Page 23 of The Devil's Pawn

“Wake up, sweetheart.” My tone is low, my hand still touching her.

She grumbles, her body moving a little, but her eyes remain closed.

“You have to eat. Janet made lunch for us already.”

“Dante?” She yawns, her eyelids rising and her hand jumping to her face and rubbing away the sleep.

“Yes, wife,” I say, liking how that word rolls off my tongue. “It’s me.”

She smiles, eyes still heavy. Her body stretches deliciously, giving me a chance to let my gaze roam free. I take my time, memorizing the bends and dips of her frame.

“What time is it?” She sits up.

“A little past noon.” I reach a hand for hers, and she takes it, getting to her feet.

“I’m sorry. I hope it’s okay I slept here.”

We walk hand in hand, her feet moving to the beat of mine. “Of course it is. I told you, my house is yours. You never have to ask me for permission.”

“Thank you.” She glances at me, her lips tight in the sweetest smile, making her eyes glisten.

She’s so goddamn breathtaking, especially when she looks at me that way. Like I’m her savior. Someone who brought her out of hell. And maybe I did, in a way.

But I’m about to bring her another. This paradise will fade when she learns all the things I’ve been hiding. I plan to keep my secrets buried until the clock runs out, until I have no choice but to reveal the truth. I’ll delay the pain for as long as possible.

We enter the kitchen, where Janet is setting two plates of handmade sushi and tuna avocado salad out for us.

“Hi there.” Janet looks to Raquel, her shoulder-length strawberry-blonde hair swaying as she moves toward us.

“Nice to meet you,” Raquel says, reaching out a hand for hers as they shake.

“You as well. And what a beauty you are.” Janet peers at me with a knowing smile, like she’s glad I actually brought a woman home. She doesn’t exactly know why.

“Isn’t she though?” I wrap an arm around the small of Raquel’s back, pulling her to my side, while she discreetly tries to push me away.

“Stop fidgeting,” I whisper into the shell of her ear. “She thinks you’re my girlfriend, so you’re supposed to be pretending to be in love with me, and right now, you’re doing a shit job of it, baby.”

She clears her throat, her lips spreading into a smile as fake as she thinks our marriage will be.

“Thank you for the compliment, Janet,” she throws in, her tone sweet as fuck. “I’m so incredibly lucky to have met an amazing man like Dante.” She circles an arm around the middle of my back, squeezing my ribs, almost hurting me. “Isn’t that right, babe?”

She tilts her face to me, the smile still sitting on her face. I suppress a laugh at this entertaining show she’s putting on.

“That’s right, my love. Youareincredibly lucky.” My lips fall to her cheek, staying there for far too long, as I groan almost silently while I inhale her scent.

Her chest jumps with tattered breaths, her fingernails biting into my flesh and causing my teeth to grit discreetly.

“Well, I will leave you two lovebirds to your meal. I’ll be back later to make dinner.” Janet is already out of the kitchen.

“Thanks,” I mutter as I pull away.

“I thought I said no kissing.” Raquel goes all whispery and hoarse, her gaze full of desire she’s awful at masking. “Keep those lips to yourself.”

“Actually…” I let my knuckles slowly brush down her cheek, swiping lower and falling in between her tits. “What you said was thatyou’renot kissingme. No one ever said anything about what I’d do.”

“Dante…” she murmurs. “Don’t.”

Her brows tighten, her lips parted, cheeks flushed.

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