Page 10 of Hook

“Come now, Gwendolyne.” His husky voice feels like a caress against my skin. “Surely you want to have kissed more than one man by the time you get married?”

I swallow hard, hating that this stranger is right. I’m going to be bound to Piero for life and have never kissed another man. Athrill runs through me at the thought of breaking the rules and doing something because I feel like it. Before I know what I’m doing, I lift onto my tip toes and press my lips to his for a chaste kiss.

When I try to pull away, he keeps me tight against him and deepens it, his tongue thrusting into my mouth. The kiss sends sparks racing through my body. Moaning, I relax into his arms as he grabs a fistful of my hair and devours me as if he’s trying to drink me in. My knees grow weak with desire as an ache pulses between my thighs. All I can do is melt for him.

The sounds from the ballroom drift in, snapping me back to reality. Yanking away from him, I look at him in shock, shaking my head rapidly. “Oh my God,” I whisper in disbelief. “I don’t know what got into me! Please don’t tell Piero.”

He chuckles. “I’m not telling him anything, but I do intend to steal another kiss or two before you’re married to him.”

I shake my head. “No chance. I don’t want to see you again.”

Without looking back, I spin around and run—my heart racing in my chest at superhuman speed. Eventually, I stumble into the restroom and lock myself in the nearest stall, collapsing onto the toilet seat with my forehead against my hands.

What was I thinking?

The way Piero makes me feel when he kisses me is nothing compared to the way that stranger maade me feel.

It means what I feel for Piero is nothing other than infatuation.

Taking a deep breath, I open the stall and stand in front of the mirror, examining my reflection closely.

My lips are swollen from the passionate kiss, so I try to use lip gloss to cover it up. My hair is a little tousled where he grabbed it, so I run a comb through it quickly before returning to the ballroom.

I’m tense and on high alert, hoping I don’t run into that mysterious man again.

Piero is nowhere in sight when I enter. The room is full of music and joyous laughter. It’s meant to be a celebratory party, but as memories of my moment with the stranger refuse to leave my mind, my feelings are all over the place.

Did he do this on purpose? To deter me from marrying Piero? No matter what his plan is, it has made me rethink everything about our union.

I shudder as I hear Piero’s gruff voice call out, “Ah, there you are, darling.”

I whirl around to face him. Our eyes meet and instantly I wish I hadn’t given into temptation and kissed another man. The guilt I feel is sickening.

I plaster on a smile. “Yes, just went to the restroom.”

Piero pulls me close and kisses me. Even though his kiss is full of passion, it makes me feel dirty inside because it’s nothing like the kiss I shared with the stranger. He grabs my hand and guides me through the crowd.

“Where are we going?” I ask.

“I want you to meet my friends,” he says, as if I’m a flashy possession he wants to show off. I can’t deny it makes me feel special, something I’ve never felt before I met him.

Piero waves his hand at a short, stocky man. “Elio and his wife, Alina.”

Elio gives me a forced smile, eyeing me suspiciously. His wife’s brown eyes scan me with disapproval before she smiles briefly.

“And Tino, my second-in-command.” Piero gestures to the tall lanky man with jet black hair and dark eyes, who bows to me in greeting.

“Alexander works for us too,” Piero adds.

Which results in a curt nod from the silver-haired Alexander. He points to a woman. “Kira is a freelancer I hire on occasion.”

Kira takes my hand and shakes. “Pleasure to meet you, Gwen... I’ve heard so much about you.” She smiles genuinely, which is nice after the cold reception from Elio and Alina.

Alexander steps closer and takes my hand, kissing it softly. Before he can say a word, Piero smacks Alexander on the back of his head.

“What the hell was that for?” Alexander asks.

“Keep those filthy lips away from my fiancée,” Piero says sternly, as Alexander rubs the back of his head.

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