Dante's Temporary Fiancée

“And that’s your exit strategy? One day I’ll be here and the next day I’ll be gone and you’ll tell your relatives that I got bored and left.”

His expression iced over. “I don’t explain myself to my relatives.”

She cocked an eyebrow in patent disbelief. “Something tells me that you’ll need to do a lot more than explain the situation to them if—when—I leave.” He didn’t argue, which told her that he privately agreed with her assessment. Sorrow filled her when she realized that even if he didn’t have a plan, she did. “I’ll tell you what. I’ll take care of it for you.”

He frowned. “You’ll take care of our breakup?”

“Yes.”

“And how do you intend to accomplish that?”

Stupid. Very stupid of her. She should have anticipated the question. “It’s better if you don’t know.”

He shook his head and folded his arms across his chest. Standing there, nude and intensely male, she could see how some women might find him intimidating. Not her. She swallowed. Probably not her.

“I happen to think it’s better if I do know your plan,” he insisted. “Now, spill.”

“If I explain beforehand, you won’t be in a position to react appropriately.”

“I won’t let you cheat on me.” The fierceness behind his comment had her stumbling back a step. “Nor will they believe you, if that’s what you’re going to try to tell them.”

“It isn’t,” she instantly denied. “That never even occurred to me.”

Her bewildered sincerity must have convinced him, because he nodded. “Okay, then.” He throttled back a notch or two. “Give me some sort of idea so I can decide whether or not it’ll work.”

She didn’t dare tell him, or he’d find out how well it would work right here and now. “Trust me, it’ll work. Not only will they believe it, but they’ll rally around you. You won’t have to worry about anyone trying to find another Inferno bride for you ever again.”

She looked him straight in the eye as she said it. Could he see the bleakness she felt reflected in her gaze? He must have, because he took a swift step in her direction.

“Larkin? What is it?” Concern colored his voice. “Are you ill? Is something wrong with you?”

“It’s nothing like that,” she assured him. Time to move this in another direction before he broke her down and forced the truth from her. She planted her splayed hands on his chest and maneuvered him backward toward the bed. “Why don’t we table this discussion for now and in the meantime, I suggest you get busy and bore me.”

His legs hit the edge of the mattress and he reached out to snag her around the waist as he toppled backward. She tumbled on top of him, laughing as she fell. It still hurt whenever she thought about the future. Hurt unbearably to realize that this couldn’t last. But she’d known it wouldn’t when she’d agreed to an affair. And until the moment came when he found out who she was and what she wanted from him, she’d enjoy every single second of their time together.

Would he consider it a fair bargain? Somehow she doubted it and it distressed her to think that she’d make him any more of a loner than he was already. That he’d continue to turn from people because he no longer trusted them. She’d never forgive herself if that happened. But maybe he’d understand. Maybe he’d help her and they could part on good terms.

And maybe baby pigs around the world would sprout gossamer wings and use them to fly straight to the moon.

He tunneled his fingers through her hair and thrust the wayward curls away from her face. “What are you thinking about?”

She forced out a smile. “Nothing important.”

“Whatever it was, it made you look so sad.”

“Then why don’t you give me something else to think about?”

He didn’t need any further prompting. He took her mouth in a hot, urgent kiss, one that drove every thought from her head except one. Rafe. The way his lips drove her wild with desire. The hard, knowing sweep of his hands across her skin. Those magical fingers that left her weeping with pleasure. It was an enchantment from which she never wanted to escape.