20. Ginevra

CHAPTER 20

Ginevra

C hampagne bubbles burst in my mouth. I’m wearing a sleek, couture bridesmaid dress that Arianna chose for her wedding. She and Dimitri seem so happy together, obsessed with each other, and I envy them. She deserves this hard won happily ever after with her husband.

That’s one of the reasons I’ve been putting off telling my family about Blake. I don’t want to overshadow my sister’s happy day with my own drama. Arianna deserves the perfect wedding—which she had earlier—and now the most wonderful reception to celebrate with her family and friends.

Beside me, my cousin Ravenna’s telling Ilaria some funny story. I giggle along with them, a bit too loudly, and they both give me questioning looks. I wave them off and grab another glass of bubbly from a passing server. I plan to drink my weight of this stuff before the evening’s through. Blake and his judgmental attitude can go to hell.

The hairs on the nape of my neck rise as awareness zips across my skin. I turn to find Blake’s gaze boring into me and quickly glance away. I told him to give me some space tonight since I haven’t told my sisters about us yet. I just need a little more time. Tonight’s not the night. Tomorrow. I’ll tell them tomorrow.

He’s not happy about that.

He’s also not happy about the fact that I’m not wearing my engagement ring tonight. It’s far too conspicuous. That huge diamond would only encourage questions.

Honestly though, the man’s been driving me crazy all week. First he fingers me by the pool while I suck him off, then he shoves me away and accuses me of being drunk—when I wasn’t. That hurt. Not to mention how embarrassed I felt.

Then he followed me to my storage unit, causing me further humiliation. The next day all of my things were moved from storage into the guest room across the hall from our bedroom. Which is the sweetest damn thing he could have done. But I’m getting whiplash from his hot and cold behavior. It’s beginning to remind me of my ex. So his sweet, thoughtful actions are tainted by my past experiences with men.

Blake never apologized for tossing me aside after he was done with me at the pool. So I haven’t forgiven him.

He can’t just hurt me like that, make me feel used—and accuse me of being a liar—and then do some grand gesture and think everything is forgiven. It’s not okay.

Most of all, I hate how my feelings are getting all tangled up in him. This is supposed to be fake , so why are my feelings so real?

Our attraction to each other is undeniable, so why can’t we just have some fun together? I wish the rules and boundaries between us were more defined. Instead, I feel like I’m trying to figure this fake relationship out as we go along, and every time I turn around he has some new rule to follow, or a new condition he’s put in place. At the same time, the lines blur and we keep pushing the boundaries we both agreed to.

What I’m purposely avoiding thinking about right now is how he spanked me and I liked it. How the pain turned me on.

I don’t like pain.

That’s not me.

I’m so confused.

“Would you like to dance?” a slightly Russian-accented voice speaks beside me. I turn, coming face-to-face with a handsome young man. Given his accent, my guess is he’s part of Dimitri’s bratva. It would be rude to turn him down.

“Sure. I’d love to.” I drop my champagne flute on a tray and follow him onto the dance floor. The song’s a fun, poppy, upbeat number. As I sway my hips, that sensation of being watched intensifies ten-fold. Turning my head, I find Blake’s gaze laser focused on me. His scowl’s so powerful it could make grass wither and die.

I try to ignore him and have fun with my dance partner. He’s not the boss of me. But it’s nearly impossible to ignore a man like Blake Baron. Even from across the room his presence demands my attention.

I glance at him again and his eyes narrow. That’s the only warning I get before he charges toward me and takes me by the arm. The Russian boy immediately backs off, and I don’t blame him, Blake’s on the warpath.

He hauls me through the crowded room, then climbs the steps to the stage, interrupting my sister’s wedding reception. All eyes are on us. A lead weight drops in my stomach as embarrassment colors my cheeks.

Oh God, what is he going to do?

“Sorry to interrupt,” Blake says in a calm tone, sounding anything but apologetic. “We have an announcement on this happy occasion.” He hauls me closer to him. “Let me introduce you to my future wife. Ginevra Pontrelli.”

Instead of applause, we’re met with stunned silence. Horror rips through me, and I know the emotion’s written all over my face. He knows I’m not ready for this yet. How dare he force this on me?

Blake’s hand curls around the back of my neck and his mouth captures mine. His kiss is possessive, claiming, leaving no doubt in anyone’s mind that we’re together. I’m frozen, my brain scrambled by his touch. When he finally ends the kiss, I draw in a ragged breath and try to get my bearings.

From his trousers pocket he pulls out my diamond engagement ring. “You forgot this at home, so I brought it for you.” Taking my hand in his, he slowly slips the ring onto my finger. A predatory, possessive smile curves his lips, and the world around me tilts.

This game we’re playing just got real. There’s no going back now. I’m tied to this man until he gets what he wants, until our agreement is fulfilled, and he finally decides to toss me away.

A vise closes around my lungs and suddenly I can’t breathe.

I knew I was in over my head.

I’m his pawn and he can do whatever he wants with me, he just proved that.

Blake laces his fingers through mine and leads us off stage. As soon as my feet hit the floor, Arianna, Sophia, and my cousin Ravenna are on me. I can’t avoid them any longer.

“You know what to do,” Blake murmurs in my ear before letting me go and disappearing into the crowd. My jaw drops in outrage.

Of course he’d leave me to deal with this on my own. Asshole .

My sisters each loop their arm through one of mine and practically haul me out of the main ballroom. Ravenna follows us, her expression worried. They take me to Arianna’s private suite of rooms. The door clicks shut behind us and they circle me, waiting.

Sophia, my oldest sister, blurts, “What in the hell is going on, Gin?”

I cringe under their scrutiny. I’m supposed to lie to them, feed them the story that Blake wants, but I can’t. Especially now, when all three of them are staring me down. They know me too well. I can’t deceive them the way I can other people—and I don’t really want to either.

Swallowing hard, I move toward the sofa and sit down. They follow, still staring at me with a mixture of concern and expectancy.

I throw up my hands. “All right! I stole from him and he’s blackmailing me into being his fake wife for the next year.”

“Oh, Gin.” The pity’s clear in Arianna’s voice. “We were afraid it was something like that. You’ve been avoiding us for weeks. We knew something was wrong.”

Ravenna whistles low. “However, stealing from one of the most powerful men in the city wasn’t exactly our guess of what happened.”

“Gin, how could you?” Arianna’s accusing tone has me rolling my eyes.

I shrug. “It was a spur of the moment kind of thing. Plus, I didn’t think I’d get caught. ”

Sophia sighs, the heaviness of that sound draws my attention to her. “Well, you were caught and now you have to deal with the consequences.” Her brow pinches. “Is he hurting you in any way, or are you all right?”

“I’m okay.”

“I’m glad to hear that,” she says. “He’s Roman’s best friend, so I’ve spent some time around him, but they’ve had a falling out recently and I don’t know the cause of it. I thought Blake might be hurting you.”

I shake my head and force a smile. “No. Our situation is complicated, but he’s not cruel. Rude, yes. Abusive, no.” I slouch in my seat. “One thing though… none of you are supposed to know the truth. If he finds out, he might call this whole thing off and press charges against me. So just pretend like I convinced you all that I’m in love with Blake and we’re having a whirlwind affair. The wedding’s in August by the way.”

Sophia and Arianna exchange a loaded glance. Ravenna covers my folded hands with hers.

“Does this wedding have a date?” Sophia asks.

“Not yet. I haven’t done any planning for it. I don’t know where to start.” Coming clean to my sisters and cousin helps to settle my nerves. A weight is lifted from my shoulders.

Arianna offers me a genuine grin. “I do know where to start. Let me help plan your wedding. That should convince Mr. Baron that we’re buying your love story.”

I perk up at that. “Really? You’d do that for me?”

The look my sisters share is one I know well—exasperation. But in all honesty, Arianna and I have never had an easy relationship. She’s always chiding me about something.

“Of course! We do love you, you know.” Arianna straightens her already perfect posture. “You might be trouble incarnate, but you’re also our baby sister. We’ll do anything for you when you’re in trouble. All you have to do is ask.”

My eyes burn and I have to swallow past the lump in my throat before I can speak again. “Thank you. I love you, too.”

Ravenna squeezes my hands. “Everything will be all right.”

The vise around my chest loosens. My sisters and cousin are the most amazing people I know and I’m so grateful for them.

“We get to plan a wedding!” Arianna’s gaze lights up.

“A fake wedding,” I remind her.

“Fake relationship,” she points out. “The wedding will be real.”

“Good point.”