Page 2 (1/1)

He should have been stronger

In the six weeks since he’d seen her, he’d worked hard to push her froh so that he’d arrived at Lake Co in her presence without any probleuilt had churned itself back up They’d exchanged a few brief words over the course of the day, the saed with everyone else, but that was the extent of their interaction So far, at least There was still the dance to get through

Whether he liked it or not, he would have to hold her in his ar to him at the exact moment the band started their warm-up As he spoke, Christian saw Olivia lean in close to press her ear to Rocco’s esture that reminded him of his dinner with Alessandra, the way she’d leaned into him to hear him speak over the noise of the restaurant; the way her sultry scent had played under his nose

Fro to the official photographer, the photographer probably getting tips from her Alessandra Mondelli was one of the raphers in the world, a re she was still only twenty-five She’d made it all on her own Just as he’d made his na about the charitable foundation they and their friends had formed some years back

Italian Rocco Mondelli, Sicilian Stefan Bianco, desert Prince Zayed Al Afzal and he had all taken a keen interest in running and raising money for their charity They were the so-called Coluh he couldn’t recall which of them had dubbed them so Whoever had co their first week at Columbia University and, as incredible as it was to look back on, the bond they’d forood few years later, when it had beco towards the Forbes World’s Billionaires List, they’d formed the charity Christian was extreed kids could get the education they deserved but were unable to afford It felt good for the and bedding as many beautiful women as they could

They all believed the bond between theest steel could be destroyed

He answered hat he hoped sounded like intelligence but, in truth, what caible he could be speaking Martian

Luckily Stefan’s attention was diverted by the band striking up their first song

The bride and groolided onto the dance floor to loud applause

Christian’s eyes drifted to his right, back to Alessandra She was looking straight at hihtened

A powerful slap to his shoulder broke the spell

‘Ti on the empty seat to Christian’s left

Theos He had to dance with her Olivia, the bride, had ordered it The best man and chief bridesmaid

Alessandrawhat raced inside hi one of the usual upbeat tunes that had roups in the world rather than the cover of a ro his teeth, he walked by her side to the dance floor and took her into his arms

His heart jolted at the first touch, a dozenin his mind Her scent Her taste

The back of her dress was low, leaving him no option but to touch her silky skin It was either that or hold on to her botto her

Yet, no matter the physical distance he tried to impose between himself and her slender for tricks on him as they moved over the dance floor in a manner more akin to a pair of robots than a couple who’d had a wild night of sex just six weeks before The stirring that had begun when he’d watched her walk up the aisle and had siroin that he willed aith increasing frustration