Page 104 of Whispers in the Dark
My hand lies flat against my chest, my middle finger tapping twice as my eyes sweep over Alina, standing before me in her new dress, leaving me paralyzed by her beauty. The purple fabric—I have no idea what the hell they called it in the store—hugs her body in all the right places, accentuating her curves. The ones I spend my nights worshipping until the early hours, caressing every goddamn inch of her until she’s satisfied and asleep beside me.
“Mauro?”
Fuck.I internally shake my head, running a hand over my freshly shaved face.
Alina tilts her head to the side, her brown hair cascading across her exposed shoulders. “Do I look okay?”
I step forward, closing the distance between us as my hands find their place on her waist. Leaning in, I brush my lips againsther ear. “Beau…” I clear my throat, trying to ignore the pain as I force out, “Beautiful.”
A warm smile appears on her face, her eyes softening.
I stand straight and reach for my neck, massaging the center where the pain radiates. Her smile fades, and her fingers replace mine, gently pressing down.
“You don’t have to use your voice to talk to me. I mean, don’t get me wrong, I love hearing it, but I know how much it hurts you to do so, and I don’t want to be the reason for your pain.”
You’re worth it.I brush her hair over her shoulder and lower my face until our lips meet in a soft, comfortable kiss.
Pulling away, she quickly rubs one of her eyes. “Contacts are so annoying,” she says, slipping her arms into her coat, which I hold out for her. She then knots the belt around her waist. The length of the coat conceals everything except the heels on her feet, leaving me to fantasize about her wearing those and only those… Maybe tonight.
I open the front door and gesture a hand toward the waiting SUV. She walks by me, a hint of her alluring scent wafting around me. After locking the door, I turn and stop, finding her facing me. Snowflakes drift lazily between us, catching in her hair as she studies me with a quiet intensity, a spark of something unspoken in her eyes.
“Before we go,” she says softly, “I wanted to tell you that you look really handsome. You always do.” Her smile is gentle but sincere. “I just thought you should know.” Before I can respond, she rises onto her toes, one hand resting lightly against my chest as she presses a brief, warm kiss to my cheek.
Something loosens in my chest, a sudden rush of warmth spreading faster than I can steady it.
She thinks I’m handsome?
She pulls back, her fingertips tracing my jaw in a fleeting, almost absentminded gesture before she turns away. The driveropens the door, and she slips inside with effortless grace, gathering her coat as she settles across the seat.
I pause for a moment, drawing in a slow breath, reminding myself one last time that this is only temporary, an illusion with no truth. Something that will be ending very soon.
“Alina, that dress is stunning.” Scarlett pulls her into a hug as we enter the lobby of the function hall, and I find myself suddenly very jealous of my sister-in-law.
“Glad you could make it,” Leo remarks, taking my hand. “Vin’s already here, grabbing a drink, and the others should be arriving soon. They ran into some traffic because of the weather.”
I nod in response. As soon as Scarlett removes her hands from Alina, I snake my arm around Alina’s waist, pulling her closer to my side.
Scarlett smiles, looking between us. “Marriage life suits both of you.”
“There you are.” Vin approaches with a crystal glass in hand, his other hand resting on my shoulder.
Our mother and Alex step into view, moving toward us.
Vin’s gaze immediately locks onto our mother. “Did you know the governor was planning on being here tonight?”
“He’s here?” Alex asks, pushing his glasses up the bridge of his nose.
“Yes.” Our mother smiles as Alina approaches, wrapping her arms around her affectionately before turning to me. She cups my face and plants a kiss on my cheek before doing the same ritual to the rest of my siblings. “I’m afraid he caught wind of tonight’s affair and all but invited himself.” She scoffs lightly. “If it weren’t for the very sizable donation he’s making, I’d have him escorted out of here.”
Alex clears his throat. “And where exactly is he now?”
Vin tilts his head toward the rear of the room. “At the bar. I may have…encouraged the bartender to add a little something extra to his drink.”
Leo lets out a sharp laugh, and I can’t stop the grin that spreads across my face.
Of course he did.
“We’re here!” Madeleine hurries across the room with Eli close by her side, both of them brushing snow from their coats as if they barely made it inside before the storm worsened. “It’s really coming down out there. Hopefully, it won’t affect tonight’s contributions.”
