Falling in Love with my Husband

“Mr. Bianchi, there’s a young lady at reception insisting on seeing you. She claims she’s…your wife?” The receptionist’s voice over the phone sounded genuinely puzzled. “Let her up,” Luke replied, strolling to the entry mirror and adjusting his hair, which didn’t need any fixing. He hadn’t expected his fake wife to show up so soon, but her timing was perfect. The French police were investigating him and had recently asked about his supposed marriage. Moments later, he heard a gentle knock on the door. “It’s open,” he called. The deep, confident tone of his voice sent an unexpected warmth through her, leaving her stomach fluttering. What is going on? she thought, surprised that anyone besides her boyfriend could have such an effect on her. Get a grip, she scolded herself, he’s probably some older, unattractive guy anyway. Just then, the door opened abruptly, almost jerking out of her hand. “Hello, wifey,” Luke greeted her with a smile, only to be met with her annoyed glare. “If you’re here for more money, forget it,” he said as she strode past him into the hotel room. “I’m not the one who entered into this ridiculous marriage,” she replied, a bit flustered, taken aback by his youth and striking looks. “And I’m here to demand a divorce!” “That’s not what the two money transfers this month would suggest,” Luke chuckled, his eyes gleaming with amusement. Her scent was captivating, but that was the only thing different from the woman he’d married a month ago. “That would be my sister,” Gemma replied, her voice catching. “My twin sister.” “So, you are...?” Luke prompted, intrigued and wondering what story she’d spin to escape a marriage he needed more than she realized. Gemma stood still for a moment, the sudden shift in the conversation catching her off guard. She had expected Luke to be some sleazy, older businessman, but the man in front of her was nothing like she had imagined. He was younger, far more attractive than she’d anticipated, and his sharp gaze made her feel vulnerable in a way she didn’t want to admit. She shook off the feeling, focusing on the task at hand. “I’m not here to play games,” she said, her voice steady. “I’m here because this situation is ridiculous. You’ve been paying my sister, not me, to pretend to be your wife. But I’ve had enough.” Luke’s lips curled into a half-smile, the kind that suggested he was enjoying this far more than he should. “You’re here to ‘fix’ it, huh? How do you plan on doing that? What, you think you can just walk in here, make demands, and everything will change?” He took a step toward her, his tone turning almost mocking. “That’s not how it works, sweetheart.” Gemma clenched her jaw, irritated by the way he was speaking to her, but she stood her ground. “This whole thing has gone far enough. I don’t care what deal you made with my sister. I’m here to end it.” Luke tilted his head slightly, as if studying her, then casually leaned against the doorframe. His gaze drifted over her, lingering a little too long, and she felt a flare of heat rush to her cheeks. “End it? You’re not the one in charge here, Gemma,” he said softly, his eyes never leaving hers. “You came here for a reason. But you’re not going to change anything with a tantrum.” Luke raised an eyebrow, the amusement in his eyes flickering. “I see. So, what, you think you can fix this by what? Yelling at me? Getting all high and mighty?” He took another step closer, and she instinctively took one back, her heart racing at the proximity. She swallowed, trying to ignore the flutter of nervousness stirring in her stomach. “I am engaged to be married to the love of my life but can't do that until we are divorced.” Luke’s expression shifted, and for a moment, there was a flicker of something else in his eyes—something colder, darker. He closed the distance between them in two strides, and she found herself caught in his gaze. His voice dropped, almost too quiet, “You’re underestimating me. I didn’t just set up this marriage for kicks, Gemma. And you won’t be the one to undo it.” The silence between them stretched, thick and charged. Gemma couldn’t decide if she wanted to step forward and challenge him or run out of the room as fast as her legs would carry her. She had come here with one purpose: to put an end to this fake marriage. But the tension in the air was palpable, and something about Luke was making her question everything. He was dangerous, but there was something about him—something about the way he spoke, the way he made her feel—that made her want to stay and confront him head-on. Gemma’s pulse raced as Luke’s presence seemed to fill the room, his proximity unsettling and undeniably magnetic. She couldn’t deny the truth to herself any longer—Luke was far more attractive than she’d ever imagined. His sharp jawline, piercing eyes, and the confident, almost dangerous aura he exuded made her heart race in a way that no one else, not even her fiancé Shaun, ever had. But that was just it, wasn’t it? She was engaged to Shaun. He was the man she was supposed to love, to spend her life with. So why, why was she standing here, caught in the gravitational pull of Luke’s gaze, feeling an undeniable heat stir in her chest? The thought unsettled her. She squeezed her eyes shut for a moment, willing herself to think straight. I’m with Shaun, she reminded herself. I’m not here to fall for this guy, not some stranger who’s been using my sister for a monthly payment. But no matter how hard she tried to push the thought aside, the way Luke made her feel was impossible to ignore. Her breath hitched when he stepped even closer, his commanding presence making her feel more vulnerable than she cared to admit. “I don’t have time for this, Luke,” she muttered, trying to regain some semblance of control over the situation. “I’m here to find my sister and get this over with.” She attempted to move past him, but his hand shot out, catching her by the arm with a force she wasn’t prepared for. Her body froze at the firm grip, her heart skipping a beat as his fingers dug into her skin. The heat of his touch seemed to burn through her sleeve, and her breath caught in her throat. “I don’t think you’re going anywhere just yet, Gemma,” Luke said, his voice low and steady, carrying a dangerous edge. “First, we’ll find your sister. I need this marriage for five years, and you’re not leaving until we sort this out.” Her gaze flickered down to his hand still wrapped around her arm, then up to his eyes. There was no mistaking the authority in his tone, the way his eyes held her captive. He wasn’t letting her go—not physically, and certainly not mentally. Her heart pounded in her chest, but something in the way he spoke made her hesitate. She wasn’t sure what it was—maybe it was the fact that she wasn’t sure she had the strength to fight him, or maybe it was the way his grip felt too powerful, too confident, to challenge. “I don’t want anything to do with this anymore,” she said, her voice trembling despite her attempt to sound firm. “Let me go.” Luke’s grip tightened for a moment before he released her, but he didn’t back away. Instead, he stepped in closer, his face inches from hers. His breath was warm against her skin, and she could feel the tension between them like a live wire. “You think you can just walk out of here like it’s over?” he murmured, his voice laced with an unspoken promise. “You’re not getting out of this, Gemma. You’re not leaving until I get what I need, and you’ll help me whether you like it or not.” Her heart fluttered, caught between the anger of being controlled and the undeniable pull of something else—something dangerous and intoxicating. She opened her mouth to protest, but the words caught in her throat, as though something inside her wanted to listen, to understand where this was going. But the logical part of her mind was still screaming. She needed to leave. She needed to find her sister and end this mess. “I will find her,” she finally said, her voice steadier now, even as her thoughts raced. “And when I do, you’re done with me.” Luke smirked, a glint of something cold in his eyes. “We’ll see about that.” With a final, lingering glance, he stepped aside, but the air between them remained thick with tension. Gemma wasn’t sure what she was walking into, but she was certain of one thing—she had no idea just how deep into this mess she was about to fall.