Page 13 of Heartless Vows

“I agree, but there are other factors to consider, too. Six months would be too long. If she gets pregnant right away, she’ll be showing too much, but if she doesn’t, then worse rumors will spread about our families’ power.”

“Four months might be manageable,” my mother delivers flawlessly.

Aurora’s hand shakes as she brings the fork to her lips again, but she sticks the tiny bite into her mouth and chews with striking determination.

“They should move in together as soon as possible,” Madona says.

Aurora freezes. Blinks. Clenches her jaw. Blinks again. The tears shimmering in her eyes both enrage and enchant me.

“Since Aurora has nothing tying her to one place, why don’t we—”

I watch in fascination as Aurora’s composure snaps. She slaps her fork onto the table, spits her mouthful into her napkin, and tosses it onto her plate as she stands.

She glares at her mother. In mere seconds, she conveys more emotions than I can count, so when she shifts her gaze toward her father and sends a fresh wave to him, all I can do is stare in awe.

Without a word or a backward glance, she leaves the room.

I follow before her mother breaks the silence, far more interested in my little mouse than in the farce between our parents.

With an uncanny sense of direction, Aurora reaches the guest bathroom before I catch up with her, but I wedge my foot between the door and the frame before she can close it behind her.

My balls ache as she lifts shimmering green orbs up to my face. Her deep, even inhale through her nose only heightens my desire.

“Please remove your foot from the door,” she says in a harsh and forceful voice.

She vibrates with fury. I want to see her break. I need to see her wild, raw, and exposed.

“No. Let me in,mia topolina,” I growl.

“Don’t mock me! I just…” She pushes against the door. Desperation creeps into her tone. “I just need a minute alone.”

“Move away from the door, Aurora. I don’t want to hurt you.”

“Then go away! Please, Giorgio, I—”

The sound of my name on her lips shreds my control. I push my way into the bathroom and lock the door behind me.

She squeaks and shuffles backward. I crowd her against the wall and lean down when she averts her gaze, but not before I enjoy the widening of her eyes and the flush of her cheeks.

Her chest heaves with her startled breaths, and I resist the urge to plaster my front against hers by bracing my forearms on the wall, bracketing her in without touching her.

She’s so feminine and petite. I ache with the need to make her mine.

“Don’t say my name unless you want me all over you. Understand, little mouse?”

“No, I don’t. I donotunderstand.”

Tempting my demons, I tilt her chin up with my knuckle before propping my forearm back on the wall.

“What don’t you understand?”

“Why are you doing this?”

“Because you’re mine, Aurora.”

As I say the words, certainty barrels through me. She became mine the moment she walked through my parents’ front door. Nothing our families say matters. Whether we marry today, tomorrow, in four months, or four years, it does not fucking matter.

Aurora Achilles is mine.

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