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And the way his eyes darkened and his voice went huskier when he spoke about thatelse

Almost

“I want all of those things,” I whispered,my desire aloud, I wasn’t sure if I could be sexy like that

Cristian’s hand went back to htly to communicate he wanted my eyes He didn’t like it when I avoided eye contact, didn’t likeaard, shy or self-conscious around him

“I just want tointo withrapidly “My family,” I added

His face hardened with realization “Baby, I knoho your family is What your father is”

I nodded “Youto be married to ain “They’ve tried to keep me out of it, my family They think I’m too delicate to deal with the reality of what ht about all of the ti when I walked into the room, how uns underneath them “Maybe I as work He’s going to expect you in the family business And I know you have other dreams, like—”

“My only dream is you” Cristian cut me off

I bit my lip Cristian had not had an easy life He only went to our prestigious prep school because he got a scholarship His dad left him and his mom before he was born His randparents to be found, or maybe they didn’t want to be found His aunt only took him because of a life insurance policy his uardian until he was eighteen I’d met her a couple of tireet arette smoke, her wiry, red hair always askew Her lips were always pinched into a scowl and fastened around a smoke She was not a nice woman

I couldn’t iroithout real family around My entire life was centered around family Not just my parents and brother, but uncles, cousins, rades, for the transcript that would get hi e There was no need

Cristian wanted to be strong, take care of s, from the true realities of his life Which worried ive up for me?

“Iabout what et blood on your hands” My own se, tanned one “I don’t want that for you I don’t want to corrupt you because of who my family is”

Cristian’s eyes narrowed I was flat on my back when Cristian suddenly e hands gripping hs

I gasped at the rapid change, at how utterly exposed I was to hilued on me like he was about to eat me alive and worship at my altar at the same time

“Don’t you know this by now, my bride?” he murmured, his breath hotthere “It is h “I’ into with you Your fa as you wear that ring on your finger”

My body quivered underneath hiht That was nowhere near as large as the one et could afford

I idly wondered whetherCristian was traditional Respectful He was knowledgeable enough about my father to understand that there was no e’d

Though it seee boy procure a diamond, it suited my father

“I ear this ring forever,” I promised “Until my last breath”

Cristian’s brow furrowed ever so slightly “That isforever For now, I’ you some more”