Page 41 of Something Borrowed

“Your engagement ring.”

I flick the box open. Inside the carved out belly of the stone is a ring. It’s also pink, glittering the same way the box is glittering.

“It’s rose quartz, set in sterling silver. It’s all they had here at the chapel. I will get you a proper ring later on. We can choose it together. But we need one for tonight.”

“Are you kidding me? Ilovethis one. I don’t need another one. This one is perfect.” I grin, slipping it onto my finger. He takes the crystal box and slips it into his pocket.

“I’m just going to sort out the payment for our priest. I’ll be right back.” He leans down and kisses me then walks out of the room towards the reception desk.

I find myself alone.

Standing in a room just inside a chapel in Las Vegas.

To my left I can see the reception desk. Just beyond that is the door that leads out onto the street.

I look down at my dress.

Blinking many times and trying to work out if this is all real.

The ring on my finger is solid enough to be real.

The dress hugging my body feels real.

The panic spinning in my stomach feels real.

But thiscan’tbe real.

My father will kill me.

Butdo I care what my father thinks at this point? He wants to send me away. He doesn’t even want me around anymore. It doesn’t matter to him if I evenexistanymore. He wants me on the other side of freaking planet.

I look towards the open door, out into the reception area and I watch Rufino talking to the lady behind the counter.

Thatman wants me.

He wants to marry me. For some crazy, fucked up, wild reason - he wants to marry meright nowin Vegas.

I’m torn between running out of the door and trying to escape or going the way down this rabbit hole and marrying him.

He’s even crazier than I am.

Unless I choose to go through with this. Then I guess we are equally out of our minds.

“Rufino.” I hesitate, as he walks back into the room.

“They’re ready for us, vixen.”

“I - I don’t know?—”

He grabs my jaw and pulls my face towards his. His eyes are fierce and intense.

“You are marrying me, Verity. This is the only way for us to be together. Now, do you trust me or not?” he growls.

His temper sends sparks of desire shooting through me.

“I trust you.” I whisper, my pussy flooding with warmth and my skin tingling.

It’s too late now.

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