Bride: The Deceit Duet Book One Page 9

  I ignore it. Because I want him to be surprised.

  “Clem, let me see.”

  I laugh a little and shut my phone off, sliding it back into my purse.

  I suck in a deep breath when I turn back around to face the mirror. This can’t be me.

  I twist and turn to see the dress from all angles. It’s a little red lace number—very little—and it hugs every curve I have, like it was custom made for me. Two straps hold up the plunging neckline that forms a deep vee in the front. The skirt, with intermittent crystals throughout the lace, is sheer in spots and hits mid-thigh.

  “Come out and let us see,” Brittany says.

  I’m afraid to open the door. I’ve never worn anything this revealing before in my entire life. “Ok.” I gather my nerve and step out.

  “Wow, and I’m not just saying that because I have to. You look sinful,” Janet says, pulling at the dress just a bit to make sure it fits right.

  “Is it too sexy?” I ask, not wanting to look like an escort Gabriel hired for the night.

  “No, not at all. This dress was made for you,” Brittany says, stepping back to get a better view of me from the side. “It’s daring, but still classy. Gabriel Prince won’t know what hit him.”

  “Good.” Because that’s what I want. Maybe Gabriel will make a move on me, so I can sue him for breach of contract and get out of this whole wedding thing.

  “We have a Jimmy Choo heel that would be perfect with it.” Brittany points toward the front of the store, and my mouth almost salivates at the mention of new shoes.

  The last time I went shopping for fancy things was probably for my high school prom. I didn’t even have a date, so I begged my sister to go with me. She finally conceded when I told her I’d bake her cupcakes whenever she wanted for life.

  I try the shoes on while still wearing the dress, and Janet picks out jewelry she says will ‘complete’ the look.

  The price of everything causes a mild panic attack, but I hand over the credit card Gabriel gave me, telling myself it’s a small price to pay for being forced into this arrangement.

  As a matter of fact… “Can I get the shoes in black, too? Size eight?”

  Tennyson is having a sleepover at Erin’s tonight, so she needs to be compensated as well.

  After Janet hands me my purchases, I leave the store feeling much better than when I entered.

  “Would you like to get your hair done?” Mayer asks as he opens the car door for me, taking the bags from my arms and heading off toward the trunk.

  I glance at my phone, checking the time. “I have a few hours before I need to get Tennyson.”

  Mayer shuts my door and heads to the front, sliding in the driver seat. “Anywhere in particular you want to go?”

  I shrug, leaning back against the cool leather seat. “I don’t really have an appointment anywhere.”

  Mayer smiles at me through the rearview. “That won’t be a problem. I’ll put in a call to Sonya’s Salon. She’ll make time for you.”

  “Is that rude to just make someone move things around?”

  “Not when she can tell people Gabriel Prince’s fiancee is a client.”

  “Oh,” I don’t really say much more than that. I’m not used to people doing things for me at the drop of a hat. “Honestly, I can style my own hair,” I tell him.

  But, Mayer doesn’t respond because he’s already speaking to someone in his bluetooth earpiece.

  He pulls away, and I watch the scenery roll past my window as he drives me toward Sonya’s Salon.

  “Wait,” I say, at a red light, pointing to a quaint shop on the side of the road. “Can we go there?”

  Mayer looks over at the blue, cottage-style building. “A kite shop?”

  “Yeah, just to check it out,” I say.

  Mayer makes the right into the near empty lot, and parks.

  “Be right back,” I tell him. I hop out before he can get my door, because waiting for someone to open it for me is just too strange.

  The door chimes when I enter, and a burly man looks up from stocking a shelf near the cash register.

  “Hi.” I wave to him.

  “Hi. Need help finding anything?” he asks.

  “I’m not sure yet.”

  He smiles. “There’s a lot to choose from.”

  I’ll say. I know Gabriel loves his drones, so I wanted to grab Tennyson a kite to fly in the yard. I thought it would be simple, step in here and buy a kite, but there’s just so many different types.

  “What would I get for a four-year-old just starting out?” I ask.

  He smiles and the crow’s feet adorning each eye deepen. He moves closer to me and grabs a kite from a wall display. “This here is a good starter kite.”

  “Perfect. I’ll take it.”

  He leads me back to the cash register. “It’s a lot of fun,” he says as he rings me up, extolling the virtues of kite flying.

  I nod. And then I try to imagine what Gabriel finds so fun about flying his drones around. Is it the control? Is it the feeling of freedom watching it soar? If I had to guess, I would think it’s the control. Gabriel likes it. Well, I’ll be the one thing he won’t be able to bend to his will.

  Eighteen

  Gabriel

  * * *

  I don’t know if I’ll ever get used to sharing a house with Clementine. Having her around is torturous. It’s making me do crazy things, like almost firing a maid for telling her there was no ghost just because I wanted her in my bed every night.

  I’ve only ever had to really care for myself, and maybe it’s turned me into a selfish asshole. But, I don’t see it that way. I’ve grown accustomed to a certain reclusive lifestyle. Sure, there's a lot of people around me, but still, I’ve always been solitary. They’re here, but I don’t let them in.

  I make my own waves. I always have.

  I’ve had a lot of doors opened for me because of the Prince name, but I believe I would have been successful either way. I’ve always been the one to work for what I want. I could’ve gone the way of my brother. Women, drugs, alcohol. Sure, he says he’s clean now, but I don’t trust it.

  Just like I don’t trust his newfound obsession with Clementine. She’s mine to protect now. And that means protecting her from my own brother as well.

  I shrug on my tuxedo jacket. Tonight, Clementine and I will act like a real couple, so she had better be prepared. I know it wasn’t part of the deal to pretend to be in love, but this is my future. My reputation. My life. If people found out I was forced into a marriage to someone I barely knew, the press would have a field day with that nugget of info.

  I march down the hall to her room, and knock on the door.

  Within seconds, she opens it, and my mouth opens to speak, but no words come out.

  It’s because of her.

  Clementine stands before me in the hottest, fucking little red number I’ve ever seen. It droops way low in the front, showing off her hot-as-fuck cleavage. I clench my jaw to keep my tongue from sliding between her breasts. Her auburn hair falls in seductive waves past her shoulders. I’m shocked I’m still having this sort of reaction to her. I mean, I’ve seen her in her bra and panties. And even without anything at all. So, this reaction should be out of my system by now, but my eyes can’t get enough of her. Like all my synapses are firing at once and can’t process what I’m seeing quick enough.

  “You look…” I can’t decide which word to use. I want to say she looks stunning, amazing, gorgeous, irresistible, completely and utterly fuckable. But, instead I tamper down my hormones and tell her, “...you look...sufficient.”

  What the fuck is wrong with me?

  I can see she doesn’t care for my word choice in the tight polite smile. She stares at me a moment, letting her eyes peruse my black tuxedo before responding, “Thank you. You’ll do.”

  “Are you ready to go?”

  She nods. “Yes, Tenny is with Erin and Troy tonight. So, I’m good to go.”

  I turn away
from her before I do something crazy, like kiss her glossed lips to test their softness. “Let’s go. Stefan has pulled the car around.”

  I can hear the click of her sexy heels behind me and know she’s following. My long strides have her almost running to keep up, but I feel I need to get away from her before I do something stupid.

  “Will you slow down?” she calls out from behind me.

  I stop and turn to face her. “We’re late.”

  “Well, then you’re going to have to carry me out of here, because I can’t keep up.”

  The idea of kissing her weighs heavily on my mind. Her pouty lips taunt me to remove her lipstick with the pad of my thumb.

  “This is going to be a long night,” I mumble under my breath, slowing my steps so she can keep up.

  “Oh, wow. I’ve never ridden in a limo before,” she says, as we step outside.

  Stefan opens the back door, and I hold out my hand to help Clementine slide into the backseat. I follow in after her. “It’s one of those types of events,” I tell her. “We’ll have security with us.”

  “Security?”

  As the car pulls away, I settle back against the soft leather seat. “Safety is always a priority when I go out.” I point to the minibar. “Want something to drink.”

  She shakes her head. “Better not. I don’t want to be drunk before we even arrive.”

  “Speaking of...when we get there, I’d like us to pretend to be a couple in love.”

  Her eyes narrow. “We can be in love and not have to be all over each other the whole night, right?”

  I smile. “Yes, we’re not teenagers. And it’s not acceptable to be making out like we’re in the back of the roller rink on free skate night. But, if I place my hand on your back, or lean in for a kiss on the cheek, I want to make sure you’re not going to slap me.”

  She holds up a hand. “I won’t slap you, Scout’s honor.”

  I laugh at how cute she is. “You were never a Scout.”

  She shrugs. “I was a Brownie.”

  I raise a brow. “I thought that was a dessert.”

  She laughs and it fills the limo, sending something I can’t quite identify racing up my spine. “It’s also the name of troops before they’re old enough to become a full-fledged Girl Scout.”

  I smile at her. “I take it back. I guess you are a Scout.”

  Stefan pulls away from the estate, heading downtown toward the charity gala. Usually, I show up for these events alone, make my donation, and head home. I’ve never been one to stay long, or mingle and bullshit with the rest of the elite in this town. I know I have a part to play. Being this wealthy comes with obligations, and being a Prince comes with even more. But, the truth is, these parties bore the fuck out of me. And there’s a small part of me that’s kind of happy I have someone to go with. A very small part of me.

  “Did you enjoy your shopping today?” I ask her.

  Clementine’s honey-colored eyes light up to a brighter shade of yellowish-brown. She really does have some amazing eyes. Like brown met green in an explosion of yellows and honey.

  “I did.”

  “Did you buy anything else besides the dress?”

  She lifts her leg just enough to show off her sexy shoes. “These.”

  I almost want to put her leg in my lap, take the shoe off and begin a journey of my hand up her silky skin. But, I don’t. I glance out the car window, as if watching the passing trees is so much more interesting than her. “Anything else?”

  “I got a pair for Erin. And bought Tenny a kite.”

  I turn back to her. “A kite? Why?”

  “Why not?”

  “I just figured kids his age liked toys more.”

  “Have you ever even flown a kite?”

  “I have. That’s what started my love for flying drones.”

  “And here I thought you didn’t love anything.”

  I fold my arms across my chest. “Why would you think that?”

  Her eyes meet mine. “Well, just how you are, I guess. You’re always brooding and moody.”

  I laugh. “Is that how you see me?”

  “Yes.”

  I nod. “I see. And what do you think I’m brooding over?”

  “Life.” She shrugs. “Probably everything. I think if things are out of your control it bothers you.”

  I scoot closer to her. “And you enjoy chaos?”

  “I didn’t say that.”

  She’s like a magnet, drawing me to her. “You don’t like being in control?”

  “I do,” she breathes out. “But, I don’t get angry when things don’t go my way.”

  “You weren’t angry when I asked you to be my bride?”

  She licks her lips. “I was upset, sure, but I don’t brood.”

  She’s the flame and I’m the idiotic little moth flying straight toward her. I inch closer. “When you said you hated me, that wasn’t brooding?”

  Her eyes drop to my mouth. “I don’t hate you.”

  Her lips are so goddamn red, like a cherry, and I want to taste them to see if they’re as sweet as they look.

  The low thrum of being turned on beats throughout my body. “I don’t hate you either.”

  And then, maybe because I don’t want Ronin to be the only person who gets to kiss her, maybe because I’ll go crazy if I don’t, I lean in and crash my mouth to hers.

  Our tongues meet and she tastes so goddamn good.

  The cues her body is throwing in my direction has me lifting her to straddle my lap. My cock hardens instantly. I have to get inside her.

  I deepen the kiss, pulling her body down on me, grinding her hips into me.

  I’m not letting go of this girl until someone drags me away from her.

  I want this.

  She wants this too.

  The only thing rolling around in my cloudy, turned-on-brain is I need to feel her pussy.

  I need to know how wet she is for me. I need to know if she wants me.

  So, I trace my hand down her body, releasing her lips to kiss her neck as my hand treks toward her pussy.

  I run my fingers up her thigh, until I’m met by the lace of her panties.

  My eyes meet hers. “Do you want me to finger fuck you before we get to the party?”

  She licks her lips and then closes her eyes, her head falling back as she moans out, “Yes.”

  I groan and slip my finger under the band of her panties to feel along her wet seam. She’s so fucking soaked. “You like the way I touch you?”

  She keeps grinding her pussy into the palm of my hand. “Yes, don’t stop.”

  I suck her neck as I push a finger inside her. She’s tight as hell, but I keep going in further as she rides me in the backseat of this limo. I can’t wait to see her get off. “Will you be loud for me when I make you come?”

  My cock lengthens as it pushes at the zipper of my pants. I can’t remember ever being this hard for a woman.

  Clementine finds my lips, tangling her tongue with mine. She runs her fingers over the stubble on my jaw as I slip a second finger into her tightness. Since the moment I saw her in that red dress tonight, I have wanted exactly this.

  Nineteen

  Clementine

  * * *

  I deserve to go to Hell. Legit Hell with fire and brimstone and all that stuff. Because I’m more than enjoying myself right now as I shamelessly ride Gabriel Prince’s hand in the backseat of his limousine.

  He feels so good. And it’s been so long. We haven’t even gotten married yet, and here I am throwing myself at him like a girl without any self-will. I’m going to Hell. It’s official. I’ll be spending eternity with Joseph Prince.

  Gabriel’s earlier question about control and chaos erupts in my mind. This is a test. And I’m flat-out failing. With a big, bold ‘F.’

  The fire in my veins is replaced with ice in a flash.

  I stop kissing him and slide off his lap, pulling my dress down. “We can’t do this.”

  I’m so
mad at myself. What a fool I am.

  He sits, staring at me, breathing just as heavy as I am, with the outline of his cock pressing against his pants.

  I take a deep breath and let it out slowly, trying to slow my speeding pulse. “It won’t happen again.”

  I can’t even look at him, so I focus on the bright lights of the city, passing us by. Focus on the demanding chaos outside my window. People stand on street corners. Cars whizz by in a blur. Everyone’s rushing around the city like they have somewhere important to be.

  “Clementine,” Gabriel says, after a few minutes of silence, “I shouldn’t have touched you. I lost control.”

  Him saying that shocks me a little. He lost control. I thought he was trying to control me the whole time.

  “Just don’t do it again,” I whisper, my mind trying desperately to understand what just happened in the back of this limo. I’m not going to pretend I didn’t enjoy it. And I think that’s what scares me the most.

  When Ronin kissed me there was nothing. No fireworks. No marching band. But, the moment Gabriel’s lips touched mine I felt a spark ignite deep within me that if left unattended would set my heart on fire.

  They were harsh, yet, just a bit tender. His tongue moved inside of my mouth with purpose, like he was trying to memorize it all.

  And I know I’ve memorized the feel of him, because I’m telling you, I will never forget the way his touch felt against my heated skin.

  I was so worked up.

  I was so turned on.

  I was ready to come all over his fingers in seconds.

  I’m glad I didn’t. The mood in the back of this limo is already awkward enough without adding post-coital bliss feelings to the confusion I feel sitting next to my soon-to-be husband.

  The truth is, I don’t know this man at all.

  And worse, I don’t know what to expect. With past boyfriends, I’ve always known what I was getting. I always knew the end was near before it ever began. But, with Gabriel, he’s one surprise after another.

  The car pulls up to a contemporary art gallery, and we wait for Stefan to make a show of things. It still feels odd waiting for someone to open my door when I have two fully functional hands that can do it myself.