My Dark Romeo: An Enemies-to-Lovers Romance(42)

Trespassers will be shot. Or worse.

I held my breath, ignored the slithering heat rolling down my spine that demanded I kiss him back, and waited for him to pull away. I refused to give in and participate in this debacle.

“Your submission is sweeter than whipped cream, Mrs. Costa.” He drew back, dragging his nose along the bridge of mine. “How’s life away from civilization? Learned how to make fire with rocks yet?”

My response came in the form of sinking my teeth into his lower lip until the taste of copper filled my mouth and I met the resistance of muscle and flesh.

He used the back of his hand to wipe away the blood, smirking.

“There she is. I was beginning to worry you lost your teeth.”

“You like my teeth?” I pretended to cradle his head, ogling him with mock-adoration. “Good, because you’re about to meet my claws.”

Then, because I wanted badly to hurt him back, I pulled out Madison’s ring, which Frankie had given me earlier, twisting it between my fingers.

“Maybe you need better cameras, hubby. I got hot and bothered while you were MIA, but the fire didn’t come from rocks.”

Was I actually alluding to having an affair with Madison?

It was reckless, dangerous, yet extremely satisfying.

The look on Romeo’s face, of a man on the cusp of starting a war, flooded me with adrenaline.

Refusing to show him how miserable I’d been the last few weeks, I smiled. “Enjoy our wedding.”

The wedding planner herded the guests to the reception area.

Oliver von Bismarck’s mansion boasted an entire full-sized ballroom. I swear, his place made the Shangri-La look like a Motel 6 lobby.

Round tables cloaked in white lace surrounded the dance area. Antique candelabra centerpieces adorned each. Rustic chandeliers, golden fixtures, and dozens of different flowers—all in white—ornamented the room.

I wished this event didn’t symbolize my demise, so I could appreciate the place for all its splendor.

As soon as I unglued myself from Romeo, Frankie appeared by my side, clutching my arm and anchoring me to safety. She was so beautiful, my eyeballs prickled.

She’d better find a good match. A true love after the sacrifice I’d made for her.

“I know we hate him, and in a second, I’ll get back to stabbing him with my glares, but I thought maybe you’d be comforted to hear Romeo’s kiss dampened every panty on the East Coast.”

“Not mine,” I lied. “Besides, there’s a ton of hot guys in this world.”

“Saying your husband is hot is like saying Mount Everest is hilly. Bitch is sizzling. I don’t know how you touch him without getting blisters.”

I didn’t have the heart to tell her Romeo had stolen all of my Henry Plotkin books. I also didn’t want her to stab him with one of the decorative icicles that kept the vintage champagne bottles chilled.

Momma and Daddy joined us. Together, we visited each table from our side and thanked people for gracing us with their presence.

Presumably, Romeo did the same with his family, though I mentally checked out, trying to forget he was in the same room with me. It almost worked.

I’d just started to breathe properly—even the numbness in my fingers had gone away—when Daddy hauled me to the Lichts’ table.

As his best friend from Georgetown, Mr. Licht showed up despite the bad blood with the Costas. He wouldn’t pass on an opportunity to prove he was unaffected by the public fiasco.

“Dallas, congratulations, my dear. You look stunning.” Mrs. Licht patted the corners of her mouth with a napkin, though she hadn’t touched any of the delicious food in front of her.

I nodded, wooden. My gaze pinned to the floor.

I couldn’t look Madison in the eyes. Madison, who had let me choose my engagement ring. Who once promised me I could turn a room in his condo into my own library.

“Dallas.” His voice was impartial, not a trace of anger in it. I wanted to keel over. Even after his archenemy had sullied me, he still had kindness in him. “Look at me, please. I can’t…” He tossed his napkin onto his plate, rising to his feet. “I can’t bear for you to think that I’m mad at you. We weren’t really together. I understand.”

I dragged my gaze up from the floor.

Madison looked so familiar. With his All-American blond hair and brown eyes rimmed green around the fringes.

Though I felt nothing romantic toward him, I’d always assumed the feelings would come. That the comfort would bleed into happiness.

“Dallas.” He put his hand on my forearm. “Oh, Dal, please. Come with me.” He captured my hand. “Let’s wash your face.”

I let him lead me out of the ballroom. It was equally sweet and deranged of him to assume I’d let water touch my face after having my makeup done for three consecutive hours.

“I don’t want to wash my face.”

He stopped and turned to me, his hand still interlaced with mine. “Okay. Know what? Let me get you a plate of desserts. That always lifts your mood. Meet me out back.”

I felt comfortable sneaking out of my wedding to the back patio of the ballroom and sitting over the banister. After all, I couldn’t give one dang about whether someone discovered me with Madison.

The courtyard overlooked a small lake. Swans and ducks glided over the glacial water.