He sighs as he rises to his feet, making no effort to hide his desire from me. I instinctively press my thighs together when his movements place his hard length at eye level, and Dion reaches for me. He smirks as he places his index finger underneath my chin and lifts my head until my eyes meet his.
“And just like that, you’ve created a new fantasy, baby. You, seated right here,” he murmurs, his voice hoarse. His finger traces up my chin to my lips. “And that pretty mouth of yours wrapped around my cock.”
The image he paints drifts through my mind, and though it should repulse me to be used that way, it oddly excites me. A small part of me is curious what Dion would look like losing control because of something I’m doing to him.
“But for now,” he whispers. “I want you to show me around our new home.” He takes a step away and looks around the living room. “I love what I’m seeing so far.”
He walks to our large white sectional sofa, a faint smile on his lips. I watch him as he takes off his suit jacket and waistcoat, a soft sigh escaping him as he slowly undoes his cufflinks and drops them on top of his jacket.
“We don’t have to do it now,” I tell him. “You must be so tired. I didn’t mean to intrude. It’s quite late already, and you probably want to go to bed.”
He shakes his head as rolls up his sleeves, exposing his forearms. I bite down on my lip as an unfamiliar sensation rushes through me. “What I want,” he says, his eyes trailing over my body. He smiles roguishly and shakes his head. “Is for you to show me around.”
I move to walk past him, but he grabs my hand, startling me. Dion looks into my eyes as he entwines our fingers, his gaze heated. “Let’s go,” he says, smirking.
I bite back a nervous smile and pull him along, trying my hardest not to notice how large his hands are, and how much rougher and stronger they are than mine. Yet somehow, that’s all I can think about as we move from room to room.
“You did so well, angel,” he tells me as we step into his new home office. I decorated it in dark wooden tones, and it’s probably one of my favorite rooms. “I love everything you’ve done. I knew you’d turn this space into a real home.”
I look up at him, surprised by his words. No one has ever complimented me like that before. I’m tempted to ask him if he means it, but I’m too scared he’ll think I’m fishing for compliments, and the last thing I want to do is annoy him.
I look down at the floor as I lead him into the last room, our bedroom. For some reason, the idea of being here with him makes me nervous, and not in the way it used to.
Dion chuckles and raises our joined hands to his lips. He kisses the back of my hand and looks into my eyes, making my heart race. “This is my favorite room so far,” he murmurs.
“I’m glad you like it,” I whisper, relieved. “I went with dark tones and a modern aesthetic.”
He turns toward me, and I involuntarily take a step back, but that doesn’t deter him. My back hits the wall, and he smiles as my cheeks heat. Is he also reminded of the way he had me pressed up against the wall in Hawaii?
“Start moving your things in,” he tells me. “Sixteen days, Faye. That’s all the time you have left. From the moment we’re married, I’m not spending a single night alone in that bed.”
I nod, my heart racing. I’m relieved that he seems to want me, at least, but what happens when he realizes I have no experience in bed? What happens when he finds out I don’t know how to please him? How long until he gets bored with me, and his desire turns to frustration? What happens then?
Chapter Twenty-Four
Faye
I keep perfectly still as my makeup artist touches up my lipstick one last time. The woman looking back at me in the mirror definitely looks like a bride, but I’m not sure I feel like one. Perhaps it’s simply because the nerves I expected to feel are notably absent, or maybe it’s the incessant chatter surrounding me.
I’m not sure what a wedding day is supposed to feel like, but I didn’t think I’d feel this lonely, even though Abigail, Linda, and Chloe are in the seats next to me, getting ready.
They haven’t stopped talking about Linda’s sorority and Chloe’s grades, but each time I tried to join the conversation, they seemed to dismiss me. I’d ask a question, and the conversation would stall, as though they were merely humoring me with their answers before turning back to each other. In the end, I decided to let them catch up without intruding. I know they don’t do it on purpose, but every once in a while, they really make me feel like an outsider. On days like today, that hurts more than usual.
“All done,” my makeup artist says, and I smile at her in gratitude. For a moment, I wonder what Dion will think once he sees me. I’ve never felt quite this beautiful, and I can’t help but imagine the way his eyes will darken, like they do right before he kisses me. To say I’m nervous about tonight would be putting it mildly, but I’m not scared he’ll treat me cruelly. Maybe I truly am trading one gilded cage for another, but between my father and Dion, I’d much rather have Dion.
I’m startled out of my thoughts when a soft knock sounds on the door, and I tense when it swings open before I give permission to enter. My eyes widen in surprise when Sierra and Raven walk in together, followed by two bodyguards in black suits.
“Faye,” Raven says, a polite smile on her face. “I’m really sorry to do this to you on such an important day, but there was a major issue with your wedding dress, so I’ve had to bring you a different one.”
Linda jumps out of her seat, her face contorting in outrage. “That is completely unacceptable. Do you have any idea who my sister is marr—” she begins to say, her words trailing off once she realizes who she’s talking to.
Raven cocks her brow and pins her down with a stare. “I don’t think we’ve met,” she says, her voice dripping with disdain. “I’m Raven Windsor.”
I’ve always found Raven intimidating, but the version of her standing in front of me right now is one that’s simply terrifying. Sierra stares at Linda in much the same way, catching me by surprise. Though I don’t know either of them all that well, they were incredibly kind to me in Hawaii. The change in behavior is jarring, and it takes all of me not to cower.
“Sierra Windsor,” Sierra says, her tone curt. “And as far as I’m aware, this room was reserved solely for Faye. I’m going to have to insist that you give us a moment with her. The Windsor security team will show you to a different room.”
Raven glances back at the two bodyguards behind her and nods. “Sierra really does hate repeating herself,” she says. “So I won’t make her.”
The men move toward Abigail, Linda, and Chloe, and apprehension runs down my spine. Surely Sierra and Raven won’t actually throw out my family? “Would it be okay if they stay?” I rush to say, my voice trembling.
Abigail throws me a panicked look when one of the bodyguards wraps a hand around her arm, and I respond in kind, uncertain what to do. “There’s plenty of space, and I’d hate getting ready all alone. Please,” I beg, shaking. My words go unheard, and I stare in shock as the room is vacated.
“We’ll guard the door,” one of the bodyguards says before walking out and closing the door behind him with a finality that makes me weak in the knees.
“Whew,” Sierra says, plopping into Abigail’s makeup chair. She spins it around and smirks. “I didn’t think they’d leave so easily.”
Her stern expression is gone now, and she smiles at me the way she always has, with kindness and affection. Raven throws Sierra a look that’s clearly meant to be a warning, but that same sweet smile that I’d gotten used to is back, and her eyes twinkle when she looks at me. “I’m sorry about that, but privacy is very important to us. You’ll come to appreciate it soon.” Her tone is kind and understanding, but firm. “So about your dress,” she says, before unzipping the garment bag she’s holding.
A soft gasp escapes my lips as she slowly uncovers my dream dress, disbelief rendering me speechless. Raven chuckles as she takes in my reaction, a knowing look in her eyes. How could she have known? I’ve never even asked to try it on.
“There was a problem with the dress you were meant to wear, so I altered this dress for you instead. I hope that’s okay?”
“Yes,” I say instantly, my eyes flickering to hers. Does she realize how happy this makes me? It feels like a good omen, and it gives me a small amount of hope to hold on to. “It’s an honor to be wearing any of your gowns at all.”