She is beautiful, and everyone always comments on that fact which makes her want to run and hide. I won’t be there to protect her any longer or to throw one of my fits to draw unwanted attention away from her. She and I are opposite in almost every way when it comes to how we look, except for our dark hair. She’d struck the jackpot and gotten bright blue eyes and legs that most women would die for. Ones that would have her walking a runway if we had a different life, but we don’t. We’re both damned.
“I do.” Antonio's words jerk me back to the moment. “Say it,” he orders when the priest comes to me next.
I swallow and push the words out. “I do.”
“I now pronounce you husband and wife.” Antonio is already turning me toward him. I close my eyes and seal my lips together. I already gave him those stupid words; he’s not getting anything else. “You may kiss the bride.” I brace myself, but nothing comes. The room is dead silent. I peek open one of my eyes to see him staring down at me. What? I’m not kissable? Not that I want him to kiss me, but still.
“What the hell–” My words are cut off when his mouth covers mine. I expect the kiss to be hard, but his mouth is soft against me. The opposite of every other part of his that is pressed to me. I gasp when I feel the outline of his cock against my stomach. He steals the moment to slide his tongue past my parted lips.
His hold on my hips stays firm, keeping me in place, but his kiss remains slow. His tongue strokes against mine gently, and I start to kiss him back. A small moan leaves me. Oh no. What am I doing? I mean, Iamonly human, and as much as I don’t want to admit it, my new husband is handsome. He’s still a jerk that’s going to regret the day he decided to marry me, but he’s a very good-looking one. He must feel me tense, because I go to bite him, but he pulls back in the nick of time. Dammit.
“Save that for later, my little hellion.”
I open and close my mouth, his kiss still lingering there. I don’t get a chance to say something smart before he releases my hips to turn us toward the silent audience. They all start to clap when Antonio takes my hand to guide me back down the aisle.
I glance over at my sister, whose eyes are wide with shock. That makes two of us. I misstep, almost tripping over my stupid heels. Antonio releases my hand and wraps his arm around my waist, pulling me into him so I don’t fall on my face.
“I can walk on my own,” I say instead of giving him a thank you.
“Is that so?”
I squeak when he scoops me up into his arms as we exit the church.
“We’re leaving?” Oh God. Of course we’re leaving. Antonio doesn’t answer my question. Of course not. He doesn’t answer to anyone. The big scary Antonio Palermo. My father is even a bit scared of him. Not that he’d ever admit it, but I can sense it. I’ve gotten good at reading him over the years. It’s a part of my survival, really.
A man opens the back door of the limo waiting outside. Antonio deposits me inside before pushing the rest of my dress in behind me. I’m going to be alone with him. The other door opens, and he slips in beside me. When he closes his door, I flinch. The divider is up. We really are alone now.
I peek over at Antonio, who is again staring at me. I get a good look at him this time. He’s even more handsome than the picture I saw of him, but he’s also more intense too. I don’t understand the look in his eyes.
“You can’t kill me,” I remind him.
His lips twitch. “I’m not going to kill my wife.” Right, because that’s all I really am. My one of two purposes in life filled. I’m married, and now I must give him heirs.
“Then what are you going to do to me?” I ask, fear once again rising inside of me. I hate it. The fear and feeling so powerless.
I don’t think I can take another beating. I still have the lingering marks of the last one my father dished out on my side. I can’t forget about it because the damn corset I was strapped into is pressing against it. The dull pain lingers with each breath I take.
He doesn’t respond to my question. The back of the limo fills with silence, making me more on edge. I’m starting to wonder if he even knows what to do with me.
3
ANTONIO
She glances away, then meets my gaze again, as if she can’t help herself. Her heart is rampaging, and she swallows hard. Scared. She’s terrified of me. Even though I’m perfectly happy to strike fear in everyone else, for some reason, I don’t want her to ever be afraid of me.
“I’m not going to kill you, Angelica. I won’t hurt you, either. Unless you want me to.” I reach into the forest of fabric around her waist and grip her, pulling her into my lap.
“Why would I want you to hurt me?” She blinks.
I run my nose along her neck and up to her ear, then nibble at it.
She pulls back. “What are you doing?”
“I can’t help myself.” I grab her throat and pull her back to me, then kiss her again.
She smacks my chest, but I don’t give in. I kiss her, licking the seam of her mouth. When she opens her lips to protest, I delve my tongue inside.
A shiver runs through her, and she stops attacking me. Her tongue tentatively strokes mine, her body going soft beneath my touch.