Page 75 of Heartless Vows

After settling Aurora in the seat behind Fiero, I grab my travel hygiene bag and my clothes bag from the trunk before dropping into the back passenger seat.

Fiero drives down the lane without a word. Aurora opens her mouth to speak, but stares in fascination when I pull my shirt offover my head. She strokes my ego with her dazed appreciation as I strip out of my jeans and maneuver my body in the limited space of the car. When I lift my hips and pull on my trousers, she sucks her bottom lip into her mouth and presses her knees together.

My naughty girl enjoys a good strip tease.

With my pants unfastened and my half-hard cock straining in my boxer briefs, I lean back and grab her nape. She hisses and glances toward the front seat before I tug her closer.

Fiero clears his throat.

I’ll murder thestronzoif he so much as mutters a single word. After a tense meeting of eyes in the rearview mirror, he decides he enjoys his life enough to not end it early and keeps his mouth shut.

I grit my teeth and tuck in my shirts before adjusting my cock and fastening my trousers.

Aurora turns toward her window with her bottom lip trapped between her teeth again. I lean down and tie my dress shoes.

She sends me furtive glances as I rise, thread my arms into my suit coat, and shrug it into place. When I fish my cufflinks from my bag and move to secure them like normal, her dainty hand settles on my wrist. I’m powerless to deny her when she offers to help. With trembling fingers, she fixes my cuffs and slips each cufflink into place before leaning over me and pulling my tie from my bag.

I cover her hands with mine and meet her eyes. Her gaze softens. She smiles.

I lean forward to give her better access to my nape. She flips my collar and circles my neck with the tie.

She’s the only one I’d allow so close to my throat, and going by her expression, she knows it. She knots and tightens my tie with sensual grace before fixing my collar and smoothing herhands down my front. I lean over and take her mouth with all the emotions welling up in me.

The car slows. I pull back as Fiero coasts through the gates to my familial home. Aurora’s expression flips through several emotions before she dons a bland mask.

As she stares at the house I grew up in, I recall how startled she was this morning when I found her at the computer instead of in bed beside me.

She uncovered something, but her mother interrupted us before she could tell me, and the morning has been so busy, I forgot to follow up.

Despite the early hour, the front door opens and my mother steps out to greet us.

My vision narrows as frustration and fury coalesce within me.

I never realized how cold and calculating my mother was until she led the conversation of my betrothal, but now, with her standing in full makeup and elegantly dressed with a serene, welcoming smile as dark clouds drift across the morning sky, all I see is the villain in Camilla’s story.

She may not have swung her fists at my older sister, but she sure as hell isn’t supporting her. I fully agree with Serenity’s assumption: whatever my mother said to Camilla sent her into a mental spiral.

I need to know what she said so Serenity can help Camilla.

I can’t let my parents fail my siblings anymore.Ican’t fail them anymore.

Aurora takes my hand and gives it a gentle squeeze, offering me her support and reminding me of what’s at stake.

I should leave her in the car, but I need her by my side.

I open the car door and pull her out after me before tucking her against my side and starting up the stairs.

No matter what happens, I’ll never be a clueless bystander in my own family again.

It’s all because of Aurora.

Aurora Vivaldi.

My wife.

Chapter 19

Aurora Vivaldi