Blame it on the Champagne (Blame it on the Alcohol #1) - Fiona Cole Page 0,56

much as she will allow me to.”

Raelynn’s slow smile confirmed she knew the truth about our situation, and no doubt, knew more than I did about Vera’s stubbornness keeping her from enjoying all the benefits of our marriage.

“Good.”

“Well, now that that is out of the way,” Vera said, exasperated with the two of us.

Nova emptied her champagne. “Yes. I don’t know about you, but I could use another glass.” She linked her arm with a still-smirking Raelynn. “We’ll leave you to greet everyone.”

Vera pressed her fingers to the center of her forehead. “Sorry about that,” she murmured.

“Don’t be. I like her.”

Questioning eyes snapped to mine, concern marring her features. “Oh, well, most men do.”

How she could assume I preferred Raelynn over her, I had no idea, but I shut it down before it could begin. “Not like that. She’s entertaining to listen to. But I do like your concern I’d want anyone other than you,” I gloated.

“I’m not.” She stood taller and tried to brush away her unfiltered reaction.

“Hmm.” I slowly backed her to a private corner. “Are you sure?”

“Yes. Why would I care who you like and don’t like? It’s not like we like each other?”

“You don’t like me? I’m hurt.”

“Yeah, right,” she said with a roll of her eyes.

“You seemed to like me once.”

“I didn’t know it was you.” Her sassy response was ruined by her stumbling when her back hit the wall.

I stepped into her space, resting my hand on her hip, stretching my thumb to graze low on her hipbone. “I could remind you. No masks. Face-to-face. Your legs wrapped around me.”

I gave her points for thrusting her chin up and arching an arrogant brow, but her heaving chest and heavy swallow gave her away. Her tongue slicking across her lush lips as her eyes flicked to mine.

“No,” she whispered, trying to lie. But desire swirled in the depths of her brown eyes like melted gold.

I shifted my hand to her ribs. “You really do look stunning.”

Another swallow. “Thank you.”

“It takes all I have not to have you right here in this corner. All this white, all this purity when I know different, I love it. Like our little secret, how dirty you like to be.” Leaning down, I grazed my nose to hers, breathing in her quick exhalations. “Or are you only dirty for me?”

Her parted lips begged me to kiss her, to take and take and take. Wanting to prolong the moment, wanting to see if I could hear the plea for more fall from her lips, I held back. Instead, lifting my hand higher to smooth over her breast. My thumb swiped back and forth, bringing the hard tip to life, pinching the tender bud.

“You’ll be my wife soon enough. Why not just give in? Sweeten the deal of our bargain.”

And just like that, the woman melting in my arms stiffened. A firm hand landed against my chest, shoving me back easily.

“I may be agreeing to marry you, but that’s it. I’m not selling my body like a prostitute. Besides, you couldn’t afford me. I’m not like all the other women you only had to snap your fingers at to make them jump. Unfortunately for you, I’m more work than that.”

She stormed past, even having the audacity to clip me with her shoulder. A single laugh slipped free, a little turned on by her defiance. More than a little turned on with the way she almost caved under my touch. She may not want to admit how much she wanted me, but soon enough, we’d live under the same roof, and she’d have nowhere to run.

I snagged a glass of champagne and left the room, giving my future bride a reprieve. I’d only gone a few feet when voices had me slowing to a stop out of view.

“I’ve already asked twice.”

“Angelo was always a stubborn asshole. Jealous of my company name.”

I didn’t recognize the first voice right off the bat, but I knew Lorenzo’s in my sleep.

“Which is why if we don’t marry, my name isn’t going on the building. He won’t invest as much as he initially agreed if the Conti name isn’t right next to Mariano.”

Camden.

I couldn’t stand having him here, but appearances demanded no one be left out. Especially someone so high ranking in Verana’s family company.

“Cazzo! Camila’s family haunts me even when they aren’t around. That damn amendment in the company contract. Having to be a family member to add their name to the company is archaic and bullshit.