Page 22 of Unwillingly His

Because Lucian Manwarring was the devil in an Armani suit.

A corporate raider with the morals of a marauding barbarian hoard.

My father both hated and feared him.

My attempt to break free was stopped by his strong grip on my upper arms.

His lips thinned as he wrapped the soft, heavy cashmere of his coat around me, pulling me against the warmth of his body, “Where is your coat, little one?”

The deep, rumbling tone of his voice sent a shock of awareness straight to my core.

Then, the dream shifted.

CHAPTER 11

STELLA

The warmth from my skin faded as I watched from outside of my body.

I watched as we made our way, carefree and so full of life, down the stone steps. The dreamy, lovesick, and drunk, glassy-eyed look was clear on my face, with my bright pink cheeks and bright smile, as was the admiration on my father’s face as he whispered something to my mother, who just giggled and blushed like a schoolgirl talking to her first crush.

We were the picture of the perfect, elite New York family out at an event with not a single care in the entire world.

We looked like nothing could touch us.

We felt like nothing bad could ever happen to us.

Except now, I knew what was coming.

I had relived this moment so many times.

I screamed at them no, don’t, it’s not worth it. Stay a little longer. Get a hotel room down the street. Don’t drive in this weather.

I screamed with everything I had, but I didn’t make a sound, and the figures paid me no mind as they made their way to the waiting limo idling at the curb.

It was completely futile, but I still screamed as the cold grip of what was to come clawed at my skin.

It didn’t matter.

I had to try.

I followed them down the stairs, down to the limo, and even banged on the window, begging them not to go.

“Oh, it is so cold out tonight,” my mom said, pulling her shawl around me.

I pushed it away.“I don’t feel cold. In fact, the wind feels so good.”

My body was still warm from the heat of Lucian Manwarring’s arms. It was as if I could still feel the press of his fingers on my upper arms as the scent of his cologne still clung to me from where my body had connected with his.

“You’ll catch your death,” she said.

“Leave her alone. The car will warm in a moment, and we will be home before you know it. I called ahead and had the maids prep the fireplaces in the bedrooms.”

“Oh, that sounds lovely. So sweet and romantic?—”

“Please stop talking.” I covered my ears with my hands. “I don’t want siblings, and I really don’t need to hear any of this.”

I was teasing them, and both my parents laughed as they leaned over me to give each other a cute little peck that I pretended to be grossed out by.

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