Mr. Blackwell's Bride: A Fake Marriage Romance (A Good Wife Book 2) Read online

  Bastard.

  I hate him. I struggle to knee him, to kick him. My damn skirt is in my way and he’s too close to get any leverage.

  He’s much too close. All those old aches and wants flood back into my body. Five years I’ve dreamed of being this close to him again. His familiar touch, his familiar smell, his presence around me swilling like a poison. His touch burns me. He seeps into me. He sinks his teeth into my soul.

  I am lightheaded. I need oxygen. I part my lips as I suck in air. His eyes dip to my mouth. Something flares in his eyes. Despite everything, he wants to give in to me too. I involuntarily lick my lips. His stare turns…ravenous.

  He lets out a small hum, his lips vibrating along my skin as he traces them across my cheekbone towards my ear. “Mrs Worthington.” His voice is like liquid. “Alena,” he whispers, almost tenderly, sending me back to five years ago. I can feel his grip loosening on my arms but he doesn’t pull away. The ache coils tighter in my stomach. His hands move up my arms, his thumbs tracing the outer swell of my breasts sending shivers through me. This soft Dimitri is dangerous, more dangerous than the cold stranger. He appears too much like the old Dimitri, the one I love. I feel my self-control unwinding, my fingers curling into his shirt, as he presses his arousal against my hip. I bite down on a moan. Despite everything, my body screams to give in to him.

  “Well,” his breath tickles my ear, “if I’m going to accuse you of being a whore, you might as well be one.”

  I shove him back. He lets go of me, laughing.

  “You bastard.” My breath heaves out of my lungs, my neck and cheeks flaming red. He’s playing with me. Toying with me. I want to strangle him.

  He smirks at me and shrugs. “At least I can admit what I am.”

  His words reach into my chest and wring my heart. “If you won’t go, at least leave Emily alone.”

  “She is the one who won’t leave me alone.”

  “You kissed her.”

  He smiles at me, cold and hateful. “Are you jealous?”

  “Why are you like this? How could you be so cruel? Why do you want to torment me?”

  “Why? Why?” His face cracks apart. “You broke me,” he roars. “You destroyed me when you chose him over me. You filled me so full of bitter hatred, it is all that I taste. It’s all I breathe.” His voice trembles with anguish.

  My heart breaks right there. His eyes so open and raw, I can see right into his charred soul. The pieces of his heart that I broke all those years ago are still jagged and sharp. With every breath he takes, they cut him, making him bleed from the inside.

  “I’m sorry, Dimi. I’m so sorry.”

  “It’s too fucking late for sorry. It’s five years too late.”

  It can’t be too late. It can’t.

  Love can triumph over hate. It can.

  I reach out for him. My voice is pained as I beg—as I beg— “Dimi, please…”

  “Get out,” he spits, causing me to snatch my hand back. “It would be very cruel for your husband to find you here alone with me in my bedroom. We wouldn’t want him to get any wrong ideas.”

  “I am not a cheater, Dimitri. Don’t you dare insinuate that I am.”

  “Just a whore, then.”

  His words slap me across my face. Pain spreads from where they strike me. “Fuck you.”

  “No, you never did get to give that to me, did you? You gave that pleasure to your worthless husband.”

  When Dimitri arrived at Worthington Manor, my hope took flight. To see him again, after all these years, to know that he found me, that he came here for me. Even after I realised that he wanted revenge, I still believed. Even after every cruel word, I still hoped. I thought that I could get through to him. That he couldn’t stay angry at me forever. I thought deep down that we would finally get our happily ever after.

  But I have flown too close to the sun, allowed my hopes to soar too high. Hope has melted and my heart has plunged towards the ground, swirling and twisting, until finally crashing on the sharp, jagged rocks.

  He still wants me. He hates me more.

  He will never forgive me.

  He will never love me again.

  Out now

  Amazon.com | Amazon.uk | Amazon.ca | Amazon.au

  Books by Sienna Blake

  Bound Duet

  Bound by Lies (#1)

  Bound Forever (#2)

  Paper Dolls

  Dark Romeo Trilogy

  Love Sprung From Hate (#1)

  The Scent of Roses (#2)

  Hanging in the Stars (#3)

  A Good Wife Standalone Series

  Beautiful Revenge

  Mr. Blackwell’s Bride

  Irish Kiss ~ coming early 2018

  Acknowledgements

  Firstly, thank you to everyone who read Girl Wife Prisoner and took a chance on this new “version” of their story. Thank you for emailing me to tell me that Drake was your favorite and the most interesting character. You were right. You had me rereading GWP with new eyes. And inspired me to rewrite it with Drake as the centerpiece. I hope you loved his story as much as I do.

  A huge thank you to Siobhán and Anna for their insights on Japanese culture.

  My dearest Kathy of Book Detailing. You already know how much I love you. You are the doctor of my stories when they are sick and broken. So I turned you into a real doctor in this book.

  To Terrie of Just Let Me Read. Thank you for keep the machine running so I can focus on my writing.

  To my Reader Group. Thank you for your input on my title, cover and blurb. Love you all. This group is my online safe haven.

  To my fabulous early reviewers and book bloggers. You guys are the heartbeat of the indie world. Without your unwavering support, I’d be nowhere. Thank you from the bottom of my heart.

  Thank you Giorgia Foroncelli for that sexy as hell ebook cover. And Romacdesigns for that beautiful paperback.

  And thanks to Christie of Proof Positive for your eagle eye and manuscript feedback.

  Thank you to Sarah Arndt for picking up that error before the final manuscript went live.

  Last but not least, thank you to my FlexHuddlers. You are my daily support, motivation and source of the best craic in all of Ireland!

  About Sienna

  Sienna Blake is an inksinger, storyteller of Happily Ever Afters with grit, and alter ego of a USA Today Bestselling Author.

  She loves all things that make her heart race—rollercoasters, thrillers and rowdy unrestrained sex. She likes to explore the darker side of human nature in her writing.

  If she told you who she really was, she’d have to kill you. Because of her passion for crime and forensics, she’d totally get away with your murder. *wink*