Читать книгу Modern Romance September 2018 Books 5-8 - Heidi Rice - Страница 15

CHAPTER FOUR

“ARE YOU SURE about this, Tess?”

Tess looked up in surprise. She was wearing a wedding dress, sitting in a chair in an elegant private sitting room of the Campania Hotel, getting the final touches of her makeup done by a stylist. Doubt was the last thing she’d ever expected from Lola, of all people. Especially now, just minutes before the wedding ceremony was set to begin!

“Of course I’m sure,” Tess said uneasily. “Why wouldn’t I want to marry Stefano? He’s Esme’s father!”

Lola lifted a skeptical eyebrow. “I didn’t hear you say anything about love.”

“Of course Tess loves him,” Hallie protested, sipping a mimosa nearby. “She’s loved him for a year. Even when we teased her about it!”

“Yeah, I know. We thought you were crazy.” Lola’s eyes challenged Tess in the mirror. “So he’s everything you imagined him to be?”

Tess’s cheeks burned. “Pretty much.”

“He told you he loves you?”

Tess bit her lip. “Um...”

“Has he or hasn’t he?”

Looking between them, the stylist packed up her gear and excused herself, closing the door of the sitting room quietly behind her. With a deep breath, Tess looked at her two friends.

Lola and Hallie were wearing bridesmaid dresses in her favorite color, emerald green. Their three babies were already in the grand ballroom with Tess’s cousins and Hallie’s husband, Cristiano. The wedding was set to begin in minutes. Any moment now, the Campania’s wedding planner would burst in with her headset and clipboard to tell them it was time for the whirlwind ceremony to begin.

Tess said slowly, “I’ve realized we don’t really know each other that well. But we have a child now, so I...hope love will come in time.”

Hallie and Lola glanced at each other uneasily.

“He hasn’t told you he loves you?” Hallie said. “And now you’re saying you don’t love him?”

Turning in the chair, Tess glared at her friends.

“How long did it take for Cristiano to tell you he loved you, Hallie?” The brunette hung her head in answer. “And you.” Tess narrowed her eyes at Lola. “Aren’t you the one who’s always going on about how mothers have an obligation to be financially stable for their children?”

“That is what you always say, Lola,” Hallie said.

“But you’re not like me, Tess,” she said. “You don’t care about money. You just want to be loved.”

Tess felt a sharp pain in her throat.

“I want you to be careful, that’s all. Don’t do anything you’ll regret.” The blonde looked away. “Don’t love him if you know he’ll never love you back.”

“Is that what happened to you, Lola?” Tess said timidly. “You’ve never said what happened with Jett’s father...”

“We’re talking about you, not me.” She looked down. Her voice became sad. “I don’t want to see you make a mistake, that’s all.”

Tess and Hallie looked at each other. This wasn’t like their brash friend. Usually Lola couldn’t wait to boss them around. Speaking the brutal truth with love, Lola called it, although her words were sometimes far more brutal than loving.

But then Lola hadn’t seemed quite herself lately. No wonder, Tess thought. Lola had a newborn. That kind of exhaustion would put any woman off her game.

Tess hadn’t slept very well last night, either. Knowing it was her last evening in her aunt and uncle’s Brooklyn apartment, she’d stared up at the shadowy ceiling, tormented by anxiety. Without Stefano’s overwhelming presence to reassure her, she’d felt a strange fear over this sudden marriage.

It’s just cold feet, she’d tried to tell herself then. But now she wondered—what if it wasn’t?

She’d never thought getting married would scare her. She’d always been sure that when she wed, she’d be so deeply in love she’d rush into the ceremony with a pure, joyful heart.

Today she was marrying a man she barely knew. Not for love, but because they had a child.

Maybe Stefano could love me, she told herself desperately. Someday. And if he did, who knew? Maybe she could someday be brave enough to forget how he’d hurt her. Maybe she could be brave enough to open up her heart again, too.

But was she willing to take the gamble? Because if Stefano couldn’t love her, why would she be stupid enough to open herself up to more heartbreak? She wouldn’t. Lola was right. She could never let herself love Stefano again, even if she wanted to. Not unless he loved her first.

But what if he didn’t? Could she live her whole life without love?

Tess glanced at the empty champagne glasses on the table, next to the bouquets made by the hotel florist. Yesterday she’d relished her friends’ shock and delight when she’d told them that her baby’s long-lost father had returned, revealing himself to be a billionaire prince. And, not only that, he wished to marry Tess immediately!

Lola and Hallie’s giddy squeals had been music to Tess’s ears. She’d loved showing off the sparkling ten-carat diamond engagement ring Stefano had bought her on Fifth Avenue, after they’d left City Hall with their marriage license. She was wearing the diamond ring now, and though part of her already missed the simple integrity of Stefano’s gold signet ring, obviously she couldn’t go around wearing it on her thumb. She’d told herself she’d get used to the cold weight of the diamond in time.

Getting ready for the wedding with her two best friends had seemed like a good idea. And at first it had been wonderful. They’d giggled, drinking mimosas, and Tess had felt contented.

But now the gorgeous platinum-set ten-carat diamond ring hung heavily on Tess’s left hand.

Shaking, she rose to her feet.

“Fine bridesmaids you two make,” she said accusingly, “trying to talk me into jilting him at the last minute.”

The other two hung their heads.

“Sorry, Tess,” Hallie said. “He is your baby’s father, after all.”

“Sorry,” Lola muttered.

Tess lifted her chin. “I never had a father or a real home. Don’t you think I want that for Esme?”

“Of course you do,” Hallie said soothingly.

“I’m sure you’ll be very happy.” But Lola didn’t sound sure at all.

Tess swallowed. “Stefano has promised to be faithful. All he wants is to make me happy.” Her voice trembled. “He’s going to whisk me away to London and Milan and Paris for our honeymoon—”

“Some honeymoon.” Lola snorted. “A fashion CEO dragging you to all the Fashion Weeks. That’s not a honeymoon—it’s a business trip!”

“I studied fashion design,” Tess said defensively. “I can’t wait to be a part of it!”

“Sure, as his trophy wife. Not a designer.”

Tears rose to Tess’s eyes.

“You hush,” Hallie told Lola harshly. “Don’t listen to her,” she said, patting Tess’s hand.

“I’m just trying to save you from a lot of grief,” Lola said flatly. “The fact that he’s a billionaire only makes it worse. Because billionaires don’t know how to love anyone.” Her eyes were bleak. “I know.”

“Excuse me,” Hallie said.

“Except your husband, Hallie. He’s one in a million.” Lola’s face gentled into a smile. Then she shook her head. “Doesn’t Cristiano have anything to say about this wedding? He hates Stefano Zacco!”

Hallie shrugged. “Cristiano says since Tess has a child with Stefano, she must see something good in him, and on her own head be it.” She grinned. “I think my husband must be remembering that I didn’t always think so highly of him, either.”

Slowly Lola picked up her bridesmaid’s bouquet in a rustle of rose petals. “I think it’s a mistake to leave your family and friends, and get married after a one-day engagement to a man you barely know.” Wiping her eyes, she tried to smile. “But, of all people, you deserve the fairy tale, Tess. If you’re sure Stefano’s the one, then I wish you every happiness. I...” Her voice broke. “I’ll see you in there.”

The blonde hurried out of the room.

“She’s just worried about you,” Hallie said.

Tess looked at herself in the full-length mirror. Stefano had arranged for one of his smaller luxury fashion brands, Fontana, to make her a lavish wedding dress. The gown was exquisite, made of white satin, with full skirts and a corset bodice with a sweetheart neckline. The edges were embroidered with tiny diamonds, and so was the long white veil that trailed down her back, over her red hair that was pulled back into a chignon. Anchoring the veil was a 300-year-old diamond tiara, an heirloom of the Zacco family.

Her green eyes were lined with black kohl and mascara, her lips ruby red with lipstick. As Tess looked at herself in the mirror, she barely recognized herself. But in spite of the gown, the veil and the tiara, she suddenly thought she didn’t look right for a bride. There wasn’t any joy in her expression. Her eyes were scared.

“This is your life, and Esme’s,” Hallie said quietly, handing Tess her bridal bouquet of pink roses. “Trust your heart. It will tell you what’s right.”

Slowly taking her bouquet, Tess thought of how she’d felt when Stefano had pulled her into his arms in the bakery and demanded that she become his bride. Everyone had been so happy for her. In that moment, she’d felt like the luckiest girl on earth. Wasn’t she?

And the decision was already made.

Wasn’t it?

Taking a deep breath, Tess turned to Hallie. “Could you ask Stefano to come talk to me?”

“Right now?”

“Yes. Just for a moment, here in private?”

Hallie’s eyes widened, then she said quietly, “Of course. I’ll go get him. Then I’ll wait in the hall for...for whatever you decide,” she finished lamely. She left, closing the door softly behind her.

Tess looked out at the golden afternoon sunlight pouring through the window. Setting down her bouquet, she placed her hands against the corset boning of her gown’s bodice, trying to make herself take long, slow breaths instead of panicked little gasps. Why was she suddenly so afraid?

Closing her eyes, Tess had the sudden memory of the day long ago when her mother had collapsed on their old shabby sofa, sobbing, unable to catch her breath.

“It’s over,” Serena Foster had choked out, whispering, “He’s never coming back.”

“Who?” Tess had asked anxiously. Just eight years old, she’d been alarmed to see her determinedly cheerful mother fall apart without warning.

Shaking her head, her mother had wiped her eyes and tried to smile. “It doesn’t matter.”

“Pinkie loves you, Mama,” Tess had said desperately, pushing her ragged pink unicorn into her mother’s arms. “And so do I.”

“Thank you, darling.” Hugging Tess fiercely, Serena had wiped her eyes. “I was stupid to love him. But he’s a bigger fool by far...”

Tess opened her eyes when she heard a single knock at the door. It creaked half open.

“This is a bad idea,” came Stefano’s gravelly voice from the other side. “I don’t generally care about wedding traditions, but even I know the groom isn’t supposed to see the bride before the ceremony.”

Her heart lifted at hearing his voice. She knew once they talked she’d feel better. “I don’t care. Just come in. I need you.”

Stefano peeked his head around the door, then came toward her in the hotel’s luxurious private sitting room.

In his well-cut tuxedo, Stefano looked powerful, broad shouldered and devastatingly handsome. His dark eyes widened above his chiseled cheekbones when he saw Tess in her wedding gown. “You are so beautiful, cara.” As he took her in his arms, the hard lines of his face glowed with fierce pride. “I can hardly wait to take you as my wife.”

Taking a deep breath, she said timidly, “But you don’t love me, do you?”

Stefano blinked, then pulled back, his forehead furrowed. “What?”

Nervously she licked her lips. “I’m just wondering if we’re doing the right thing,” she whispered, staring down at the elegant Turkish rug on the gleaming hardwood floor. “I mean, we don’t love each other. I’m wondering...if someday you think we might... I’m just scared this whole thing might be a terrible mistake.”

Her words seemed to echo against the walls. She waited desperately for him to kiss her, to reassure her. Instead, he said nothing. Finally she looked up.

Stefano’s dark eyes were cold as ice. The expression on his handsome face chilled her to the bone.

“You wish to cancel the wedding?” he said softly. “To disgrace my name? To take my child away?”

What she’d wanted was reassurance. This was exactly the opposite. “All I want is for us to talk—”

“Is there another man?”

“No, of course not!”

“But you are having second thoughts.” He gave her a bitter smile. “Or is this a ploy to renegotiate the prenuptial agreement you signed yesterday?”

“No!” Why would she want to alter the prenup? She’d barely read it. She took a deep breath. “I’m afraid.”

“And I am afraid,” he said with dangerous silkiness, “that you already gave me your word. We have a verbal contract. It’s done.”

Tess herself had thought something similar just moments before—that the decision had already been made, so there was no backing out. But hearing him speak the words like a threat made her back stiffen. “What are you saying?”

His eyes narrowed.

“You’re wearing my ring.” He looked down at the big diamond on her left hand. “You will take my name. You will be my wife, and we will raise our daughter. Our wedding will go forward as planned.”

She tried to toss her head, not easy when it was weighed down with a heavy diamond tiara. “Maybe I won’t!”

His lips twisted. Reaching out, he cupped her cheek, running his thumb along her shaking lower lip.

“And maybe,” he said tenderly, “I’ll hire a team of lawyers to utterly destroy you and your family. Maybe I’ll take our daughter and make sure you never see her again.”

Then Stefano drew back, his dark eyes smiling down at her as if he’d been flirting.

The room, with all its elegant furnishings, seemed to spin around her. Tess stared up at him, her eyes wide with horror.

“Are you ready, Miss Foster?”

Tess turned to see the hotel’s wedding planner with her headset standing in the doorway. Behind her, Uncle Ray hovered.

“Yes. She’s ready.” Stefano’s eyes were callous as he looked down at Tess. “Aren’t you?”

Feeling sick inside, she gave an unsteady nod.

“What are you doing here, Your Highness?” the wedding planner chided. “You’re supposed to be waiting in the ballroom.”

“Of course.” Deliberately, Stefano reached down and pulled the translucent white veil over Tess’s tiara, over her face. He said lightly, “I can’t wait to marry you, cara mia.”

And, after kissing her cheek through the veil, he left.

Tess stood in shock as her uncle came forward with tears in his eyes.

“You look beautiful, Tessie.” He held out his arm awkwardly in the new designer tuxedo that Stefano had provided for him. “Are you ready for this?”

Numbly Tess took her uncle’s arm. She picked up her bouquet.

“Thank you for walking me down the aisle, Uncle Ray,” she said, barely knowing what she was saying. She felt frozen, like she was in a bad dream.

“My little sister would be so proud of you,” her uncle said, blinking back tears. “Of the woman you’ve become.”

“I wish Mama was still here,” Tess whispered. After Tess’s father had left, her mother had gone through many other short-lived romances—surely Serena would have known what to do now.

They followed the wedding planner down the elegant hallway, toward the entrance to the grand hotel ballroom, where her two bridesmaids waited outside the door. Lola refused to meet her eyes. Hallie took one look at Tess and demanded, “What’s wrong?”

“Nothing,” Tess said, looking away.

“Stefano just rushed by us. I guess that means you guys worked it out?” she said hopefully.

“You might say that,” Tess said. Maybe I’ll take our daughter and make sure you never see her again.

The double doors opened and a wave of music swelled as the orchestra started the first notes of the wedding march. Bouquets held high, Lola walked in, followed by Hallie.

“Here we go,” her uncle whispered. Tess nodded, and clutching his arm like a life preserver, she walked forward.

Hundreds of guests rose to their feet in the gilded ballroom, beneath soaring ceilings and sparkling crystal chandeliers. Tess looked around desperately for a friendly face among the glamorous strangers staring at her incredulously, as if wondering why on earth a handsome billionaire prince would lower himself to marrying the likes of her.

They didn’t know how much Tess desperately wished she wasn’t marrying him now.

Lola had been right. Why, oh, why hadn’t Tess gotten to know Stefano better before she’d agreed to be his wife? Why had she let herself get swept up in the romantic moment?

Why had she let her blindly, stupidly optimistic heart make the decision, instead of her brain?

Tess’s knees shook. Looking through the crowd, she finally saw her own friends and family, who gave her encouraging smiles. Her aunt had tears in her eyes. She saw her cousin Natalie, holding Esme, whispering happily to the baby as she pointed at Tess. Nearby, friends from her neighborhood waved at her. Women she knew from the single moms support group she’d attended last year beamed at her as she walked by, including the woman who’d introduced her to Hallie and Lola. Lacey Tremaine Drakos stood with her ruggedly handsome Greek husband, holding their baby in her arms.

Then Tess looked forward, saw Stefano, and everything else faded to a blur.

He stood alone beside the minister, without a best man, in front of the guests, beneath a canopy of roses. His dark eyes gleamed down at her.

The bastard.

Tess’s hands tightened on her bouquet. She would have dearly loved to smash his smug face with it.

As she reached the front, she barely heard the minister’s words. “Who gives this woman to be married to this man?” Or her uncle’s answer: “Her aunt and I do.” She barely noticed the minister’s long-winded advice on the duties of marriage. He might as well have been reading from a technical manual written in hieroglyphics.

As the minister spoke the words that would make them husband and wife, all of Tess’s feelings and thoughts melted to one single overwhelming emotion for the man beside her.

Hate.

Stefano’s expression was cool and impersonal. As their gaze locked and held, it changed. His eyes turned dark, hungry.

Tess was suddenly aware that they were flying like an out-of-control train toward the end of the ceremony, when Stefano would claim her as his wife and kiss her.

Then, tonight, on their wedding night, he would do far more than kiss her.

Tess’s toes curled in her expensive white high heels. Out of pure hate, she told herself.

But the truth was more complicated. Even in her rage, as she watched the flick of his tongue against his cruel, sensual lips, her own lips tingled in response. Against her will, her whole body sizzled at his closeness, aching in its most secret places.

“And do you, Tesslyn Mae Foster, take this man to be your lawfully wedded husband?”

Gazing up at Stefano, Tess hesitated, heart pounding in her throat. She could refuse him now. In front of everyone. Tell him to go to hell. She could.

Stefano waited, his eyes narrowing. Three hundred guests held their breath.

I’ll hire a team of lawyers to utterly destroy you and your family... I’ll take our daughter and make sure you never see her again.

“I do,” she ground out, furious and wretched.

“I now pronounce you husband and wife.” The minister beamed at them. “You may kiss the bride.”

Stefano lifted her long, translucent white veil off her face, back over the diamond tiara. Reaching down, he cupped her face with his hands.

Her knees went wobbly. Part of her wanted to turn away, to kick him in the shins. To scream in his face.

But not all of her. Part of her still wanted him. Even now. Heaven help her.

As Stefano pulled her into his arms, so close she could almost hear the beat of his heart, she felt the warmth of his breath, sweet and spicy as cloves. She shivered, holding her breath, frozen beneath her tight bodice.

With agonizing slowness, he lowered his head. Then his lips touched hers, and electricity pulsed through her body. He deepened the kiss, twisting his tongue against hers, publicly claiming her as his possession. She gasped beneath the brutal onslaught of pleasure, and to her shame, a soft moan came from the back of her throat.

When he finally pulled away, applause mounted like a storm swell as guests rose to their feet with a cheer.

Stefano lowered his head, nuzzling her ear. He whispered huskily, “That was quite a kiss.”

Tess stared at him, trembling between fury and desire. Fury won.

Smiling for the crowd, she ground out through her teeth, “I hope you enjoyed it. Because that’s the last time I’ll ever let you kiss me.”

His eyes narrowed.

“Allow me to present,” the minister cried, “Their Highnesses Prince Stefano and Princess Tess Zacco di Gioreale!”

Holding her hand tightly, Stefano turned and waved at his friends, smiling like a happy bridegroom.

Tess knew a storm was coming. She could feel it building, like low-rolling thunder rattling toward them without mercy.

Her new husband intended to seduce her. To possess her. She couldn’t let him.

It was all she could think about during the wedding reception immediately afterward in the grand ballroom. She felt the hum of her body’s desire and grimly fought it, tooth and nail, until she nearly panted with exhaustion, even as she went through the motions of what was supposed to be the happiest day of her life.

Tess forced herself to smile until her cheeks ached as she accepted the congratulations of her family and friends. She held poses for endless wedding photographs. She mechanically ate an elegant dinner of salmon, baby potatoes and asparagus in a lemon-butter sauce, followed by wedding cake. She sipped champagne as toasts were offered by strangers.

She forced herself to make polite responses as Stefano introduced her to many fashion industry insiders, including the extremely thin, severely chic Fenella Montfort, whom he introduced as the majority shareholder of the Zacco brand. He’d added with a charming smile, “Though we’ll talk more about that in London, won’t we, Fenella?”

“If we must,” the older woman said coolly.

As Tess’s desire fought against her howling fury, her mind scrambled for a way to escape this marriage. Could she go to Hallie and Cristiano for help? Ask them to assist her in filing for a divorce?

But even if Cristiano Moretti gave her all his man-eating lawyers, she knew that divorce would be an endless, bloody war, with Esme its greatest victim.

Lost in her own churning emotions, Tess barely noticed when, after she tossed the wedding bouquet and Lola accidentally caught it, the blonde turned pale and immediately dropped it to the floor. Lola practically ran out of the reception, pausing only to grab her baby’s stroller as other female guests fought for the bouquet in a flurry of rose petals. Normally Tess would have been alarmed for her friend.

But not today. Today nothing could reach her through her own haze of rage and fear.

Until this.

The tradition of the groom pulling the garter off the bride’s leg was supposed to be a harmless bit of fun, a sly nod to tradition to entertain wedding guests. Now, as Stefano knelt before Tess, who was seated in a chair, her heartbeat went to a thousand as he pushed up her full skirts. His dark eyes burned through hers as he slowly pulled the blue satin garter down her leg. His fingertips brushed against her bare skin.

Time slowed. She forgot her anger and fear. In this moment, all she could see was the hunger in his eyes, pulling her down into the flames.

Though they were surrounded by hundreds of strangers, it was just the two of them. Alone.

When he finally turned away, to toss the garter into the crowd of eager single men, Tess rose abruptly to her feet with a strangled gasp. She muttered, “I have to check on Esme,” and fled for the head table.

“I’ll come with you,” he replied.

As he followed her back to the table, Tess was careful not to let Stefano touch her, not even her hand.

When they reached the elaborate, flower-decorated table for the wedding party and close family, Tess was dismayed to find Esme sitting happily in her cousin Natalie’s arms. If the baby had been fussy, it would have been an excellent excuse for Tess to take her and go.

But go where? She could hardly return to her aunt and uncle’s apartment tonight. All of Tess and Esme’s meager belongings had been packed in two shabby suitcases and were already upstairs in Stefano’s hotel suite, where she was supposed to sleep tonight. Natalie had volunteered to babysit Esme until they collected her on their way to the airport in the morning.

“I can’t believe you guys did it,” Hallie said, sitting comfortably beside Cristiano at the table. She shook her head. “How on earth did you pull such a big wedding together in one day?”

“Ask Moretti,” Stefano replied smoothly. Reaching for his flute, he took a sip of champagne. “All I did was tell him to arrange it.”

“It wasn’t difficult, Zacco,” Cristiano said. “Not when the words you used were make it happen at any price.” The hotel tycoon sat with one arm draped over his wife’s shoulders, the other holding their adorable baby, Jack. He quirked an eyebrow. “There’s nothing we enjoy more at the Campania than unreasonable requests, as long as money’s no object. Even for a conniving bastard like you, Zacco.”

“Conniving?” Stefano bared his teeth into a smile. “You are the one who tried to cheat, by blocking my car in the race.” He shrugged. “If you wanted to win, you should have gone faster.”

“You could have caused an accident.”

“I knew you were a decent enough driver that you wouldn’t let that happen. Decent.” Stefano saluted him with his champagne flute. “Just slow.”

With a snort, Cristiano shook his head. “There are more important things in life than winning some cheap gold trophy in a charity race.” He stroked his wife’s shoulder. “It’s a foolish man who’s determined to win at any price.”

“So losers always say.”

The two powerful men glowered at each other, then suddenly they both laughed. Smiling, Hallie rose to her feet.

She looked at Tess. “It’s time for your first dance as bride and groom, isn’t it?”

The last thing Tess wanted to do right now was slow dance in her new husband’s arms. Her cheeks went hot as she looked down at her clasped hands. “I think we’ve had enough traditions for one day...”

“Oh, please,” Hallie begged. “I was planning to sing for your first dance. As a surprise.”

Put that way, it seemed churlish to refuse.

“All right,” Tess sighed. “Fine.”

“Yay.” Hallie looked down at her seated husband with a tender smile. “Wish me luck.”

“You don’t need it.” Cristiano pulled her into his arms and lifted his lips to hers in a sensual kiss. “You’ll knock ’em dead.”

Watching the other couple, so deeply in love, Tess again felt a pang over what she now knew she would never have.

As Hallie hurried toward the microphone on the grand ballroom’s stage, Stefano held out his hand.

“Shall we?” he said, smiling down at her as if he hadn’t just blackmailed her into marriage and threatened to destroy her family and take her child away.

Glaring at him, Tess grudgingly put her hand in his and tried not to feel the electricity of his touch.

“And now,” Hallie announced over the microphone, “for their very first dance, the Prince and Princess of Gioreale!”

A hush fell across the crowd as Stefano led her, in a swirl of her white satin skirts, onto the dance floor.

To the outside world, Tess knew it must look like a romantic moment, the handsome prince in his sleek, well-cut tuxedo, the bride in a lavish wedding gown sparkling with diamonds, dancing in his arms. The truth was anything but romantic.

The orchestra began playing the music of the song Tess had requested, one made famous by Etta James and that she’d loved since she was a child—“At Last.” Hallie’s beautiful voice started singing the haunting words, telling the rapturous tale of long-lost love finally requited.

Yesterday Tess had dreamily thought it was perfect. Now, in her husband’s arms, all she felt was bitterness.

She looked up at his face.

“I hate you,” she whispered. “You know that, don’t you?”

Stefano looked down at her as they swayed, his handsome face arrogant. “You don’t hate me. You’re just angry. It will pass.”

“Are you crazy? You forced me to marry you.”

“I didn’t force you. I offered you a choice.”

“What—marry you or lose everything?”

His eyes gleamed in the spotlight as they danced to the music. “I knew you’d make the right decision.”

Tess yearned to stomp hard on his foot with one of her stiletto heels. Instead, she bared her teeth into a smile for the benefit of the guests watching them as he whirled her around the dance floor.

“You are a monster,” she said sweetly.

“Cheer up.” He pulled her hard against his body. “I told you the truth. I intend to make you very happy in our marriage. Starting tonight.”

He cupped her cheek, and desire crackled through her body, from her scalp to her toes and everywhere in between.

Breathing hard, she turned away.

“Go to hell,” she spit out, trying to hide her conflicting feelings. How could her body still want him, when she despised him?

“I intend to satisfy you in every way possible.” He stopped on the dance floor, looking down at her. “Tonight, you will be in my bed. Willingly and completely.”

Trembling, she lifted her chin. In spite of her best efforts, her voice trembled as she taunted, “In your dreams.”

“My dreams always come true.” Stefano cupped her face in both his hands. “I always win, like Moretti said. I take what I want, at any price. And what I want—” he slowly lowered his mouth to hers “—is you.”

Tess held her breath. She knew she should push him away, resist, but she couldn’t. When his lips finally pressed against hers, the intoxication of his caress made her feel dizzy. She had to clutch his shoulders to keep from falling. The world spun around her as if she’d drunk far more than one glass of champagne.

Dimly she heard whistling and hooting from the crowd, but they all seemed far away. In Stefano’s arms, swaying to this beautiful song she’d loved all her life, her anger faded for a moment and her old dream resurfaced in her heart. She’d yearned for him for so long. Her perfect man. Her handsome prince. Their kiss brought it all back, sending her soaring into the sky.

As the song ended, he pulled away and Tess slowly opened her eyes.

Stefano stared down at her, his dark eyes wide as if he’d felt the same shock, the two of them in their own private world.

Applause thundered around them—for their first dance as husband and wife, and for Hallie’s amazing performance.

Stricken, Tess touched her bruised lips. How could she keep kissing him like that? With everything in her heart? Her body ached for him, and her nipples felt tight beneath the smooth silk bodice.

For over a year, she’d been tormented by hot, sensual dreams of Stefano, of the night he’d taken her virginity and they’d conceived a child. She’d yearned for the man she’d imagined him to be. Now she knew the truth.

The dream still held sway over her.

She wanted to be in his bed. No matter how she tried to fight it. No matter how she pretended otherwise. Even now, looking up at him, she unconsciously licked her lips. She heard his soft groan and felt lost in his dark, hungry gaze.

Stefano took her hand. Without a word, he led her past the crowd, off the dance floor. He drew Tess past the tables and guests. Her full white satin skirts shimmered beneath the lights of the glittering crystal chandeliers as he pulled her away from the gilded ballroom and out a side door, into a shadowy back service hallway.

Once they were alone, his restraint fled.

He pushed her roughly against the wall, kissing her hard, gripping her wrists. She kissed him back with fury, surrendering to the angry force of her own desire.

“You’re mine,” he growled, kissing down her throat. “Say it, Tess.”

Her head fell back as her veil tumbled and twisted around them.

“Yours,” she breathed, and knew she was lost.