Page 19 of Forbidden Vows

“Answer me this: Ciara knew you were going to be her husband. We were celebrating that night. Did you know she’d be your wife?” I ask with a quivering voice.

“Yes.”

The air between us thickens. Rage and hurt swirl through me, further confusing me as I carefully choose my words. “And did you know who I was when you abducted me, Anton?”

“When I saved you, you mean.”

“Whatever. Did you know?”

“Yes.”

“Yet you went ahead with it anyway,” I say, crossing my arms. “Those were your brother’s goons. His name kept popping up. You two had a beef with Tommy Benedetto. What did you do to that poor sap, anyway?”

Anton smiles, lighting a fire in my belly. “Yes, I went ahead with it anyway. And yes, those were my brother’s men. We did have a beef with Tommy. Well, my brother did, but that’s been resolved.”

“You killed him, didn’t you? I hear his family is still looking for him.”

He shrugs. “If that’s what you choose to think about us, who am I to contradict you?”

“You’re my future brother-in-law, for fuck’s sake,” I snap. “It is beyond egregious. Everything you did is irredeemable!”

“Are you done?”

I huff and head for the stone steps leading into the garden. Anton follows me, the shadows growing heavier while the noise of the party fades behind us.

“I want to be alone,” I tell him.

“Not before you hear what I have to say.”

“You’re marrying my stepsister. There is nothing left to say.”

He grabs my arms and pulls me back. I whirl around, ready to slap him, but my knees turn to jelly instead, and I crash into him. He holds me close.Tooclose. His cologne is inebriating. His hot breath tickles my face. It’s his penthouse living room all over again, and I have no control over my body.

“Eileen, I apologize for not telling you who I was that night. I did it to protect you and your stepsister. I needed to make sure my brother didn’t make the biggest mistake of his life. Fortunately, that issue was resolved,” he says. His voice makes my skin tingle all over. “I will not apologize for what happened, though. We were both willing participants. From what I remember, you were more than eager well into the morning.”

“You knew you were marrying my stepsister,” I say.

“I was still technically a free man. No official announcement had been made.”

“It was made tonight, so what are you doing?” I reply, feeling his touch on the small of my back. It makes my core tighten and liquid heat seep into my panties.

Anton lowers his head as if he’s about to kiss me.

“You’re incredible, you know that?” he says, his lips brushing against the tip of my nose. “You have no idea. No clue about the power you hold.”

“Please stop.”

“That’s not what you really want. Certainly not what your body is saying.”

“It’s not right,” I manage, moaning softly as both his hands settle on my buttocks. He squeezes firmly, pulling me into him, and I melt against his chest, my knees soft and my senses shattered. “We can’t.”

“No, we can’t. It’s something I’ll have to live with for the sake of my but remember this, Eileen. I do not regret that night we spent together, nor do I wish to ever forget it.”

“I don’t understand.”

“Maybe someday you will,” he says, then takes a step back.

I’m left feeling cold and alone as he looks at me and takes a deep breath. A door opens on the terrace and music from the ballroom fills the air.

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