Total pages in book: 34
Estimated words: 32333 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 162(@200wpm)___ 129(@250wpm)___ 108(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 32333 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 162(@200wpm)___ 129(@250wpm)___ 108(@300wpm)
“I’m not a thief.”
Lily-Mae burst out laughing. “You’re a fool if you think this marriage is going to last, because I can promise you, it isn’t. Massimo will take one look at your fat ass and realize what he is missing. He’ll have nothing but mistresses, and the moment you disappoint him, he’ll find a way to get rid of you. People like you do not marry people like Massimo.” With that, and a final glare, Lily-Mae left.
Adelina took a deep breath. She was right. People like Massimo didn’t date people like her. The makeup artist and hairstylist had been able to make her look like a pretty bride, but that was all she was ever going to be. Pretty.
It didn’t matter how many diets she went on, the weight never fell off. She had even gone through a period of time attempting to starve herself in an effort to lose weight. That hadn’t worked. She had decided to be comfortable in her own skin, yet that didn’t feel like it was working now either. She was mousy, plain, and bland. Massimo was a good-looking, sexy man. He shouldn’t be with someone like her.
“Here you go,” Massimo said.
She looked up to see a glass held out toward her. “Thank you.” She took a sip and pulled the glass away from her. “This is wine. I’m only allowed water.”
“Babe, your parents are not the ones in control now. I am.”
And with that, he wrapped his arm around her waist and pulled her close. Did Massimo find her repulsive? Was he just being a gentleman? None of that made sense, seeing as he was a monster. He never showed weakness to anyone. She doubted he was about to start now.
Chapter Three
At the start of this engagement, Massimo had intended for his wedding night to be fake. He was not going to put Adelina through the pain of losing her virginity.
Only, they had gotten to their wedding night, and seeing her in her gown, being near her, smelling that hint of vanilla mixed with cinnamon, was a tempting combination. She made him ache so damn bad. He’d been wanting her since the moment he turned at the church and saw her walking down the aisle toward him.
To him, Adelina had looked absolutely stunning. He’d been drawn to her throughout the ceremony, and even at the after-party. Dancing with her had been a dream. She fit against him as if she was always supposed to be there. Absolutely breathtaking.
And now, as the door closed behind them for their wedding night, he had seen the looks from some of the women. He’d even seen Lily-Mae talking to his wife earlier, and he had sensed her withdrawal, and it pissed him the fuck off.
Staring across the room at her, with the door now locked, he released his jacket and cleared his throat.
“If you don’t want to ... I understand,” Adelina said.
He looked at her, and then with purpose he closed the distance between them so he was right in front of her, and she had no way of escaping.
“You understand?” he asked.
“I mean, I get it, if you want to, you know, not ... do what needs to be done.”
He reached out and stroked a curl back behind her ear. “I don’t know who has gotten into your head, but unless you don’t want my touch, Adelina, I have every intention of consummating this marriage tonight.”
He was not going to allow room for doubt from anyone. Adelina would leave this room his bride, and that was all he had to say about it.
Stroking some of her hair back behind her ear, he stared into her eyes and cupped her cheeks. At the church, he had been so tempted to ravish her mouth, but he’d seen the slight panic in her eyes and held back for her. Now, he didn’t need to hold back. He could do whatever the hell he wanted, and right now, he desperately wanted to kiss her.
He touched his lips to hers, tentative at first, and then he deepened the kiss, sinking his fingers into her bound hair. He removed the few clips that had pulled her hair back. Massimo was already addicted to this woman, and he couldn’t seem to stop himself.
With his other hand, he rounded her back, gliding down, going toward the curve of her ass. He pulled her in close so she would be able to feel exactly what she did to him. There was no holding back for him. He was hard as fucking rock.
“I think it’s time for us to wash away the day,” he said.
He took her hand and led her into the bathroom. If he tore off her clothes and just took her, he feared he might make her terrified of sex. That was not what he wanted. He had a sneaking suspicion that one time with Adelina would never be enough. He was already addicted to the feel of her lips against his.