Page 34 of The Hidden Heir

“Hell of a wedding night,” I whisper, mostly to myself.

10

VALENTINA

Istand nervously in the middle of Luca’s bedroom, quivering under the crystal chandelier. Catching glimpses of myself in the mirror, I see the woman I’ve become. To my surprise, and perhaps to my dismay, I feel beautiful. I look beautiful, with pearly satin and lace hugging my figure in all the right places, with diamonds and pearls adorning my ears and neck.

My hair is weaved into an elegant bun with threads of gold and white silk. My makeup is delicate, accentuating my favorite features.

“Valentina,” Luca’s voice reaches my ear.

Yet the fear in my eyes confuses me.

I do not fear the man walking toward me as the door closes behind him with a decisive click. I fear my inability to resist him as the distance between us shrinks with each passing breath.

“Mr. Petrucci,” I reply, my chin up.

“Mrs. Petrucci,” he says, then comes around to face me. “It’s almost over. Or it’s just beginning. It depends on how you look at it.”

I frown, sullen. “Just finish it, already.”

“Is that what you want?”

It’s an honest question. I suppose it deserves an honest answer.

“No,” I manage, turning my head to avoid his gaze.

My voice trembles. My heart thuds furiously. My skin feels too tight. Every cell in my body screams for this man, while my reason fights for control, for the freedom to defy him at every turn, to make his life miserable for forcing me into this.

“We don’t have to rush into anything,” Luca says.

The words take me by surprise, and I glare at him, confused. “What do you mean?”

“Marriage is supposed to be about mutual respect, Valentina. I cannot force you into this, but I already know you want it. I’m merely willing to give you a chance to take the first step.”

“That’s ridiculous.” I almost laugh and move away from him.

I open the windows wide to let the warm summer air into the room. It’s accompanied by a cool breeze from the lake, and it carries a subtle hint of pine trees on its wings. I close my eyes, welcoming each deep breath, wishing I had more strength in me.

“Is it? Or have you forgotten our little moment after your shower? Or those smaller moments that followed,” Luca says. “Your body tells me everything I need to know, even now.”

“It’s just a chemical reaction. Hormones playing games.

“You don’t believe that.”

“I have to,” I mumble, staring into the darkness of the night.

Luca steps closer. My heart skips a beat. I feel his presence behind me. “Why?” he asks, his voice low, almost a growl in my ear.

“Because otherwise, I’d have to admit I’m attracted to you,” I foolishly confess. “And that would make me the ultimate idiot, wouldn’t it?”

“How so?”

His lips brush gently against my earlobe as his fingers trace the contour of my neck. I hold my breath when he finds the ribbons at the back holding this dress together. I feel him fiddling, the satin bows loosening.

“I was fooled by one Petrucci brother once. Then the other came after me and forced me to marry him. The ultimate idiot. That’s me,” I say, a knot tightening in the back of my throat.

Luca grunts slightly, and the bows come undone. With one swift yet decisive, unforgiving move, he peels the dress off me. My skin breathes for the first time in what feels like forever while I suck in a deep, tremulous breath. Luca turns me around, the dress resting around my bare feet.