A powerful arm slid over my stomach and pulled me into his bare chest, his head dipping to kiss my exposed neck. He sucked the skin as he bunched the dress in his grasp, treating the designer dress like a dirty rag. His hand moved up and cupped my ass, his breaths moving straight to my ear.

I closed my eyes and felt my insides melt.

He whispered into my ear, “You will give me strong sons. You will give me beautiful daughters. You will be my one and only until death takes me. My countess.” His hand pulled down the zipper until the dress came apart and slid to my feet. His kisses turned more heated, his hand dipped into the front of my panties and rubbed my clit as he devoured me, his lips growing harder, more aggressive.

I held on to his arm for balance and writhed at his touch, my hips rocking to press into his fingertips because it felt so damn good.

He brought me to the edge before he removed his fingers.

I exhaled in frustration, but I knew he only stopped because he could give it to me better than that.

We made it to the bed, his body crowding me on the mattress, and after my thighs were separated by his narrow hips, he slid inside me, eyes on me, possessing me with more than just his touch, but his mind, body, and soul.

With his eyes on me, he made love to me.

Over and over.

Telling me he loved me. I was his one and only. Till death do us part.

My eyes opened to a view of the windows.

Sunlight didn’t break through the gaps in the curtains like every other morning.

Because it was noon.

I was immediately aware of my left hand because of the brand-new weight I’d carry for the rest of my life. My hand lifted to my face, and I looked at the oval-shaped diamond, the rock that was so big you wouldn’t be able to miss it if it fell on the ground. It shone in the light, a million little prisms with every slight movement I made.

The man who gave it to me was still asleep.

He was on his back, sprawled out and taking up most of the bed, his hand stretched out to me like it’d been on my stomach at some point during the night. Gentle breaths filled and depleted his lungs. The sheets were bunched at his waist, as if he’d gotten warm sometime during the night. He was a behemoth of a man, giving more protection than an automatic weapon.

I stared for a while, taking in the sight of the man I would marry.

My fiancé.

Guilt pulled at my stomach—but not for the reason it should.