Chapter 3

The walk down the aisle was more of a walk of shame than anything else as I held on tightly to my father's arm like my life depended on it.

If it caused him any kind of pain, Don Alberto said nothing, gazing straight ahead as he led me to slaughter.

The smiles from those around almost made me lose it. They weren’t aware that this was all just a sham.

I gazed around, searching through the crowd, and almost stumbled when my gaze caught that of Donavan.

What was he doing here?

He was supposed to be far away from here, right?

Donavan was the first to look away, his face void of any expression. If he was here to add salt to my wound, then he was going to be disappointed.

I almost didn’t realize when we reached my husband-to-be, and my father left my side.

"You are not bad to look at," Luca said once I was standing next to him, causing irritation so intense to flood my whole being.

How... how... annoying!

At least now I could focus my mind on something. Anger.

"Are you trying to say I'm beautiful?" I hissed back, not in control of my mouth anymore as the words poured out, albeit a whisper. "Because I know I am."

A dry snort worked its way out of him. "If that helps you sleep well at night, princess," he said coldly, his deep baritone vibrating through me, even if he was just whispering.

I found myself speechless, standing there, vibrating in anger.

Luca pushed out his elbow for me to wrap my hand around. "Come on, princess. We don't want to keep the priest waiting."

I hooked my arm around his and almost gasped when our bodies touched. Something shifted in my stomach, but I couldn't dwell on it as the ceremony began.

"Is anyone against the marriage between these two? Speak now, or forever hold your peace," the priest asked after we had exchanged the vows he had called out for us.

When no one made a noise, not even the sound of a pin could be heard for a full minute, the middle-aged man smiled.

Like anyone would move a muscle and not find themselves on their way to the other side.

"I now pronounce you husband and wife. You may now kiss the bride," he said to Luca, smiling ear to ear.

My mind went into instant panic mode.

Luca turned to face me, and then he stepped closer, reaching for my hands, which he instantly covered with his big ones.

The priest backed away a few steps as if to give us a little privacy.

"It's just a kiss, chica, why do you look like you are about to face a firing squad?" His gaze pierced into mine, keeping me in place.

Warmth spread from his palms wrapped around mine, my stomach, and then pooled just below my abdomen.

I swallowed, holding his gaze, and trying not to look away.

His eyes were still icy, but for some reason, gave off something really far from that.

I licked my lips nervously, and his gaze fell to them. "Let's just get this over—" I didn’t finish my sentence before he slammed his lips against mine in a kiss that awakened every single one of my nerves.

For the first few nanoseconds, I stood there, still as a rock as pure arousal crashed through me. His warm, wet mouth took mine in them, sucking and nibbling, teasing me until I could hold it in no longer.

Luca let go of my hands, then slipped one hand around my waist to pull me in, while I slipped mine around his neck as my body finally sprung into action, giving back what I was receiving.

Who would have thought...

A low moan almost worked its way out of my mouth when he nudged my tongue open and met mine.

In my whole life, I had never been kissed like this, and had never felt like this from a kiss.

I didn’t even care that we were in front of a crowd.

Wait...

Sounds of cheers filtered into my jumbled brain, making me aware of the display we were putting on in front of others, including my father, and I tried to pull away, but Luca stroked his tongue against the seam of my lips, before biting and then sucking it, causing my brain to turn to mush again.

Then he pulled away. Not just his lips, but his whole body, before stepping back slightly, with a frown on his face.

I almost stumbled from how weak my knees were, if only I hadn't caught myself in time.

"Someone seemed to enjoy that way too much," he said coldly, even though he was smiling at the crowd. "Meanwhile, whatever that was, it worked on the crowd."

If his coldness wasn’t enough to bring me down from my high, his words certainly did.

The kiss, which had almost sent me ripping his suit apart, had been a show.

Got it.

All of a sudden, my head began to pound.

I forced myself to detach from my environment, and whatever had just happened. Sadly, it came too easy, as it was a habit I had become used to for the longest time since I could remember.

The rest of the wedding was nothing more than a performance.

The De Santis family and the Riccis clapped politely, their murmured congratulations masking the tension thick in the air. I barely heard them. I barely felt the weight of the diamond on my finger. I barely noticed when Luca took my hand, guiding me down the cathedral steps toward the awaiting car.

"You’re mine now," he murmured, his grip firm but not painful. Yet.

I ignored the shiver that rushed through me as soon as he said that.

What had I been thinking, kissing him back and indulging him like that? The man was a monster and wasted no time reminding me of that. Now I had to keep that at the forefront of my stubborn skull.

"I was never yours," I shot back, tilting my head defiantly. "And I will never be yours."

"From the way you clung to me like a leech earlier, I don't think that's true." His lips twitched, almost amused, but his gaze darkened, taking me in. "You will learn, Elena."

"Nothing happened earlier. It was just a show." Even as I said the words, my cheeks burned from just how much my body knew I was lying. But it had been a show to him, so it was the same for me.

Luca stepped closer. "Hmmm…" The fact that he said nothing after that infuriated the hell out of me.

I swallowed the lump in my throat, refusing to be intimidated. But the closer we got to the car, the more my nerves twisted inside me. 

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