Married by Lola White Read Free Book Online

betrothal was just a formality, and his sister had already spent the past week in Eliasz’s bed. Silviu refused to look at Ileana as she stiffened and bit her lips, but he knew what she was thinking. Her inner rebel would never willingly tolerate a chaperone at this stage in her relationship.
    “And I am Eliasz Levy.” Sliding forward smoothly, Eliasz held out his free hand, the other tightening around Ileana’s fingers until Silviu saw his knuckles whiten.
    “You were invited by Daniel. My beautiful Constance told me about you.” Graves flashed a maniacal grin and nodded at Silviu. “No matter that you are crashing my wedding, my friend. We are a hotel and have plenty of space for all.”
    “Thank you,” Silviu murmured. “How kind.”
    “Yes, I know.” Graves hauled the woman to his side, pushing her a bit in front of him. Deftly shifting his stick under his arm, he raised his newly freed hand to wrap around the woman’s throat. Not gently. “I suppose I shall present my pet, Tulah.”
    “I’m not your pet.” Her voice was low and mean and slightly strangled as her head was forced back with unsubtle pressure on her neck.
    “You are what I say you are, pet .” Graves smirked at Eliasz as if they had something in common with each other. “She is a long-lost Ngozi little girl, come home to me now.”
    “Not that I had a choice.” Tulah shifted under Graves’ hand.
    Which tightened until she stilled. Paleness swept over her chestnut skin, her lips thinned. Graves smoothed his hand down the line of her throat, over her breastbone and past her ribs. It was clear he would keep going when Eliasz stepped forward and laid his own hand over Graves’ wrist.
    “If you don’t mind playing with your pet later,” he all but growled, “we’d like to be shown our rooms.”
    “I shall play with my pet whenever I choose.”
    Eliasz’s voice turned dangerous. “Perhaps your hospitality would be better served if you didn’t hold the girl as if she were your prisoner. Guests might take offense.”
    “Who might?” Graves flung the girl away. She staggered but caught her balance quickly, agile as a cat as she spun away and fled the room without a backward glance. Silviu couldn’t blame her.
    “Who?” Graves repeated, unconcerned with the flight of the woman. His eyes glinted as they fell on Ileana and he slid forward quickly, hands lifting before Eliasz or Silviu could move to stop him.
    He was uncommonly quick.
    Graves’ hands rose to curve around Ileana’s full breasts. “Will you be insulted because I did not share my love with you, angel?”
    Eliasz grabbed his host by his collar and hauled him back with enough force to throw him off balance. Graves was clearly caught by surprise, but laughed at the anger blazing over his guest’s face. Eliasz shook with the effort of maintaining his control.
    Silviu stepped in front of his sister as casually as he could, brutally reining in his own anger. Her hand fisted against his back, trembling.
    “You will be insulted then, Eliasz Levy,” Graves mocked. “Because your angel was not given my love quickly enough?”
    Eliasz’s eyes promised death. “You don’t touch her. Ever.”
    Graves tsked. “It’s good manners to share, my friend. I share my home, you share your angel.”
    “You don’t touch her,” Eliasz repeated, looking too close to losing all control. His fists clenched rhythmically, his lips were hard slashes in his pale face and his eyes turned hard and uncompromising.
    Silviu cleared his throat. “Graves, you should know patriarchal men don’t like to share their women, especially when the blood on the betrothal contract is still wet.”
    “Signed in blood, eh?” Graves shrugged, once again unconcerned. “Blood means no getting away from that one. I didn’t do that.”
    “You didn’t set your agreement with Constance in blood?” Silviu flashed a look at Eliasz, silently commanding him to keep his temper.
    “Why should I? One day I