Accidental Bride by Cristina Lollabrigida

ChapterFourteen

The police commissionerdiscussed Chicago’s current crime rates. Alessandra struggled to pay attention to his words because she was painfully aware of the fire trailing across her upper arm caused by Drake’s fingers. The change in his demeanor was enough to give her whiplash, but when their eyes met, his smile gave her hope.

He was upset earlier when she told Jenny they were still moving forward with the divorce. Alessandra hoped they could leave this marriage with their dignity intact. But he didn’t know about Luca’s threat. She planned to tell him the truth after the gala.

The final speaker of the evening was the mayor herself, whose platform for election was a champion for women’s and children’s rights. She shared her experiences from her time in the public defender’s office due to underfunding and overwhelming caseloads.

“Thank you for your contributions this evening. It’s you that makes this gala a success every year. Please enjoy the remainder of your evening. The bar and dance floor are now open.”

Drake stood and extended his hand to Alessandra. “May I have this dance, bella?”

She let him pull her to the dance floor. The chandelier cast a warm romantic glow over them. The night was shaping up to be something special. The walls between them were crumbling, and it felt good to not be so defensive.

Drake wound an arm around her waist and pulled her close. They swayed to the music. Alessandra would forever remember the soft instrumental strains of Right Here Waiting as their song.

“I’m sorry it took this long for our first dance,” Drake said.

“It wasn’t an ideal wedding day for either of us,” she said softly.

“Would you like to renew our vows one day? We can have a ceremony that means something to us and a grand reception like this with our friends and family celebrating us.” The sincerity in Drake’s voice shocked her. She never expected him to ask such a question.

“Is that something you’d want, Drake?”

His muscular shoulder shrugged beneath her hand. Their eyes met, and Drake’s eyes shone with an emotion Alessandra couldn’t name. Her eyes fluttered as he brushed a gentle hand across her cheek.

“Why did you marry me if you knew I wasn’t your fiancée?” Alessandra asked.

Drake’s jaw clenched as he gazed into a far corner of the room. She placed her hand on his stubbly cheek and carefully turned his head to face her. The truthfulness of his answer could change the course of their short-lived marriage.

“Riley and I were a smart match, as they say. Both of our families come from old money. My application for the U.S. attorney’s office put me under massive scrutiny. A billionaire playboy or someone with devious sexual proclivities would tarnish the position. They wanted a hometown hero, someone relatable to the people. Riley and I dated in high school, and our mothers hoped we would one day get married. But marriage wasn’t in my plans.

“Breaking up was the right thing for us. Last year I ran into Riley at a gala, and we were both single. Our mothers saw it as the perfect opportunity to set us up again. After a few dates, I proposed.

“Riley received a job offer in Paris and couldn’t pass it up. I said she could move her belongings into my apartment so she didn’t have to rent a storage unit. We hired a wedding planner to handle all the details, and you know the rest.”

Alessandra knew there was more, but Drake sighed and became quiet. He stepped back and twirled her before pulling her even closer. This time Alessandra didn’t resist laying her head against Drake’s chest. She inhaled his woodsy cologne and allowed herself to get lost in the moment.

As the song ended, Drake leaned down and kissed her softly. They clung together, prolonging the moment. Her heart broke because she knew their marriage had an expiration date.

“I had a nice time tonight. Thank you for bringing me here.”

* * *

The early morningsun peeked through the curtains, and Alessandra stretched with a groan. She wasn’t ready for her pleasant dreams to end. Lying against Drake’s silk sheets, she recounted their night.

After coming home from the gala, they’d torn each other’s clothes off in the foyer, and Drake had taken her against the door, making it shudder with each rough thrust. They’d stumbled into the living room, where he had bent Alessandra over the back of the sofa. She’d ridden him in the hallway before they’d finally made it to his bedroom, where Drake had made love to her, leaving kisses instead of bites along her neck and chest.

Tears spilled from her eyes when they peaked together, and Drake had kissed them away. He held her as she cried, unable to articulate her feelings. Drake was like a wild beast, rough and passionate, but it was in those peaceful moments where they shared true intimacy that Alessandra knew he held the power to break her heart.

They fell asleep, tangled in the sheets and each other’s arms. Alessandra watched the sinewy back of the naked man still sleeping beside her rise and fall. She attempted to quietly crawl out of bed, needing a shower before visiting her brother later in the day.

“Where do you think you’re going, wife?” Drake’s groggy voice greeted her.

“I have to start getting ready. I’m sorry if I woke you.”

Drake’s eyes roamed Alessandra’s naked body, and his desire grew beneath the sheets, offering her a promise of morning fun. Her body felt tingly all over, even though she was already sore.

She quirked her brow and purred, “Are you pitching a tent, or are you happy to see me?”

“Watch your tone, bella, or I’ll shove my cock in your pretty little mouth and teach it a lesson.”

“Make me, husband,” she challenged.

Drake growled and leapt off the bed. Alessandra squealed and ran for the doorway. He caught her by the hips just as she entered the hall. He pulled a hand back and gave her ass a sharp slap. She cried out as it added to her excitement.

“Your ass is perfect, Alessandra. It colors beautifully beneath my palm. Do you enjoy being spanked? Is that why you act like a brat?”

He squeezed and rubbed her cheek as he spoke. She quivered against him, wanting more. Afraid to trust her own voice, she nodded.

His hand made contact again with a thwack. “Use your words.”

“Yes, sir.”

She moaned as his fingers moved to the apex between her thighs. Teasing touches brushed through her wetness slowly but didn’t dip inside. Her hips moved in an attempt to draw friction, but he pulled away.

“Thank you for being honest with me. You should shower now; you don’t want to be late. Do you want me to tell you what I’ll do as I shower alone?”

She gulped and nodded.

“I’m going to jerk my cock thinking about your luscious ass. When I come, I’m going to imagine painting your body with it. Do you want me to use my finger and draw a big D on your chest? Do you want to be branded with my hot sticky cum?”

Alessandra’s core clenched at Drake’s depraved words. She whimpered, wanting to beg him to take her right there. His hands massaged her breasts, rolling her nipples between his thumb and finger.

“Drake… please…”

“It’s okay, bella. You have my permission to make yourself come in the shower. Do you feel how hard I am just thinking about you? I want you to caress your soapy breasts and reach your other hand between your legs, parting your pussy lips as you play with yourself.” Drake demonstrated, stroking her with his hands as he sucked her ear lobe into his mouth. “Will you do it for me, Alessandra? Will you be rough, pretending it’s my fingers buried deep inside you? How many will you use?”

Drake’s words scrambled Alessandra’s brain, and she trembled with need. Wetness dripped down her thigh as she teetered on the edge and would splinter any moment. Drake’s hand came down again, and she screamed.

“Please, Drake. I need to come,” she sobbed.

“Time for your shower. Don’t forget to thank me when you come.”

Alessandra did just that, relishing in the ownership Drake took of her body as she replayed the scene in the hallway. She touched herself, pretending it was her husband’s fingers bringing her pleasure. His hard cock pressed against her ass as she leaned into his muscular chest. Her eyes fluttered shut when his breath ghosted across her skin, gliding along her neck and collarbone.

When Alessandra entered the kitchen, Drake approached her with a steaming cup of coffee. Their eyes locked as their fingers brushed.

“Thank you. This is just what I need after my hot shower.”

“You look nice. How are you feeling?”

Alessandra’s dressed-down appearance was nothing compared to Drake’s navy suit.

“I’m not going to lie. Considering what happened in court, I’m a little nervous about seeing my brother.”

“It’s not your fault, Alessandra. He’ll forgive you because he loves you. I’m in the office today, so I’ll have my phone if you need anything. I’ll see you later.”

Drake’s support meant a lot to her. They’d made progress in their relationship, but Alessandra knew once she dropped Luca’s threat, things would spiral again.

“Drake, there’s something we need to discuss. Can we talk tonight?”

“Of course. Let’s have dinner together. I really have to run now, dolcezza,” Drake said, glancing at his watch.

He leaned across the counter and kissed Alessandra’s forehead quickly before heading out the door.

Alessandra sighed as she finished her cup of coffee, alone with her thoughts.