Chapter 20
Arianna
I can’t believe I’m getting married tomorrow.
I stare at the ceiling. It’s early. I can feel and hear Dallas breathing next to me, but I don’t dare move for fear I will wake him.
I need a few minutes alone, and this is as alone as it gets for me now.
If I tried to creep from the bed and go to the bathroom, he would follow me. The man doesn’t even let me pee alone.
I’m a ball of nerves. I’m not as worried about getting married as I should be. It feels right. I certainly never expected to find a man I could spend my life with, let alone in two weeks.
On top of that, I never visualized being able to tell someone who I really am, have them accept me and my potential baggage, and for them to offer me unconditional love and protection.
Even more crazy is that Dallas’s entire family has rallied around me. They didn’t so much as flinch when we told them what happened in the city yesterday. They gave me their full support, no matter what.
It’s quiet in the house. It feels like the calm before the storm.
I’m sure Gretchen is already downstairs preparing breakfast for us because the woman is always working.
Several other people have been hired to work in the mansion, too.
They’re all over the place, cleaning and cataloging the items in every room.
This estate is a treasure trove of artifacts, and my fiancé is as interested in discovering antiques as I am in categorizing the books.
In a way, we have that in common. At least I can understand his love for and curiosity about old things in the same way he understands my love and curiosity for old books .
“You’re thinking so hard…” Dallas whispers next to me.
I twist my head in his direction to find him staring at me. How long has he been awake? I guess I only thought I was having a quiet moment alone. I smile at him.
He grins back and slides a hand onto my stomach. I’m naked because the man doesn’t let me have clothes when we’re in our room. He seems to strip me almost as soon as he shuts the door and won’t let me dress again until we need to go down to eat.
He spreads his fingers wide, grazing the undersides of my breasts, making my breath hitch and my body come to life. He scoots closer. “Tomorrow night, I’m going to put a baby in you.”
I giggle. He’s obsessed with getting me pregnant. “You know it doesn’t always happen the first time. It might take a few months. I hope you won’t be disappointed if I’m not pregnant on Sunday.”
He kisses my shoulder. “You will be.”
I roll my eyes and change the subject. “We have a lot to do today. We should get up.”
“We will. In a minute. First, I want to just lie here and gaze at you. I love how you look first thing in the morning with your curls all over the place and your body relaxed.” He lifts his hand to pull the covers slowly down to my waist. “I love how your breasts look when you’re lying on your back. ”
My breath hitches when he slides his hand to lightly cup my breast, and I arch my chest when he thrums my nipple.
“I love how your peaks stiffen when I touch them,” he whispers against my neck. “Spread your legs, baby.”
I bend my outside knee and let my sex open.
“Good girl. Lift your arms above your head.”
I whimper as I obey him.
He rises onto his elbow to look down at me. “Fuck, you’re gorgeous. Do you have any idea how much I love you?”
I smile and nod.
He releases my breast to tug the covers farther down so that I’m fully exposed. Still holding my gaze, he brings his hand to my pussy and gently drags a finger through my folds.
I’m instantly soaked for him. “Dallas…”
He circles my clit. “Tomorrow, you’ll take all of me into your cunt. Tomorrow, I will fill you with my seed.”
I shudder. He’s so filthy, and I love it.
He keeps whispering. “By this time next week, your breasts will be tender. You’ll know you’re pregnant with my child. Your nipples will gradually grow. Your areolas will get wider and darker. I will watch your body as it changes every day. And it will make my cock so hard.”
I swallow. When he talks like that, I get so horny. My arousal is dripping out of me, and he keeps swirling his fingers at my entrance, teasing me, switching back and forth between my clit and my pussy.
Suddenly, he gathers copious amounts of my arousal on his finger and pushes it into my bottom with no warning. His thumb comes to my clit.
I cry out, lifting my ass off the bed.
“That’s my girl. I want you to come with my finger in your bottom, baby. I want to feel your ass contract around me. Tomorrow night, it will be your cunt. This morning, it will be your rectum.”
I’m panting. My eyes roll back. This man and his dirty-talk are going to push me over the edge for the rest of my life. I can’t hold back. I’m close with embarrassing speed.
Dallas pushes his finger in deeper, presses my clit harder, and demands, “Come, Arianna.”
I obey him because it’s the only thing I’m capable of. The pulses of my release go on and on while he watches me, smiling and so pleased with himself.
Even though Dallas has told me countless times that the library is fine, I’m relieved when I finally enter it and see for myself. My apartment is another story. Everything has been covered with tarps, and the ceiling has been removed.
I don’t care so much about my belongings, as long as the books are safe, and Dallas’s men assure me there is no longer a fear of more damage.
The water is turned off, and the saturated ceiling has been removed.
As soon as a team of plumbers can get in to fix the pipes, I can reopen.
I won’t be able to move back into the apartment, but that wasn’t going to happen anyway, so they can take their time repairing the ceiling.
It’s almost noon when we step back into the sunshine, and I freeze as soon as the door shuts behind us. My worst nightmare has come to life. There are three news vans with six reporters and cameramen standing outside the library. All of them start shouting questions.
Some of the townsfolk have gathered, and more are coming toward us on foot.
Dallas yanks me back into the library and shuts the door, locking it. With one arm around me, he has his phone in the other hand. In seconds, he’s talking. “Brody, man. We need help… Library… Yes… No… That’d be great.” He hangs up.
I’m barely holding on by a thread. It’s ten years ago all over again. I grab his biceps and set my forehead against his pecs. “I’m so sorry.”
“Baby, do not say that. You have nothing to be sorry about.”
I lift my head. “I should have told you before we got together. You didn’t ask for this. It’s going to be ugly.”
He smirks as he grips my chin. “Arianna Blythe, we are getting married tomorrow. For better or for worse. In paparazzi and in peace. Baby, you couldn’t have stopped me falling in love with you if you’d told me who you were the moment I walked through the front door of this library.
Nothing would have changed our trajectory. ”
I swallow, fighting the tears. I don’t want to cry. I’m going to be strong. These people cannot control my life. I stiffen my spine and stand taller.
“That’s my girl. Don’t let them win.”
I force a smile. “I guess that woman told a few people. I wonder how they found me so fast.”
Dallas winces. “She probably asked the saleswoman at the dress shop who we were. The saleswoman didn’t know you, but she knew me. She already had my credit card because I was feeling cocky when we arrived and handed it to her.”
I laugh.
“So, see? It’s probably my fault.”
I laugh harder. “It’s not your fault.” I sober. “It’s my dad’s fault. He was selfish. He had mental health issues and refused to get help because he thought real men didn’t need drugs to fix chemical problems. He snapped and left me an orphan. He was incredibly selfish.”
“You’re right, baby. But try to remember, he wasn’t in his right mind when he made that decision.”
I slouch against my man. “I know. I’ve had a lot of counseling. I know my parents loved me, even my dad. I try to remind myself that I should be grateful I wasn’t home that day. He would have taken me out, too.”
Dallas slides his palms to my ass. “And I’ll forever be grateful because even though his actions were horrifying, his choices put you in Wilde so I could meet you at the perfect moment and make you mine.”
I lean into him and hug him tightly. He’s right. I’m feeling luckier than I have in ten years, even though the parking lot is filled with the media and the entire town. No matter what happens, I will come out a winner.
We both flinch when we hear a megaphone. I recognize the voice. “It’s Sheriff Johnston,” I tell Dallas.
“That’s good.”
His disembodied voice echoes loudly outside as it bounces off the surrounding buildings. “You are not welcome in this town. Get in your vans and go back to wherever you came from.”
Someone knocks on the door.
I turn at the same time as Dallas to see Brody at the door.
Dallas releases me to open it and let him in.
Brody grins at me. “Hey, squirt. How’s your day going?”
I roll my eyes. Brody is a comic.
He points over his shoulder. “Friends of yours?”
Dallas chuckles. “Hardly. Do you think the sheriff can get rid of them?”
“Eventually. It’s going to take him some time, though. They aren’t technically breaking any laws. The library is public property.”
I sigh. “That sucks. Are people in town angry?”
Brody shakes his head. “Nope. They’re trying to push the press out with intimidation. They don’t even know why the media is here, but they’re supporting you.”
This is a shock. I never expected this kind of support. I’m nobody. I’m not even from Wilde. I moved here two years ago. Why would they support me?
“Ryder is out there trying to reason with them,” Brody continues.
I rub my temples. “I’m going to have to make a statement.”
Dallas turns toward me. “No, baby. You don’t owe them anything.”
“I know, but maybe they would go away if I explain. Plus, the people from town would all hear me at the same time.”
Dallas’s brow furrows.
Brody joins us. “It’s not a bad idea. We don’t have to rush. We could prepare a statement. Lord knows they aren’t going anywhere fast.”
I glance out the windows. The crowd is growing. So is its volume. Townsfolk are shouting at the press, but the newspeople are not budging. I face Dallas and Brody. “Let’s do it.”