THE BRIDE - By Shaxee

Chapter 18 

Make the most of the tonight and worry about it all tomorrow. –Unknown

Marco Orsini’s POV

I am patiently waiting for Francesca in the receiving area of the mansion owned by Nikos Pallis. I glanced at my wristwatch we only have ten minutes or else we’re going to be late. I haven’t seen her since I gave her my credit card after our disastrous lunch in town.
“I’m ready.”

“About time—” I looked at the grand staircase where Francesca was slowly descending, my eyes narrowed like glacier ice. “—what the bloody hell are you wearing?”
“A dinner dress.” The maddening woman answered dryly, her eyes sparked with defiance in their depth. “You told me to find a gown so we can go to the dinner party thrown by the wealthy Russian businessman.” “But that damn thing is immoral!” I practically shouted. She was the most aggravating woman I had ever met. I am starting to have a headache.
 “Immoral?” She laughed humorlessly as she now stood in front of me. “I assure you, Signore. This dress is tame compared to the dress your ex-mistress wore over lunch.”

Damn right it is, I thought furiously.
She bought a cobalt long dress that showed more skin than I like. The dress shows each side of her waist that accentuated her sexy figure and her shapely legs.
It’s also studded with sequins at the center that draw attention to her cleavage. But the more damaging part of the dress was the back.
Dio!
It was bare down to the deep of her spine and you could see that she isn’t wearing a bra.
What madness had possessed Francesca to wear this evil dress?

She presented me my credit card with a cat smile on her beautiful face. “I had fun shopping. Thank you.” “Change.” I said abruptly.
“Pardon?”
“I said…” I took a deep breath, soothing my anger. If I didn’t tame my fury, some veins in my head will explode. “…change your vile dress. I don’t like it.”
“You don’t?” Francesca asked so innocently that I almost believed. She made a slow twirl to give me a good view of her bare-back, her rear mold perfectly at the fabric. My hands itched to touch it. “But the saleslady said it’s perfect for me.”
“The saleslady will say anything to sell.” I reasoned out, glaring at her. “Did you even wear an underwear underneath?”
She smiled provocatively. “Yes. A thong.”

Heat flared inside me. I could almost imagine it. Is it a silk or lace?
“Change…” I repeated my command earlier removing the erotic image from my brain.
“I can’t.” Her eyes twinkled with laughter. “We’re almost late. Besides, this is the only dress I bought—apart from this pouch, a couple of underwear, few days clothes, sandals, heels, ladies bag and sunglasses.”
I couldn’t believe what I was hearing. “You bought an entire ensemble yet you only bought one disturbing dress?”
“I thought you would like it.” She frowned, looking at her corrupt dress. “I know that women you usually associate with wear dresses like this.”
“You are different.” I said irritably. I am debating if I should cancel our trip tonight. I officially had a headache thanks to her.
“Why?” She had the gut to ask.

If I didn’t know better I would think she was toying with me. “When it comes to you…” I eyed her sexy figure. “…everything should be covered from your shoulder to your knees.”
“That’s old-fashioned.” Francesca raised her eyebrows upward. “I didn’t know you are conservative, Marco.”
I looked away from her sharp eyes. “I’m not.”
“Whatever you say.” She muttered mischievously. “Are we going to argue here more or get going? We are almost late.”
I took a deep breath. Praying to the Almighty that he will give me strength from preventing myself from killing every man who will look at this woman at the party. “Move an inch from my side tonight and you will find yourself being thrown in the water.”

The maddening woman merely grinned in my direction. You can survive this night, I told myself confidently. I certainly hope so.
I realized as soon as we boarded the yacht that I was too optimistic on our way here.
The moment we stepped on the deck, all male eyes fixed on Francesca.
I want to do something vicious. I had never felt the urge to kill every male species before but I am sure as hell I want to try it tonight.
Like the guy near the railing of the yacht, if he didn’t avert his gaze from Francesca’s cleavage, I will throw his worthless life in the sea so sharks can devour him.

This is all Francesca’s fault. She reduced me to be murderous tonight. If she hadn’t bought this wicked dress I would not have this dilemma. I tightened my grip on her bare waist. I will never release her even an inch tonight. I sighed silently.
I am a modern man as modern as any Italian man would claim.

Before I didn’t care what my mistresses would wear during parties like this even if they were half-naked but tonight Francesca Marcolini forced me to reevaluate myself.
It seems that I am not a modern man as I like to think. I glanced at the woman in my arms. I am again sorely tempted to offer my dinner jacket to her but then again, she will just accuse me of being possessive of her. I just don’t want every male inside this yacht mentally undressing her. I am not possessive man…

“Aren’t you enjoying the party?” She dragged me out of my dark thoughts. “You look like a man in pain.”
“I am in pain.” I admitted, glaring at her. This is her fault, I am now starting to feel fire in my groin.
“Here,” She said wickedly, picking two glass flutes of champagne from the passing waiter. “You just need a drink.”
“Aren’t you cold?” I asked, taking her offered glass. I am not really comfortable with her outfit. Once we get home I will burn this dress.
“I’m fine.” Francesca answered, her eyes glittered with rebelliousness.
She’s enjoying this thing more than she should. I will make her pay for this once we arrived at the mansion. “The atmosphere here on the deck is warm.”

“Orsini,” Our host greeted with Anastasia on his arms. “I am so glad you came.” I frowned while I acknowledge them.
Looking at Anastasia now she also wore a show-stopping red dress that revealed much cleavage and the cut at the center deep down to her navel. Her breast practically wants to pop-out. She obviously wanted to entice every guy in this party.
Francesca’s dress looks tamer compared to her. When we were together she always wore dresses like this to tempt me. But I never felt jealous when other men looked at her.
I smugly believed that it was my privilege to bed any woman I wanted.
So why now Francesca Marcolini wore a revealing outfit did I want to do something violent to every guy who looked at her?

“Thank you for inviting us, sir.” Francesca filled the silence.
It seems that the Russian man hadn’t expected that Francesca will talk to him firsthand. He might think that she’s one of those thickheaded beauties like the woman in his arms.
“Of course,” Mikhail Voronov said after awhile, he picked up Francesca’s hand and kissed it.
His damned eyes stay on Francesca’s cleavage longer than necessary. “Beautiful lady.”
I am sorely tempted to slug this bastard but Francesca clamped the back of my dinner jacket tightly giving me a warning.

“Hello, Marco.” Anastasia said in a low voice, her eyes glowed with seduction.
Looking at her now, I wonder what I had ever seen in her when I made her my mistress for two months. Thank God, I discarded her quickly. She’s one of those gold-diggers that hopped to a rich man one after another.
If she thought that I will ask her to be my mistress again she’s deluding herself. I have had enough with the likes of her in my lifetime.

A dreamy song played in the background. “Dance with me, Marco.” Anastasia invited sexily.
“Good idea.” I said smiling in her direction, she beamed back.
“Let’s dance.” I looked down at Francesca. “Come, darling. I want a dance from my fiancée.”
The look on Anastasia’s face was priceless, I suddenly wanted to laugh as I drew the widow into my arms for a dance.
 
“What are you doing?” Francesca hissed, when we joined the other guests for a dance.
I wickedly drew her as close as possible to my body. My hips to her pelvis, my chest to her soft breasts our lips were only inches apart. I could feel the heat of her body.
“Dancing,” I replied silkily, trapping her to my body when she tried to give distance to us. I placed my hand onto her bare spine. “What did I tell you about you moving an inch from my side?”
“You are being ridiculous.” Her eyes snapped with fire. “You are giving these people something to talk about.”

I gave her my most charming smile. “Not a bad idea.” I whispered softly. “Let’s give them some decadent scene that they will gossip about.”
I crushed my mouth to her sweet lips and kissed her hard and deeply in the middle of the dance floor.
She is mine, I thought silently while kissing her senseless. Wordlessly telling this crowd about my claim on this woman.
I will not let anyone have her.

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