Just before his lips crash down on mine.
This kiss is nothing like the first one, which only consisted of a little spark. A flash of heat before it was gone.
No, this kiss is all fire and tongue and hunger. His hand slips down, until he’s touching my ass and his fingers tighten around my chin, keeping me in place as he devours my mouth with his. All I can do is cling helplessly to him, my hand finding his chest, his wildly beating heart beneath my palm.
He breaks the kiss, taking a step back, his chest rising and falling. “How was that?”
I can’t find my words. All I can do is nod.
The look on his face is smug. “That’s what I thought. Shall we talk to more of our guests? Thank them for coming?”
How he can act so smooth and unaffected after that kiss is mind blowing.
And irritating.
“Yes,” I finally rasp, clearing my throat. I can still feel his hand on my ass. His lips fused with mine. The way he slid his tongue into my mouth…
“Let’s go.” He grabs hold of the crook of my elbow, the very one that my father gripped a few days ago and a whimper falls from my lips. His fingers immediately spring away from my arm, his brows lowered in concern. “What’s wrong?”
“Nothing,” I say too quickly.
He just stares at me, his gaze full of disbelief.
“I, um, hurt myself.” I wave my other hand at my arm.
His expression is thunderous. “What happened?”
I don’t want to tell him the truth. “It’s nothing.”
We stare at each other for a beat, and I see the dawning realization in his eyes. He knows I’m lying.
“I think it’s something.” Without warning he reaches for my arm, his fingers gentle as he pushes up the lace.
It all happens so fast.
I jerk my arm away, the lace falling back into place, but it’s too late. The moment I see the darkness enter his gaze, his entire expression going tight, I know he’s seen it.
“Charlotte.” His voice is extra deep. “Those bruises arefingerprints.”
I say nothing. Can only stare at him, my entire being trembling.
“Who did this to you?”
A shuddery breath leaves me. “I can’t tell you.”
“Why the fuck not?”
I swallow hard. “It’s none of your business.”
Chapter Eleven
Perry
What the fuckdid she just say? It’s none of my business?
If we’re really going through with this, I’m about to become her husband. Everything she does, everything that happens to her, is going to be my business. I have every right to know who did this to her.
“Was it one of your asshole brothers? Grant? Or maybe it was Finn.” Those dudes—specifically the middle one—were something else. Bunch of arrogant dicks, and when Finn tried playing the tough-guy game with me—Jesus. Good thing I’ve been in training my whole life for moments like this.