Page 115 of Lovely Venom

“Why did you bring me here?” she whispers under her breath.

I settle my hand on her hip, urging her forward as we reach the point of no return. I’m well aware of what I’m about to do, and what the consequences could mean for my family. But I’ve already made my decision.

Words alone mean nothing to Chantel. She expects that everyone will eventually betray her, and I’m not giving that fear another second to breathe.

“Bastien.” I nod at him as we approach, tightening my grip on Chantel when I feel the tension in her body.

Something passes between her and Jolie, and Jolie’s expression sours as she takes in the two of us.

“Cristian.” Bastien swings his gaze to the woman beside me, disappointment flickering in his eyes.

“I’d like you to meet Chantel.” I draw her closer. “My future wife.”

She stills beside me, holding my gaze for a heartbeat. Then she reassembles her armor and turns to face the man before us.

“Jolie, give us a few moments,” Bastien says.

She hesitates as her eyes fall on me, searching for any signs of lingering hope. But when she finds none, she walks away with her head held high.

“Choosing passion after all?” Bastien eyes me curiously.

I give him a subtle nod.

“A bold choice.” He studies Chantel, and for a moment, I can see that he gets it.

I don’t doubt that he’s wondering how his life might have turned out if he’d never let go of his first choice. For all his efforts of convincing me that compatibility was what mattered, I realize now that story was never for my benefit. He needed to believe it himself.

“I respect your honesty,” he says finally. “If this is what you’ve chosen, I can only say that I hope she’s worth it.”

I feel Chantel’s gaze on me as I nod, and he bids us a clipped goodbye.

“Cristian?” Chantel searches my eyes. “What did you just do?”

“Not here.” I lead her through the crowd and down the narrow side deck until we reach the empty bow.

As soon as we’re alone, she pulls away. “Are you insane?”

“Occasionally.”

“This isn’t the time for sarcasm,” she huffs.

I reclaim the distance between us, wrapping my arm around her waist as I tip her chin up. “You started this game, Mrs. Vitale.”

“As a joke.” She lets out a shaky breath. “That didn’t feel like a joke.”

“Consider it me easing you into the idea.”

“You just told that man I’m going to be your wife in front of an entire audience,” she says. “If that’s easing me in, do I want to know what the alternative was?”

“Probably not.”

My gaze drops to her lips, and the thought of her imprint on my cock makes me hard all over again. I’m tempted to fuck her right here, but I have other plans for tonight.

Threading my fingers through her hair, I wind it around my fist and angle her head back. Her pulse thrums as my lips coast over the delicate column of her throat, breathing in the sweet scent of lemon and vanilla.

“You know I can’t marry you,” she says breathlessly.

“Can you stop talking?” I nip at her. “I’m busy.”