Page 15 of Ruthless God

“Put it on, Luna.”

Were we really doing this?

“Close your eyes,” I said softly.

“Close my eyes?” He seemed incredulous that I would even ask this.

I didn’t say anything, waiting for him. He made a small sound, which I thought might be a cross between a snort and agrowl, before his eyes fell shut. I couldn’t tell if he was peeking or not. I decided to chance it and threw the robe off before grabbing the dress. I stumbled my way into it. There was just so much fabric.

Finally, I was able to pull it on and even managed to pull the zipper up halfway.

“Okay,” I said, giving him my back. “You can help me.”

A strange sound escaped his lips before I felt him walk up close to me, heat emanating from him and making me feel flushed. I looked at the mirror, taking in our reflection. Our size differences were much more prominent now that I could see us fully and with him standing so close.

I didn’t have my heels on, which I probably should have put on before I put on the dress, but that would be my problem when he left.

His eyes strayed down the naked skin on my back, making it feel hot just as he started to help me with the buttons.

I held still, my breath catching in my lungs when I felt his fingertips on my bare skin. I didn’t remember it taking this long when we tried it on at the dress shop, and the lady helped me. But this felt endless.

Finally, I felt the last button close, only for the immediate silence in the room to be so pronounced and so uncomfortable, I didn’t know what to do with myself.

Do I turn around and thank him? Do I ask him to leave? Do you even ask a man like Massimo De Luca to leave? He seemed like the kind of man who was used to doing whatever he wanted, and why wouldn’t that be the case?

If I had his strength, I probably would be the same way. Only now, his strength was used to show just how little power I did have in this transaction, leaving me… flailing.

I flinched when I felt his lips pressed against the back of my neck. “I should hate the idea of this marriage, considering it wasEnzo who set it up,” Massimo muttered against my skin. “But fuck, I don’t mind the idea of marrying you at all. And after tonight, you will be utterly and undeniablymine.”

I tried not to show my fear over the possessiveness in his voice as I thought over the first part of his sentence.

I frowned. Did he and his uncle not get along? Then why did Enzo go out of his way to set up a marriage for Massimo that would do nothing but give the De Lucas a relationship with the Lombardis? A tenuous relationship that could no doubt be torn apart at the seams over a little picking, but it was a relationship, nonetheless. One that I was sure Massimo would use to his full advantage.

Slowly, he cupped my shoulders once more and turned me around to face him.

I couldn’t keep eye contact for more than a handful of seconds before I directed my gaze back to his tie.

He lifted his fingers beneath my chin until I looked at him.

“Okay?”

I nodded, wondering why it would matter to him if I was okay or not. Perhaps he just didn’t want me to lose it before the wedding. Or during it, which made sense. I wasn’t going to lose it. I was trained better than that.

“The wedding is in thirty minutes,” I said softly.

His brow pulled together slightly as if he didn’t know why I was stating the obvious. He nodded. “Yes.”

“And then I’ll be going back to Las Vegas with you.”

“Yes. I’m sorry if you were expecting to stay with your family for some time, but there are things I need to do back in Las Vegas that can’t wait.”

“I don’t want to stay with them.”

He looked at me curiously, but I wasn’t going to explain my family dynamic to a stranger. And that was what Massimo was to me—husband or not.

A stranger.

If I had my way, I would never see any of them again. My heart pinched at the thought. A part of me felt sad that Mom and I were never closer, unlike her and Lina.