*Vincenzo's POV*
I maintained eye contact as Deena whispered that Evangeline was not walking down the altar.
My eyes narrowed and I was sure I saw a lump move in her throat. Her stance was firm and unmoving with hands meeting at the junction of the bouquet and the contract.
These are the types of things that cause me to relapse into smoking. When I had prepared for fate to screw me over,I hadn't expected Evangeline to be sent in black for the wedding.
She looked like a funeral,my funeral and God help me,I was ready to let her bury me.
Without a second's passing,I ordered the hall to be immediately cleared.
The choir and the band abruptly stopped and stared at each other in confusion.
The guests began to murmur and I could feel my family's hot stare at me but again,with an unwavering eye contact,I repeated my command.
This time,armed security had shown up at the door to help encourage their compliance.
In a matter of seconds,the room had cleared and the door was shut behind us.
I got down the stairs as she also made her way towards me,the unfulfilled bouquet limp at her side.
"Are you satisfied ?"I asked.
"Yes."she flashed her pearly whites through her red lipstick. "I am quite alright,thank you."
I don't think I've felt such an unrepressible sensual urge towards a woman before,I wanted to grab her,kiss her and discover for myself if she took the time to pick black lingerie also.
She waved the contract as we approached each other,meeting in the middle of the way.
"You really think you can just escape from this?"
"Escaped?"I laughed. "You think I was running from your contract?"
"This was supposed to be signed before today and you knew perfectly well,"she hissed at me,sun rays catching her eyes in a glow every now and then."You will not play me for a fool."
"I was not trying to play you for a fool."I returned,fighting not to let her eyes distract me. "I was trying to–"
Get away from you because you were sad.
Find out about your past so I rectified at least one thing in your life.
Leave you alone in case I made you even more sad.
None of the options worked so I chose.
"I was handling business" instead.
"Well this is also business,"she raged."But at least now we know where your priorities are."
I furrowed my brows, wondering if her tone was making it seem like she was mad she wasn't a priority or I've genuinely advanced to a new level of delusion induced insanity.
"You could have done this after the wedding,"I say,turning serious. "Despite the negotiations that had to be made,I accepted it would be signed. I gave you my word–"
"Like that means anything."She rolled her eyes and handed me the file.
I felt a slash in my chest as I stared at her.
She had changed,or at least was trying to change,her eyes were filled with contempt.
Nothing like the soft sweet lavender scented woman who told me she wanted kids with the biggest smile that made my heart skip a beat.
"What is this?"
"The contract,"she replied sarcastically."Sign it."
I took a step closer and she shifted between legs but didn't move away,fighting to stand her ground.
"Is this about the DNA thing?"
"No–"
"Then what is it?"
"What is what?"
"Are you not seeing yourself?"I nearly exclaimed. "I have never seen you in black."
"Well you haven't seen much of me,have you?"she asked defiantly. "You don't know Vincenzo,I do not know you–this is not a relationship so let's not pretend we care about each other,the only reason I'm even here is because I want Luca to be safe."
My jaw ticked at the mention of his name.
"Evangeline–"
"Please just let us get this over with."she begged.
I stared at the white sheet and it was beginning to stare back in a way that threatened a headache.
I brought out my pen and clicked it's tongue out. Since she wants it that way.
"You did not include what would happen if the rules were broken."
She looked unhappy that I thought of the possibility but quickly replied,nearly stumbling over the words.
"You get three strikes and then your supposed purchase of me is nullifed,instant divorce."
I smirked as I scribbled it down.
"But Luca's safety is a non-negotiable one strike,the second you hurt him–" she stops her rant to focus on me frowning at her.
"What?"she asked softly.
"You're not allowed to speak his name."
Her eyes strolled away from me in disbelief and she laughed out a gust of her but stopped immediately when her eyes returned to mine.
"Fine."she shrugged.
"Good."I continued writing. "What happens when you break the rules?"
If you thought she was offended when I asked about the rules before,you will be blown away by her face right now.
It was what I imagined a Saint would do if you asked if they sin.
The face of sheer disbelief of the occurrence was amusement to my eyes.For that alone,I'll make sure every single one of these were broken by her--just for the thrill.
After waiting forever and a day for her to recover enough to suggest her own consequences,I spoke up.
"A divorce wouldn't benefit me but owe me a night of total compliance if you break the rules."
Red tint hit her cheeks and opened her mouth to protest.
"There are other ways people can be compliant Evangeline,we are in a church,clear your head."
She rolled her eyes at me.
And here I was thinking I couldn't be even more enamoured with one person.
"Also."I continued. "I can provide you with the live safety of your dear detective today,and as per your wish,he'll be released into the wild."
A small victorious smile tugged at her lips.
"He's been warned not to contact you already,but the second you contact him will officially make him fair game."
"Can I at least say goodbye today?"
"If you want him dead by tomorrow morning,sure."
I wrote down my clauses and stared up,knowing there was something I was forgetting.
She was staring keenly at me as I did.
What else did I want to insert?
I looked at her,her perfect plump lips–her eyes,and the form fitting dress that accentuated her already sensual build.
Blood rushed to my member and I remembered instantly. I wanted to insert my–
"About the no sex clause."I began. "I would never force myself upon you,but if you wish–"
"I shall not wish–"
"But if you do,I'll be more than happy to comply and fulfill my duties as your husband."
"Are you ready to sign or not?"
I read through the contract carefully,twice and without second thought,scribbled my signature in agreement.
She held back a smile as she received the paper.
"Finally,"she muttered.
*Evangeline's POV*
"I thought we'd be here all day."
"And leave the expectant guests waiting for us to reach a conclusion,"he continued. "Why didn't I think of that?"
Sometimes I wonder how Vincenzo's brain mechanism works and other times,when he is conversing his thoughts like this…I still wonder how his brain mechanism works.
"It was lovely doing business with you."I baited,arranging the paper.
"Likewise,except I'm being sincere," he replied. "Also,I really like your dress."
I gave him a cheeky smile and turned to leave but his fingers dug under the corset lace on my chest,dangerously situated at the middle of my breasts.
I thank God for fabrics but this one is perpetually useless as I can feel every inch of skin his finger had,heating up the small, vulnerable opening between my breasts.
I gasped for air and in shock as I watched his single finger lift me up to him,my feet almost dangling off the ground.
"Vincenzo!"I called,my head becoming light from the mere proximity of him.
"You wrote the rules of the contract yourself,you should have known wearing black was a public spectacle,"
"You hadn't signed the contract yet."I managed,forcing myself to not avert my gaze to other parts of his face that were just a kiss away.
"The next time I have to tolerate this,you will be severely punished,are we clear?"
My nipples clenched and my breath was beginning to get shallow,but I still had a bit of defiance to give.
"As long as you keep your end of the deal-"
I was pulled even closer,now sharing a single breath,all my defiance evaporated with my last full respiration.
"I expected a yes."
My eyes flicked at his lips and I shut them in cold humiliating defeat.
"Yes."
A smirk,a cocky smirk lifts his lips and gently rests me back on the floor.
"Good girl."
As if on que the side door swung open and two men stood at the door. The dark haired one seemed rather uneasy,the dirty blonde guy–I was sure I had seen at my disowning announcement was geeky and barely able to hide his smile.
"We apologise for the interruption,"he says.
"Your father wants to know if there is still going to be a wedding."The dark haired one asks.
Vincenzo stared at me and I nodded a yes.
And just like that,a few moments later,I was on my knees in front of the pope as he prayed for our marriage and made us repeat and pledge our lives to each other.
"You may now kiss the bride."
I glanced at Vincenzo in quiet anticipation that I tried to conceal.
It's not my fault,really–and it's not because I want to kiss him either.
I just wanted to know if his reputation with women was actually as they say.
I rebuke my own head for a minute and focus.
This was it. The deal was sealed in ink,now it would be sealed in flesh.
Vincenzo didn't hesitate. He didn't offer a gentle, husbandly peck for the audience.
No.
A short kiss for the business' sake?
No.
He pulled me by my waist and cupped the back of my neck, his thumb pressing into the sensitive skin behind my ear, and pulled me to his mouth.
My heart might have as well exploded in my chest as our lips made contact,my body,despite my better judgement,leaned into him,walking far past mere curiosity and into the dark alleys of want,of desperate,newly unraveled need.
He started slowly,deceptively slow,guiding me to open my mouth as I accepted his tongue.
And God save me,he stole my soul then.
He kissed me like he was starving and wanted to devour me whole,it was possessive, and entirely inappropriate for a cathedral.
Just as I felt my knees beginning to buckle, he nipped my bottom lip. Hard. A sharp, stinging bite that made me gasp into his mouth.
He pulled back just an inch, his eyes dark with a triumph that made my blood boil. "Till death, Santarella," he murmured, loud enough only for me to hear. "And I don't plan on dying anytime soon."
"Ladies and gentlemen."The pope began jovially as we faced the congregation with his hand still on my hip,and sting of him still on my lap.
"I present to you Mr. and Mrs. Del Toro."