Page 16 of Dearly Betrayed

“Agreed,” Hellie says.

And I find myself feeling the same way.

At least until we reach the lobby.

Rian’s there talking to a couple men. One’s Adler, Casey’s husband, the Don of the family.

The other is Jayson.

My future spouse and the bane of my existence.

The men turn to face us. Casey gives her man a kiss on the cheek and leans against him. He supports her without thinking, taking some weight from her knee as natural as brushing his hair. Rian comes to my side and says something, but I can’t hear it over the scream in my head.

Jayson’s looking at me again.

With that stare.

The animalistic, beastly stare, the pure sex-and-sweat-and-cum sort of stare. His eyes grind into my body, and this time I don’t have a jacket to hide behind. I’m in yoga pants and a simple t-shirt, a bit on the smaller side, hugging my chest, and I can tell he likes what he’s about to marry.

He licks his lips, and my nipples are stiff—fuckingagain—and all I want to do is run.

“Fallie? Hey, you alright?”

I start slightly. Rian’s looking at me with concern. Isabel and Hellie already walked off, chatting with each other, and Casey’s hanging onto Adler’s arm. They’re speaking quietly together.

Nobody noticed the way Jayson stared at me, as if he’s a hungry wolf.

“I’m alright,” I say, steering Rian away. “What’s he doing here?”

“We had one final conversation, just to make sure everything’s good. Did you get a dress?”

“I got one. And everything’s all set? I’m still stuck here?”

“Ceremony’s at ten tomorrow morning.”

“Great. Lovely. Can’t wait.” I glance over my shoulder.

Jayson’s still standing right where I left him. He hasn’t taken his eyes off me, and he doesn’t seem ashamed of it.

He gives me a little smile.

Gods in heaven, he looks incredible.

I flip him off.

Discreetly, of course. Rian wouldn’t approve. But it makes Jayson’s smile double, and there’s something in his grin, something possessive and needy.

The way he looks at me and the way my body reacts to the idea of being alone in a room with him—both scare me half to death.

Chapter7

Jayson

My wedding day arrives. The weather’s ugly. My mother sits in the living room of my condo at the top of the Sunrise, wearing a chic blue dress with her hair up in a twist, already drinking a glass of wine.

“You look nervous,” she says.

I adjust my tie and shake my head. “Not nervous. No reason to be nervous.”

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