Modern Romance September 2018 Books 5-8. Heidi Rice

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СКАЧАТЬ they both laughed. Smiling, Hallie rose to her feet.

      She looked at Tess. “It’s time for your first dance as bride and groom, isn’t it?”

      The last thing Tess wanted to do right now was slow dance in her new husband’s arms. Her cheeks went hot as she looked down at her clasped hands. “I think we’ve had enough traditions for one day...”

      “Oh, please,” Hallie begged. “I was planning to sing for your first dance. As a surprise.”

      Put that way, it seemed churlish to refuse.

      “All right,” Tess sighed. “Fine.”

      “Yay.” Hallie looked down at her seated husband with a tender smile. “Wish me luck.”

      “You don’t need it.” Cristiano pulled her into his arms and lifted his lips to hers in a sensual kiss. “You’ll knock ’em dead.”

      Watching the other couple, so deeply in love, Tess again felt a pang over what she now knew she would never have.

      As Hallie hurried toward the microphone on the grand ballroom’s stage, Stefano held out his hand.

      “Shall we?” he said, smiling down at her as if he hadn’t just blackmailed her into marriage and threatened to destroy her family and take her child away.

      Glaring at him, Tess grudgingly put her hand in his and tried not to feel the electricity of his touch.

      “And now,” Hallie announced over the microphone, “for their very first dance, the Prince and Princess of Gioreale!”

      A hush fell across the crowd as Stefano led her, in a swirl of her white satin skirts, onto the dance floor.

      To the outside world, Tess knew it must look like a romantic moment, the handsome prince in his sleek, well-cut tuxedo, the bride in a lavish wedding gown sparkling with diamonds, dancing in his arms. The truth was anything but romantic.

      The orchestra began playing the music of the song Tess had requested, one made famous by Etta James and that she’d loved since she was a child—“At Last.” Hallie’s beautiful voice started singing the haunting words, telling the rapturous tale of long-lost love finally requited.

      Yesterday Tess had dreamily thought it was perfect. Now, in her husband’s arms, all she felt was bitterness.

      She looked up at his face.

      “I hate you,” she whispered. “You know that, don’t you?”

      Stefano looked down at her as they swayed, his handsome face arrogant. “You don’t hate me. You’re just angry. It will pass.”

      “Are you crazy? You forced me to marry you.”

      “I didn’t force you. I offered you a choice.”

      “What—marry you or lose everything?”

      His eyes gleamed in the spotlight as they danced to the music. “I knew you’d make the right decision.”

      Tess yearned to stomp hard on his foot with one of her stiletto heels. Instead, she bared her teeth into a smile for the benefit of the guests watching them as he whirled her around the dance floor.

      “You are a monster,” she said sweetly.

      “Cheer up.” He pulled her hard against his body. “I told you the truth. I intend to make you very happy in our marriage. Starting tonight.”

      He cupped her cheek, and desire crackled through her body, from her scalp to her toes and everywhere in between.

      Breathing hard, she turned away.

      “Go to hell,” she spit out, trying to hide her conflicting feelings. How could her body still want him, when she despised him?

      “I intend to satisfy you in every way possible.” He stopped on the dance floor, looking down at her. “Tonight, you will be in my bed. Willingly and completely.”

      Trembling, she lifted her chin. In spite of her best efforts, her voice trembled as she taunted, “In your dreams.”

      “My dreams always come true.” Stefano cupped her face in both his hands. “I always win, like Moretti said. I take what I want, at any price. And what I want—” he slowly lowered his mouth to hers “—is you.”

      Tess held her breath. She knew she should push him away, resist, but she couldn’t. When his lips finally pressed against hers, the intoxication of his caress made her feel dizzy. She had to clutch his shoulders to keep from falling. The world spun around her as if she’d drunk far more than one glass of champagne.

      Dimly she heard whistling and hooting from the crowd, but they all seemed far away. In Stefano’s arms, swaying to this beautiful song she’d loved all her life, her anger faded for a moment and her old dream resurfaced in her heart. She’d yearned for him for so long. Her perfect man. Her handsome prince. Their kiss brought it all back, sending her soaring into the sky.

      As the song ended, he pulled away and Tess slowly opened her eyes.

      Stefano stared down at her, his dark eyes wide as if he’d felt the same shock, the two of them in their own private world.

      Applause thundered around them—for their first dance as husband and wife, and for Hallie’s amazing performance.

      Stricken, Tess touched her bruised lips. How could she keep kissing him like that? With everything in her heart? Her body ached for him, and her nipples felt tight beneath the smooth silk bodice.

      For over a year, she’d been tormented by hot, sensual dreams of Stefano, of the night he’d taken her virginity and they’d conceived a child. She’d yearned for the man she’d imagined him to be. Now she knew the truth.

      The dream still held sway over her.

      She wanted to be in his bed. No matter how she tried to fight it. No matter how she pretended otherwise. Even now, looking up at him, she unconsciously licked her lips. She heard his soft groan and felt lost in his dark, hungry gaze.

      Stefano took her hand. Without a word, he led her past the crowd, off the dance floor. He drew Tess past the tables and guests. Her full white satin skirts shimmered beneath the lights of the glittering crystal chandeliers as he pulled her away from the gilded ballroom and out a side door, into a shadowy back service hallway.

      Once they were alone, his restraint fled.

      He pushed her roughly against the wall, kissing her hard, gripping her wrists. She kissed him back with fury, surrendering to the angry force of her own desire.

      “You’re mine,” he growled, kissing down her throat. “Say it, Tess.”

      Her head fell back as her veil tumbled and twisted around them.

      “Yours,” she breathed, and knew she was lost.

       CHAPTER FIVE

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