That seemed to break her of the spell.
“Smile nicely for the camera,” Gabriella hissed. “No, not like that. You don’t want to look like a psycho.”
I didn’t change a damn thing about my face.
Because the bride was about to realize exactly what she’d married.
“Liam!”
“Wife?”
Gabriella grasped my hand. Her gaze crashed into mine. She saw the controlled violence dancing under the surface. I might wear a mask, but she recognized what was underneath.
While they clapped and cheered, only she felt the promise settle deep and dangerous between us. Stepping back, I let her plate the slice as I plucked my glass of untouched whiskey from the head table. Gabriella slid a fork through the fluffy dessert, lifted it to me, but I shook my head and handed the whiskey to her instead of accepting her offering.
The next scheduled event was disappearing upstairs to the bridal suite.
“Drain it,” I commanded.
It was better if she was numb.
Gabriella took it, arched a brow, then threw it back in one long swig. The lines of her throat worked as she swallowed.
I moaned softly. The beast, raging inside me, was coming for her. There would be no escape.
Chapter 15 – Gabriella
Iturned off the water and leaned over the sink. The buzz of whiskey in my veins was nothing to the anticipation coursing through me. Liam was out there. Waiting. I hadn’t let myself dwell too long on this, banishing the thoughts that invaded me in the days leading up to the wedding.
There was no escaping this now.
And, if I was being brutally honest, I didn’t want to escape.
No…. I took a deep breath, lifted my head, and stared at the reflection. Fleeing the nightmare that was my life was a problem for another day. For tonight, for the brief interlude where I needed to stay with the Irishman, I would make the most of it. The pills hidden in the lining of my luggage meant there would be no repercussion. I was going to steal a selfish moment for myself and just enjoy…everything.
I opened the door, my gaze landing on his broad back a moment later. His suit jacket was off. He stood by the window, staring through a crack in the blinds over the city. Sex dripped from his body like a delicate aroma.
My mouth flooded, desperate for a taste.
“Here.” Liam extended his left hand. Another tumbler of amber liquid was gripped tightly in his bare fingers.
“What’s that for?” I scooted over, taking it from his grasp.
He shot me a side look. The shadows bathed his masked side, making him seem whole—but not human. “You looked like you could use it.”
I held his gaze as I put the glass to my lips. Opening my throat, I drained the contents in one long swallow. Fire seared my throat, but I didn’t cough.
“Jaysus,” he breathed.
The impressed look he wore was warmer than the alcohol simmering in my veins. It gave me the courage to hand the empty glass back and reach for the zipper at the back of my neck.
The teeth grated as I tugged the zipper down.
Peeling the gown off my body, I let out the first real breath since I woke up. Cool air licked my skin, and I welcomed it after the stifling vise of the lace.
Liam was deadly still, drinking me in with that turbulent blue gaze.
I waited a heartbeat before kicking off the modest, simple shoes. My bare feet wriggled in the fuzzy carpet, finally free.
