Page 130 of Konstantin

“It’s beautiful here.” She finally glances over her shoulder, forcing a smile that does nothing to erase the obvious stiffness in her body.

I know she knows I’m not my usual self. I haven’t hidden it. Let her wonder. The more nervous she gets, the better chance she slips.

Her eyes flick to me quickly, a tense energy surrounding her like a flame. My fingers run up and down her arms before I tug on her hips, spinning her around.

“Tell me something…” I continue to touch her, craving the contact.

“What?” Her mouth jerks into a barely there smile.

“Had you heard of the DeLucas before I mentioned them?” The question hangs in the air while I watch her closely.

Her face remains neutral, though her posture goes rigid almost instantly.

She’s hiding something.

“No. Should I have?” A soft smile spreads, appearing with little effort.

I can’t tell if she’s lying. But I don’t press.

“No. Don’t even worry about it. Probably a mistake.” I lean down, close enough that my breath brushes against her ear. “An associate of theirs mentioned he might have known you. I told him he must’ve been wrong.”

She laughs, but it doesn’t sound right. It’s too sharp, too high-pitched. “Yeah, I don’t think that name rings any sort of bells. Sorry.”

She throws her arms around me, resting her cheek against my chest, but I know she’s not trying to get close. She’s hiding.

I’ll find out what my little wife is keeping from me, and I promise, there will be a reckoning.

Pushing back a fraction, I motion for one of my men, and he appears, placing a small square velvet box into my hands.

“What’s that?”

“A gift.” When I open it to reveal the thin diamond choker inside, she eyes it curiously, like it’s going to detonate.

Though thatwouldactually be a clever weapon. I may need to look into that.

“Wow. That’s…uh, generous.”

“Anything for my wife. Now turn around. Let’s see how it looks.”

When she does, I gently remove the choker from the box, placing it around her slender neck. She turns to show me, and for a moment, I can’t tear my eyes away. My gaze drifts from the necklace to her face, and in this instant, I realize something deep in my chest.

I want this marriage to work, more than anything. I want more with her than I’ve ever had with anyone. For that to happen, she’ll have to trust me, and I’ll have to trust her. Though trust is hard to come by.

But from the way she makes me feel, the way she shifts something deep inside me, I know I don’t have much of a choice.

No matter what happens, I’m not going anywhere.

And neither is she.

EMILIA

The soft clank of silverware and the murmur of the sea beyond are the only sounds surrounding us. The private terrace juts out from the restaurant like a secret candlelit oasis over the edge of the world.

A breeze kisses my bare shoulders, warm and scented with lavender and salt, but all I can think about is earlier, when he asked me about DeLuca. That wasn’t a coincidence. He knew something, and I have to find out what.

My deception is slowly starting to catch up to me, and I haven’tcome close to finding out if he was involved in Nate’s case or not.

From across the small table, I glance at Konstantin, sitting like sin incarnate in dove gray, his shirt unbuttoned just enough to hint at the body I know too well now. His forearms rest casually on the table, one hand cradling his wineglass, the other teasing the stem absently as if he’s not entirely focused, but I know better.