Page 12 of Darkest Love
But he’s not mine.
Adrien takes my hand and leads me out of the church. The reception is being held at the Ritz-Carlton hotel.
Adrien helps me into a car that will take us to the hotel. He sits beside me in the back as a driver in the front seat starts the car.
I sit as far away from him as I can. I always thought I’d throw myself at any man who looked my away, desperate for any sort of fun, but I know I have to be smart with Adrien. He refuses to give me his heart so I have to guard mine around him. I can’t he falling into him and letting myself get distracted by his handsome face.
“You don’t have to sit so far away,” he says, resting his arm behind my head on the seat.
“I don’t trust you. You made it clear that this marriage is just for power. Not for love.”
He tilts his head to the side, gazing at me with curiosity. “Are you worried you’ll fall in love with me?”
I shake my head and don’t give him a verbal answer.
Adrien chuckles. “I’ll admit. A lot of women have fallen in love with me over the years.”
“And you always break their hearts?”
“If they’re naïve enough to fall in love with me, then yes.”
“But none of them were your wife. How can you expect me to want to get to know you if you don’t give me the same courtesy in return? If you’re just going to run off with the first pretty girl you see?”
“I told you before, Anastasia. I married you for power. Nothing else.”
“Ana,” I snap.
He blinks at me. “What?”
“Only my father ever called me Anastasia. Everyone else calls me Ana. You will call me Ana. You don’t get the right to use my full name.”
“I will call you whatever I want to call you. And right now, I want to call you beautiful.”
I roll my eyes. “Your French charms are not going to work on me.”
“They work on all women.”
“Even the gay ones?”
His smile makes my heart flutter. “No. Not the gay ones. But the straight ones? Yes. It works on them.”
I cross my arms over my chest. “Well, it’s not going to work on me.”
“I was told you’ve been desperate for an adventure. We can have one together.”
“Not if you’re going to continue seeing other women. Simple as that. I married you because I need to figure out my own life. I want to see more of the world. I’m looking forward to Paris. What I’m not looking forward to is you cheating on me.”
Adrien is quiet for a long moment before he says, “What if I make an effort to not see other women?”
I sneak a glance at him. “You would do that?”
“I can try. You’re clearly uncomfortable with the idea. I didn’t realize you’d be so upset over it. I can try not to see other women but you have to try with me too. And then maybe we can have that adventure you’ve been craving, yes?”
“You wouldn’t see any other women? Truly?”
“I said I’ll try. I can’t offer any guarantees. You see, Anastasia, I don’t have time for love. It’s why I enjoy spending so much time with a different woman every night. But you are my wife now. I will try to spend my nights only with you. But you have to try to.”
I don’t trust Adrien. Not someone who’s as handsome and charming as he is. Not when he’s a mafia man who wants me to move to a different country and leave my family behind.
