Page 119 of Arturo's Temptation

Will you just fuck off, just for one weekend.

Where would the fun be in that?

I felther before I saw her. Bella had this way of sneaking up on me ,which considering the reason her father hired me for, wasn’t ideal.

Her smooth hands covered my eyes, as she breathed, “Guess who?” in my ear.

“There’s only one woman I’d allow to touch me that way, so it better be who I think it is,” I gripped her wrist, spinning her around to my front. An excited squeal left her glossed lips, a sound I adored because it meant she’d finally let her guard down. That she was enjoying herself with me.

“Dance with me.” There was a question hiding beneath that demand.

“I hate dancin’.” I scoffed, sipping my scotch.

“Please?” Her fingers slipped in mine as she pulled me onto the dance floor, I swiftly discarded my crystal tumbler onto a passing waiter’s tray. As we found ourselves in middle of hundreds of other couples, the music slowed. I frowned and looked around to see Lily staring at us. A small smile told me the change of tune was her doing. It was nice to see someone other than Bella’s family show her some kindness. I let my hand rest on the small of her back, while the other took hers. Without thinking I spun her around the dance floor, her feet barely touching the floor.

“But I thought you didn’t dance?”

“I said I hated it,” I replied, dipping her gently as a small gasp escaped her lips, “not that I wasn't good at it.”

“You’re a man of many talents, Arturo Ramos,” she smiled laying her head against my chest. I squeezed my eyes shut at the gentle compliment. They had never sat well with me, but coming from her, they did weird things to my heart.

Looking up, I glanced around at the other couples. From all four corners I could feel the weight of people’s stares. They all knew Isabella was the daughter of the infamous Lorenzo Ricci,but none knew me. All they saw was the deadly edge I carried everywhere I went. They could tell I wasn’t a normal fella. And they were right, I wasn’t.

“Stop paying attention to them,” she demanded.

“I don’t like how many guys stare at you like you’re a piece of meat. I’ll fuckin’ kill anyone who tries to touch you.”

That’s it… give into the urge.

“Arturo, don’t let them win.” I breathed out through my nose as she somehow pulled my attention back to her. “Look at me, and only me.” I lowered my eyes to hers and just then everything fell silent. “That’s it,” she soothed as she skated her thumb across my cheek in a soft, soothing motion.

“How do you do that? How do you make everything seem okay?”

“Because I’ve had plenty of practice.” I knew it hurt that nobody understood how much pain Bella carried each day. I only hoped I could help her the way she had been helping me from the start. “I’ll be right back. I’m just going to use the bathroom,” she placed a kiss on my cheek.

“I’ll walk you.”

“Arturo, it’s only over there, I’ll be fine,” she reassured me while squeezing my hand.

“Bella—”

“Stop. I promise, I’ll be in and out,” I watched her weave her way through the dancing guests, getting stopped along the way by Lily’s father. It was hard to stop myself watching her, it was as though I was always on edge when she wasn’t beside me.

“I can’t believe Bella came here with her bodyguard. I wonder what she’s paying him to play the part of her date?” Came a shrill voice to the left of me. I carried on watching Isabella as I narrowed in on that voice, flashing a glance to my side to see Lily’s other bridesmaids, drinking champagne “God is she that dull that she couldn’t find someone real to ask her out?”Annoyance bled into my stomach as the blond in the middle of them crinkled her nose and chugged the rest of her drink while rolling her eyes.

“There’s a reason she’s still a virgin, Amber,” another piped up, laughing. “She’s probably never even gone down on a guy.”Amber… Why was that name familiar?“I wouldn’t mind riding his dick though. I bet he’s wild in the sack.” The one named Amber said, making me gag. “He won’t be getting any from her, that’s for damn sure.”

Yeah, right. I’d rather choke on my own vomit then go anywhere near you.

“Yeah, frigid, much? You should so totally make a move. Fifty bucks says he follows you upstairs before she comes back.” Just then, a thought popped into my head as I remembered details from the printed guest list I had one of the boys prepare for me. I hadn’t clocked it before, but I knew these three girls.

Alright, I’d had enough of this shit.

Cracking my neck, I slid my way through the crowd and stepped up behind them, clearing my throat. Their jaws dropped as they turned and came face to face with my livid expression.

“Fifty bucks says you should mind your own fuckin’ business,” I said, leaning close to Amber. She popped her hip to one side and placed a hand to her waist.

“It’s Arthur, right?” I almost smirked at this blond bitch’s ignorance. “I know it’s like your job or whatever to defend her but you’re not her boyfriend,” she purred, running her manicured fingers down my arm. “What do you say we get a bottle of champagne and take this conversation somewhere more… private?”

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