The Billionaire's Dare: My Secret Husband

quid courage that felt more like poison. The music in the private VIP box at the Omnia was deafening, a bass that ra

d enclosure. In the corner, shado

probably cost more than the tuition Francis paid for her art school. He held a tumbler of amber liquid, his fingers long and pale against the glass.

h smelled like peppermint and vodka. "Go on, Calla. You've been compl

la's comfortable, caged life-afloat. He was technically Francis's uncle, though only ten years older than his nephew. To Calla, he had

hit her brain with a di

e," Call

the back of the sofa, took a breath that tasted of re

ist didn't even look up, but his index finger lifted off the glass

ped against his. She leaned down, planting her hands on his thighs to

ooke

ing into a well. There was no surprise in them

st his lapel. "Uncle," she whispered, the word heavy and c

um out of the room. The music fade

ble. The clink of crystal against m

s on his legs. Then h

e," he

rumble, a tectonic s

nswer, Christ stood up. The movement was fluid, predato

r wrist. His grip was iron. It wasn't a

z flickering with a sudden sho

her behind him like a doll. Gemma's jaw dropped in the background, b

rs. His stride was long; Calla had to half-run to ke

re hurting me

e door and the desert heat hit them instantly. A black

. The partition was already up. He slid in next to her, filli

he intercom. "The Cha

adrenaline fading back into a hazy confusion

ad lolling against the window. "We

Christ's voice was r

a pink neon sign that buzzed like a dyin

rumpled, but when Christ produced a black Amex card, th

ity. Calla stood at the altar, swaying slightly. Ch

was a diamond solitaire, far too big, far too ex

t slide the ring on gently. He pushed it past her knuckle

la..." the p

s in a sitcom. This was the best prank eve

you, C

ng at the joke. He was staring at her with that same inte

d

hey were the sound of a

a flourish, the pen slipping in her sweaty fingers. He sig

once, and placed it inside his ja

the sweat on Calla's neck. A shiver racked her body. The alcohol was star

ond caught the neon light, flashing r

ghtly. "Fun's over. That was... wild. Let

r at the ring. I

hand. He pressed her fingers

he com

sign reflected in his eyes, mak

rushed the shell of her ear. The heat of his breath ma