Page 4 of Kissing the Villain

After reading that Evangeline Franco had attended RISD, I wanted to follow in her footsteps. I downloaded everything I could about the school and spent years planning my future. For four years, I worked my ass off.

The air siphoned from my lungs as I considered his words. I thought I’d gained acceptance on my own and that I deserved to be there.

“But I…” I struggled to find the correct words to match the emotions tearing through my chest. “Are you saying they were going to reject my application?”

“No, but I’m not a man who leaves anything to chance.”

“We barely know each other.”

Why would he intervene on my behalf?

“That’s not true. I have known about you for most of my life. Until recently, you were Carl Wellington’s best-kept secret. A union between our families will secure world domination for the Wellingtons and Salvatores.”

He grinned like a megalomaniac plotting his next move, the wheels turning inside his beautiful mind. “When I was a boy, my father promised me the most beautiful woman in the world.As usual, he didn’t disappoint. I grew up knowing how our lives would play out. I’ve been waiting a long time for you, Drea.”

I narrowed my eyes at him. “Drea?”

“It’s your name, is it not?”

“Alexandrea.”

He slid his fingers beneath my chin, and my heart skipped another beat. “Okay, Drea.”

Luca pulled away, and our brief connection dissipated. I stared at the pink label on the Dom Perignon Brut Rosé bottle, wondering if I could marry a man like Luca. Arranged marriages were so old-fashioned and ridiculous. I could choose my husband, thank you very much.

At least now I understood why my parents had sprung the last-minute trip to Devil’s Creek on my brother and me only two days into our summer break. They shipped us across the country to visit our estranged grandparents, so I could meet my future husband.

“No offense,” I said to clear the air, “but I don’t want to marry you. I don’t even know you.”

Luca was panty-melting hot, but I had plans for my life that did not involve him.

“People like us don’t get to choose.”

I shoved the bottle at his chest. “I’ve had enough.”

He finished the rest of the bubbly in one gulp and then threw the bottle off the cliff. The water splashed below us, reminding me of the drop. Orchestra music floated through the air.

Luca seemed at ease as the song reached its crescendo, his shoulders relaxing at the violin’s sound. My head spun from the alcohol, making it hard to catch my balance. When my body felt too heavy, I lowered myself onto the grass, shoving the fairy dress over my legs.

Luca sat facing me and twirled one of my blonde curls around his finger. The right corner of his mouth turned up intoa crooked grin. “I know everything about you, Drea. And I have the means to give you anything your heart desires.”

“What have you heard? Everyone at this party seems to think they know me. They haven’t stopped talking about me all night.”

Luca leaned closer, our mouths inches apart. “Want to know a secret?”

I bit my lip and nodded.

“You’re the first woman I’ve let touch me.”

I found it hard to believe someone with his looks had never had sex. Women must have thrown themselves at him every chance they got.

“So, you’re a virgin?”

He laughed as if it were the craziest thing he’d ever heard. “No. I havefuckeda lot of women.”

Heat coiled in my belly and spread throughout my body. He was too close, too tempting, and I wanted him to put his hands on me. Everywhere. Anywhere. I just wanted to feelhim.

“How can you have sex with a woman and not let them touch you?”

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