Substitute Marriage: The Billionaire's Hidden Queen

Cassie's legs. The physical weight of the wedding

d bed in the Frederick Manor master bedroom

eather of the mattress, her knuckl

rknob slowly

ssie's veins. Her spine snapped straight. T

r pushe

the oxygen in the space. The sheer physical dominance he radiated made Cassie's leg muscles

nd him and push

metallic sound echoed in th

gainst her ribs, the rhy

rely silent against the thick Persian rug. An invisible, suffocating

hard she tasted copper, fighting the

ood tall, looking down at her with eyes

herself to meet his gaze. Her stoma

ngers caught the edge of her veil

cts makeup-the horrific, angry red burn scars that covered

ers braced for the inevitable explosion o

s tick

silent. There was no sharp in

lled Cassie'

yes. There was no fear in his expression. There wa

scars on her cheek. The intensity of his stare f

n the quiet room. She turned her head slight

denly le

The warm, mint-laced breath from his par

terror. Her chest heaved agains

nd clamped onto th

The fine hairs on Cassie's arms stood straig

l, crescent-shaped birthmark hidden just below her hair

to her brain. Her lungs seized. She thought

nic flashed in Dane's eyes. His Ad

m him was palpable. It t

k over. She shoved both of her

s dress shirt. Dane didn't resist the push. He let h

g the collar of her dress and pulling it high to cover her

outh twitched upward i

walked toward the crystal bar

und Cassie's chest loosened just a fraction. She dragged in a shallow b

ropping into a heavy glass

ass and downed the whiskey in one smooth, continuous swallow. T

elt like sandpaper. S

th a thud. He turned his head, l

s voice was a low, gravelly rumble

ds tightened their de

ocal cords tight and dry. "

gle finger, silen

he stated, his tone leaving no room for arg

voice hit her like a physica

red cheek. "Are you blind? Does this not disgust y

emple, a stark contrast to his unnervingly calm expres

n two long strides. The shadow of his

g. Her back pressed har

ed the jagged edge of the fake scar on her cheek. The

beat, a cold sweat breaki

red. His deep voice slipped into

h to argue, but the wo

in his eyes. A deep, agonizing nostalgia.

traightened up. The vulnerability v

r toward the frosted gl

wer.

mmand left her no room to

ke lead. She grabbed handfuls of her hea

between her shoulder blades with every step s

he bathroom and sl

twisted the lock. The deadbolt sl

l she hit the tile floor, pulling her knees to her chest. She gasped for