30

It was almost midnight when I opened the front door and entered the foyer. The light from the living room caught my attention. Elijah would not be in there. The guards had their own little room where they could spend the night. Something flashed toward me. It took me a moment to realize it was the dog. She barked and I prepared to grab her again before she destroyed another pair of my pants.
“No, Loulou. Come here!” Gianna ordered. She appeared on the threshold of the living room, dressed only in a silk nightgown. She was barefoot and her hair was ruffled as if she had fallen asleep on the couch. To my surprise, the little dog stopped attacking and approached my young wife. She bent down and stroked her. It was then that I realized that most of her fur was gone.
“Did you take her to the hairdresser?” Gianna laughed, her eyes shining with joy as she straightened up.
“No, I don’t know any dog hairdressers. I cut her fur. It had too many knots. I couldn’t brush it off.” I nodded, not very interested in the dog. If it hadn’t been for Daniel, I would have given her away a long time ago. Every time I looked at it, images came to mind that I didn’t need to remember. Gianna leaned against the doorframe, looking charming. The little dog sat obediently beside her leg, looking at me as if I were an intruder in my own home. I looked around to see why she was awake.
“What are you up to?”
Gianna frowned.
“I was waiting for you to come home.” I shrugged off my coat and hung it up before turning back to her.
“Did something happen?” Gianna shook her head and came toward me. I peered down. Barefoot and wearing her flimsy nightgowns, the contrast between us became even more striking.
He put his hand on my chest and shivered.
“God, it’s cold outside.” Goose bumps furrowed her pale skin, and my eyes followed her to the opening of her robe and the lowering of her nightgown.
“It’s winter.” It was a completely superfluous thing to say, but it was late and Gianna’s proximity clouded my brain.
“Answer my question, did something happen?”
She smiled uncertainly.
“Nothing happened, Alessio. But I want to be there when you get home from work. Isn’t that how it should be?” I stayed and watched. Since I had moved out of my parents’ house, no one waited for me, and if Gaia ever did, then only to be the harbinger of bad news.
“You don’t have to feel obligated to wait for me. I work long hours.” I rested my palm on her lower back and pushed her toward the stairs. “Let’s get you to bed.”
“I’m not a child, Alessio.”
The dog followed us as Gianna climbed the stairs. I barred his way. “Why isn’t he locked in his room? He is not allowed to go upstairs.”
“He won’t stay in that room anymore.” My eyebrows rose. Gianna was standing on the first step, so she was almost at my eye level.
“I didn’t realize I had made that decision.”
“You didn’t, but I did.”
I grabbed her hip. “I am the master of the house.” God, that sweet strawberry scent was driving me crazy.
“Do you expect me to ask your permission for every little thing? I can take care of Loulou, so let me take care of her.”
“She won’t go upstairs,” I said firmly. She nodded and gave the dog an order. To my surprise, Loulou trotted back into the living room.
“She has her basket in there. It should be her safe haven.”
Shaking my head, I went up the stairs. I was too exhausted for such nonsense. Gianna followed me in silence, but I could almost feel her need to talk. We entered the bedroom and closed the door. “How did things go with my children?”
“Fine. I went shopping with them. We are getting to know each other. I’m trying to become friends with them…”
“They don’t need a friend. They need a mother figure. They need guidance and someone to show the way.”
“If that was all they needed, you wouldn’t need me, since you are so good at leading,” he said.
I stopped at his insolence. Most people were showing me respect without me having to do anything, but Gianna kept challenging me in the most infuriating way possible.
“I’m going to take a shower. Go to bed and try to sleep.” I did not wait for her answer and disappeared into the bathroom. I took my time getting ready for bed, hoping Gianna would be asleep by then. She wanted to get to know me. I wasn’t sure I wanted to.
When I went outside, Gianna was standing in front of the window. I stifled a sigh.
“Why aren’t you in bed?” She let out a small, incredulous laugh. “Because I think we need to talk. We’re married.”
“I don’t see what we need to talk about.” He moved closer to me, stopping so close that the scent of strawberry flooded my nose again.
“A lot. I want this marriage to work, but that won’t happen if we don’t spend time together. Do you usually come home this late?”
“Yes, frequently. I am Underboss, Gianna.”
“My father is the underboss and so are many of my uncles, and believe me, they have more than enough time to waste on golf courses or on top of their mistresses.” A laugh wedged in my throat, but I suppressed it.
“My work ethic is very different from theirs.”
“As your wife I have the right to make demands so that this marriage can work, and I ask that you be home for dinner so that the children and I can spend time with you.”
My anger rose again, even though a small part of me was glad she wanted to spend time with me.
“This is a marriage of convenience.” Gianna’s eyes flashed.
“I suppose it’s very convenient for you to have me as your nanny and for your personal pleasure without the burden of having to talk to me.”
She was exasperating. I pulled her against me, my mouth so close to hers that for a moment I almost forgot myself. “We had sex once, girl, so the pleasure factor in our marriage was very limited, and as for your qualities as a nanny, I’m not convinced.”
His nose tilted upward.
“Then return me to my parents if I am not satisfied. Didn’t you stipulate some sort of return in the bargain?”
“Over my dead body,” I growled and pulled her against me. I kissed her hard, losing myself in that godforsaken sweetness that deprived me of my senses. I could not control myself with her. I didn’t want to. Remembering my promise, I pulled away from her and staggered back a few steps. I would not force her.
“This was not supposed to happen.” Gianna’s face was flushed. “Why not?” Her question startled me:
“I told you I won’t sleep with you until you want me to.”
Gianna swallowed, then smiled shyly. And I knew what she would say from the expression of longing in her eyes before she spoke those words.
“What if I want it?” His voice was low and hesitant. My pulse throbbed at my temple from our altercation.
He had aroused me more than a little, but his words had blown away the last shreds of my composure. Despite the truth in his words, I could not believe it. My muscles stiffened.
When I came out of the bathroom, I felt exhausted and wary. Now, all weariness was replaced by enthusiasm, but my suspicion remained.
“Do you want me to?”
My voice was low, steeped in desire and warning. I took a step forward. Gianna shivered and her nipples puckered. Was she excited or frightened? Probably both. She nodded, “I want you to do this.” Another step forward. Blood pooled in my cock at her words. However, my doubt remained. “Why? The last time was painful for you.”
“Not everything,” he admitted blushing. “Not your mouth.”
My eyes rested on the apex of her thighs, hidden by her nightgown, remembering her taste, her scent.
“Fuck.”