Total pages in book: 24
Estimated words: 22616 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 113(@200wpm)___ 90(@250wpm)___ 75(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 22616 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 113(@200wpm)___ 90(@250wpm)___ 75(@300wpm)
I thought he had several questions for me, but after the one he practically evaporated. The way he disappeared without a look back was almost as shocking as the way he burst through in the first place. The stranger who claimed to be my fiancé was more of a puzzle than I expected, but somehow I looked forward to solving him. That is after I let the anger simmer away.
I didn’t know how long he would be gone, but I decided that I needed to test his word. My uncle promised to help me and then it led him into trouble with Elio. My father abandoned me for a life of drugs. I had no one and no matter how attractive Elio was, I could run as soon as we arrived in Chicago if he was a liar. No one would know me there and it was so massive that as soon as I had some money, I could easily get away. As soon as I heard footsteps, I turned away from the door and sat on the bed, waiting for his reentry and if it wasn’t him, so fucking what.
Chapter Five
Elio
I checked in on my little wife-to-be, and she was sitting on the bed, facing away from the door. She hadn’t bothered to check who entered the room. It actually pissed me off. I wasn’t sure what her motives were for it, but if it was to make me mad, it worked.
“Ana Maria, do you just not care who enters your bedroom?” I asked, my tone a little less than polite.
“At this point it doesn’t seem like I have much of a choice, so I guess you’re peeved that I didn’t give you a special greeting.”
“Wow, you went from meek and afraid to petulant and snotty as if you’re not scared.”
She whipped her head around placing her hands on the mattress so her upper body faced me. “Well, you promised me that you wouldn’t hurt me, so I can be snotty with a man who just walks out without a word or you can go back on your word and prove that you’re no different than anyone else who has let me down.”
“Oh.”
“Yes, oh.” She stood up, facing me like the natural queen she was born to be.
Staring at her in just a pair of shorts and her thin tee with her long, smooth legs looking innocent, made my dick so hard and my chest filled with a profound level of jealousy. “Come here,” I ordered. Lust, hunger, and pride made my voice a bit more aggressive than I meant, but she still did what I asked. Her head dropped, but her eyes lifted. When she came to my side, I knew that she was perfect. What I didn’t like was how scared she was.
“Amore, why are you so frightened?” She’d lost the bravado she had a moment ago. Was she always intimidated by raised voices? She didn’t answer, but I saw it in her eyes.
“Have my men threatened you?”
“No, of course not. They have treated me wonderful, but I’m just supposed to accept a man that threatened my uncle because he wanted to help me find my father who has been missing for a long time. I don’t know who to trust and this thing between us is definitely interesting, but it doesn’t mean it’s real.”
“Look into my eyes. You’ll always put your trust in me because I will never disappoint you.”
“That is a high bar to meet. We don’t even know each other, and you’re bound to make mistakes that will hurt me even if you don’t mean to.”
I cupped her face and whispered, “Then let me correct myself. I will do my best to protect you and honor you, respect and cherish you as my wife. Is that any better?”
“That’s a lot better.” She bit down on her bottom lip, and I couldn’t resist another moment. I had to seal my promise. My head slanted and my mouth closed over hers, devouring her because I need her to fall for me the way she’s claimed my soul more than she’d ever know.
“Although you’re not what I expected, you’re what I hoped for.”
“By the way, Ana, we’re leaving in fifteen minutes. And don’t ever say this isn’t real again. Everything about our lives together is real. I’m your new reality. You’ll just have to get used to it.” I brushed her lips once more with mine before leaving the room before I delayed our departure and rushed for our first time while we had an audience in the other room.
“Reminder, you’re down to fourteen minutes,” I said, ducking my head inside the room again.
She looked up at me with a smile. “I’ll be ready in five.”
“That’s what I like to hear.” I winked and hurried to meet with my men once more.