Page 60 of Bound By Her Shocking Secret

She looked like a sultry siren from afilm noir. All sleek golden limbs, with her body shrink-wrapped into a dress that was pure sin. He wanted to tell the stylist to change the dress immediately—in this she would cause accidents, heart attacks. But they didn’t have time. And he had approved the dress after all. Except in the picture on the mannequin it had looked positively benign.

He looked at Mia’s face. She was watching him warily. What she’d said earlier had been so outrageous that he still wasn’t entirely sure that she’d actually said it.

Paul the butler appeared. ‘The car is ready downstairs.’

Daniel forced himself to focus. What Mia had said earlier was nonsense. They just needed to talk about it.

He led her out of the apartment. Her scent was fresh and light—at odds with the outfit—reminding him of who she really was. Of her contradictions.

Odile and Lexi were waiting to say goodbye in the foyer and Odile said, ‘Wow, Mia...you look amazing.’

Lexi copied Odile. ‘Wow... Mama...’mazing.’

Mia laughed and hugged Odile and Lexi. Then Lexi put her arms out towards Daniel. He lifted her up, inhaling her sweet scent. She planted a kiss on his cheek.

His chest felt tight.‘Merci, mignonne.’

He handed her back to Odile, and they left.

There was silence in the car as it wound its way from Place Vendôme to the venue. Daniel could see the toned length of Mia’s thigh. She was looking away, out of the window. He wanted to turn her face to him, make her look at him. Cover her mouth with his.

It suddenly occurred to him, then, that in the past week, in spite of the intensity of their lovemaking, she hadn’t kissed him on the mouth once. Everywhere but the mouth. As if she was denying him something that some considered more intimate than actual intercourse. In fact she hadn’t even kissed him on the mouth on their wedding night.

No. Not possible. He was losing it. Imagining it.

What she’d said earlier...it was scrambling his brain.

An ache built in his chest, but he ignored it. They pulled up outside the venue and Daniel got out and went around to help Mia out of the car. He had to clench his jaw to keep his body under control as she uncoiled her tall body in that dress.

As soon as they saw her, the paparazzi went wild.

Now they knew her name.

‘Mia, Mia! Over here! Mia!’

Daniel stood to the side, for once out of the limelight and not minding it one bit. Mia posed with professional ease, but he could see that she was trembling lightly.

He went over and took her hand, saying to the photographers,‘Ça suffit.’Enough.

He led her to the entrance. Her hand was tight around his.

He looked down at her. ‘Okay?’

She looked up and nodded. ‘I’m just not used to this level of attention.’

Daniel put his thumb and forefinger to her chin and tipped it up. He bent down to press his mouth against hers, but at the last second she turned her head, denying him her lips.

Something dark spiralled in Daniel’s gut as his kiss landed on her cheek.

He hadn’t been imagining it.

As soon as they walked into the venue a hush fell over the crowd. Daniel felt a surge of protectiveness. He kept hold of Mia’s hand, but after a while her death grip loosened and she let go. And at one point she turned to him and said, ‘I’m okay now. You can do whatever you have to do.’

Daniel saw that she was with Adele, the photographer. He said, ‘I have to make a speech, but we can go after that.’

Mia nodded and her gaze slid away from his.

They got separated by the crowd.

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