ia

st echoes of the ceremony. I felt his fingers tighten slightly around

camera phones. Cheers and congra

His grip on my hand was st

ince myself it

n't like public di

y he didn't kis

ill be different

out a glance. We slid into the back seat of the black sedan,

fell i

indow. I stared at

like st

chnically

minutes of my life. I couldn't bring myself to say anything. I didn't know

here the reception was already in full swin

ing hands. He took my hand again as we entered, a

d. But I couldn

floating above the whole thing, w

ing the first dance. So

sita

did

ed over mine. We stepped onto the dance floor

mething out of a movie. But h

o people swaying in a room full of strange

to cry. I

in up. I was raised for this. Trained to serve th

already. This wasn't news. So

not cruel. At least he's not drunk and leering an

mind meant noticing his scent again, that quiet masculine cologne that clung to his suit. And w

a

f my head like a sigh, but I didn't

ong e

ke I was contagio

k straight, eyes forward. I wouldn't giv

ought bitterly, he shouldn't have agr

ey

ful in her long dress, her eyes kind. Sh

said gently. "He's been thr

en though I didn't re

beneath all of that... th

lessly powerful in his suit. He extended a hand. "Mrs. Ro

unsure of

teasing smile, gl

ually smiled when he saw h

y. But for him, that's l

prised by how normal

o and I sat at our private table in silence. The food in front of us was untouched. The

say a wo

op. I opened my mouth once

.. exhausted. He wasn't sloppy or sway

d, his voice low, his gaze not meeting mine

dn't work. My throat

e le

be a

m. For the

started

l at once. The pain. The pretending. The moa

nd, and I followed auto

o Antonio, who raised his

eone from a far table shouted, "Tire her ou

ied of emb

ything. Just snort

doors closing us into a silver c

pulled out the key card and opened

as going to drag me in, press me to th

he d

as luxurious and cold-marble floors, massive windows, a fully s

ed to on

om," he said. "

ked. "

id louder, not unkin

k out of fear. Hi

red now. "I'm not going to touch you. In any way. Just...

ured himself another drink

hadn't

ll standing there, froze

e again. "Go

e the f*

flinch. The tear

rd the room he pointed at. My ha

k against it and let my b

iet sob esca

n't supposed t

o definite