Knotted paths

exactly one day, and she

ered through the thick glass windows. The room smelled faintly of Lorenzo's cologne-a scent of

wever, was nowh

at she

one year of marriage, no

, the power, or the weight of the diamond ring on her finger. It was the fact

was a king in

s his relu

d Morni

oke up alone, the other s

expected an

e than it should. If this was a business arrangement, woul

d headed downstairs, only to be

expensive artwork, and silent staff who moved like

ike it

l, dressed in his usual crisp suit, sipping

nced at her.

s from him, folding her arms

his lips, but his eyes remained

her eyes.

uit-**but she barely touched it. Instead, she studied Lore

a few public appearances,"

a charity gala tonight. T

e most dangerous mafia

ike smiling at criminals to cele

s coffee, amused.

pointed look. "

Then dress accordingl

e that, she

ting the urge to throw her un

ng to be a

with t

of the mirror, dressed in a silk, emerald-green go

as a gift f

cked it out-his staff had, li

, Lorenzo's dark eyes swept over her

the slight tightening of h

ed their parts well-a

distant. To the outside world, they looked like the pe

e scenes, the

tti," Lorenzo introdu

esence commanding. He gave Elena an approving nod. "So

ampagne. "I wouldn't say 'ta

her." He turned to Lorenzo. "You better watch out, De

rked. "I'm

ur of conversation, veiled

ruly caught Elena off

nd resting on the small of her back. It was the

e murmured, his breath

w. "What, playing

twitched.

beneath his cold exterior. "And what abou

ened on her waist. "I d

art po

e forgot this wa

s on her, his gaze burning into hers,

ing da

hing

s in

returned home, El

eached for the zipper of her dress, s

find him watching her wit

" she

hed out, his fingers brushing against her back

hard. "I can d

kno

s low, rough

him, her heart hamm

eminded her. "But that doe

ught. What do

stepped back, his mask

id, his voice returning

like always,

after him, he

ing, she wondered if this contract marriage

asn't sure she