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“I don’t know. Will I?”
The question of the hour.
“You are my queen.” His breath ghosted my lips, so close we could have kissed. “It’s time we make it official.”
“Did you have a change of heart since our little chat in your office?”
“We don’t have a choice. This marriage is happening.”
“I feel like Rapunzel,” I quipped. “Stop locking me inside my tower. You can at least take me out so I can find some enjoyment in this nightmare. If you want a wife and a queen, you better start treating me like it.”
He pursed his lips, considering my request. “My schedule is full.”
Anger flared inside me. My skin burned from his touch, and I wanted to push him away. But we had the eye of everyone in the room.
I slid my hand up his chest, feeling his heartbeat with my palm. “Too full for your future wife?”
“That mouth of yours,” he growled, his voice deep and smooth.
Licking my lips, I stared up at my handsome devil. “Maybe you should do something about my mouth.”
Luca rolled his thumb across my bottom lip, smearing my lipstick. “Perhaps I should.”
I knew he would only respect a woman who made him work for it. His cock got hard for mouthy women. To find my brother, I had to play the game. I had to make Luca think I was his.
“Come to my room tonight for a drink.”
I shook my head.
His eyebrows rose in surprise. “You make my cock so fucking hard.”
When the song ended, one of his friends materialized at our side. Drake Battle was dressed in a black tuxedo and a red and black carnival mask with gold trim around the eyes. Hisirises were golden brown and as vibrant and colorful as honey. Beneath the mask, I could tell he was handsome, with a sharp jaw, high cheekbones, and full lips any woman would want to kiss.
Luca offered my hand to Drake, and he kissed my skin. “Pleasure is all mine,miregina.”
My queen in Italian.
Drake Battle was the only son of tech billionaire Ethan Battle. They made their money from military contracts and artificial intelligence software. Given the Salvatores’ business, I assumed the Battles supplied them with weapons.
“Play nice,” Luca said, his words aimed at me. “Be careful, Drake. She’s pretty, but this kitty has claws.”
Drake’s face lit up at the promise. “I would expect nothing less from our queen.”
Luca squeezed his shoulder. “Take good care of her.”
The second he turned his back on us, Drake swept me off my feet. For someone his size, he was graceful, which shocked me. He towered over me, his muscular body pressing into mine as his masculine scent filled my nostrils. Drake smelled good, like a mixture of cloves and fresh linen.
“You look like a fairy queen in this dress,” Drake said as he appraised me with hungry eyes. “Absolute perfection.”
He spun me like a ballerina, and in this skimpy outfit, the fabric barely covered my ass.
“Are you ready to take over as Queen of The Devil’s Creek Belles?”
Hell no. That was my grandfather and her snooty friend’s claim to fame.
I scoffed at the idea. “No, thank you. I’ll pass.”
“Blair Wellington is the current president. Only a Wellington can hold the position.”