by Kiera Silver
He looked briefly disappointed before standing up, taking her gently to her feet and leading her back to the bedroom suite. He gave her an enigmatic grin. “It’s a good thing we have tonight.”
She went along with him, stomach fizzing with excitement at what he might have planned for their last night together. It was certain to be amazing.
Much later, in the glow of the moonlight provided by the gaping curtain covering the patio door, she admired his skin and traced her fingers down a rough scar on the side of his stomach. “What happened here?”
“Gunshot,” he said lazily, as though it was no big deal.
She let out a small gasp. “Someone shot you?”
He shrugged. “I’ve dealt with some rough characters over the years. It’s nothing to worry about.”
She bit her lip, but dropped the conversation. It was probably a product of misspent youth, because he didn’t seem to have grown up in a rough neighborhood. If he had, he’d clearly done well for himself in the intervening years and had likely left all that behind. Just like he was going to leave her behind, though she was the one departing first.
Grace let out a heartfelt sigh, wishing that she had stifled the urge when he stiffened a moment later. She didn’t want him to know how close she was to crying. She was feeling pretty pathetic about the whole thing, but she couldn’t deny that walking away from him tomorrow was going to be the hardest thing she’d ever done. She hoped that it was simply a brief vacation fling, and she’d soon return to her old, familiar routine and stop feeling this way about a man she’d only known a few days. Before she could get to that point, she had to wrench herself out of his arms, both figuratively and literally, and that was the part she dreaded most.
“What’s on your mind, honey? There’s clearly something bothering you.”
“I’m just going to miss you. This has been an amazing week, and I’m afraid I’ll forget how wonderful everything was when I’m back in my regular life.”
He brought her hand to his lips, brushing them against her knuckles in a tender gesture. “I don’t want this week to end either.” He stiffened when she let out a small snort. “You think I’m lying?”
Grace hesitated for a moment, searching for a way to phrase what she was thinking. “I don’t think you’re lying, but I’m sure this sort of thing happens to you all the time. You’ll forget all about me by the time your plane lands.”
His eyes darkened, and she worried that she had upset him. “You’re telling me that I don’t have any genuine feelings for you? Are you saying you know my heart better than I do?”
She paused at his use of the word heart, trying not to read too much into it. “I’m just trying to be realistic. We both know this was supposed to be temporary, and you’ll have forgotten about me long after I’m still thinking about… this week.” She substituted those words at the last moment, not wanting to seem completely ridiculous.
His lips compressed, and his mood was clearly swinging toward anger. “I’m glad you know me so well. If you know what I’m thinking, then tell me at this minute what’s on my mind.”
She shrugged. “I’m not trying to claim I can read your mind.”
“Obviously you can’t, or you’d either be running away or throwing yourself against me.”
She pressed her hand to his abdomen, allowing her fingers to brush gently against his semi-hard cock. It wouldn’t take much to arouse it back to full functionality, as she had quickly learned over the last few days. “Did you have something kinky in mind?”
With a sigh of impatience, he took her hand away from his tempting parts and folded it in his, placing it against his chest and covering it with his larger hand. “I’m trying to have a serious conversation with you here, not get distracted by sex.”
She barely bit back a giggle at his petulant expression and grumpy tone. “I’m sorry. I wasn’t trying to distract you with sex.”
Larenz rolled his eyes, but he seemed willing to move the conversation forward. Still holding her hand, he twined his fingers through hers. “I don’t want to let you go.”
Her heart softened slightly, but she forced herself to remain focused on practicalities. “I don’t want to let you go either, but my flight is tomorrow. We should really make the most of the time we have left.”
“I’ve been thinking about that.”
She tilted her head slightly in puzzlement. “Thinking about what?”
“Thinking about letting you go, and I’ve decided to keep you.”
She laughed softly. “You can’t just keep someone, Larenz.” Even if they wanted to be kept, and she did with all of her heart.
He cocked an eyebrow in her direction. “Oh, really?”
She hesitated, uncertain if he was teasing for a moment, or being completely sincere. It was a slightly unnerving reaction, and she pushed aside any hesitation or doubts. “I’m sure you could do whatever you want, and whatever you set your mind to, but we both know I’m leaving tomorrow, and we shouldn’t pretend like that isn’t happening. Unless you prefer it that way? Do you want me to slip away quietly while you’re sleeping?”
His lips compressed further. “No, I want you to get on a plane with me, and we’ll fly to Vegas.”
She frowned at him. “That sounds fun, but I have to be back for classes on Monday.”
He grinned at her. “If you really have to be back in time for classes, I’ll make sure you’re home by then. On the other hand, if you’d like to take a few extra days and indulge in a honeymoon, I’d be perfectly fine with that too.”
“I can’t really spare time off school...” She stopped speaking abruptly, and her mouth dropped open in shock as his words penetrated her brain. “Honeymoon? What are you talking about, Larenz?”
He squeezed her hand and wrapped several strands of her hair around his other fingers, which felt like a show of possession. “That usually follows getting married, doesn’t it? Why else do you think I want to go to Vegas?”
She cleared her suddenly dry throat with a raspy cough. “Vegas… for gambling?”
He laughed. “I’d say marriage is about the biggest gamble of all. So do you want to?”
She frowned at him, still having a difficult time comprehending what he was saying. His words had to have another meaning. They just simply did, because she wasn’t equipped to deal with this. “Do I want to what?”
Larenz let out a small sigh, sounding impatient. “Do you want to get married?”
Her mouth gaped open. “We barely know each other.”
He lifted his shoulder in a shrug, appearing unconcerned by that fact. “We’ll learn about each other as we go, but we know we’re good together, and neither one of us wants to be apart. What’s the problem? We’ll get married and settle down, and then we don’t have to be apart. We already know we both live in the same city, so that’s not an obstacle. What do you think?”
She shook her head. “I think it’s crazy!”
His lips tightened. “Okay, but what does your heart think of the idea, since your head is being so damn stubborn?”
She opened her mouth to reiterate her statement, but hesitated as she took a moment to consider what he was suggesting. She really focused on it, able to sharply envision a future spent with the man beside her. It should have been way too soon, and she wasn’t given to crazy, impulsive decisions, so she was slightly shocked when she heard herself say, “Yes.”
“Yes, what?”
“Yes, I want to marry you, and I will.”
He let out a small whoop before lifting her and plastering her across his chest. His hands cupped her face, fingers digging into her hair, and he dragged her down for a long, drugging kiss before releasing her with clear reluctance. “I promise that you won’t regret this.”
She hesitated, waiting for uncertainty or doubts to hit her, but finding none. It was with a sense of wonder that she nodded her head. “I think you’re right. I can’t imagine I’ll ever regret choosing you, Larenz.”
C
hapter Four
Larenz focused all of his attention and all of his considerable charisma on Grace, ensuring that there was no way for her to change her mind. Now that she’d agreed to marry him, he was going to ensure she went through with it. This wedding was the key to his entire plan, and he tried to dismiss any other emotions associated with her agreement, like pleasure or warmth. She meant nothing to him, and that was the way it should be. As soon as she learned why he’d married her, if she ever did, it would destroy their relationship anyway. The past week had been nothing but a gossamer illusion he had built one strand at a time.
He certainly didn’t need to fall in his own trap. Yes, his young bride was attractive and compelling, and no matter how many times he was inside her, he couldn’t seem to get enough, but that was just a physical reaction. He had to maintain a façade of feeling something else, but he didn’t have to try to fool himself about it. It was better to be coldblooded and admit that he was manipulating her, at least with himself.
All those pep talks did nothing to ease the sudden racing of his heart when she appeared at the head of the aisle in the small chapel they had chosen for the ceremony. She had tried to convince him to wait on the wedding, at least giving her time to involve her family, and meet his, but he’d steamrolled her objections. He wanted his ring on her finger, and his name added to hers, as quickly (and legally) as possible. It was simply a protective measure, and had nothing to do with how it would make him feel.
It was all right to want his bride, and it was an unexpected bonus to feel attracted to her, so he should be able to view it as a good thing. It would make it that much easier to stomach having a wife if he actually wanted to bed her. And he did, multiple times per day. Even when he wasn’t with her, which admittedly had been few and far between since she had moved into his suite at the hotel, she dominated his thoughts. He was certain that would change as soon as he had what he needed from her, and they were back home. He tried to dismiss any concerns or other thoughts as he focused on her floating down the aisle.
It had been a hasty wedding, and they had planned all the details upon arriving in Las Vegas that morning. Considering how quickly it had all come together, it was a surprisingly beautiful ceremony, and she made a stunning bride in a traditional flowing white gown. When he took her hand in his and prepared to slide the Harry Winston wedding band onto her finger, he suddenly found it difficult to breathe.
After clearing his throat, he chalked it up to a reaction to the strong scent of lilies that clouded the air. The chapel was packed with the waxy white blooms; that had to be the reason why his lungs were tight and his eyes burned. Damn allergies. He cleared his throat again, and the sensation disappeared. It was simply a coincidence that his condition had overwhelmed him at the moment she said, “I do.” There were legalities to deal with, but as soon as she had said the words, she was his.
He had no explanation for why he got choked up again a moment later when it was his turn to say, “I do,” but he pressed on through, ignoring the reaction as he focused on completing the ceremony and claiming Grace Faulkner as his wife.
As soon as she had signed the marriage certificate, a wave of relief flowed over him. Now he had everything he needed to secure his family’s future and keep them safe from the threat of prosecution. No wonder he was giddy with relief, his heart pounding with excitement. The worst was over, or would be after he confronted her father.
They spent the night in Vegas before flying home, and as soon as they got into the long black sedan, he ordered the driver take them directly to his house. He ignored her objections about needing to retrieve her possessions from the sorority house. “Is there anything you can’t replace?”
After a moment of hesitation, she shook her head. “No, I guess not.”
He nodded. “That’s settled then. There’s no reason to go back to that hellhole and risk facing those barracudas you call your friends. I’m going to protect you, and since you’re my wife, and that means taking you to my home.”
She let out a little sigh, looking annoyed with him, which made him want to chuckle. “Fine, you brute.”
He did chuckle then. “Guilty as charged, dear wife.”
She shivered in pleasure; either from the endearment or the way he brushed his lips against her knuckles when he brought her hand to his mouth. He was certain that if he lifted the hem of the dress she’d worn for traveling home, he’d find her wet and ready for him. The thought was intoxicating, and he couldn’t keep his hands to himself as he pulled her onto his lap and began to kiss her with all the pent-up passion that had built up between them during the last few hours of the flight.
If they hadn’t been on a commercial airline, he would have spent the flight making love to her in ten different ways, but even in first-class, there was no opportunity for such a display. Now that he had her all to himself, and he planned to enjoy it.
It was only when they reached his house that he spared a thought for the coming showdown with her father. The thought was unpleasant, and he shoved it aside as he focused on Grace instead, sweeping her from the car, across the threshold, and up the stairs as quickly as possible.
It was Grace who prodded him to meet her father, and Larenz was disconcerted to realize that he had spent the last two days immersed in his bride, who had insisted on tearing herself away from his side to attend classes. During the hours she was gone, he’d accomplished very little in the way of work, but he tried not to think about why he might be procrastinating. His mind was still in vacation mode. That was all there was to it. He was also rehearsing how he would approach her father, and what he would say.
It was still slightly startling when she told him they were having dinner with her father that night after she came back from her Tuesday classes. Since it was the whole reason he’d married her, he didn’t protest her making plans without his input. He was relieved to have the operation moving forward.
He tried not to dwell on it as he dressed for dinner. Gearing up to meet his new father-in-law was proving to be more of an annoyance than anything. He was certain that Philip Faulkner would not have taken the news of his daughter’s elopement well under any circumstances, but the old man was going to be particularly pissed off when he realized just whom his little girl had married. Larenz smirked at his reflection in the mirror, enjoying the idea of throwing Philip for a loop.
Grace blotted her damp palms on her khaki pants, struggling to control the bout of nerves that seized her. She was certain that her father was going to be disappointed in her decision, and although she was an adult and shouldn’t worry about what he thought; it was difficult not to take him into consideration. Not that she’d been able to think of anything or anyone else in the face of Larenz’s strength of will and determination to get his ring on her finger.
At that reminder, she glanced down at the large platinum and diamond band, running her thumb lovingly over it. It was larger than anything she would have picked out for herself, but it had grown on her in the last couple of days it had rested on her finger. She hoped that Larenz would grow on her father too, because she was certain he would be dead set against whomever she brought home in these circumstances, at least in the beginning.
It was a casual family dinner, so she hadn’t bothered to dress up. Larenz had worn a button-down shirt, and she had stripped him of his tie before he left the house, telling him there was no need to be so formal. He’d looked briefly disconcerted as she had taken his tie away, but he had shrugged and allowed her to guide him. Having her typically headstrong husband bend to her will was a welcome change, and she relished the small victory.
When he’d asked her to marry him, it had seemed crazy, but she’d wanted to do it. Something about Larenz tapped into her wild, impulsive side and overrode her common sense.
They walked together to the front door, her hand in his, as she rang the doorbell. Her father opened the door a moment later, and she realized what a stark contrast his suburban home was to Larenz’s imposing
residence. She hoped they wouldn’t be too disparate to be able to get along, because she loved both of them, and she couldn’t imagine having to make a choice between her husband and her father.
Philip looked at her first, stepping forward for a hug before stepping back again. He eyed Larenz with interest and clear puzzlement. His gaze flicked to Grace’s before returning to her husband and coming to rest on their linked hands.
“And who is this? You didn’t tell me you were bringing a guest.”
Grace had hoped to at least make it through the doorway before having to make awkward introductions, but it was clear that this was going down on the front step. She squeezed her hand around Larenz’s and pulled him a little closer, bringing him under the glare of the porch light. “This is Larenz —”
“Moretti,” spat out her father, his expression grim, and his complexion ashen.
At the same time, while extending his hand, Larenz said, “I’m Grace’s husband.”
The look she shot Larenz was full of disbelief. Couldn’t he see this was the wrong time to make that pronouncement? “Dad, are you all right?”
Philip staggered, his expression stunned. “He’s lying, isn’t he, Grace?”
Grace shook her head slowly, her lip caught between her teeth. “No. He isn’t.”
Her father took a shaky step back before opening the door wider. “Get inside.”
Grace flinched at the sound of the front door slamming behind them a moment later. She eyed him with concern. “I know it seems rushed, and I’m sure you don’t approve, but it just happened. It was crazy and impulsive, and we fell in love.”
