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“Are we having a wedding night?” she blurted out.
Gio stopped and regarded her as if she’d lost her mind. And maybe she had because she couldn’t believe herself. But she had to know. She couldn’t possibly get any rest without knowing what awaited her on the other side.
“Considering you are my wife–yes.”
“But it has to be tonight?”
“Unless there is an alternate time you prefer?” he asked tersely.
Ana’s eyes flitted past the doorway to the large bed, her heart thudding violently. The choice was hers. He was giving her a reprieve. It was not an opportunity he would afford her again; she knew.
I would never let you...
If she insisted on it, he would give her some space–for a few hours, even a few days–and she could escape reality just a little while longer. Letting the anticipation toil on inside her so much longer. That uncertainty and anticipation seemed unbearable. And so, there was only one choice.
“Now.”
Her brown eyes were pale. Frightened and determined.
She could do this. She could.
Gio's face, however, went completely blank. As the seconds ticked on, she began to feel mortified and wanted to retract her words. But then, in a swift move, he struck into action. He reached her in a few steps, grasped her hand, and tugged her toward the bedroom.
Wait.
Ana grappled for breath.
Shit. She’d made her decision. It had been entirely her choice. Though it wasn’t supposed to unfold this way. He should have questioned her and confirmed if she was certain…or in her right state of mind. It would have bought her just a few more minutes–to do what, she wasn’t quite sure.
But her consent was all that he needed, she realized in muted shock.
What had she done?
It had seemed so sensible a few minutes earlier, to get it over with. But the reality of it was an entirely different matter. She didn’t know what to do or how to do it. She hadn’t been in such close proximity to a man before, except for her cousin, Grandfather, and their family guards. She had definitely never been so close to Gio before.
Their every encounter had been respectful and proper. They had abided by every rule and had never crossed the invisible boundaries between them, not even for a single kiss.
Though not for a lack of wanting.
Ana inhaled, glancing at his full lips.
Her hand shook in his, and he clasped it more firmly, tugging her along–sending waves of heat up her arms until they cascaded throughout her limbs, electrifying her into a live wire.
Was this fear…desire?
Or madness?
There had always been awareness of him before. But now, with the physical boundaries stripping away, that awareness was growing dizzyingly by the second. She felt faint from it. The feeling of Gio's larger hand surrounding her thin one was already too much sensation to bear.
How could she survive the rest?
They came to a halt in front of the bed, and she stared down at the rose petals that formed a large heart. Her own thudded rhythmically.
Should she lie down? Or undress and lie down? The petals would probably have to be cleared as well.
She shifted uncertainly, freaking out with indecision.
Gio must have noticed because he released her hand and stepped closer.
