I opened the door and motioned Gianna to come in. I followed him in and then we were alone in our suite. The living area was large with two sofas and a dining table, where I placed his glass.
It was not a room we would use, but it was customary to take the largest suite in the hotel even though all we needed was a bedroom. I looked down at my young wife, who had been vulnerable and honest with me.
“You don’t have to be afraid, Gianna. We have all night.” Gianna looked around, her eyes fixed on the door to the left that led to our bedroom.
“Do you think getting it out will make it better?”
I wasn’t sure what would help Gianna. “Tell me what would help ease your fears.” She thought about it. “If I felt like I had a choice.” “You have a choice,” I said, moving closer to her.
“Really?” she whispered, scrutinizing me.
“Would you really allow me to choose?” I wanted her to have the choice. But I wasn’t going to show weakness, either in front of Luke or after I had already shown it during our meeting. He would have no reason to doubt me. Not even my wife’s beautiful face and pretty smile could soften my resolve. But a nonexistent choice could still seem like a choice.
“I know what is expected, Alessio. I know what it would mean for you and my father if we did not present the sheets in the morning.” She swallowed. I touched her arm, feeling her warmth seep through the thin fabric.
“Then make your choice.” She peered into my eyes.
“All right,” she said quietly. Relief pervaded me at her reasonableness. At least this distinguished her from my late wife. I was surprised when she headed for the bedroom without asking me. I followed a couple of steps behind her. For the first time, I allowed myself to see her as a woman, something I had avoided at all costs up to that point, but which was a necessity for…
The dress accentuated her narrow waist and the beautiful curve of her hips and butt. Arriving in the bedroom, Gianna stopped and looked over her shoulder. Despite her obvious nervousness, she smiled before setting her bag down on the bench in front of the king-size bed.
Her eyes rested on it for a moment, her blush deepening, then she cleared her throat. I moved closer to her.
Her strawberry scent wafted into my nose, making me wonder if she would taste as sweet as her choice of perfume suggested.
I observed the intricate lace of her long-sleeved bodice, which lingered over the swell of her breasts.
“I must remove your dress,” I said as I unsheathed the knife from the holster on my chest. Another tradition we could not escape.
He looked at the blade with a slight frown before nodding. Turning around, he tilted his head to the side so that his hair did not cover his lacy upper back.
Her throat was long and elegant, perfectly immaculate, and I had to resist the urge to press my mouth to it and mark it as mine. Saving her had seemed easier when we were not yet married. That I had ever considered it an option seemed ridiculous. He shifted his face and peered at me through long lashes, nerves in his eyes.
“Are you all right?” he asked in a low voice.
“Sure,” I interrupted, in a voice more harsh than expected because I was annoyed with myself. He looked away and stiffened. An excuse teased the tip of my tongue. It never passed.
I slipped my finger under the lace to lift it from her skin. Goose bumps were on every inch of her body when I touched her soft skin. I lowered the knife and cut the undoubtedly expensive fabric. The resulting hissing sound made Gianna jerk.
I stepped back the moment the knife reached her skirt. Gianna slowly lowered her dress, her back to me, and I could not look away as she showed inch by inch her smooth back. She was topless and wearing only a very skimpy white lace thong.
My eyes landed on her perfect buttocks, round globes I wanted to sink my teeth into and bury my cock, a cock that was getting hard as I looked at her.
“Is it okay if I freshen up?”
Her voice ripped through my growing arousal.
“Certainly.” The gruff voice made Gianna venture a look into my face. Then she rushed to the bathroom. Terrorizing my young wife before I had to claim her was a fucking stupid thing to do. Loosening my tie, I walked over to the bench and slumped down.
My wedding ring, similar to my last one, seemed to mock me. I placed the tie beside me, listening to the sound of flowing water. Gianna would need patience and care. For starters, I had never had much of either.
After the mess with Gaia, even less than before. I rested my arms on my thighs, trying to reach a state of mind that would allow me to treat my young wife well.
I did not want her to resent me.
The door opened, drawing my attention to it and to Gianna. She was wearing a dark blue silk nightgown that reached her knees and hugged her slender build.
Her hair fell over her shoulders in soft brown curls, freed from the too-cute sunflowers. Gianna did not move from her place on the doorframe and nervously smoothed her bangs, then traced the floor in her bare feet.
“What now?” I met her gaze. She turned to me for guidance, and that was the one thing I had no trouble giving her.
I straightened to my full height and extended my hand.
“Come here.”
Taking a visible breath, she moved closer until she was right in front of me. Without her heels, she reached only to my chest. Her strawberry scent was more prominent than before, and although I had never been a man for the sweet things in life, I suddenly craved it. I reached out and touched her head. She held her breath. For a moment, I looked at her beautiful face before leaning down and pressing a simple kiss on her mouth to see how she would react. She remained still. Running my thumb over her cheekbone, I repeated the movement. She softened against me. “Why are you still wearing a jacket?” she asked after the third simple kiss. Pulling back, I took off my jacket and threw it over the bench. Gianna’s eyes caught me.