Page 49 of The Marriage Auction 2: Part 4

I lifted my head and peered through the steamy glass. Christo stood in a pair of silk pajama pants and nothing else. His bronzed chest with a smattering of greying hair across his pecs still as welcoming and heart-stopping as it was when we first met, if a little softer and less muscular with age.

I turned off the shower and wiped the water out of my eyes, then ran my hands through my hair, squeezing the water outof the longer locks at the end. When I opened the shower door Christophe was there, holding a big fluffy white towel open for me. I went willingly into the center of his arms as he wrapped it around my body and held me locked against his chest. He pressed his face to my wet neck and shoulder.

“You know none of this is your fault, Alana. Living our lives and stopping a monster from hurting more people the way he did Celine was not a bad thing. Think of how many women were saved from a similar horror Celine suffered when that man went to jail.”

I nodded against his chest while listening to his words along with the comforting beat of his heart.

“It doesn’t change the situation we are in now. Or that of Julianne, Brenden and Giovanni.” My voice cracked as the trauma they’d suffered due to Bianca ran rampant through my mind. And to find out she was Angus’ daughter the entire time? I winced against the knowledge, rubbing my face against Christo’s chest, trying to escape the ugly emotions plaguing my every thought.

“No, it doesn’t, but we will get through this as we have gotten through every trial in our lives. Together. Today, we’ll sit down with Diego and work through whatever plan he’s concocted.” He ran his hands over my body, drying and comforting me at the same time.

“And what of his demand?” I whispered, leaning back, needing to look into his steely gaze.

“About finding him a wife?”

I nodded, my heart in my throat.

“It is what you do best, is it not?”

“Oui, but what he wants does not fit into any terms or contracts I’ve negotiated in the past. He wants a wife for life. Someone who is accepting of the man he is, including but notlimited to looking the other way on his criminal activities. Is that not the same as helping a man like Angus?”

“Do you believe Diego would harm a woman you paired him with? Because I get the impression that whoever he chose would be worshipped by him and his men. If the way they respected and adored Deigo’s mother was anything to go by, she’d be a queen.”

“But what of the danger involved with being connected to a man like him?”

“Full disclosure would be necessary. The woman that might be best for him wouldn’t be similar to one of your average candidates. She’d need to be…special. Have a strong constitution. Be able to look the other way on what the man does for a living. Or, alternately, be like him, possibly having had some dalliances of her own with the authorities in the past.”

“I wouldn’t even know where to start,” I admitted.

He rubbed his hands along my bare arms and hugged me tight. “We’ll brainstorm it. I have complete faith in your matchmaking abilities. You have a stellar track record,chérie. And you always rise to any challenge.”

I nuzzled his warm skin and sighed. “Je t'aime, Christo. Without you and your love, I would be nothing. I’d still be on the streets without a penny to my name and no family to speak of.”

He chuckled and squeezed me tighter. “I don’t believe that for a second. You are extremely resourceful, intelligent and have a unique ability to understand the true nature of people. This would have taken you far in life regardless of my involvement.”

I rose onto my toes, wrapped my arms around my husband’s neck and kissed him. He instantly opened his mouth, allowing me entrance. Our tongues tangoed, a dance we’d shared more times than I could ever count. I put all that I had into that kiss. My broken heart, my undying love for him, and my fear of what was to come. He took it all and gave me back his loyalty,his strength, and endless belief that when we braved things together, we’d be okay.

Once the kiss ended, he pressed his forehead to mine. “I would like to continue this on the bed, alas, we need to meet our host to go over his plan. I want this done and over with as soon as possible. For us, for those we love in New York and California, and for Celine, once and for all. Angus is finally going to get what he is owed, and I, for one, am eager to get the ball rolling.”

I pecked his lips once more. “Give me thirty minutes to get ready for the day.”

“You shall have it.” He gripped my bum cheekily and then winked before letting me go.

“Christo?” I called out when he reached the door to the guestroom we were staying in.

He turned around, and I took in all that was him. Strong shoulders that could weather any storm. Kind eyes that melted just for me. A broad stature and body that had aged over the last thirty years but still got my heart pumping and desire soaring through my veins every time he said my name in that breathy manner I adored. More than all of that, I sawhim.

A good man. A loving man. My soulmate. My other half.

“You are more than I could have ever dreamed up for myself. The life you’ve given me. Our love. It’s better than any dream or love story I’ve ever heard, because it’s real, and it’s ours.”

He smiled and shook his head. “Get ready, Alana, or we’re going to be late for our meeting. Something tells me the leader of the Latin Mafia wouldn’t take too kindly to that.”

I chuckled. “Something tells me he’d make it a point to be crass and tease us endlessly about our not being able to keep our hands off one another.”

“This is probably true,” he agreed.

“I’ll be out in thirty,” I said and then shut the bathroom door so I wouldn’t be distracted by my favorite person in the entire world.

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