Page 18 of Heartless Vows

“Is this part of some elaborate, convoluted scheme? Did your mother put you up to this?”

I suffer a keen sense of abandonment as he rises to his full height, forcing me to release his nape, but his fingers still wrapped around my throat keep me grounded.

“No! I don’t know what my parents are thinking, which is why I don’t trust them,” I say.

When his skepticism doesn’t wane, I swallow and touch the wrist near my throat. He flexes before loosening his grip and sliding his hand to my collarbone, pinning me back against the wall. With my other arm trapped in his and held above my shoulder, a wave of powerlessness washes over me, but I firm my resolve.

My brother’s safety and future are more important.

“I don’t want your money. I want your protection.”

The hard edge leaves his expression.

“The prenuptial would be forus. To protect you and me against whatever our parents hope to gain from our union.”

Funny sensations flutter through my belly as he sharpens his attention to my eyes.

“Write whatever conditions you want in the agreement. I don’t care, as long as we’re both legally protected if things go sideways…” I decide to take a chance and include my next thought, even if it means his fury returns. “Which includes protection from each other.”

After a few tense moments, he quirks his brow and lifts his arm, forcing me onto my tiptoes.

“Is this a warning in disguise, Aurora?” Before I can respond, he yanks my hand to his nape, pulling me off the wall and flush against his front as he wraps his other arm around my waist and rests his hand on my lower back. “Because if you’re trying to scare me away, it won’t work.” He leans forward until his lips brush against my ear, bending me backward and grinding our bodies together. “I like the way you challenge me as you sink your nails into my flesh. I’m already addicted,mia topolina.” Magma bubbles in my core as he curls his tongue over the shell of my ear. “No one can protect you from me, but I’m also the only one allowed to hurt you from now on.” I bite back a groan as he nips the top of my earlobe. “Capisci?”

It’s too much.He’stoo much.

“Yes. I understand,” I say in a breathy voice.

“Good girl. Now give me another kiss to tie me over until after lunch.”

“After lunch?”

“We’re signing a prenup as soon as possible. I’m not waiting a second longer than necessary to have you. You’re mine, Aurora.”

I should hate his declaration of ownership. I’m not an object.

My body doesn’t listen.

In less than an hour, Giorgio Vivaldi barged his way into my life and completely rewrote my body’s framework, and now my brain struggles to process the new set of rules.

I’m so fucking screwed.

Chapter 6

Giorgio Vivaldi

She’s putty in my hands.Soft, vulnerable, and so fucking perfect, I’ve got the worst case of blue balls. One kiss isn’t enough.

She’s mine. I need her. Now.

I lean down to take her lips, not waiting for her reply, and growl when she tucks her face against my chest.

“Are you sure you can stop?”

With her forehead tucked against my sternum, one hand gripping my lapel, and her other wrist trapped in my grip near my shoulder, she rules my world, filling me with carnal hunger, but the uncertainty in her tone makes me pause.

Her innocence shines through the question. Even though she acts tough, her reaction to every touch assures me she’s never done this before. I need all her firsts.

I growl and tighten my arm around her.

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