Page 29 of Heartless Vows

She takes the hint and gracefully excuses herself as she backs out of the room. I half turn, feigning disinterest, and catch the warning look she sends Aurora before she starts down the hall. My hackles rise. I shut the door and twist the lock.

When I turn toward Aurora and find her expression closed off again, I grit my teeth and take an intimidating step toward her.

She fiddles with the gown folded on the table, but holds my stare.

I’ll never figure out what’s bothering her while she hides behind her emotionless mask, so I use the tactics that worked yesterday.

“Do you hate the thought of marrying me that much?” I say with another measured step closer.

She blinks and slowly digests my words.

“No, I don’t. I just—”

“Are you dreading sleeping with me that much?” I interrupt.

Her eyes flit around the room as she realizes her predicament. She takes a tiny step backward and shakes her head.

“No, I—”

“Then what did your mother do to you?” I say, now almost in reaching distance.

“Nothing! I told you, I just didn’t sleep well, so—”

“Prove it,” I demand.

She halts mid-step and searches my face, no doubt recalling what happened the last time I spoke those words.

“H-how?”

“Strip. Take off all your clothes. Leave nothing covered. I need to see every inch of you.”

She flicks a glance toward the door, but the determination in her glare assures me she won’t bolt. Even if she does, no one will bat an eye if I chase her down and toss her over my shoulder.

She’s mine.

“Fine, but—” I watch in fascination as she brushes against me on her way across the room. She picks up a chair from beside the door and drops it near the head of the exam table before stomping to the other side and pointing at the empty seat. “You sit there the entire time, and you’ll keep your hands to yourself.” She crosses her arms over her chest in the most impertinent and standoffish pose a woman has ever dared to take with me. “And I’m not touching you, either.”

Satisfied she’s somewhat back to her feisty self, I smirk and trail my fingertips over the table as I approach her.

Her pupils shrink. She steps back only to press against the wall.

“It still seems like you’re dreading having sex with me,” I taunt.

She shakes her head. I reach for the buttons on the front of her dress. She swats my hand away.

“I’m not, but you promised to protect me. Are you breaking your word?”

I can’t stop my smirk from widening into a smile. Her fire fills me with delight.

“Alright,mia topolina. I’ll sit. I’ll watch. I’ll keep my hands to myself. Just. This. Once.”

She watches me with a skeptical expression as I ease my way backward to the chair, maintaining eye contact and waiting to finish my speech until after I plant my ass.

“But next time, I’ll make you pay for teasing me.”

Her sharp inhale expands her lungs and presses her breasts against the fabric of her dress. My mouth waters and heart pounds as she glares at me and clenches her fists at her sides.

“It’s not my fault you refuse to leave the room, so no, you will notmake me payforanything.Capisci?”

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