Chapter 9
Tobias
Things are working out rather well. For me, anyway. Unwittingly Anastasia has given me everything I wanted because the moment she said she was feeling unwell was my escape from a nightmare.
I didn’t hesitate for a second and swept through that marquee like a tornado, leaving no room for conversation because I had only one destination in mind. My bedroom.
Now I have her exactly where I want her and feel like the king I am, in this house, anyway. She sits looking up at me with that damned trembling lip and eyes wide with fear and the feral beast inside me roars. I have never wanted anyone as much as I do Anastasia Johnson, which surprises me. When I started this whole charade, it was to tick a box. Provide a wife to keep the wannabees away and continue to go about my daily business. I had no intention of actually spending any time with her, certainly not in this room, but here we are. I’ve surprised myself because I never saw this one coming.
The bed sags as I sit beside her and take her small hand in mine. She says almost fearfully, “Where am I?”
“Your new home.”
“Yes, but where exactly; is this my room?”
I nod and her eyes dart around her nervously and the devil in me enjoys her fear. I can taste it and it’s traveling straight to my throbbing cock. I want her so badly it’s becoming impossible not to revert to the beast I am and take her now. But I remind myself I’m not that man who takes an unwilling woman, and when I do, she will beg me for it.
She licks her lips nervously. “What happens now?”
She almost can’t look at me, and I see her chest heaving as she begins to understand what a dangerous situation she is now in.
“You rest.”
“And you?”
Reaching out, I touch her cheek softly and love the way her pupils dilate and her breathing intensifies. “What do you want me to do, little bird?”
She looks at me with a mixture of heat and fear, and it’s a powerful combination. She can’t answer me because she is torn. On the one hand, she wants me to leave so she can gather her confused feelings around her like a shield. Then again, she wants me to stay so badly she doesn’t even realize it herself, and that tells me I made the right decision in choosing her. She wants me and doesn’t really understand the implications, which gives me the strength to see this through.
Tilting her face to mine, I lean in and inhale her fear. Her body is trembling like a frightened animal, and I fucking love it. The power I hold over this frightened creature is turning me on so much I almost give into it - almost and so, I pull back and say gently, “You will find everything you need in the closet through that door. I had your things brought over along with some new ones. Make yourself at home, I have business to attend to.”
She stares at me in shock and I am heartened to see a flash of disappointment cloud her beautiful eyes. “You’re leaving, will we return to the party? What about my family, I never said goodbye?”
She looks hurt and afraid and I feel like the biggest bastard in the world and do something completely out of character.
“I’ll call for your sister. You can say goodbye here.”
She nods and I see her relax a little. Yes, she can wait—we can wait because when I claim my beautiful bride, she will be on her knees begging me to.
I leave her sitting on my bed and head outside. The sooner they all leave the better, but even I know I must see this night through.
Matteo falls into step beside me as soon as I reach the back door, and I laugh softly. “One bride delivered to her new prison.”
He says nothing and he’s right not to pass comment. I may be respectable to the outside world but inside my home, my life and at the head of this family, they know I’m the biggest bastard that ever lived. I’m not proud of who I am and the things I’ve done. I’ve done them all, which is why they fear me so much. Now I’m tired of it all, which is why I started buying up reputable companies and creating a new world to live in. It’s why I want a wife because I’m bored with being the most eligible guy in a room. Don’t get me wrong, I always have an attractive companion by my side who I fuck mercilessly as a reward for her time. Never here though. They never see inside my home, which is why the thought of that quivering beauty upstairs in my bed is turning me on so much. New territory that feels good.
The first person I see is Sophia, who pulls me aside and hisses, “What the hell’s going on, where’s Anastasia?”
“She’s feeling unwell and is resting.”
She narrows her eyes. “What are you playing at, Tobias? This isn’t you, any of it. What’s really going on in that fucked-up brain of yours?”
“Don’t question me, Sophia; never question me. I have my reasons and I don’t need to explain them to you. Now, if you’ll excuse me.”
I leave her fuming behind me and feel irritated. Family, like an unwanted virus they cling to you and no amount of shaking can get them to leave. Although I love my sister, I can’t stand her sometimes and this is one of those times. She makes me look at myself differently and I don’t like it. She pulls me apart and makes me questions my decisions, but she’s all I’ve got since… I push the thoughts away. Not today. Not ever.
So, I distract myself as usual and head over to Angelica and note the wariness in her eyes as I say shortly, “Matteo will take you to your sister. She needs you.”
Her stupid mom overhears and cries, “Oh my poor darling, I should go to her.”
“No.”
Angelica holds up her hand firmly. “I’ll go to her and then if she needs you, I’ll come and get you.”
“What do you mean, if she needs me, of course she needs me, I’m her mother?”
Angelica throws her a withering look and hisses, “When it suits you. No, I’m going to her, where is she?”
Matteo steps forward and says softly, “Follow me.”
I watch them head off and then feel immediately irritated as Mrs Johnson says in a stupid girly voice, “Maybe we can have that dance you owe me.”
“No.”
I turn around and leave her standing looking after me with a furious expression and the first person I see is Sebastian Stone who nods coolly. “Mr. Moretti, congratulations on your wedding.”
He doesn’t like me; he never has and doesn’t even try to disguise it, so I say in a firm voice. “We need to talk.”
He nods and follows me outside a short distance away from the party, and as the silence surrounds us, I take another cigarette from my jacket and offer one to him. “No thanks, I don’t smoke.”
He looks at me with the smug pity of a man who looks down on those with a weakness, and it irritates me because he’s right to do so. Tossing the cigarette away, I snap the case shut and put it in my pocket. “You’re a wise man, Sebastian which is why I’m confused.”
“About what?”
“My new wife. You were her fiancé for five years and yet, to my knowledge, never wanted her in the first place. How can I admire a man who’s a fool?”
His eyes flash angrily and he snaps, “Because it was never my choice. You see Mr. Moretti, it’s all very well getting what you want, but it’s what you do with it when you get it that counts. I never wanted Anastasia, I was made to agree to marry her and present an image to the world of the happy couple. We were never that couple, as I’m sure you will understand. You see, you are taking up where I left off and let me tell you it won’t end well. That poor woman will be destroyed even more than she is already because a person can’t live without love, Mr. Moretti, no matter how much you think they can.”
“Love.”
I almost spit the word to the ground to join my cigarette. “What makes you think I want love. I never have and never will. You see, that’s where we’re different, Sebastian. You were in love and lost it. It’s all you could think about. You wanted it back, and so you agreed to that farce of an engagement to bide your time. Don’t lecture me on ruining a young girl’s life because you’ve walked in my shoes.
”
“I had no choice.”
His voice raises an octave and I stare at him coolly. “We all have choices in life and Anastasia has made hers. Don’t worry about her life because she will never want for a better one. I called you out here to warn you.”
I relish the look in his eye as he faces me with a stony expression as his name suggests. “You will stay away from my wife now and in the future. You are her sister’s boyfriend, partner, fiancé, call it what you like but you will never touch my wife again, do I make myself clear?”
“Touch her, what the fuck are you talking about?”
“Earlier today you touched my wife and kissed her on the cheek.”
“As a fucking greeting, are you mad?”
Feeling my eyes flash, I step toward him and love the way he stands his ground facing me with a hard expression. I move within an inch of him and he doesn’t flinch, which makes me respect him a little more. Then I whisper darkly, “I repeat, you never touch my wife again because you haven’t earned the right. You destroyed that woman and if you touch her once more, I will destroy you. We may be business partners, Mr. Stone and possibly brothers-in-law in the future, but we will never be friends. So, stay away from my wife because I have no loyalty and you don’t want to discover what I mean by that.”
Shaking his head, Sebastian laughs bitterly, “Now I know the rumors are true, you are a heartless bastard.”
Straightening up, I nod. “I never pretended to be anything else. Now, I must be returning to my guests, thank you for coming, Mr. Stone.”
I leave him standing and head back inside, keen to catch up with a few more business associates. However, I only have one thought on my mind - wrapping this show up quickly so I can get back to the real reason I did all of this—my blushing bride.
Chapter 10
Anastasia
I’m still sitting on the bed when I hear, “Ana, where are you?”
“I’m in here.”
My heart leaps as Angel rushes into the room, looking so concerned it brings tears to my eyes. She rushes across and sits beside me where Tobias sat before and hugs me close. “What did he do?”
I stare at her in surprise. “Nothing, why?”
She exhales with relief and says angrily, “I don’t know, there’s something so off about that man. I thought maybe…”
Reaching out, I grasp her hand tightly and say softly, “He’s done nothing. In fact, he hasn’t put a foot wrong all day. You know, if anything, he’s surprised me.”
“In what way?”
“I don’t know, I suppose I was expecting a monster. I’m not stupid and heard the rumors about him. I’ve seen the press coverage and believed every word but to me…”
“Yes?”
“Well, he’s proven to be the perfect gentleman.”
Angel looks at me in disbelief and I laugh. “Hard to believe I know but he has.”
My ankle throbs and I wince with the pain and she looks concerned. Lifting my dress, I note the huge ugly bruise that’s forming and kick off my heels in disgust. “Remind me to never wear heels like this again.”
I wince and she laughs—a little.
Looking around, she whistles in appreciation. “This place is impressive.”
I grin. “You could say that.”
“Have you looked around yet?”
“No, I’ve just sat on this comfy bed and to be honest, would be happy to stay here all night, I’m exhausted.”
Angel looks worried. “You will be ok, won’t you?”
I’m not so sure, but plaster a fake smile on my face. “Of course, why wouldn’t I be?”
She looks a little nervous and I say softly, “Listen, what happened with Sebastian is in the past. We all know it was an impossible situation and one that was out of our hands. He never loved me and I was in love with the dream. I wanted what you had and thought when you left, I could slot into your place and he would want me like that. He never did—no one ever has, and this…”
I wave my hand around, “Is a compromise worth having.”
“No, it’s not.”
“Excuse me.” I see the look on her face and she appears upset. Taking my hand, she squeezes it tightly. “Nothing compares to finding love, Ana, not all the riches in the world can compensate for that. I want you to find your prince, not the poor substitute. How can you be happy if you never find love? You may enjoy what wealth brings for a little while, but then you will quickly tire of it. You’ll become disillusioned and bitter, and that’s when the rot seeps into the cracks and starts to tear you apart. Tobias Moretti is not a man capable of love—it’s obvious. He may desire you physically, but I doubt he has the capacity to know what love really means. You have never found it and are settling for a poor second.”
“It’s too late now.” I laugh bitterly. “I’ve made my choice and we’re surrounded by it.”
I lay my head on her shoulder and she wraps a protective arm around me. “Don’t worry, Angel, I’ve trained for this all my life. I’ll be ok. He’s not so bad, anyway, and has promised he’ll look after me if I play my part. And I will, because it’s all I know. Even as kids, I tried to be the perfect daughter. I did what I was told to and never questioned it. When I was told to marry Sebastian, I did that too because I have always wanted to please. Even now I’m going with it because it’s the end of a long painful road. Now I’m married I can stop looking and concentrate on doing what makes me happy instead.”
“And what will make Ana happy?”
Angel rubs my shoulder and I say lightly, “Looking around this fuck off room will make me happy. Come on, let’s see what he’s got.”
The atmosphere shifts as we revert back to the sisters we were many years ago.
Ignoring my throbbing ankle, I pull her from the bed and we start exploring the palatial room.
Through the door in the corner is the biggest bathroom I have ever seen. We both share an excited look as we take in the white marble and chrome fittings of a bathroom that looks as if it’s never been used. A roll top bath stands proudly against a huge window, and Angel jumps in and stretches out with contentment. “I could live in this bath tub alone.”
I giggle and run in and out of the walk-in shower and gasp. “This is amazing.”
Sinking my face into a huge fluffy white towel, I revel in the warmth it provides as I snatch it from the heated rail.
We open the cupboards and see every lotion and potion a girl could need and I squeal with excitement as I share a little sample with my sister and we breathe in the heavenly scent.
Racing through another door, I gasp in delight as I find myself in the biggest walk-in closet I have ever seen. Wall to wall cupboards hide more clothes than I have ever owned in my life and mine are hanging beside new dresses, sweaters, trousers and coats all in their protective wrapping. Angel squeals as she reveals a whole wall of shoes and matching handbags and pulls open glass drawers that hold delicate pieces of lingerie, soft and silken to the touch.
We explore further and pull out slimline velvet-lined boxes of glittering necklaces and bracelets, and I have never seen anything like it. Soft lighting creates a calming atmosphere, and deep white scatter rugs soothe my aching feet.
“What’s through there?”
Angel points to another door in the corner and I shrug. “Open it and see.”
As she does, we walk through and my heart thumps as I see a room much like the man who owns it. An identical closet to mine, but this is all man. Darker wood cabinets hide the secrets of the man I married. Impeccable Italian suits, mainly black, sit proudly on hangers and starched shirts of every color hang like soldiers with not a crease in sight.
Angel whispers, “We shouldn’t be in here.”
I nod and back away, almost as if I’m backing away from the man himself.
We reach the sanctuary of my room and she looks at me with concern. “Um… honey.”
I know what she’s about to say and wish she wouldn’t voice what is now
very apparent. “It appears that you are sharing this room, are you ok with that?”
My heart starts pounding and I laugh nervously. “I’m sure you’re wrong. Maybe there was another door we never saw to his own suite of rooms. He told me I’d have my own. Maybe this was his and he’s moved elsewhere.”
Angel doesn’t look convinced and I share her concern. His things were also in the bathroom and his closet is set off mine. Maybe I’m wrong, I must be because he promised I’d have my own room. Then again, the thought of sharing this space with such a man is suddenly not an unpleasant one. I shock myself by suddenly feeling quite heated at the thought of it. Am I expected to share a bed with my new husband when he promised me my own room? I’m guessing I am because I saw the look in his eye when he placed me on this bed and it makes my heart beat faster and my legs tremble. Tobias Moretti looked at me like the master of all he surveys and I am no different to anything else in this house—this room. I am one of his possessions—he owns me and I fell right into his trap and lack the experience to know what the hell to do about it.
Chapter 11
Tobias
An hour later, I instruct Matteo to wrap this up and make sure everyone leaves because I’m not wasting a moment more of my time. I have somewhere else I’d much rather be and can’t think of anything else.
As I head back to the house, Sophia follows me and sighs heavily. “Thank god that’s over, what made you put us through that.”
“That, my dearest sister, was my fucking wedding, show some respect.”
“Oh, is that what it was, forgive me, but don’t weddings usually involve two people who love each other? Don’t dress up this business arrangement as a wedding, Tobias, we all know why you really married Anastasia and it wasn’t because you love her.”
Completing Beauty: Books 1-3 Page 22