Page 5 of Urgent Vows
"No. I think she realizes pawning them would make her too easy to track." Or that stealing them would be one step too far for the don. Anyway, I'm not sure my sister would even know how to pawn something. "They're still in the dressing room."
"Get them," he says to his brother.
We stand in silence, waiting for Miceli to return. When he does, he hands the necklace to his brother. Don De Luca reaches out and puts it on me, his fingers brushing the back of my neck as he does the clasp. I shiver from the sensation. His lips quirk in response, like he knows what his touch does to me.
The necklace is cool against my throat and chest. Heavy with diamonds and emeralds in a chandelier setting of white gold, it feels like something a queen might wear. Although it was meant for my sister, I can't help the sense of rightness that I am wearing it now. Because he put it on me.
The don removes the modest blue amethyst earrings I'm wearing that were meant to go with my maid of honor gown. Then he puts a drop earring that matches the necklace in my right ear. I make no move to try to do it myself.
It feels like he's marking me as his and a primitive part of me wants that.
After he has affixed the second earring, he trails his finger over the outside of my left ear. "Beautiful."
A shudder of desire cascades through my body. He's talking about the earrings and not me, but I can't help my reaction. And that look in his eyes?
It isn't about pretty jewelry. It's pure, hot sexual desire. I only know because it calls to a matching well of need inside me.
My knees nearly buckle. He wants me.
"My bride," he says, his voice dark with possession.
I lick my lips, my heart beating a mile a minute. And I can no more stop the word that wants to come out than I can stop the earth from turning. "Yours."
Satisfaction covers his brutally handsome features.
With a flick of his wrist, his wall of made men disperse, allowing the crowd of guests to once again gawk at us. He takes my hand in his big one and turns us to face them all. My skirt swishes against the floor but moves with me easily enough.
I notice my father is seated again, with one of Don De Luca's men on either side of him. He's shooting me a death glare, but I do not care. The deal I just struck puts me out of his reach and Carlotta too. Even if he doesn't know it yet.
I look away from him to the other side of the church and my gaze lands on Don De Luca's mother. Aria is smiling, like she's really happy about something. Her daughter is sitting beside her and she seems equally pleased.
They both must realize that it is me standing here, and not my sister, so I don't understand their apparent happiness. But I hope it means the don's family will not resent the change in his bride too much.
I'd gotten to know them during my sister's engagement while I helped with the wedding plans, and I really like the De Lucas.
"May I call you Severu?" I ask in a whisper to the man beside me, sick of referring to him as don, even in my head. He is going to be my husband.
"Yes, Catalina. I do not want my wife calling me don, though sir might be fun. In the bedroom." His voice is low, like mine.
But my cheeks still go hot as fire at his teasing. I try to ignore the fact that the rest of my body reacts with ayes, please and how soon can we get to the bedroom?My grip on his hand tightens convulsively.
He squeezes back. "You like the sound of that."
"Shh…" I hush him, so embarrassed I could combust with it.
He chuckles and then raises his hand to silence the loud whispers coming from the guests. "There has been a change in plans. Madonna Catalina Jilani has agreed to be my wife."
With that he turns us back to the priest. That's all he is going to say?
"You may proceed," he adds to the priest.
"MadonnaCatalina?" the older man asks, sounding dumbfounded.
"That is right." Severu's tone doesn't leave any room for discussion.
The priest nods. "Did you still want me to say the mass?"
"Of course." Severu laces his fingers through mine.
