Four days have passed since our return to Montana. As far as the wedding preparations are concerned, everything is going almost perfectly, other than a few changes and things to adjust—like decorations and menu. Sending invitations has been done since last week, hence all is well.

After finishing our last meeting with Grace, Roshni and I leave her with Eleanor to continue with other stuff. We head outside for a walk. As a matter of fact I'm really excited about my wedding, but a tiny anxiety is still somewhere deep inside me, and it's impossible to ignore at times.

"Hey, relax. It will be fine!" Roshni chuckles at the long sigh I've just taken. 

"I know, right?" Smiling, I shove my hands inside the pockets of my ripped jeans. We're aimlessly walking around the ranch, the afternoon a bit young and chilly. "Are you sure about going with me later?" I ask her.

"I am," Roshni answers quickly, her eyes admiring the sight of the horses grazing from a distance. Then she looks back at me and says, "Besides, I'll be bored to death if you leave me all alone until the wedding day. It's okay with me, don't worry."

"Thank you." I smile gratefully. The idea of staying in the hotel on my own was a bit off, but now I'm confident.

I just wonder how Liam will take it.

"And what about Sam? When is she coming back?" Roshni quizzes, our steps unhurried.

"Tomorrow, I think. I told her to stay until the wedding day so I'm not sure yet," I reply.

Some time later, I start packing my bag. Liam walks in and shuts the door with a blank face, eyes on my clothes and a few things I plan to take with me. I've explained everything but he's still adamant about me staying away from the ranch. He takes a deep breath and sits on the couch, facing me.

"You're still going?" His voice is curt.

I push the suitcase aside. "Liam, we've talked about this. I'm not leaving the country, I'll just be in the hotel . . .  with Roshni . . . untill our wedding day,"  I answer smoothly, trying not to piss him even more.

"Sure." His face stays deadpan.

Smiling, I abandon everything and join him on the couch. "It's only for only three, baby.  After that we'll be together for as long as I live."

"Yeah, I get it," remarks Liam, sounding indifferent.

"Do you, really? I can tell you're not pleased, Mr. Intense." I part his arms, drawing access to his lap.

"What can I do? You've already made up your mind." He rolls his eyes, unusual sarcasm lacing his voice. I laugh quietly and his arms hold my waist to haul me steady onto him. "Are you really determined to keep your distance from me?"

"Um, yes?" I nod.

"Why?" He narrows his eyes, seemingly confused.

Wrapping my arms around his neck, I whisper, "So that you'll miss me terribly."

"Oh?" Liam is somehow amused, his single eyebrow coaxed defiantly at me. "So I will not see you until our wedding day?" he asks, playfully sliding his left hand on my bare thighs through the junction of my little towel.

Damn. I know where it's heading, but I'm sorry to disappoint my sex godess this time.

"Exactly. And it's all because of this!" I slap his hand that's about to touch my strongest point of weakness.

"Come on," Liam laments, laughing at my protest. "One more time." His ardent eyes are intoxicating, but I still need to resist him.

"No, Sir." I stand up right away, laughing along. "You'll touch me only after the wedding."

"Kira!" Childishly, Liam chases after me. Were both laughing as I run toward the bed. "We can just do it right now, and forget until the wedding. Fuck, you drive me nuts." Catching me, he hugs my body from behind and it feels heavenly.

"I didn't do anything, though." I giggle, stilling in his brace right near the bed.

"You're wearing a towel, Kira. Do you know how that always makes me feel?"

What? Still mad at me, my sex goddess remains on her knees, nodding in agreement with Mr. Darcy.

"How?" I boldly ask Liam, enjoying the warmth of his body glued to mine, and his breath caressing my neck.

Fuck, I'm wearing nothing decent inside this towel.

"I constantly fail to overrule my imagination whenever you move around in a towel," Liam states and I giggle softly at the feeling his words entice in me. I didn't know, I swear.  "It makes me want to quit being a gentleman with you." He briskly tugs my towel off.

"Liam!" I squeal as the gush of cool air hits her bare skin, for I'm only wearing a pair of mint lacy bra and its matching brief pants. "We are having no sex, Liam."

"And who says we're having sex?" Liam slides his hands on the sides of my mid-body, gently from my waist to my chest, and slowly he holds the cups of my bra.

Oh fuck. My breath hardens, and his palms give my breasts a tight squeeze.

Biting my lip, I ask him, "Then what do you think you're doing right now?" My head tips backward, resting onto the hollow of his neck.

His hand drops about my stomach in a soft caress on my skin. "Making love to you," he whispers.

Scheming Englishman! I chuckle softly, my breath erratic.

"You're quite astute, Mr. Darcy." I'm aware of the danger I'm facing when his fingers sneak intelligently towards my lower abdomen, heading to a place that will definitely be the end of my resolution in case I allow him the touch. "Making love is romanticizing sex, to be perfectly honest." I inhale sharply.

I want him to continue, but I also want him to stop. Undecided much? My subconscious sneers.

"Are you suggesting I'm romantic now?" Liam questions, his tone wicked and still sexy.

Ugh, I need a grip.

"I'm saying that . . . Liam, no!" I grab his hand stoutly, laughing heartily. "Don't do this, please." Feeling his erection hard against my butt, I slowly spin around to face him.

"Why? Are you scared to give in, Ms. Jones." he asks, his voice hoarse.

"No. I'm not scared." I pretend to be bold.

"Really? Let's see." Liam pushes me onto the bed. I scream with glee, in love with his ungentlemanly gestures. Smirking, he leans over and our lips meet instantaneously. "I swear I hate staying away from you," he snaps and crushes my little protest.

Irresistibly, we start kissing passionately, and there's always that heat I can't control when he holds me.

"Liam," I murmur, unable to fight against my desires that are openly destroying my will.

"Why are you denying yourself, huh?" Liam demands. His lips linger on mine, eyes wild, his hand toying with my bra cup just to make me yearn for his touch. "You know you're mine already, don't you?" He lowers his head and kisses my breasts.

"Ah, Liam." He's making this so hard.

All I want is to follow the tradition of the groom to not seeing the bride before the wedding. I want it to be a little special as I know Liam will miss me if we don't see each other for even three days that are practically left until the we get married.

But can I do it with him worshipping my body as though I'm a goddess? Oh God, I love his lips on my skin—the way he teases my nipples has me grab the sheets tightly, my mouth wide open.

No, I need to snap out of this. Immediately I flip Liam down and climb myself on top of him, straddling his lap. He's startled, eyes gleaming as he looks up at me.

Swaying my curls to the side, I take my time watch Liam panting with anticipation. "Mr. Darcy," I whisper, slowly leaning toward him. "I'm not making love to you until you make me your wife—legally Mrs. Darcy."

"Huh?" Liam scowls.

"You heard me, Sir. That's all it takes for us to do this again so be patient, my love. Like you said . . . I'm all yours." Smiling, I get off him and out of bed.

"You heartless woman," Liam mutters.

I burst out laughing. "But you always say I'm kind, Liam Darcy." I open the closet and grab something to wear. "What happened to that?" I look at him over my shoulder.

Interlocking his hands behind his head, Liam says, "You'll pay for this, Ms. Jones. On that honeymoon, I'll make you pay."

"Oh, I'm so scared," I reply in a sarcastic tone of voice. "But do you know that a cold shower helps? How about you give it a try?"

"Fuck you." Liam manages to laugh.

"I can't wait." I laugh along, shrugging my hips into the black leggings I'm putting on. Afterwards I grab a white hoodie and glance at Liam.

He's still looking at me, no more word or smile coming from him. When I'm done dressing I walk toward the bed and sit next to him. He shifts to give me space, surprised by the softness of my mood and serious demeanor.

"I'm sorry," I tell him. "I honestly want our wedding night to be a little more special. I know it's nothing grand, but still . . . I prefer it this way. I don't think if parents were alive they'd want me to be at my fiancé's house, sharing his bed, especially a week before my wedding. No, they'd want me home, I believe."

And now I so wish they were here.

"It's okay, my love." Liam sits astride me, and my eyes are suddenly wetter. "You have a point, too. I understand you want everything to be as it should be so there's nothing to be sorry about. And I'm beginning to miss you already." Smiling fondly, he takes me into his arms.

Automatically I lean onto him, sniffling my threatening tears. "You're the sweetest." He hugs me for a very good while until I ask, "Where is mother?"

"In her bedroom, I guess." Liam beams, suddenly happy.

"What's with the smiling face?" I ask, confused somehow.

"You just said mother. I love it," he replies.

"I did?" I think it slipped.

"No, I made it up. Go away, Kira. I don't want to end up raping toy," Liam says and I laugh loudly.

A moment later I knock at Eleanor's door. Her sweet voice tells me to go in right away, and slowly I push my way inside  It's apparently my first time being in her bedroom. A familiar fragrance of Eleanor's perfume fills my nostrils as I shut the door behind me, and a smile crosses my face.

The room looks as elegant as I imagined. A large wooden bed lies gracefully with a couple of pillows adorning it, facing the glass double-doors in which a pair of white, transparent curtains are hanging fully, revealing a small patio with the perfect garden view.

"Sit down, Kira. I've been busy rearranging my closet and it's really a hassle," Eleanor says, interrupting my casual inspection. "Are you ready? I'll take a shower right away and finish this work tomorrow." She's tying her hair into a messy bun, eyes on me.

"I am, but there's no need to hurry. Do you need help?" I offer because she looks busy. Her room seems a bit unorganized and it's clearly unusual.

"If you can." Eleanor smiles.

"Cool." It's always a pleasure spending time with her.

"Follow me." She leads me toward her dressing room, that looks more like a small boutique full of elegant clothes, shoes and handbags.

Elegant is the only word for this woman. That's long decided.

"Wow, you've really messed everything up." I stumble over a pile of clothes on the floor and Eleanor laughs briefly. "Are you rearranging things or something?"

"No. I'm taking some clothes that I don't wear for donation. It's not fair having too many things you don't use," Eleanor answers.

"I agree." I nod my head, smiling at her with pure admiration.

"Well, have you spoken to that friend yours? The one you wanted to invite for the wedding? Is she coming?" Asking me this, Eleanor pulls a very large box that I think he wants to stuff the clothes.

"Amelia? No, not yet. I tried to call her last night but her phone was switched off. I just hope everything is okay." I sit down on the sofa bench to start folding the clothes lying on the floor.

"She's important to you, huh?" Eleanor queries casually.

"She is." I smile sheepishly. "Actually she's my neighbor and the only friend I have, apart from Sam."

"Oh, I understand. I hope she comes, in that case," Eleanor states. "And how are you feeling, Kira? Approaching a wedding day can be very stressful—especially a rushed one like how mine was."

"You had a rushed wedding?" I chuckle.

"Yes. Charlie was as impatient as Liam. Well . . . even though we had a private wedding, just like Samantha's, it was still stressful. I only had Alyssa, and he had his business partner, so it wasn't such a grand wedding." She shrugs, but her smile lingers persistently.

"Oh. I'm sure it was beautiful, regardless. And where was it held?" I can't control my curiosity.

"In Paris. It's where I met Liam's father, and it's exactly where we got married," Eleanor explains with a nostalgic smile, halting whatever she's been doing with her scattered shoes on the floor.

"Wow! In the city of romance?"

"Apparently." She grins. "Alyssa and I moved from Italy when we were eighteen. I went to Paris, and she to New York. We had different dreams and maybe that's why. She wanted to be a stage actress, and I wanted to become a makeup artist."

"Oh, that's understandable." I grab another dress, quite pretty—nothing is mundane here. "And how did you meet Liam's father?" I gaze up at her.

"I was in a café, looking for an inspiration to go on with the life in a foreign land without anyone I truly knew. I think I had an argument with my boss and I needed to cool off. It was in a restaurant—Normad, a beautiful outdoor." Eleanor smiles as she tells me her lovestory.

I stay very attentive, a grin on my face.

"There was a gentleman seated on the next table, reading a newspaper. I didn't pay much attention to him, honestly, although he was interesting to look at." She blushes, and my grin widens. "But later I realized he'd forgotten his wallet when he got up immediately and left. I picked it and tried to chase after him."

"Did you catch him?" I ask urgently, eager for more.

Eleanor giggles. "No, I didn't. Unfortunately I couldn't reach him on time."

"Oh no! And then what happened?"

"Well," says Eleanor, sitting besides me on the bench, "I had to keep it. I just told the restaurant manager, who happened to be someone I knew, that if a man appears asking for a lost wallet, then he should call me. Two days later I got a call that he'd appeared. That's how it began."

"Aw!" I'm totally lovestruck right now, as if I'm watching a romantic movie.

Eleanor chuckles. "He was so grateful as most of his legal documents were inside the wallet. But the best part was when he asked me if I could be his translator on an important meeting, and I agreed. His French was terrible," she says and we both laugh.

Damn, I love where her story is going.

"So you started dating?"

"Not right away. On his second visit is when we started dating. It was the most thrilling moment of my life, Kira. You know, the feeling that you've met your other half? Something that completes you magically without doing much."

"I do." Now I understand the feeling so well because it's exactly how I feel toward Liam.

A/N: I truly appreciate everyone's reading this book. Please don't forget to VOTE—it would mean so much, and I'm very grateful to those few who always do.