The Billionaire's Captive Bride

ce felt li

llarbone like tiny, perfect blades. Damien had chosen everything-her dress, her shoes

Alway

blood. Of war

e with precise cruelty. She'd never worn anything so s

she barely reco

rimson silk with flawle

Isla

anym

aff member-young, expressionless-knocked softly before

urse

ever arriv

tall and sharp in a black three-piece suit. His tie w

peak as she

ened the doo

ent your beautiful wife?" sh

I don't compliment things I own.

she stepped into the

ollo

oor c

re alon

t was pulsing, thick with everything u

oke it

are we

s watch. "The Montgo

are t

ean reputation

posed to smi

d to act like you're the best th

laugh. "I'm not th

utting. "Pretend harder, Isla. Or you'll fin

art st

led her , how even his threats

city lights raced past. "You want a performance

-

e soaked in old money and new secrets. Paparazzi swarmed the gat

lled to a stop, Damie

tched i

ed just once bef

"we are a perfect couple. Touch me. Sm

mped. "You w

y m

t, the door opened, and

carpet together,

looked invincible.

ing paraded through hell

en's name. Cameras cli

dn't whispe

spered a

s his

ly marrie

l. But where di

a mimicked him with robotic grace, her arm

used fo

" he said throug

around her waist, his fingers di

," he wh

med against he

ow

e she cou

isse

dden. Po

tenderness.

war had been declared in private and

ing the breath from her lungs, st

in that kiss was

wer. Pun

o show affection. He wa

s clicked faster. Applause rang ou

didn'

r lipstick was smudged.

im. That would ha

d, she

mpty. P

ar, "You kiss like a man

aw fl

didn't

d her up t

orth more than Isla's childhood home. Champagne flowed. Mus

e Damien as he m

wife, Isla

iled o

i

ted like ash

ed warmth. They commented on he

sked how

ne c

love story. They wa

en gave

ul tones, watched as men shook his hand like it was a pri

ored t

d never lef

t her

rop

arn

sage:

-

creep beneath Isla's skin, Damien led her to a quieter

t the marble pill

y this, d

e sipped his drink, his eyes sc

oy w

them I'

p, clear, honest in a

m anything," he said

ared a

ment, she wondered if she was trul

en Blackwood

bur

dy standing too c