wished that Danilo was the one alive.”
Estrella was the one who spoke next. “And the next day, Domenico had changed. He was no longer wild, no longer…” Her voice lowered. “He was just suddenly perfect. He used to smile all the time, but not anymore. Everything he did was perfect, but he tends to choose alternatives that are sure to make Father angry.”
Misty almost didn’t want to ask the obvious. But she had to. “Like marrying me, you mean?”
Emilia squeezed her hand, rushing to say, “Please don’t take it personally. My father simply wants Domenico to marry any pack princess. Times are hard these days and we need to strengthen alliances. Marriage is the best way to do that. Of course, Domenico would disagree. And now he’s brought you---”
Again, she had to ask, “Do you guys hate me?” Would they suddenly become sisters-in-law from hell, out to punish her for daring to marry their beloved, unreachable brother?
Estrella was shocked. “Of course not. It’s obvious that Domenico cares for you. He smiled at you, didn’t he? We just want to make sure that you understand what’s happening…you’re possibly the only one to reach his heart. So make him come alive again, will you, Misty?”
Before she could answer, fingers suddenly clamped around his wrist. She looked up to meet Domenico’s furious eyes. “We’re leaving.”
She barely had time to wave at his sisters. She was panting by the time they reached the lobby. His strides were so hard to keep up with. “What’s wrong?” she asked, concerned.
Domenico shook his head. “Nothing.”
Their limousine came to a stop and Domenico all but pushed her inside. The chauffeur shut the door closed. Domenico opened the chiller and took out a wine bottle. He punched a button and out came wine glasses. He poured the wine in a glass and drank it in one gulp.
“Are you okay?”
“Not really.”
Her heart constricted at the sight of his hardened face. She had a feeling he was just hiding sadness behind that cold face of his. She wondered madly what she could do to amuse him. Then she had an idea and fished out her mobile phone, hurriedly punching buttons to get to the right message.
The continuous beeping of pressed key buttons pulled Domenico out of long-buried but never forgotten memories. He frowned at the sight of Misty with her head bent down, hair falling to cover most of her face. “What are you doing?”
“I have a joke,” she blurted out.
His frown darkened even more. “A what?”
God, what am I doing , she asked herself.
The frown was scary. It reminded her of the fact that this guy was a werewolf. What if he got so mad he decided to eat her? “Umm…on second thought---”
Domenico crossed his arms against his chest. He placed the wine glass down. “I’m sorry. Please continue.”
“Ah…”
“You have a joke, don’t you? Share it, please.”
Shick. When he sounded like that, she felt like she had no power to refuse. He was in BOSS mode and it made her revert to EMPLOYEE mode.
If---when---we marry, it can’t be like this. It won’t be like this , she promised to herself.
“Misty?”
She almost jumped.
Stupid, stupid, Misty. What have you gotten yourself into now ?
She cleared her throat. “There were three guys…”
Domenico raised a brow. “I hope this isn’t a sexual joke.”
“Not…really?”
“Or a joke about stupidity,” he added.
“Umm…”
He rolled his eyes. “Go on.”
“I can’t,” she practically wailed. “You’re scaring me!”
That made him blink. Then Domenico started to laugh. “I have, haven’t I?” His laughter faded. “I’m sorry for that.” He looked at her, glued to the other end of the seat. “Come here, Misty.” He patted the space next to him.
She went to him tentatively.
“Closer.”
She moved an inch.
“Misty,” he growled.
She moved two inches closer.
He sighed and without further ado, he pulled her close to him until they were skin to skin,
Jane Graves
Jb Salsbury
Yasmin Khan
Frank Lankaster
Catherine Atkins
Kelly Hunter
Dahlia West
Liliana Hart
Justus Roux
John Mortimer