o's

e room. I stood before the mirror, adjusting the cuffs of my suit with steady hands. It was

force a woman

and fury wrapped in delicate porcelain skin. A weapon di

yet, but she was

to hers. The door was locked, but that didn't matter-I had th

s alread

She had changed into the corset gown I had provided for her-an emerald green

fury in her gaze was a thunderstorm. "

ehind me. "You do

emerald eyes blazing with

ching the bri

ena

I hadn't expected the sheer defiance burning in her gaz

not

et herself on

ng. Instead, it only made me

ple through her body. "You were put up for auction. Do you r

hesi

s ordered to return you to Marco." I let the silence stretch, wat

ou think a forced marria

ges ever

ing out a slim stack of papers. I s

"Or would you ra

e papers off the table. Her eyes scanned t

ait

up. "A one-year m

es

the exact moment she reac

k to anyone without your approval. I can't –" she cut herself of

it what you want,

pers back toward

ected

slightly, but sh

etch, let the weight

ispered, "Why d

uld have been si

e silence linger. Letting

d I bu

one I wasn't willi

ould make the most sense. The one tha

hadn't, you'd

just barely, b

. "That man plays games for his amusement. He would h

trembling slightly despite her

he sinceri

istance between us. I closed the distance betwee

et my inte

t," I murmured, "and y

essed into

the edge of the paper she had pushed back a

ly. "And at the

lk away

hesi

ly unwillingn

e the contact. "Sign it, or walk out the door." I nodded towards the

surface, I glanced at a crack in her anger.

gnat

w I was

e reached

es white. Then, with one final inhale, she pressed

le pulled

d gi

on the contract I knew

was

oice but

enched, and her breathing was slow and deliberate. I had predicted her to lash o

her green eyes filled with

leap to me, under my possession, in my

was an old man, a loyal servant of my family, and even he knew this union was nothing h

me" the pri

a Ricci, take you, Nico Mor

er lips like a curse, ea

ate me. It was

e reasons

reasons Da

use I wa

ow why Macro Moret

" the priest announced, his

stif

or her. My fingers twined under her chin, leaning her face up to mine. He

have kis

t hers and claimed her in front of t

I di

g the surface of her ear as I murmu

sed her and

to the back seat, Elena's body language screamed defiance as she sat beside me, her gaze

s on your mind,

id not

breath. "Silent trea

her seat but st

i

reak ev

wung up and we glided up the driveway to the entrance. Befo

t he

rble floors, the crystal chandeliers. Let he

n't just

was a

locked for as l

f the car, her eyes burning with bo

on't think so,

it another insult at me, I motioned to one

r once you knew the

ed. "Did you think I'd

crossed her face. A

wait for

y voice turning cold. "Lock the door if

floor. I kept an eye on her till she disappeared down the

ge was a ga

neve