Page 22 of Saving Grace
How was I going to keep her in my life when my life was about to drastically change? She would never let me regulate her life enough to make her my mistress. It was selfish of me to even consider hiding her away while living my life in the open with the nice Italian girl my grandfather had chosen for me. But I had to find a way. There was no way I could go back to living without her. But there was also no way I could let my Grandfather down.
“Atticus…did you hear me?”
My Grandfather was watching me with narrowed eyes when I pulled myself from my thoughts.
“Did you hear me?”
No.
“Yes.” I lied.
“Good…they’ll be calling the day you’re back from your honeymoon to set up a meeting.”
I had no idea about whom he was talking. I’d figure it out later.
“Ok,” he clapped his hands together and stood, he smoothed his hands over his tuxedo jacket, then raised them to fluff his thinning hair. “Now that business is finished. Let us go celebrate with your bride to be.” He walked from behind the desk and opened his office door. I swallowed the lump in my throat, straightened my shoulders, and followed him out of the door. This is what he needed me to do, and I’d do it.
Sophia Giorgia, my vapid, spoiled, entitled bride to be’s annoying voice was the first thing I heard when we arrived at the steps that would lead us down to the party. She was louder than the music. I could hear her telling one of her not so fascinating stories to her adoring sycophants.
You’d think with the life she had been afforded—by being the daughter of one of the most powerful arms dealers in North America—she’d have more to talk about than shopping trips she’d taken, who she hated and who hated her, but even well into her twenty’s she remained about as deep as a fucking puddle
I reluctantly followed my grandfather down the stairs. Just as my foot hit the last step, Sophia turned immediately as if she’d sensed I’d walked into the room. Her blue eyes connected with mine as she grinned happily. She was such a beautiful woman. Long and lithe, with skin so white it looked porcelain, her long waist length black hair stood out against her pale complexion and she had a gorgeous heart shaped face with high cheekbones and thin pink lips. Too bad she did nothing for me. There was no chemistry, on my part— that is. I’d known her for a while before I was told she would be my wife. Whenever we were in a room together, she seemed to be always trying to throw her pussy at me. You’d think after so many no’s, she’d take the hint. But apparently not. So here we were, about to get married.
I closed my eyes, breaking our connection. Not even a few seconds passed before I could smell her approaching me, I hated her sweet, flowery scent.
The muscles in my neck tightened.
"Don’t embarrass me," my grandfather whispered before walking off just as she arrived.
“Atticus,” she wheezed, her voice was annoyingly nasal. Her Northern Yankee accent grated on my nerves. Slowly, I opened my eyes and plastered a fake smile on my face. I could see my grandfather and her father watching us out of my peripheral vision. I had to put on a good show, I leaned down and kissed her cheek, she giggled like a feeble-minded idiot. Inwardly I cringed. This is who I was supposed to spend the rest of my life with? The thought made me queasy.
“You look nice tonight Sophia” I complimented.
“I know,” she replied with a giggle. She grabbed my hand and steered me into the crowd. “Come, I want to introduce you to my friends.”
She pulled me towards the group of women she’d been holding court in front of. They all eyed me, lust swimming in each one of their eyes.
“Isn’t he handsome? Sophia bragged.
They all giggled.
I exhaled a frustrated breath. This was my life now. Sometimes I wondered if being a puppet was worth what I was gaining. The money. The power. With it I could be the man I’d been born to be. With it—I could provide for and protect Grace. But I also knew Grace would be with me without money or power. I could have walked away right then. I should have walked away then.
One of Sophia’s groupies boldly reached up, running her fingers through my hair.
My nostrils flared, but I grinned and bared it. I had already come too far to turn back and now that I had Grace by my side there was nothing I couldn’t survive.
Atticus
Grace was asleep when I made it back to my house around midnight. I pushed the party and my upcoming nuptials to the back of my mind.
Tank had locked her in my bedroom and she damn near tore my room apart. There were clothes and broken furniture strewn everywhere. I couldn’t blame her though and knowing her as well as I do, I even expected it. I walked into my bedroom and watched her sleep for a while. She looked so peaceful, and beautiful. A sense of peace engulfed me. I had started to believe I would never see her again.
Finding myself staring too long I went and took a shower.
After washing myself quickly I turned off the shower and I got out. I wrapped a towel around my waist and made my way into the bedroom. When I entered, she was awake, sitting on the side of the bed with a sheet wrapped around her. Her nipples strained against the material. Every breath she took, her breasts bounced.
The fact that I knew she was naked had my dick harder than steel.