Page 19 of Sev’s Blackmailed Bride (The Dante Dynasty #1)

S ev stood there, annoyed to discover himself acting the part of the stereotypical hapless male as Francesca disappeared into the crowd in one direction, and an infuriated Tina stormed off in the opposite.

Sev stopped Kurt before he could charge after his wife.

For Francesca’s sake, he had to find a way to make this right.

“Francesca didn’t have any choice,” Sev stated. “You realize that, don’t you?”

Kurt swung around with a snarl, shaking free of Sev’s hold. “I realize you forced her to quit a promising job with us and go to work for you.”

Sev fought for patience. “It wouldn’t have worked, Kurt.

It would have put her in an impossible position.

Because of our relationship, she’d have been trapped between you and Tina, and the Dantes.

She’d have had to watch every word she said, both at work and at home for fear of betraying one side or the other. ”

Kurt’s anger hadn’t diminished, but he still stood there, which counted for something. “So, you made her choose between us?”

“Yes. She doesn’t deserve your anger. The only thing she’s guilty of is falling in love.

Her decision hurt you. Trust me when I say that same decision hurt her every bit as much.

She adores you and Tina. You’ve been her mentors.

Her friends. Her family. She owes you everything, and don’t think she isn’t aware of that fact. ”

Kurt’s expression softened ever so slightly, right up until he looked at Sev. “And you?” he asked harshly. “Is Tina right? Is this your clever way of getting your hands on TH?”

“I don’t need Francesca to do that. TH will be mine whether she’s working for you, or for me.”

“Not if I can help it.”

“Kurt...” Sev grimaced. “Talk to Tina. The two of you are important to Francesca.”

“Important enough to get you to back off?”

Sev couldn’t prevent a smile. If circumstances had been different he might have formed a friendship with Kurt.

He’d prefer that over their current contentious relationship.

“Good try, Fontaine, but it isn’t going to happen.

Why don’t you and Tina make it easy on yourselves and sell out? I’ll give you an excellent price.”

“Not interested.”

Sev shrugged. “I didn’t think so, but it was worth a try.” He hesitated. “Will you talk to Tina?”

Kurt released his breath in a rough sigh. “Yeah, I’ll talk to her. Idon’t expect it’ll change anything. But I will encourage her not to take her anger out on Francesca.”

“I’m the one at fault. Tell her to keep me in the crosshairs where I belong, and we’ll all do just fine.”

With an abrupt nod, Kurt turned and walked away.

Sev had no idea whether his plan stood a chance in hell of success.

For Francesca’s sake, he had to try. She deserved an opportunity to get to know her father, but because he’d been so focused on Dantes and his plans for the business, he’d stolen that opportunity from her.

No. Not just stolen. He’d effectively annihilated any chance of it ever happening.

If he could restore that much, maybe, just maybe, he could live with the guilt he felt over therest.

Sev went after Francesca, not in the least surprised to find she’d retreated to the balcony off the ballroom.

It was where they’d first met and he struggled not to read anything into her choice.

She stood by the railing, her back to him.

He could tell she sensed him the instant he appeared in the doorway, her awareness betrayed by the mantle of stillness that settled overher.

He approached. “I’m sorry to spring that engagement ring on you, sweetheart.”

“Have you lost your mind?” She threw the question over her shoulder without turning. “What in the world were you thinking?”

“That I was Nicolò, Iguess.”

That did prompt her to swing around. “This was Nicolò’s idea?”

“Hell, no. Iget all the credit for this one.” Sev scrubbed his hand across his jaw. “Or should I say blame? Ijust meant, it’s the sort of crazy scheme he’d have come up with.”

“I don’t understand. Why would you do such a thing?”

He shrugged. “I had to try and fix the problem somehow.”

“Because that’s your job. To fix things.” It wasn’t a question.

“It always has been,” he answered simply. “Since the day my father died, I’m all that stood between Dantes succeeding or going under.”

“Well, I’m not some business you have to rebuild. You don’t have to fix things for me,” she insisted. “I’ve been taking care of myself for a very long time now. Idon’t need you to step in and assume the job at this late date.”

Strongly stated. Maybe a bit too strongly. “Just out of curiosity...” He cocked his head to one side. “Have you ever needed anyone since you turned eighteen?”

He caught the faintest of quivers before she stiffened her chin. “No.”

He lowered his voice to a caress. “Or should I ask, have you ever wanted anyone?”

“Don’t do this,” she whispered. “It’s not fair. Iwant permanence, not temporary.”

“Not a string of foster homes.”

She conceded the accuracy of his observation with a small nod.

“Growing up I always felt I had to change who I was so I’d fit in, that being myself wasn’t good enough.

Irefuse to do that any longer. Iwon’t pretend to be something or someone I’m not, not any longer.

” She tugged at the ring he’d given her.

“This doesn’t belong on my finger. Not until it’s the real thing. ”

He stopped her before she could remove it, closing his hand over hers. “Leave it there for the time being. Iforced you to work for me. Caused dissension for you both at Timeless and at Dantes. The ring will help protect you. It may even right a few wrongs. ”

She hesitated. “What’s the point? It has to come off sometime.”

“But not yet.” Not until he’d had time to come up with a resolution to their problems. “Listen to me, honey. There’s a very good possibility that our engagement will give you the opportunity to reestablish a relationship with the Fontaines.

They’re less likely to blame you for leaving them if they believe I forced the issue.

They could be part of your life again. You might not see your father as often as you would if you still worked for TH.

But at least they won’t be angry with you any longer. ”

“Do you really think so?”

Stark longing filled her expression, ripping him apart. “Give it a chance and see,” he suggested roughly.

She teetered on the edge of temptation. “How long do you expect me to keep up this charade?”

“For as long as it takes.”

“But it’s a lie,” Francesca protested.

“Is it?”

A single tug had their bodies colliding in the sweetest of impacts.

Sev wrapped his arms around her. The mere touch of her body fomented a reaction unlike anything he’d ever felt with another woman.

He’d assumed the acuteness of their passion would ease after a few weeks, that eventually they’d both become sated and the sexual intensity would diminish.

It hadn’t, and from his perspective, neither of them was close to sated.

A tremor swept through her, one so slight he’d have missed it if they hadn’t been fused together from hip to shoulder.

He recognized that shiver, felt it each time he pulled her into his arms, and it never failed to excite him.

It betrayed a sensual helplessness, one reserved only for him.

It whispered her secret to him, teased him with the knowledge that with one touch, her defenses would fall before his advance.

“Let me in, sweetheart.”

She gripped his shoulders, pushing even as she yielded.

“We’re through. Whatever existed between us is over.

It ended the minute you forced me into this devil’s bargain with you.

Putting a ring on my finger to protect me doesn’t change that.

You put business ahead of our relationship and that’s the end of anything personal. ”

“You know that isn’t true.”

He swept a hand from the base of her spine to the nape of her neck.

Her shiver became a shudder. The give of her body ripened into a heated abandonment, one that silently incited him to deepen their embrace.

She wanted him. She might resist it, but nothing could stop the combustible reaction whenever they touched.

Not personal preference. Not logic or intellect.

Not even her hurt and anger at the hideous position in which he’d puther.

The dragon’s breath of The Inferno incinerated both reason and intellect, and left behind a single urge. To mate. To step into the fire of that joining and allow the flames to consumethem.

He lowered his head, his mouth hovering above hers so their breath became one. “I wish this weren’t happening when it’s clear you don’t want it. Iwish I could do what you ask and let you go. But I can’t.”

“You don’t have any choice,” she asserted. “Do you really think that after all you’ve done I could ever trust you again?”

“I’m not asking for your trust.”

“Just me in your bed.”

He didn’t bother denying the truth. “Yes, Iwant you there. Or here. Or anywhere I can have you. Any way you’ll allow it.”

He closed the final gap between them and sank into her mouth.

He heard her sigh of pleasure. Felt it. Drank it inward.

Their lips molded, shaping themselves one to the other, before parting.

Her breathing grew ragged. Or maybe it was his.

More. The insistent demand sounded in his head, so clear and sharp he almost thought he’d said it aloud.

And maybe he did, because she reared back, breaking the kiss almost as soon as it began.

She turned her head a fraction to avoid any risk of their lips colliding again. “Making love to you is too intimate. It leaves me too vulnerable,” she told him with devastating frankness, the stark pain underscoring her words ripping through him. “I can’t open myself to you if I don’t trust you.”

“We’ll find a way to make this work,” he insisted.