Page 84 of Bound in Promise
Her weight collapses onto me and I find myself pulling her closer, stroking my hands soothingly up and down the sharp points of her spine as she trembles in my arms. Each passing second is filled with a sense of belonging and love that I’ve truly never felt. The emotions are enough to choke me and I can’t help but feel that I’m drowning in everything Victoria is to me.
I knew my life would change after moving to the States.
I just didn’t know I’d find myself falling in love with a wife I never wanted.
Now I want to spend the remainder of my life holding her close, treasuring her, and pleasuring her.
I am well and truly fucked.
26
VICTORIA
Wednesday, October 9, 3:50 PM
I stare into a pair of cold eyes that are all too familiar. I can’t say I’ve missed being the focus of this particular look.
It feels like I haven’t seen my mother in a million years. She’s dressed to the nines in a Dior dress that hits just below her knees, the pale ivory material making her look warmly maternal. A stranger passing on the street couldn’t be blamed for thinking she’s been a loving, positive presence for the entirety of my life.
We’d both know that impression for a lie.
“The dean told me you haven’t been attending your classes at Thronewood. He said you’ve been running around with that… professor.”
I don’t immediately respond to her thinly veiled scolding. What does she care? Not once in the last few weeks has she tried to call me to see if I was okay. No, my mother has been MIA through all of the Liam and Lombardi bullshit. Right up until she stormed into the registrar’s office while I was in the middle of sorting out my academic records and deciding how best to proceed with my education.
“I fail to see how my attendance is your problem,” I respond, matching her glare with my own. Her eyes narrow into crystalline slits at my not-so-polite dismissal.
“I’m concerned.”
“About?”
My mother looks heavenward, clicking her red-lacquered nails across the laminate table. Her mouth twists in distaste and she stills her fingers, carefully lifting the chipped mug in front of her. It’s obvious she has absolutely no desire to be here. I don’t think my mother has ever deigned to enter any of Thronewood’s campus buildings, with the notable exception of the dean’s historic mansion. She didn’t even come to my dorm room for freshman move in, choosing to gossip in the quad with the other mothers about the latest scandal at the country club.
Insisting that I wouldn’t speak to her anywhere except my favorite greasy-spoon diner next to the Thronewood campus—the one that’s open twenty-four hours a day and serves the most incredible caramel apple pie—was probably petty of me. I thought she was going to walk right back out to her car when she realized that the only tea they serve here is the kind that comes in little yellow pouches. Honestly, knowing how miserable she is makes my slice of pie taste even sweeter.
Dante’s rubbing off on me.
My cheeks flush at the thought. Today’s the first day Dante’s let me out of the house. He’s barely let me out of bed. My whole vow of celibacy thing lasted all of two hours. That man sure knows how to fuck me right.
Even thinking of him is enough to get me wet, and I quickly refocus on my mother’s continuing diatribe before I completely lose my mind.
“If you’re going to throw your life away for a nobody,” she declares, “you at least need a backup plan. Your trust will hold you over… Unless you were ignorant enough to not get a prenup?”
I quirk a brow, trying not to laugh. How is any of this her problem? I’m married, which is all she ever wanted me to be. “Anything else?”
“Your father will be returning from Hong Kong on Saturday. I’ve managed to shield most of your poor decisions of late from his attention, but you’ll have to face him at some point.”
“What do you mean? You haven’t told him I got married?”
“Absolutely not. Your father was against the idea from the start. He never cared much for Liam, and, well…” She waves a hand as if to erase all that I’ve been through since Liam started hounding me to exchange vows.
My jaw drops. I know I look a fool, but I can’t help it, I’m stunned. My mother made it sound as if my father wanted the marriage as much as she did. This is what I get for not calling him myself when everything started to go sideways. Maybe if I’d asked dear Dad for help from the beginning, things might not have gone off the rails.
I’d never have been threatened by Angelo’s men.
Never have been kidnapped by Liam.
Never have been auctioned by Angelo.
