Page 14 of The Forbidden Bride He Stole

He had left, knowing that she might act out in his absence, but he had felt like it was safer than remaining near her.

He had done what he had to.

But when he arrived home, not only was the house in order, Hannah was standing there in what was a perfectly demure outfit, one that should not have brought his blood to a low simmer and made his body feel set on edge.

“I’m very glad that you’ve arrived back home. Because I have something to tell you.” She sounded placid. He didn’t trust it.

Her hands were clasped in front of her, and just then, she moved. And he saw a large diamond on her left hand. “I’m engaged.”

“You arenot,” he said, the words bordering on a growl.

Her expression was bland. “I am. You saw the man that I was dancing with at the club. Rocco. I’m marrying him.”

That wee boy? That child? Who had pawed at her body as if it was a buffet platter he felt entitled to? Never. There had been no love on his face, no care of any kind.

Most unforgivable of all, he had let Apollo take her. Any man who surrendered a woman so easily did not deserve her in any capacity.

And any woman who had offered what Hannah had offered him could not truly want another.

“You’remarryinghim?” he asked. “When I took you off the dance floor, you offered to get on your knees and pleasure me not one minute after you were in his arms? How can you wish to marry him?”

“I’m in love with him.”

No.

The denial was instant and vehement.

“You’re in love with him, and yet you offered to take me in your mouth?”

It was a dangerous thing, bringing that up.

“Old fantasies die hard,” she said, and the words sparked questions, a fire that tumbled along his skin, and he wanted to ignore all of the implications there.

He had to focus on the issue at hand.

“No. I forbid it. You are not getting married.”

“Funnily enough, the guardianship agreement says nothing about you having a choice in who I marry, Apollo. You can’t stop me. We are to wed in two days’ time. At the small chapel at the hotel. I hope to see you there. But if you’re too angry at being outmaneuvered to do so... Well.”

“Outmaneuvered. You don’t love him.”

“I do,” she said. “I am prepared to live with him as man and wife for a year. At least. As the will stipulates.”

“This is foolish. And childish.”

“You think me foolish and childish, and that is why it’s what you see. You are not in charge of me or my life. I’m getting married. My trust fund will be mine. And so will my father’s company.”

“And it could all be his as well. Did you ever think of that? The will gives outrageous weight to the opinions of the person you married. It is set up so that your husband becomes your guardian. Are you that stupid that you would overlook that?”

His words were cruel, and he knew that. He also knew that they would not wound her. They would only make her angrier. But he himself was too angry to be calculated in the moment.

“I’ll see you at the wedding. Or I won’t.”

“It has to be a legitimate wedding. Overseen by the board of—”

“I’m aware. I went over everything with a fine tooth comb. I’ve known Rocco for eight months. We are in a relationship. We are in love. People have seen us together many times. We have passed our interviews with flying colors, and everyone is invited to the affair. Including you. Even though I hate you.”

Rage was a roiling, ugly monster in his gut. He had not felt this sort of anger in many, many years. That she was the source of it made him...he was not trustworthy right now.

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