Page 14 of Stolen Bride

“I’m getting married in two days, Mr. Valentino.” There’s a sadness in her voice that destroys something in me.

I tip her chin up and meet her gaze. “It’s Damiano. Say it.”

“Damiano.”

Gently shaking my head, I lick my lips as I stare at her mouth, aching to taste hers. “It even sounds sexy off your lips.”

“Can I please have something other than water?” Her tongue pops out of her mouth, and I know she’s itching for some excuse to let go of the barriers, an excuse to be bad. She doesn’t need one. I’m all hers, and she’s mine.

“Why?” I challenge her, brushing my thumb across her plump lips.

“I want to live a little before I…” Exactly what I thought.

“Before what?” She’s going to say the words that will anger me.

“Before I get married.” The words piss me off, like I expected. She’s not marrying that asshole. I’m going to kill him either way, but every time she mentions it, I add another layer of torture to his death. If anyone mentions it, for that matter.

I brush her hair behind the shell of her ear, grazing my lips against her neck as I say, “Are you looking for liquid courage, my angel?”

“Yes,” she answers shakily. Her body trembles in my hold.

I pull back and look into her eyes. “I don’t think you need it.”

“I want it.” Her voice is barely above a whisper, confidence absent.

“What did your sister give you before you got here?”

“Nothing. A guy at the bar bought us a drink, and then we got some when we arrived up here.”

“A guy at the bar?” I want his balls ripped off. “Who?” I stand up and walk to the edge of the VIP barrier and look out toward the club as if I’m going to find this asshole. Rocco. He’d know. He grabbed them and brought them up here. He’s got a thing for Camille.

“I don’t know. We only just got here, and he said I was pretty and…”

“Pretty is an understatement, but it wasn’t his right or privilege to do so, but what was the ‘and’….”

“Nothing.”

“Don’t ‘nothing’ me. Tell me.”

“Well, he claimed I was his girl, and he touched me before your guard snapped on him.” Good. I’m glad my guard did his job, but he should have stopped him from touching her.

“He’s a dead man.” That’s without a doubt. I’ll destroy the handsy prick for putting his hands on my woman.

“I don’t belong to you,” she snaps. She’s adorable when she’s feisty.

“You’re only lying to yourself, baby girl.”

“Anyone can buy me a drink, you know.” There’s that liquid courage. Let’s see how long it lasts.

“How old are you?” I press my hand to her mouth. “Lie to me again and I’ll take you over my knee, lift up your dress, and spank that ass.”

She clenches her thighs together, like she’s not opposed to the idea and she’s trying to keep her pussy juices from soakingmy leather. Fucking hell. My dick only stiffens harder. “I’m eighteen.”

“You’re not even supposed to be in my club,” I inform her sexy ass because it’s more than against the law. She’s asking for trouble from all these sick bastards who want their hands on my woman.

“Well, neither should Gracie nor Camille.”

I’d love to fuck away that attitude of hers until she understands who she’s dealing with. I grip her chin with a little force. “Gracie’s my sister, and if I never see your stepsister ever again, that would be a blessing. Now, tell me again that anyone can buy you a drink.”

---