Fairy Tale Weddings Read Online Free PDF

tonight…tonight she was the alluring woman he held in his arms.
    By unspoken agreement they stood together and walked to the center of the dance floor. Thorne brought Cindy into his arms, holding her close, savoring the way she felt, inhaling her fresh, delicate scent, reveling in the warmth of her nearness. He felt as if he were a hundred years old in ways she knew nothing about and, conversely, that he’d just turned twenty-one. She did this to him and he didn’t have an inkling why.
    Thorne’s arms tightened around her, anchoring her against him. His hands clasped her waist and he laid his cheek next to hers and closed his eyes. To think that only a few hours earlier he’d contemplated sneaking away fromthis party. Now he dreaded the time it would end, praying that each minute would stretch out forever…
    Cindy pressed her cheek to his and prayed she’d always remember every minute of this night. She planned to store each detail in her heart. She couldn’t possibly hope to explain it to anyone; this magical, mystical night was hers and hers alone. She would have a lifetime to treasure these precious hours and relive them over and over.
    Even when the music grew lively, Thorne held her as if it were the slowest dance of the night. He wanted to kiss her so badly he was forced to inhale deep breaths to restrain his desire. Thorndike Prince did not make a spectacle of himself on the dance floor for any reason. However he soon discovered that the temptation was too strong. Her nearness was more than any man could resist and he turned his head ever so slightly and ran his mouth along her ear.
    Cindy sighed with pleasure and moved her hands to the back of Thorne’s neck, drawing her fingers through his thick dark hair. When his lips sought the hollow of her throat, she groaned.
    Unexpectedly Thorne dropped his arms and reached for her hand. “Let’s get out of here,” he said in a voice that sounded unlike his own.
    He led her off the ballroom floor as though he couldn’t leave fast enough. “Did you bring a coat?”
    â€œA shawl.”
    Irritably he held out his hand. “Give me your ticket.”
    Her fingers shook as she opened the beaded clutch and retrieved the small tab. “Where…where are we going?”
    He sounded almost angry, certainly impatient. “Anywhere but here,” he mumbled.
    He left her then and Cindy stood alone, pondering the strangeness of his actions. She wanted to ask him more, longed to know why he’d insisted on leaving so abruptly. But when he returned she said nothing, following him silently as he escorted her out of the ballroom and into the hallway, where the elevators were.
    A male voice called out to them. “Thorne, you’re not going, are you?”
    Cindy turned around, but Thorne applied pressure to her back, directing her forward.
    â€œThat man was talking to you.”
    â€œI have no desire to talk to anyone,” he said stiffly, guiding her into the crowded elevator. They stepped off at the ground floor and Thorne took her to the entrance of the hotel.
    The doorman came forward. “Taxi, sir?”
    Thorne glanced at Cindy. “No, thanks.” He grabbed her hand and they hurried across the busy street to the paved pathway that led to the interior of Central Park.
    â€œThorne,” Cindy whispered. “Why are you so angry?”
    â€œAngry?” He paused in front of the large fish pond.
    The moon beamed silvery rays all around them, and Cindy could see that his face was intent, his mouth bracketed with harsh lines. His gray eyes were narrowed and hard, yet when they rested on her she saw them soften.
    â€œI’m not angry,” he said at last, his breathing labored. “I’m…” He rammed his hands into his pockets. “You’re right, I am angry, but not at you.”
    â€œThen who?”
    He shook his head and his eyes grew warm as he studiedher