Page 54 of The Devil's Deceit
When I exit the building, Christian pushes off the car and meets me halfway. He bends down, brushes his lips over my cheek, and whispers in my ear, “Beautiful dress. I can’t wait to see it on the floor.”
Warmth unfurls in my abdomen, and my heart rate almost maxes out.
“I’m wearing a chastity belt underneath. I like a man who has to work for it.”
A rumble of laughter echoes in his chest. “I’ll have a pair of bolt cutters on standby.”
See, this is where I’m in trouble. Before I met Christian, I had an unshakable belief that he’d be horrible, self-centered,narcissistic, even. Arrogant for sure. Plus another dozen at least unflattering words to describe him. You know what words never made the list? Funny, kind, thoughtful, interesting, attentive, curious.
He gently takes my elbow and steers me toward the car. Once I’m situated inside, with my belt securely fastened, he closes the door and moves around to the other side. As soon as he gets in, the car eases away from the curb.
“Where are we going?”
“Somewhere private.” His seat belt snaps shut. “I don’t want to share you with other people tonight.”
More butterflies flood my stomach. I’ve an entire kaleidoscope of them now, enough to open my own butterfly farm. Except they’re not real butterflies. They’re a symbol of how much I want this man, and it scares me. It scares the hell out of me.
“Has your father made any decisions yet?”
He shakes his head. “He will, in his own time. There’s no rushing him, and that’s fine with me now it’s out in the open. I never was all that comfortable with lying to him.”
Well, I’m in a bloody rush. I can hardly say that, though, can I? From my perspective, the sooner I’m married to Christian, the sooner I’ll have unfettered access to the secrets he’s buried inside that mansion, and the sooner I can get the closure I deserve and expose him for the lying murderer he is.
If that’s what he is. The more time that passes, the greater my uncertainties grow, and the earlier conversation with Juliet has only made my doubts increase.
“What if you get sick of me before we make it down the aisle?”
His gaze skims over me, and even though I’m fullydressed, it makes me feel naked. Not in a nasty way, but in a ‘get me out of these clothes’ way.
“I doubt that will happen, Duchess. Besides, that wouldn’t stop me from marrying you. We know our mutual attraction won’t last forever, but that’s not an issue. Both of us are aware of what we’re doing. You get what you need out of it, and I get what I need. Attraction doesn’t come into it.” He gives me another sweeping look. “Although, it’s a benefit I’m not at all unhappy about.”
If I don’t get the subject off sex and attraction soon, I’m going to mount this man right here in the car. It’s like he has a secret code to my libido, and no matter how much my mind is banging on about his secrets and lies, all my body wants to do is bang, well, him.
“How was your day?”
His lips curve up on one side. “Long and boring. What about yours? What did you do today?”
“Trudged around the supermarket, moaning the entire time because people are idiots. I mean, how long does it take to pick up a pack of chicken breasts? I swear they stand there looking at them for so long, it’s as though they’re expecting them to burst back to life. Let’s see, what else did I do? Baked scones. Painted my toenails.”Argued with Juliet because she pointed out something that sounds more and more like the truth with each passing minute.
“Will you judge me if I say I have never set foot inside a supermarket?”
My jaw slackens. “You’re kidding?”
“Nope.” He gives me a sheepish grin.
“Wow. Then, yes, I judge you.”
He chuckles, his eyes twinkling. “Just think, when we’remarried, you’ll never have to set foot inside a supermarket again.”
He means it as a positive statement, I’m sure, but a shiver runs down my spine. His life is so different from mine, so… otherworldly. It’s one more reminder that I’m dicing with the devil by proceeding with this plan my family and I have cooked up. Still, I’m smart, resourceful, and determined to honor my parents in the only way I have left.
It’s forty-five minutes before the car stops. Instructing me to stay where I am, Christian gets out and comes around to my side of the car. Leaning in, he takes hold of my hand and helps me out.
“Le Résidence? Is this yours?”
“Yes. Well, it belongs to the De Vil estate. This and… four hundred or so others I think, worldwide.” He gestures dismissively. “I lose count.”
Four hundred hotels, and those are just a fraction of the properties this family own. Their wealth is intimidating. Scary, even. With that kind of wealth comes immense power. Not for the first time, a sense of trepidation floods my veins. If I succeed and find out what really happened to my parents, Christian will know I’m a fraud. He’ll know all of this was a ruse to get close to him. The De Vils aren’t people you go up against, unless you’re an idiot.
