Chapter Seven
Andrea
The worst thing I could do for myself was to shoot myself in the head—oh, and accompany Lillian and Sofia to the bridal shop to try on bridal dresses.
I wasn’t willing to go, but Papa claimed I was being unsupportive.
Right now, I think I’d rather shoot myself in the head or drown myself in acid than endure this unbearable gathering for one more second.
But then, deep down, I knew the reason I came with them wasn’t because Papa insisted. I could stand my ground and refuse to come. It was because I was avoiding Luciano.
I couldn’t bear being around Luciano after the stunt that Sofia pulled.
I didn’t want to think about what he must think of me.
The other night, when he told me he was okay with not having kids, what we were doing felt so real.
But he was lying. That was all men did. He wanted my cunt, and he lied to get it.
So I adopted his method. I had only been around whenever I needed to be fucked.
He knew I was avoiding him but hadn’t said anything. It was better this way. No one would get hurt.
“Ugh, someone get this fidgeting bitch out of here,” Sofia screeched.
I didn’t bat an eyelid. “Get her out yourself.” I flipped the bridal magazine in my hand to the next page.
A pillow landed on my head.
“Mama, did you hear that?” I was forced to look to see Lillian glare at me from where she was standing beside a rack full of wedding gowns.
The young lady in a cream chiffon dress and ballet flats looked like she was about to pee her pants.
Her boss had left strict instructions for Sofia to be attended to and provided the utmost care—perks of being a VIP customer.
She was new and didn’t want to lose her job.
But sadly, she didn’t understand that trying to satisfy Sofia was like pouring water into a basket.
“If you know you won’t be supportive, you might as well get out of here,” Lillian fired.
“Will do, but we know your daughter would go home whining to Papa dearest like a little bitch about how I was being mean. So thanks. No thanks.” I faked a smile.
“Besides, you wouldn’t want me to lie to your daughter about how she doesn’t look fat in the dresses she has been trying on,” I said with a straight face.
Sofia gasped. “Mama!”
Lillian narrowed her eyes at me, then slowly smiled. “I haven’t seen your fiancé around recently. Why? Trouble in paradise?”
My jaw clenched.
“Yeah, he finally realized that you belong in the trash.” Sofia grinned.
“We found one that has more volume, ma’am.” The attendant walked into the room, grinning from ear to ear. “Do you want to try it?”
Sofia rolled her eyes, stalking into the changing room.
“You are a bitter, vile thing.” Lillian eyed me and stormed into the dressing room after her daughter.
I snorted, returning my attention to my magazine, but I wasn’t feeling it anymore.
I exhaled, longing for his presence. The way he’d grin at me while he teased me, the way he’d be so quick to reach for me in any room he set foot in.
I longed for how attractive he smelled—and the way he comforted me with his presence.
I stood, heading for the dresses on the rack. One of them stood out to me. It was a delicate silk ivory dress with no detailing. The soft material was its own detailing.
The curtains to the dressing room swung open, and Sofia trailed out in a luxurious, lacy wedding ball gown with intricate detailing and an exaggerated train. She looked like a fairy-tale princess.
“Oh, honey, you look like a dream!” Lillian exclaimed.
Sofia twirled, a little unsatisfied, then she groaned. “It’s not the dress.”
Lillian nudged the attendants to comment.
“It’s perfect, ma’am.”
“You look like royalty.”
“You look like a queen.”
“What do you think, Andrea?” Sofia turned to me.
I shrugged.
“See? At least, she’s not lying to me.” She snorted. Lillian glared at me. “Mama, we’ll go look at another store.”
“Oh, please, ma’am, how about you try on some more?” the attendant suggested, maintaining a smile, so that she wouldn’t come off as desperate. But Sofia saw right through her.
She rolled her eyes, gathered her ball dress, and approached the dressing room to get changed. She was out in no time, grabbing all her things.
“Have fun wearing my hand-me-downs because you’ll never find the perfect dress in this wretched store.” She smirked, sashaying out of the room while Lillian trailed her.
The room went silent, devoid of their toxic energy once they left. I was able to think, to breathe, unconsciously running my fingers over the dress.
“Do you want to try it on?” It took me a moment to realize that someone else was in the room and was speaking to me.
I looked over my shoulder to see the scared lady from earlier. She was smiling at me.
“I asked if you want to try it on,” she repeated.
“Will that be okay?” I asked softly.
“Of course.” She smiled.
She walked toward me, taking the dress off the rack before leading me into the dressing room. I changed out of my dress and slipped into the soft, breathable material.
When I looked at my reflection, I gasped. I had never seen myself look so beautiful. Tears instantly welled up in my eyes.
The silky dress had a halter neck, molding against my tits.
It fit my frame like a glove, highlighting my curves and dropping to my feet in a puddle of silk.
It was a backless dress, and the ropes that held my turtleneck in place at the back fell down my back in wide, flat ropes, giving the illusion of a train.
It was simple, minimalistic, and breathtaking. It looked like something I’d wear on my wedding day.
“You are the most beautiful bride I have seen in a long time,” the attendant whispered behind me. She looked awestruck like she had just seen a goddess.
“Thank you,” I croaked.
“I’ll give you a moment.” She quietly slipped out of the room, leaving me to my thoughts.
I smiled, running my palms over the dress. As I saw the curtains shift through the mirror, I looked over my shoulder.
“I thought you were—”
The words died on the tip of my tongue, choking me, as Luciano stalked into the room. His white button-up shirt flexed around his muscular frame as he moved, tucked in a pair of black slacks.
Those electric-blue eyes shifted into a much more possessive gaze when they landed on the dress—on me. They crawled up and down my body, searing my skin with heat so that I wanted nothing but to shrink into my own skin.
My throat closed up.
“You are fucking beautiful,” he rasped out. “And that dress? It looks like sin on your body,” he complimented me, slowly stalking toward me.
Red exploded all over my face and neck. “Thank you.”
“What are you doing here?” I tried to suck in some breath, but I failed woefully.
I can’t be in the same room with this man.
“I followed you here since all you have done these past few days is avoid me.” His expression closed off as he folded his arms across his chest.
I exhaled. “Can we not do this, please?”
“Oh, we are doing it, all right.” He strode across the room over to where I was.
His smell hit me instantly, making me suck in a harsh breath.
“You have been hiding from me, and I want to know why.” He closed the distance between us, invading my space like darkness. “I told you I hate it when you run from me, and after all this time, you still haven’t learned your lesson.” His voice was much darker now.
“Stop...” I breathed.
“No, you stop,” he growled. “Stop running from me, Andrea. You can’t hide from me. I already told you that. I don’t know why you’re being so fucking stubborn.”
“Well, I have to be!” I snapped shakily.
“This whole thing you are doing, being so nice, acting so obsessed with me. You need to stop it. There’s only so much I can take.
I already told you. This is an arrangement.
You were supposed to come here as my fake fiancé and keep up with the charade until the wedding is over.
Not get under my skin and fuck me like you can’t live without me. ”
He cupped my face so daintily. “What if I want it to be real?”
“W-what?” I stammered.
“I don’t just want to be fake engaged to you. I want to be engaged to you for real. I want to marry you, amore mio. I want to be your husband.” His words struck me across the face like whiplash.
“Don’t say that!” I quivered.
“Why? Because you think you don’t deserve to be loved?” He narrowed his eyes at me.
“I’m a mess, okay?” I raised my voice. “I’m grumpy. I’m bossy. I’m needy. I’m demanding. I’m bad for you, okay? I’m broken. I can’t give you happiness. I can’t give you a family because I don’t even want kids. You deserve better,” I croaked, frustrated that he wasn’t seeing reason.
“Good thing I love my women messy and unhinged.”
“I don’t feel the same way about you,” I lied.
It was as though something snapped inside him. Luciano’s gaze darkened, taking a more fatal edge. He looked feral, like he was ready to rip my clothes off and pin me against a surface.
It made me hot and bothered, as much as it terrified me.
“Is that so?” He ran his finger over my lips. They parted willingly, releasing a moan. My nipples stiffened against the sheer material, begging for his attention. “Why don’t I show you what you look like when you beg for my cock like the desperate little whore that you are?”
“Luciano...” My voice couldn’t even hide how turned on I was. “We are in a dressing room. People might hear.”
“Good,” he murmured against my lips, yanking me into his chest. “They will wish they were us. Let them hear how you come around my cock after you lied that you feel nothing for me.”
He spun me around harshly.
I gasped.
Luciano had handled me roughly before, but this was different. He wasn’t just expressing his intent to claim me. He was also displaying his intent to destroy me.