1927: Redemption

You are mine!

“One day you will kiss a man you can't breathe without, and find that breath is of little consequence.”

-Karen Marie Moning

22 DECEMBER 2021- San Juan, PUERTO RICO

“I,” repeated very slowly and clearly, “am your fiancé?”

Adeline do not believe she had ever managed to make a voice sound this deadly dangerous before, she was like a female alpha with fire in her belly! He did not seem to notice or care, but simply looked at her with those cool, dark eyes of his.

“I told you we have to stay low.”

“Low!” Her voice sounded like a high pitch tone for just a moment. “If I murder you and hang your body from the balcony, will that be staying low?”

“You will do nothing of the kind. You are very happy and excited to murder anyone.”

“Excited?”

Was he on drugs?

“Of course you are,” he informs her in a tone as if he were explaining that one plus one made two. “Extremely happy, after all, you are on an exotic vacation with the man of your dreams.”

“Exotic Vacation?”

For a moment she did not seem able to do anything but incredulously repeat his last words. She should have thrown something at him, or slapped him, but all she could do was stare open-mouthed.

On your exotic vacation… you are on your exotic vacation with him…

“Yes,” he told her, his extremely attractive face about as emotional as a slab of granite. “We have what I believe is commonly referred to as a ‘whirlwind romance’. Losing much of your sanity in the process, we fell passionately in love and will get married in June in London to fulfill your dream of a ‘June Wedding’. Before that we want to be a wasteful and completely irresponsible couple who actually went so far as to spend money on a frivolous pleasure trip called a exotic vacation.”

“You have been planning this all along.” She whispered. “Even Ace knew about this- you leaving the house, Ace’s accident, it was all a part of your plan!”

“Oh yes.”

“Why? Why this damn charade?”

He fixed her with his ice-cold eyes. “Simple. You and I both know that the agents of Archer are watching you. They probably have been given your description, and ours, too. No matter how we disguise- we will be hunted down. Even if you arrive as an old lady, Archer will find out who you are sooner or later. He knows you too well. And precisely because he knows you well, there is only one thing he will never expect: you arrive at Bermuda amidst cyclone warnings and lose everything you have acquired till now, also in the company of a man .”

He took a step toward her, his eyes boring into her.

“Especially,” he continued, his voice dropping to a murmur, “a man you are in love with.” Raising his hand, he stroked a finger down her cheek, once.

Her heart stopped beating. Really, honestly, it did! Then it started up again, at twice its usual pace, doing its best to jump right out of her chest.

Love?

Suddenly, she realised how very, very close he was standing and that too without his usual mask. His dark eyes were wide and stormy as the sea. It felt as if Adeline could fall right into them, and this time, she would not escape drowning, she would not want to.

Dark forest green eyes, deep eyes. Loving eyes?

Could it really be? Her skin was suddenly tingling all over, the air crackling with expectation.

A man she was in love with…

“So,” he told her, stepping back, his tone suddenly cold again. “You see why we have to pretend to feel this emotion towards each other, don’t you?”

Her heart screeched to an abrupt halt.

This had to be a kind of sick joke!

Pretend?

Of course, Adeline! This was all part of his interest! Why the hell would you think that he would ever be interested in you? And, more to the point, why would you feel so disappointed that he is not?

Firstly, why was Adeline even thinking about him being interested in her on not? Because after a while she would be leaving him in 2021 and when she would be back or if she would be back, he would not be here anymore.

Unless, she would….

Waving off unnecessary thoughts. “Tell me,” she ground out between clenched teeth, “that you are not serious!”

Clocking his head. “Have I ever shown you my face before?”

“No.”

“There you are. I have explained my plan to you, and the reasons behind it. We have to hide from Archer’s agent until our last destination attains safe weather. So, for now, to anyone who asks, we are engaged, and soon to get married in London.”

“Why a June wedding?”

“It’s a dream of every girl to have a nice weather wedding.”

“But…but…” she spluttered. “I can’t pretend to be your fiancé.”

He seemed surprised by this. “Why not? All you need to do is wear a ring.”

“That’s not what I meant, darn it! I mean I can’t pretend to be in love with you!”

“Why?”

Adeline stared at him in disbelief. Was he serious? God, why was she asking herself that? He was William the beast! Of course he was serious! He was also completely and utterly nuts if he thought she was going along with this!

“Apart from the fact that you tricked me into this without asking my permission first?”

Nodding, he was clearly impatient. “Yes, apart from that, of course.”

Her hands twitched, itching to reach for his neck and twist in an upsetting manner.

Breathe, Adeline! Breathe deeply, in and out, slowly!

“Well?” He demanded, his golden gaze raking over her as if they were back at her house in Crestview and she was persisting him to take his face mask off. “Why can’t you pretend to be utterly and deliriously in love with me? It should not be hard. I am me, after all.”

Her mouth dropped open. The arrogant son of a …! “Why? Easy! Because…. Because…”

Adeline hesitated.

What the hell?! It was not that easy, after all. Why exactly could not she pretend to be in love with him? It would not have been a problem if she were asked to pretend like a male. But, a fiancé- more specifically his fiancé. Assuming his name or not, he was still him. And she was well….

His eyes narrowed a fraction. “Why?” He demanded the answer for the third time and Adeline could tell from his tone, very last tone. There was thunder threatening in his voice.

“Because… because you didn’t involve me in the plan.”

He shrugged. “Irrelevant.”

“Because you are way older than me.”

“Also irrelevant. Nobody can pinpoint my age, I’m technically four or five years older than you, which is fine.” Taking a sudden step toward her, he forced her to retreat, his dark form towering above her. The aura of power radiating off his hard body was almost palpable, and his golden eyes were raging. “You will be my fiancé, Miss Martinez- for the next few days. After that, you can find out the real reason wherever or whenever you want. But for the next few days, you are mine!”

“No!”

“Yes!” She was not fast enough. He was already close enough for her to feel his breath on her face, the force of his golden raging eyes pulling at her soul. “You will.”

“N-”

Before dear Adeline could finish her denial, his finger was at her lip, cool, and hard, sending several batches of sparks down her body.

“Think very carefully before you speak, Miss Martinez.” There was a distinct threat in his voice. A shiver mingled with fear and excitement rolled down her spine. “Remember when asked for the answers and agreed to whatever I say… Do you remember?”

Had he been planning all this along?

What a stupid question. Of course he had.

Adeline swallowed. “I remember.”

“Well then?” He bent a little down from his towering height, until she could feel the hard muscles of his chest against hers, and his mouth almost brushed her lips. Adeline could barely breathe, so thick with delicious tension was the air around her. “What is your answer? Miss Martinez, will you be my fiancé?”

“Yes.”

The word was out of her mouth before she even had begun to think. She stood there, dazed, uncomprehending.

What the f**k?! What the hell?!

How did that just come out of her mouth? And more importantly, why?

Maybe, suggested a notorious little voice in her head, because he had phrased it just in that way- a way that almost sounded like a real and loving proposal.

No! No no no no! If that was the reason than it would mean she really wanted to …. Him to-

Oh god!

“Good.” With a cool nod, he stepped back again, the romantic tension in the air burst in like a bubble leaving her reeling. “Then we can get to the details of our disguise.”

“What details

“The details.”

Clearing her throat. “Details like what?”

“Like names real couples give to each other.” Reaching up, he stroked his chin for a moment and looked like he was solving a mystery in his head.

Adeline waited, her anticipation rising. Finally, he growled and jerked his head in annoyance. He looked as if he had just received bad news.

“There seems to be no way around it. You can call me whatever you want, Miss Martinez.”

Adeline blinked at him. This was what had been causing him an irritation? “How very gracious of you.”

“I try, Miss Martinez. Now think over some names.”

Thinking about it for a moment, then suddenly an idea came to her, and a grin spread over her face. “How about ‘Jerk’? Wait- I have something better. How about ‘d**k’?

He gave her a glare that sent shivers down her back. But her smile only widened. Inside, she was rolling with laughter, gasping for air.

Ha-ha! Payback time!

“Think of something else, Miss Martinez.”

“Yes, thought it… Di-”

His glare cooled another dozen degrees as he moved before she could finish the sentence. Suddenly, he was right in front of her, his ice heat energy crackling in the air around her. His eyes were burning. “Glad to see you are enjoying your role, fiancé.”

“Th-thank you.”

Damn the stutter! Why did she stutter? She stared up into his eyes as he stared back, cold and very, very determined.

“Do you know,” he murmured, slowly leaning towards her, “what else couples do?” She started to back away, but he moved with her, coming ever closer.

“I don’t think so, what are you talking about?”

Ignoring her quest, he moved a little closer. He was just a few inches away now- close enough for her to feel the heat of his skin and the freezing, calculating ice of his gaze, mingling in one irresistible maelstrom.

He was too close!

“You know,” he breathed, “what couples do all the time? Especially those who have just found each other and are eager to discover all the enticing possibilities?”

“No!” Adeline snapped. “I have no idea what you are-”

William went for her.

She did not have any hope of avoiding him. His arms were around her in a millisecond, caging her in, and then…

Then his lips came crashing down on hers. Stealing her first kiss…

Did he just?

.

.

Oh! Yes! He did!