My smile slipped, and my eyes widened.
Antonio Raymond? So that’s why he seemed to be so familiar. I’d seen him on the TV the other day but couldn’t see his face properly because he had the half of his face covered.
Wasn’t he in jail? What the hell was he doing here?
My jaw clenched. “What are you doing here? As far as I know, you’re not invited to this wedding.”
Did Ace know of his presence here?
If he did, he wouldn’t be still parading out here like this.
He placed his hand on his heart. “Ouch! I wasn’t expecting that one. You hurt me, Ms. Hutton. I didn’t know you behaved that way with your guests.”
“I do with uninvited guests.”
A humorless chuckle left him. “Feisty, huh?”
“What’s happening here?” Jane asked, confusion laced her face. “Antonio, do you know them?”
“Oh, he knows us very well. Unfortunately, he used you to get in here. Because he knew he wasn’t invited,” I said, holding his gaze.
“Hey, dude! Get your ass out of here before Achilles sees you. I’m sure as a reputable businessman, you wouldn’t want to be thrown out of the here like a stray dog.” Cassie flashed him a sweet smile.
His jaw ticked at her spitting insult at him. But then he reciprocated Cassie’s smile with equal venom. “Oh, I have no bad intentions here. I just wanted to give my best wishes to the bride and groom. That’s all.”
“Mr. Raymond.” My voice snapped his attention back to me. “I’d advise you leave the venue right now before Ace or Caleb notices you. I really don’t want a scene here. And I don’t understand. After what you’ve done to Caleb, how did you think you could come here to give him your best wishes?”
He raised his brow. “Oh, so the little Rosebud of Achilles knows everything then?”
How did he know Ace called me Rosebud? Only close family members and friends knew that.
My patience was running slim now.
“Of course. Everyone should know about the enemy outside. Now leave.” I pointed towards the gate.
A smirk tugged at the corner of his lips. “You can make the outside enemy leave you alone. But what about the enemy inside?” His head tilted. “How would you tackle them, Ms. Hutton?”
My eyes narrowed. “What do you mean?”
He shook his head, giving me a once over. “My work is done here.” He turned to the blonde. “I’ll see you later, sweetheart.”
Cassie shared a look with me.
“Goodbye, Ms. Hutton.” His eyes flickered over my shoulder. “Hope to meet you soon.”
He turned around and walked away.
“Wait!” I called out to him, but he didn’t stop. Two more men joined him before they disappeared into the crowd.
Glancing back where his eyes were seconds ago, I saw Ace striding towards me. Hands clenched into fists, nostrils flaring, eyes dark with fury.
He must’ve seen him.
Pulling me into his arms, he cupped my chin. “You all right, Rosebud? Did he do anything? Did he say anything to you?”
Yes, about an enemy inside the house. Who was he indicating?
I shook my head. “He didn’t. In fact, I sent him away. Don’t worry.”
His jaw clenched, flashing gray orbs glared at the exit where Antonio just left through. “How dare he come here! That fucking piece of shit! And he dared to come close to you!”
The last sentence came out as a hiss. Moving away when he tried to storm to the exit, I grabbed his arm. “Ace, no! Stop! Where are you going? It’s all right, he left already. There’s no point in following him now.”
“No!” He snatched his arm. “He shouldn’t have made that mistake today. How dare he come here and talk to you!”
I frowned. Why was he mad that Antonio talked to me?
I wrapped my arms around him. “Ace, please! Don’t do anything rash!”
“Rosebud, leave me.” His beautiful features were now clouded with anger.
I shook my head. “I won’t. No matter what you say.” At his scowl, I cupped his cheeks. “It’s Tess and Caleb’s wedding, baby. Don’t ruin it by doing anything drastic.”
I ignored the looks some of the passing guests were giving. They must’ve heard his roaring.
“Please? For me?”
Holding my gaze for some long moments, he gave me a tight nod. Though I knew he wasn’t letting it go so easily, a smile spread across my lips. At least the wedding would go smoothly now.
I placed a kiss on his cheek. “Thank you.”
Cassie sent me a look of awe, but I ignored her and focused on calming the fuming man before me.
I peeked from behind the marble pillar.
At the end of the hall, he stood there with just a plain glass of water. His tight grip around it and the hardness of his jaw were evidence of his still smoldering rage inside him.
The reception ran in full swing. People were chattering, dancing, and drinking. The bride and groom were clicking pictures with their friends after the cake cutting. Among the gleeful ambience, his mood remained dark.
And for our first night together as a couple, I didn’t want that.
I bit my lip as I saw the waiter approaching him. Handing him the note I sent, the poor man scurried away from the sharp glare of his.
I shook my head.
Staring down at the note, he glanced around before opening the note with his long, lean fingers. His hard features softened as a smile slowly played on his lips.
I knew what he was smiling at.
If you’re done scowling at the corner, care to give this girl some company?
Your Rosebud.
When he looked up from the note, I let myself out from my hiding and his eyes immediately found me. Giving him a wink, I turned around and sauntered away from the crowd to the empty hallway decorated with crafted mirrors and beautiful paintings that hung on its walls.
I knew he was coming. My heart thumped like crazy under my chest. Flutters in my tummy had me inhale deep.
I teased the beast, and now I would have to be ready for him.
I heard his footsteps echoing across the unoccupied corridor. With every step sounded closer, my heart felt like it would explode any moment.
A gasp slipped through my lips as my back was pulled into a hard frame. His strong arms wrapped around me as he put his head in the crook of my neck.
“You’ll become the death of me someday, you know that?” his husky voice rasped. Taking a sharp inhale, he brushed his lips on my bare shoulders. A shiver ran down my whole body.
Closing my eyes, I leaned back into his touch. It felt so right being in his arms. No guilt or barrier was stopping me tonight. It felt like home.
“What did I do?” I asked, feigning innocence.
“Calling me alone here like that when you know I can’t do anything to you right now, no matter how much I want to, you’re saying you didn’t do anything?” His hand brushed beneath my chest.
“What? I just wanted a hug.” I pouted. “I didn’t know your thoughts were still running south.”
“Well, my mind always runs south when you’re around,” he whispered into my ear.
Heat crept up cheeks as I bit my lip.
Suddenly, I felt a cold material gliding up my neck. Glancing down, I found a simple pendant with a diamond cut emerald in the center, the tiny rubies sitting around it glimmered under the light.
I gasped.
It was the same pendant I saw at that jewelry shop when we went to buy gifts for Tess.
I looked at him over my shoulder as he secured the gorgeous pendant around my neck. The emerald rested right above my cleavage.
“When did you get it?” Tone low.
He grazed his lips over my jaw. “The moment you watched it with adoration, it became yours.”
My eyes burned with the love that bloomed in my heart for this man. Not because he got me this pendant, but because of the way he never missed a single detail about me. He always had his eyes on me.
Taking a step aside, I looked at myself in the mirror on the wall. It looked beautiful on me. And the intensity in his eyes told me he appreciated it, too.
His fingers grazed the emerald along the dip of my cleavage.
“Never take it off. Not even when you have nothing on you.” The edge of his voice told me his desire. The way his hand brushed at the side of my breast indicated to his impatience.
Turning half of my body to him in his arms, I pulled his head down and captured his lips, showing him my appreciation. Groaning, he gripped my neck and rewarded me with his hot, punishing kiss.
Sweeping his tongue into my mouth, he sucked on my lower lip. My knees wobbled at the sensations he provided me with his hands and mouth.
Just when I was about to deepen the kiss, I heard footsteps. Pulling away from him abruptly, I ran my hands over my dress and hair to look as presentable as possible.
His frown told me his displeasure. Giggling, I pulled him outside just as an old pair entered the corridor.
I blushed.
Thank God, they didn’t catch us in the act.
“What the hell were they doing there?” His lips pressed tight.
“Maybe they also wanted some alone time?” Snickering, I dragged him to where the bride and groom were.
When the bride and groom requested us to join them on the dance floor, we agreed. Well, I did. He was too busy scowling and complaining he had enough of this wedding. He wanted to leave this place with me.
As we started to sway along to the music, well, the dance Achilles Valencian preferred, I put my head against his chest. Where others moved with the beat, he had his arms around me, moving us slowly. I didn’t care if everyone was watching. Even answering to Mom and Dad later didn’t come into my mind. All I knew was his warmth.
Then my gaze went to Cassie. She was dancing with a blonde. But her eyes were set on somewhere else. I followed her gaze. A man in his late twenties with dark brown hair and a tall,well-built frame stood near the staircase. His narrowed eyes observed the ambience around him as he sipped his drink. An older man talked to him, but he didn’t pay any attention.
My eyes went back to Cassie, but hers didn’t move from that man.
A smile twitched at the corner of my lips.
“What are you smiling at?”
I looked up at his stormy grays. One of his brows was raised.
“Who’s that man? I’ve never seen him before.” I jutted my chin at Cassie’s sudden interest.
He followed my eyes. A muscle of his jaw ticked as the place between his brows creased. “Why do you want to know?”
I rolled my eyes. “Relax! I’m just curious. Don’t need to go all green now. My best friend seems unable to tear her gaze from him, so I thought to ask.”
Casting a very disinterested glance at Cassie, he turned to me again. His jaw softened a bit. “A friend of mine. He’s also been my partner in some of my businesses for years now.”
I nodded.
“Anything else?” Annoyance dripped from his voice.
I shook my head. Unbelievable man.
Reaching up, I kissed his nose. “No. Can we get out of here? The dance is over now, and I’m getting bored.”
Now his good mood peeked through his dark clouds. Gray eyes flashed with fire. “Where do you want to go?” His deep voice came out husky.
Leaning closer, I whispered in his ear, “Take me to your home.”
