Page 46 of Red Retaliation

Look, not touch.

“Shall we get started?”

Jerked from my trance, I turn towards the voice of the registrar, who sounds like he’s got a thousand-a-day cigarette habit.

“Would the bride and groom please come to stand by this... erm... this ‘desk’ and take each other’s hands.” He looks around the room. “Will the remaining... erm... guests, please stand.”

Such is her reticence, Arianna moves the short distance from the doorto stand next to me so painstakingly slowly, it’s uncomfortable to watch. She still won’t look at me, but right now, I find that both endearing and a further turn-on.

I clear my throat and concentrate on what needs to be done.

CHAPTER

32

Arianna

PASSING OUT IS A real possibility. I wasn’t nervous until I entered this room. I was too annoyed with Oscar to think of much else, but now Iamnervous. And I don’t like it.

I need no mirror to know my cheeks are bright pink. Without having to look, I felt Red’s eyes undress me as I came in here; his intense gaze moving over every millimeter of my body. Now the man conducting the marriage is saying something, but I don’t know what. My ears ring, and I want to run. I want to run faster than I’ve ever run in my life. I want to run away from Red Bateman and in the opposite direction of this nightmare.

I can’t bear to look at him. But I can smell him - that aftershave - the one that heats my blood, the one I could drink, is heavy in the air. All I can think of when I get a hint of it in my nostrils, ishim.

But I still can’t look at him.

I dare not.

His heat, as well as his magnetism, pulls me closer, yet equally repels me.

Oh God, I really can’t do this.

How can I marry this man who...

Breaking my rule, my head snaps up as Red takes my hand, and I realize the registrar has asked us to join hands. Now that I’ve looked at Red, I can’t unsee him, and the sight burns my eyes.

Damn my traitorous lips for parting as I stare at his finely chiseled face looking down at me with a strange, soft smile.

Helooks immaculate.

My heart thunders in my overtight bodice. My breathing is shallow too. I blame that on the bodice as well. It’s got nothing to do with this gorgeous man I’m about to marry...

Nothing.

But Red’s smile isn’t sarcastic or condescending. It... it seemsgenuine.

Feeling fainter with every second, I will myself not to stagger. I must listen to the registrar because I have to speak at some point. I remember that much from the first time.

My voice box was paralyzed then too, but for different reasons...

God, God, God.

As much as I want to turn away from Red’s intense gaze that sears my very marrow, my eyes won’t move. They, as well as my heart, ignore me, for my heart pounds so fast and so loudly, I’m convinced everyone in the room hears it.

All I see are those blue-gray eyes; the steel within the stone - a perfectly carved statue.

Flawless, but real.

And those dark eyelashes make those cold, yet smoldering eyes even more electric. It’s an impossible contradiction.