Substitute Marriage: The Billionaire's Hidden Queen

abric digging into her skin. She sat frozen on the edge of the king-sized bed

the leather mattress,

s doorkn

Her spine snapped straight. The air t

r pushe

ed the space instantly. The sheer physical weight of him made Cassie's leg muscles

nd him and push

harp metallic sound ech

ed against her ribs,

deliberate, silent against the thick Persian rug

de of her cheek unt

tall, looking down with dark eyes that he

herself to meet his gaze. Her stoma

s caught the edge of her veil an

-effects makeup-the angry red burn scars covering the l

houlders braced for the explosion of

s tick

le

e of breath. N

pulled her

ane's. No fear. No revulsion. Hi

ed fake scars on her cheek. The intensi

g in the quiet room. She turned her head,

leane

s. Warm breath, laced with mint,

. Her chest heaved ag

ed onto the ba

n. The fine hairs on her arms stood straigh

mall, crescent-shaped birthmark hidden just below he

thought he was positionin

Dane's eyes. His Adam's ap

ating from him

took over. She shoved both

idn't resist the push. He let his hand dro

ing the collar of her dress and pulling it high to cover

Dane's mouth t

and walked toward the crys

assie's chest loosened a fraction. She dragged in a shallow breath,

inked into a

ed the glass and downed the whiskey in one smooth swal

throat felt l

th a thud. He turned his head, l

His voice was a lo

ds tightened their de

l cords tight and dry. "I

single finger,

he stated, his tone leaving no room for arg

voice hit her like a physica

d cheek. "Are you blind? Does this not disg

t his temple, his unnervingly calm ex

them in two long strides. His s

g. Her back pressed har

raced the jagged edge of the fake scar on her cheek

beat. Cold sweat broke

red. His deep voice slipped into

h to argue, but the wo

thing in his eyes. A deep, aching nos

ane straightened. The vulnerab

ger toward the froste

wer.

mmand left her no room to

lead. She grabbed handfuls of her heav

yes burning into her

he bathroom and sl

twisted the lock. The deadbolt sl

l she hit the tile floor, pulling her knees to her chest. She gasped for