Page 8 of Forbidden Desire

The energy of Vegas pulses down on the street, but in the room, it’s quiet disorder.

I scratch my temple. “We are the king and queen of Vegas nightlife—not exactly a fairy tale. Yet here we are.”

“King and Queen?” A small smile plays on her lips. “No. More like a joker and a fool.”

Leaning against a modern armoire, I rub the back of my neck. “Which one am I?”

Her laughter is a melody over the off-key hum of uncertainty. “Guess that depends on the hand we’ve been dealt.”

I’m in awe of her every move. Even now, she’s a rare, graceful woman who can match my wild behavior with class. “Seems like we went all-in without looking at our cards.”

“Maybe we should fold.” There’s a tremor in her voice, a crack in her poise that draws me closer.

I step forward, her body pulling me like a magnet. My needs are reckless and insane, but it’s there—undeniable. “Or we play the game.”

She sighs and stretches her neck as she gives the certificate back to me.

This is a mess. I stand there, holding the absurd situation in my hands. The marriage certificate is heavy, like it’s soaked with the weight of last night’s tequila.

Bianca’s fingers brush mine as she takes the document back from me.

Another arousal hits my groin. God, I want her. Badly.

She scans through the words on the paper again. “Zack, we can’t actually be married. This is Vegas, sure, but…”

“Vegas or not,” I interrupt, my eyes locked on hers. “Something happened between us, and I’m not just talking about the chapel.”

Her gaze holds mine with the same heat and her cheeks flush. “Yeah, something stupid.”

“Maybe.” I step closer, drawn to her like gravity while our wedding song, ‘Can’t Help Falling in Love’, plays through my brain for the fortieth time.

She doesn’t step back. Her eyes drop to my lips for a beat too long before meeting my gaze again. “There’s no way this is real. This is totally fake.”

My throat tightens as I attempt to speak, my fingers itching to reach out and brush away the unruly strands of her hair from her face. “Is it?”

“Uh… yes.” Her body leans toward mine, like she’s fighting a battle she’s not sure she wants to win. Her silk evening outfit clings to her seductive breasts, the fabric slightly wrinkled and the hem askew.

I can almost feel the heat radiating off of her body, her skin flushed and warm. My hands tingle with the urge to reach out and touch her, to run them through her hair and down her bare arms.

There’s a part of me—a big part—that wants to pull her into me and remind her of the fire that drove us to do the unthinkable. But then I remember the garter, the tiara, and the ludicrousness of it all. We took things too far.

“Okay.” I step back, putting space between temptation and reason. “We’ll get this sorted.”

“Good.” She nods, but her voice lacks conviction.

“Good,” I echo, though it feels like anything but.

The silence stretches out, filled with unspoken thoughts and unsatisfied yearnings. I need space to think without the distraction of her nearness.

I exhale a full breath. “See you around, Mrs. Wolfe.”

“Okay.” She half-smiles, but it’s strained. “Bye.”

With a last look at her and the mess we’ve created, I turn and walk out of the suite. The door clicks shut behind me, sealing us off from each other.

Chapter 4

Bianca

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