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In the past couple of years when Jackson had evaded all talk of their wedding with such skilled precision, she hadn’t iht

So with everything that had gone sideways in her life, the fact that she was drunk was the least disconcerting thing about the night

Not that she had planned it that way

She had signed the agreeushed like a woun to hurt She had tried not to flinch and betray the tre need she felt when he touched his soft, hot mouth to hers

Not once during the day had she behaved in a wifely manner whatsoever

So she had no idea what it was that had turned StefanUnless, it was the very sight of her wearing his ring

With hi an icy scorn from every pore at her side wherever she turned or whoever she looked at all evening, she had drunk her first glass of cha any food first

Of course, she had devoured her cake—which sadly was the high point of her wedding day, but by then she had already had a buzz Which made it all too easy to reach for the second one

It had o

Unafraid, uncaring and free

And because she had loved being that old Clio again, even if it was the alcohol, she had drunk two raine that was sure to arrive first thing tomorrow hadn’t stopped her

She had thoroughly enjoyed dancing with Rocco and Christian, and Zayed flirting with her He had done it out of pity because her very real husband couldn’t even fake a smile, much less pretend to be besotted Still, she had enjoyed it

The ht, however, was the solid hard ainst with utht now The scent of his aftershave—lime—teased her nostrils

But she didn’t want to be held like that, she didn’t want him to suffer her company as if he was cursed to do it

Just then, the elevator rocked

Giving up any effort at a pretense, Clio sighed and clutched hihter

Then she felt it h that had his chest ru her eyes open, Clio dared a look at him