Chapter 40

40

Massimo

"Can't I come by and see how my wife is doing?"

Her cheeks flush. She glances away, then back at me. "Why do I get the feeling your intentions are not that innocent?"

"You're doubting me?" I widen my gaze.

She snorts. "Don't act so innocent. Why are you really here?"

"Just wanted to make sure you weren't overworking yourself."

"I'm not."

"Have you taken your meds?"

"Yes, Dad." She rolls her eyes.

"You sassing me, Stellina ?"

"Like I would ever dare to do that."

"Oh, you would, all right. Other than my brothers, you're the first person I've met who's not afraid of me. It's a fucking turn-on when you stand up to me, you know that?"

She swallows. "I wish you wouldn't say things like that."

"Like what?"

"Like you mean it," she whispers.

"But I do, Via. I have, from the first moment I met you."

"Don't." She jumps to her feet, and I lower my arms to my sides. She darts out from the front of her chair and begins to pace.

"Why do you always have to make everything so difficult? Why do you always have to say the right things?"

"Because I'm right?"

She spins around to face me and plants her palms on her hips. "See, that right there? That, I can take. I prefer you to be smug, and egoistical, and full-of-yourself, and difficult to like?—"

"Because that would make it easy for you to rationalize turning me down?"

"I didn't turn you down. I married you," she points out.

"In name only."

"That was our deal," she huffs.

"That was your understanding of the deal." I close the distance between us, and she doesn't move back.

She tips up her chin. "You got what you wanted. Why are you still bothering me? Why did you have to come with me? Why couldn't you have let me leave and pursue my career on my own?"

"Because I take my vows seriously." I lower my face to hers, until our noses bump. "I swore to protect you, to cherish you, to take care of you, and nothing will stop me from delivering on my promises."

Her pupils dilate. "Are you always this conscientious?"

"Only when it comes to you." I twine my fingers with hers so our rings brush against each other's. "Are you done with work today?"

She holds my gaze, a slightly dazed look in her eyes. Good. As long as I can keep her off-kilter, I might be able to convince her to unbend enough to give me a chance. A-n-d, I can't believe I'm here, coaxing my wife to take a chance on me, when I've never in my life had to coax a woman for anything. Normally, I'm the one saying no. I admit, I'm enjoying this challenge of trying to get her to do my bidding.

"Via?" I ask again.

She blinks. "Eh, what did you say?"

I suppress my chuckle. "I asked if you were done with your work for the day?"

"I am."

"Good, I have a surprise for you."

Forty-five minutes later, we walk into a restaurant on the top floor of The Heron . The hostess leads us to a table at the far end. Halfway across the floor, Via tugs her hand from my grasp. She walks over to the floor-to-ceiling windows and glances out. "This view is incredible."

"This is the highest restaurant in London," I confirm.

"It's mind-blowing," she murmurs.

You are mind-blowing. I glance down at her profile.

She shuffles her feet. "I wish I'd worn something more formal."

"You look great."

She scowls at me over her shoulder. "I'm wearing slacks and a sweater, and have barely any makeup on?—"

"You look like yourself, and I love that."

She glances away. "Don't do that."

"Do what?"

"Be all nice to me. It confuses me."

"You'd rather I command you to do what I want, is that it?"

Her scowl deepens. "I'd like you to try that, asshole."

I wrap my arm around her waist and draw her up against me. "I have a feeling you might enjoy it entirely too much. Is that your kink, Stellina ? Would you rather I not give you a choice and take what I want?"

Her breath hitches. She opens and shuts her mouth, but no words come out. I bring my other arm up to wind it around her neck. "If I touched you between your thighs right now, would I find you wet and aching for me?"

"Of course not," she claims. Her chin trembles. The scent of vanilla deepens. Goddamn, she really is turned on. The blood drains to my groin. My pants feel too tight. She must sense the evidence of my arousal stabbing into her ass, for she stiffens. A trembling runs down her body, and my thighs tighten. If I stand here a second longer, I'm liable to turn her around and kiss her, right before I throw her down, tear off her panties, and bury myself inside of her. And that won't do. Not when I'm trying to behave. Not when I'm trying to show her she can trust me enough to be patient. That I'll let her come to me of her own volition. I release her, then brush the hair off the back of her neck and kiss her nape. She shivers.

"Come on, let's feed you."

I step back, then twine my fingers with hers and tug on her. She turns and follows me. I lead her over to our table—the best in the house, tucked away at the back of the restaurant, with a panorama of the city spread out before us. I make sure she's seated before pushing her chair in, then walk over to take mine. The waiter materializes almost instantly. I order our drinks, whiskey for me, a tequila-based cocktail for her. When the waiter leaves, she turns to me.

"Presumptuous of you to assume you know what I like."

"Presumptuous of you not to realize that I know exactly what you like. I also know that you only eat gluten-free food."

"How do you know I eat only gluten-free? Also—" she narrows her gaze "—is this how you're going to be all evening?"

"To answer your first question, I made sure to acquaint myself with your tastes. As for the second question, like how?"

"Like someone who's going to anticipate my every move?"

"How am I doing so far?" I smirk.

She shakes her head, and a reluctant smile curves her lips. "If I say anything, it'll only go to your already swollen head."

I raise my hand. "I solemnly swear that… I'm up to no good."

She blinks. "You quoted Harry Potte r?"

"Why are you so surprised?"

"You don't look like the kind to enjoy Harry Potter ?"

"What do you think I'd enjoy instead?" I ask.

"Let's see," she pretends to count. "Sacrificing baby goats? Scaring those who dare cross you? Shooting down people?" Her face falls. "Sorry, I didn't mean to say that."

"No, I'm glad you brought it up. I'm sorry you had to see that, Stellina . That, on top of you being shot? God knows, your mind must be reeling from it."

"You forget, I grew up in the Mafia. Violence is not new to me."

"But you must have hated it. Isn't that why you ran from it?" A second waiter materializes with a carafe of water. I hold out my hand and take it from him, then fill her glass. I push it toward her. "Drink."

She tilts her head.

"You need to drink at least a liter of water a day."

"How do you know I don't?"

"You were locked up in your room all day, and I didn't see any water on your desk, either. I'll ask the staff to ensure you have water in your room."

"Have you always been this bossy?"

"What do you think?" I smirk.

"That you love getting your own way?"

I reach for my own glass of water and take a sip.

"And when you don't, you manipulate things until they fall in exactly the pattern you like."

"The only pattern I like is the one where you are at the center of it. Preferably without any clothes."

She draws in a sharp breath.

I lean forward in my seat. "And spread-eagled and tied so that you can't move an inch as I tear into your pussy."

Color flushes her skin. She squeezes her fingers around her water glass. "Jesus." She swallows. "I thought you didn't want to consummate the marriage."

"My exact words, if you will recall, were that we don't have to consummate the marriage; not unless you want to."

She firms her lips. "And I told you, I don't want to."

"Only, I don't believe you."