Riya's heart plummeted, her face turning pallid. Yes, she was captivated by Liam, but that was something she would never confess to Zachary. She shook her head feverishly in denial.
"I'm not," she stammered. "It's just a marriage of convenience. There are no feelings between us…"
"I don't believe it," he growled. "I will not allow you to marry him. You will meet him and end this engagement—do you understand?"
Riya knew opposing him would only bring disaster. "I understand your point," she said cautiously. "I'll talk to him. But… Liam told me he only agreed because of his parents. I doubt he'll…Mm…"
Her words were cut short as Zachary suddenly smacked his lips with hers in a bruising, domineering kiss. The force of it made her flinch, pain burning across her lips, but she dared not fight back. Fear locked her in place, her body stiff in his arms.
In a flash, Zachary lifted her in his arms and carried her into the room.
~~~~~~~~~~
At the hotel…
