’t give you a family because I don’t even want kids.You deserve better,” I croaked, frustrated that he wasn’t seeing reason.
“Good thing I love my women messy and unhinged.”
