Page 6 of Ruined By a Devil

“I…” I sigh, for the first time allowing myself to show him vulnerability. “I need time to think about it.”

The questions keep piling up in my head, making it hard for me to think clearly. I’m aware of the risk I’m running if I fail to find another option for Papà and I’m confident that marrying Nolan would make my life a living hell. But how can I know that this stranger is safer than Nolan? I might have a strong dislike for the first, but right now this deal comes with the risk of trading one dangerous man for another.

“There’s a problem with that,” he leans in closer to make sure no one else hears us, even though there is not a single soul around us. Everyone is on the dancefloor or seating area. “You don’t have time to think about it because Nolan is already preparing to ask your father for your hand officially.”

Why does he look completely unbothered proposing to a stranger?

“How do you know that?”

“I overheard it,” he shrugs. “And I know that if you wait, your father will make the decision for you.”

“You have a terrible habit of eavesdropping,” I say, but as I turn around to look at Nolan, I see him standing next to my father talking to each other as if the agreement is already settled between them. As if he… owns me. Shivers run down my spine and I return my attention to the mysterious knight in shining armor. “Okay. Let’s get married.”

The words leave my mouth before I can second-guess them and for a second, I find myself just staring at him, almost waiting for the panic to kick in. Instead, there’s only a strange sense of relief. It makes no sense at all, I’m sitting beside a man whose name I don’t even know, agreeing to marry him because the alternative is worse.

If that’s not proof enough of how badly I don’t want to marry Nolan, I don’t know what is.

The stranger’s face lights up at my words and even in the low lights, I notice the way they reflect in them as a smile spreads across his face. “You made the right decision.”

We shake hands, making the deal official, and for some reason my heart decides to skip a beat the moment our skin touches. It’s strange how just a handshake or the brushing of the knees with a complete stranger can affect me like this when Nolan’s hand on my back earlier made me want to take a bath in acid.

This hand is warm, his grip firm without being too tight, and for one ridiculous second, I forget that we’re surrounded by people and just pretending to be in love. But then I remember this is a deal. A very strange, very dangerous deal, but still a deal.

I might have just made the dumbest decision of my life, or the best one, the jury is still out on that one, but the thought of not having to marry Nolan washes over me with relief.

I don’t even know what kind of family he comes from.

“Shall we dance?” The knight in shining armor elegantly steps down from the stool, offering me his hand.

I smile, taking his hand as I climb off the stool. If we’re going to do this, we need everyone to believe our marriage is real and that we’re into each other. This is the perfect way to ease everyone in.

God, he’s tall.

I have to tilt my head back to look at him, and he catches the movement with an amused expression that makes me wonder if he can read every thought on my face.

“What?” I ask.

“Nothing,” he shakes his head slowly.

“You’re smiling?”

“I’m aware,” his grin widens.

I roll my eyes and let him lead me toward the dance floor. As we do, I feel the heavy stares on us but I don’t turn my head to meet their eyes. His hands find my waist in a delicate, slow movement, and he pulls me close to him, almost as if he’s being deliberate about not crossing any lines.

I tense for a half a second, instinctively expecting the same possessive grip Nolan used earlier, but it never comes. His hands stay exactly where they are, steady and careful, giving me enough space to sway my body to the music. Which somehow makes it worse because now I’m aware of every inch between us.

And to my surprise, he’s a great dancer. Somehow, he manages to look like he belongs everywhere he goes and I’m starting to wonder if he’s going to disappear when the clock strikes midnight. I wouldn’t even put turning into a pumpkin past him.

The eyes of everyone at the party are burning a hole into the back of my head, and I could swear that it suddenly became quieter. Or maybe that’s the deafening beat of my heart making everything else go silent. I’ve never been this close to a man before, and I’ve never imagined my first slow dance to be with a complete stranger I just agreed to marry.

I don’t even know his name.

But oh well, it’s either him or Nolan and there is no way I’m getting married to Nolan. I’d rather eat sand for breakfast every day for the rest of my life.

“Relax,” he murmurs.

“I am relaxed,” I respond a little too quickly, realizing how that contradicts the actual words coming out of my mouth.