Page 141 of Kiss Me Like I Didn't Kill You

Her expression hardens slightly. “Arlo, I… how did you even convince him? The last thing I remember, I was engaged to that Italian man—”

I close the distance before she can finish. My hand comes to rest around her throat. My voice drops low.

“Do not, ever, mention being engaged to another man,” I say quietly. “Because if you do, I’ll find him and end him. Right now.”

Her breath stutters, a small sound escaping before she catches it. I feel her body tense, the faint shiver she tries to hide.

I lean in until my nose brushes her cheek, then I ease my grip, let my hand fall away, and step back.

“I’ve been planning this from the day I met you.. that day I realised I would never let you go,” I admit. “The moment I learned who your father is, and what he’s arranged for you,I started digging. I needed leverage, information, something I could use against him, something to ensure he understands that he follows my rules now.”

Her brows knit together, suspicion flickering across her face. “And if you hadn’t found anything to use against him?”

I smirk. “Then I would have made him an offer he couldn’t refuse. Money, alliances, partnerships. Whatever it took.”

Her eyes narrow. “You’d have gone to such lengths merely to make me your wife?”

I step closer again, my hand finding her cheek. “I’d have done all that, and far worse,” I say evenly. “You’ve no comprehension of the lengths I’d go to claim what’s mine. To keep you where you belong.”

“Arlo,” she breathes.

I can see the resistance, the flicker of doubt clouding her eyes.

I press a finger to her lips, silencing her. “Don’t.” I murmur. “I know what you’re thinking, and it changes nothing. You’re my fiancée now, and that isn’t up for debate. I’ll spend the rest of my life earning your forgiveness, but I’ll do it while you wear my ring.”

She shakes her head faintly, a wry smile tugging at her mouth. “You’re impossible.”

“Undeniably,” I murmur.

I press a kiss to her neck. Her breath catches, a sound somewhere between a sigh and a gasp. My lips trail along the curve of her throat.

“I missed you,” I whisper against her skin. “I missed you so fucking much.”

She doesn’t answer, but I feel her pulse beneath my lips, racing. Her body moves almost imperceptibly toward mine, instinct winning over reason.

She clears her throat softly. “We should return to the party,” she says quietly. “People will start to wonder where we’ve gone.”

I pull back slightly, meeting her eyes again. “We will,” I say. “But not before you get your present.”

From the inside pocket of my jacket, I take out a small, slender box, engraved with a crescent moon on the lid. I hand it to her.

She hesitates before lifting the lid. Inside, lies a delicate silver key threaded onto a fine chain.

“What is this?” she asks softly, looking up at me.

“The key to our house,” I say simply.

Her eyes widen, and I can’t help but smile at her expression.

“Our house?”

“Indeed.” I reply. “We are expected to live together now, aren’t we?”

She narrows her eyes slightly. “So we’ll live together just for appearances?”

“No,” I answer, my voice certain. “We’ll live together because that’s what we both want.”

“Arlo, it’s too soon…” she murmurs.