In two long strides, I’m in the middle of the room.
I wrap my jacket around her. The brief contact with her silky skin sends electricity through my fingers. “You’re coming home. Where you belong.”
“Like hell I am!” She twists away from me, then runs for the door.
Effortlessly I capture her, scoop her from the floor, and toss her over my shoulder, desperately trying to keep her covered. She kicks her long, shapely legs, and the feeling of her nearly naked body against mine threatens what little control I have left. “Don’t test me, little rebel.”
Yelling, demanding to be released, she struggles even harder.
“That’senough.”In a flash, I land my palm on her upturned, sweet ass. The crack echoes through the room.
Instantly she freezes, and she yelps in shock.
The sound goes straight to my groin.
“Let her go!” Gabriel is pale and shaking, his hands clenched at his sides. “I’ll call the police?—”
“Do it.” My tone is curt, heavy with possession. “But my fiancée is leaving with me.”
“Put me down! I amnotmarrying you!” Alessia thrashes again, fighting against my hold as I stride from the room and through the mansion toward the exit.
Chiara hurries past me to open the front door, and she remains on the stoop to protect my back while I jog down the steps.
Once we reach the car, I put Alessia down. “Get in.”
Her chin set mutinously, she defies me and attempts to run, even in bare feet.
Once more, I snatch her up.
The jacket falls to the ground. “Keep fighting me, and you’ll leave here naked. Your choice.”
Chiara strategically places herself in front of the gathering crowd. Gabriel is yelling—from a safe distance, I note—andArtemis is speaking rapidly into the cell phone that’s pressed to her ear.
I shove Alessia into the car and lean in to press her against the leather seat. She’s wild-eyed, chest heaving. The sight of her like this—disheveled, with beautiful feminine curves, and hard nipples pointing toward me—makes my dick hard.
I’ll conquer her, and I’ll own her.
“Gabriel!” she cries out.
I capture her chin, forcing her to meet my gaze. My words are clipped as I harness my anger. “You’remine.No one touches what belongs to me.” He pauses for emphasis.“Understood?”
“Go to hell. I’m not yours and never will be.” She glares, but her pulse is jumping in her throat, and there’s a slight dilation of her pupils.
You feel it. The energy crackling between us.
Silently Chiara hands me my suit coat, and Alessia snatches it from me.
“We gotta go, boss,” Nash warns, looking at the small crowd now gathered near us.
“Yeah.” I enter the passenger compartment, scooting Alessia over to make room for me.
Chiara slams the door behind us.
As she jumps in beside Nash, the vehicle is already rolling.
“You’re out of your mind,” Alessia snaps, her voice shaking.
“Am I?” I reach around her to fasten her safety belt.