Page 32 of Her Overprotective Fiance

"You may call it however way you wish. Only take care not to forget that everything will be different, now that both of us are adults—-"

"Is that some kind of fucking threat?"

"A promise."

"Yeah right—-"

"Careful now,dolcezza."

It's his first time to address me with an endearment, and it actually steals my breath away.

What the hell is going on?

"I may be a lot of things, but have I ever lied to you?"

I stare at him mutinously, but silence isn't enough for him.

"Have I?"

"No."

But damn him for forcing me to say this.

"And have I ever given you any reason to distrust me?"

"You already know—-"

"Yes or no, Sarica."

"No!Happy now?"

"Not yet. Although I suppose I will be once I've made my point clear. But first, I need your hand."

What? Why? Fuck no!

"Your hand, Sarica."

Fuck. Fuck. Fuck.

I find myself placing my hand in his even as I hate myself for doing so.

"Now, look at me while I'm holding your hand."

What the hell?

"Lookat me."

The command in his words is unmistakable this time, and I find myself obeying even as it makes me hate myself even more.

I look at him.

"What do you see?"

A man with silver streaks in his dark hair. A man who's sixteen years older, but also sixteen thousand light years ahead of me in experience. A man whom the worldlovesto describe as both gorgeous and gentle. A man whom practically everyone sees as the prince of thieves.

I see the man that others see.

But I can't seem to make myselffeelthe way the whole world feels about him.