Page 104 of The Billionaire's Pact

His breathing was heavy, his voice hoarse. He shuddered and jerked as he came, filling me up. I let go. My energy depleted as I sank on the couch, sated.

We both moaned as he pulled out, and I was boneless. But he smiled as he placed my arms on his broad shoulders and lifted me in his arms, and I wrapped my legs around him. Our guards were dropped, and it felt right. He wanted me to be more open with him, so I needed to try. For him. For us.

“Can I ask one more question about Marjorie?” I said.

He frowned. “Okay.”

I touched his face. “Do you have feelings for her?”

He groaned.

I clasped his face and met his eyes. “No, Rocco. I need to know, and it won’t change anything. I understand why you broke up and that you’re committed to this arranged marriage. But I also know you were arranged to be with me, you chose her to share your life. I need to know if you love her.” I thought about his grandmother, Aurora again, having this conversation with Luca Marini. He’d told her, but it hadn’t put an end to their arranged marriage. She came in without blindness and faced the challenges ahead. It was the only way I could see we could make it, with full honesty.

He sighed. “No, I don’t have feelings for Marjorie. We had fun dating. But we both had careers that pulled us to different continents. I spent more time without her than with her. I thought we’d stay friends, but I now know that’s not possible. I liked her, but we weren’t in love…You and me. We’re together and that means no one else. I refuse to be second.”

I gulped. I don’t want anyone else.

He lifted my hands and brought them to his lips and kissed the back of them tenderly and my heart swelled. “You, Adelina, give me what I need.”

A satisfaction filled me at his praise. I would be one of the people he considered his friend in any room we entered from now on. I’m going to be in your corner, Rocco. I also believed I gave him what he wanted, but one day he’d take it all. Nothing less.

Rocco scowled, peering at his phone. “Fuck me.”

I took off my sunglasses. “What’s wrong?”

He handed the cell over and swiped down his face, letting out another curse.

We were up early, lying on lawn chairs on the deck of his yacht, only having just left the port in Nice, France. Our schedule was full back in Florence, with family due to arrive for our wedding preparation this week. Besides that, Rocco was ready to leave the festival. The article confirmed he had been right about the media on his ex, Marjorie’s, impromptu addition to The Age of Sin’s interview panel. The press went with the angle of gossiping about his old relationship instead of highlighting the movie’s success.

Marjorie Stormed her way back into Rocco Marini’s Heart: The Age of Sin premiere at Cannes Film Festival.

The torn lovers sparked rumors of a rekindled romance at the Cannes Film Festival premiere. The Patchworks actress surprised everyone by turning up for the screening of The Age of Sin. And from the cozy picture of Marjorie’s head lying lovingly on his shoulder and a smooch on the cheek, one can only guess where the lovers ended up after the panel. (Photos courtesy of Gertz images.)

I did a quick search online to lift his spirits. Unfortunately, the other top article headlines were no better:

Fiancée flees screening of The Age of Sin as sparks fly between Billionaire Rocco Marini and Actress Marjorie Storm.

Pending wedding on the rocks as the Marjorie Storm blows away the competition to Billionaire Rocco Marini’s heart.

Anyone who had seen the photo of them would draw the same conclusion—that they were back together. I placed his phone back on the seat next to him, but even it being out of sight didn’t lessen the pain in my chest or the embarrassment. The public is sure he dumped me already. But it all hurt Rocco, too. I wanted to soothe his disappointment after hearing about all the effort he put into the production.

I typed a search for the critic’s score and held it out to him. “Ninety-six percent fresh. That’s a winner.” I added cheeriness to my voice, though my hand shook when I held out the phone for him to take.

He put it in his pocket and came closer to me. The corners of his mouth turned down. “I had nothing to do with Marjorie after the panel. I promise.”

I cleared my throat. “Rocco, I know. It’s gossip.”

His phone buzzed. We glanced over at the screen. Morgan Steele.

Rocco cursed, and I snarled at seeing his name. He let the call go to voicemail. “Too late, man. I’ll deal with him later.”

Morgan had as good as admitted last night that he’d engineered the scandal to drum up more attention, but it had backfired and hurt his friend, and his work as an up-and-coming director. It surprised me how selfish Morgan and Marjorie had been. Our lives were similar in that respect. Are we all tools to use?

Rocco’s jaw ticked. “I hate how this all hurts you. I blame Isla for having you leave the panel—”

“I wanted to leave, Rocco.” I touched his arm. “That’s on me.”

The blame rested on me because I didn’t want to watch him with Marjorie.

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