“Nothing,” I said quickly.
She loosely closed her fingers around my wrist. “You are lying about something. And as your husband, I want to know what it is.
Anger flared. This time it was faster than caution.
“You mean like the boss you want to know, because so far you haven’t acted exactly like my husband.”
He tilted his head, scrutinizing every inch of my face. “Why would you still be a virgin?”
“I told you I’m not!” I said desperately, trying to break free from his grip, but he squeezed his fingers slightly, just to keep me from running away. He drew me to him, pressing my chest against his. The air left my lungs in an instant as I looked up at him. My heart was pounding in my chest, in my temples, in my veins. And he could feel it. That’s why he was holding my pulse.
“So,” he said in a curious tone. “If I took you toward our bed right now.” He took a step, forcing me closer to the huge four-poster bed. “And I would make you mine, I would not find out that you lied to me just now.”
I wanted nothing more than for him to finally want to take me to bed , and now that he was using it as a threat to find out the truth, I wished I had never wanted anything from him in the first place. Would he think that I had never slept with a man?
I had only talked to other women about their experiences, but I didn’t know if men could sense if a woman was a virgin.
“You wouldn’t because you won’t take me into that bed now.”
“I won’t?” He raised a blond eyebrow.
“No, because you wouldn’t take me against my will. You disapprove of rape.” The words Bibiana had said still sounded strange to my lips, and they would not even be against my will. By now I had been lashing out at Dante for days;
he must have known that I wanted him. He still wanted him in spite of everything. My body was practically vibrating with desire from his touch.
He giggled. I had never heard him laugh. He sounded empty.
“Is that what you heard?”
“Yes,” I said more firmly. “You gave direct orders to the Underbosses to tell their men that you would castrate anyone who used rape as an instrument of revenge or torture.”
“I did. I think a woman should never submit to anyone but her husband. But you are my wife.
“But still.” My words were a mere whisper, full of uncertainty.
She nodded once. “Yes, still.” He let go of my wrist. Relief pervaded me. “Now I want you to tell me the truth. I will always treat you with respect, but I expect the same from you. I will not tolerate lies. And eventually we will share the bed and then, Valentina, I will know the truth.”
“When will we ever share the bed as husband and wife and not simply sleep next to each other? Will that ever happen?” I snapped my fingers. My stupid mouth, always free.
His expression flickered with something I couldn’t place.
“The truth,” he said simply but with authority. “And remember, sooner or later I will know.”
I lowered my face. Would the truth make things worse between Dante and me? It would certainly be much worse if he found out that I openly lied to him if we ever consummated our marriage.
“Valentina,” Dante said concisely.
“What I said in the living room was the truth.” I was both relieved and terrified when the words came out of my mouth. In any case , how long could I continue to lie ?
Dante nodded , with a strange expression on his face. “That’s what I thought , but now I wonder why ?”
“Why is the thought that Antonio did not want me so surprising? Maybe he didn’t find me attractive. Of course not, otherwise you wouldn’t spend most evenings in your office and nights with your back to me. We both know that if you wanted me, if you found me desirable, I would have lost my virginity on our wedding night.
“I thought we agreed that I would not force you,” she said. I scanned her eyes because there was a trace of anger in her voice.
“But you shouldn’t force me. You are my husband and I want to be with you. Warmth flooded my cheeks. ” I’ve been practically hurling myself at you for days now and you haven’t even noticed my body. If you had found me attractive, you would have shown some kind of reaction. I guess I’m lucky that I always end up with husbands who find me repulsive.
“You are not repulsive to me,” he said firmly. “Believe me, I find you attractive.”
I must have looked doubtful, because she narrowed the distance between us. “I do. Don’t doubt my words.
Every time I glimpse the creamy white skin of your thighs. It followed the path of my thigh through the high slit of my nightgown. I had to hold back a surprised gasp at her sudden proximity. Goose bumps exploded all over my body. “Or when I see the outline of your breasts through the little things you wear in bed.” He gently ran his finger over the lace edge of my nightgown, just above my breasts. “I want to throw you on our bed and bury myself in you.” He lowered his hand, going back to not touching me again.
My eyes grew wide. “Do? Then why…” He interrupted me by putting a finger to my lips. “It’s my turn to ask questions, and you promise not to lie.” I stared at him, nodding. Had he told the truth? Did he want me?
“Why didn’t Antonio sleep with you?” asked Danted, staying so close that his warmth flooded my body. I could barely concentrate.
“I promised him never to tell anyone.”
“Antonio died,” said Dante. He did not seem sorry. “I am your husband now and your promise is more important.”
I looked away. He was right, but I had carried the truth with me for so long that it had almost become part of me.
Dante would probably realize it sooner or later.
“Valentina?”
“Antonio was gay,” I blurted out. Finally the weight of Antonio’s lie no longer rested on my shoulders. It was liberating.
Dante looked stunned for a moment. “I never suspected anything. Are you sure?”
I rolled my eyes. “Sometimes he brought his mistress home.”
“Why didn’t he sleep with you to create offspring? That would have warded off possible suspicions.”
I hesitated. “I don’t think it would have worked. You know …” I gestured in the direction of Dante’s groin .
“Was he sterile?”
I blushed. “No, he once said he couldn’t make it with women.” The words came out of me.
“Who was his mistress?” he asked nonchalantly, but I knew better than to trust his outward disinterest. His eyes revealed a hint of his fervor in wanting to get an answer from me. I had a feeling he was trying to use my emotional state against me, but I was not so easily displaced.
I shook my head. Frank was still alive and not yet a member of the Familia. If Dante found out that Antonio had dated a stranger-I didn’t even want to consider the consequences. He would not stop until he found the person, and I knew exactly what would happen to Frank at that moment.
“I can’t tell you. Please don’t make me.”
Dante touched my upper arms without any pressure. “If it’s someone from the Familia, I have to know him, and if it’s not …
the Familia comes first. I have to protect everyone who puts their trust in me.”
He would have killed Frank, and maybe even tortured him first to make sure Frank revealed the names of all the people who knew about Antonio.
I would not be able to live with myself if that happened. I wanted to close my eyes to Dante’s piercing gaze but I knew that would be a bad idea. “I can’t tell you. I won’t . I’m sorry, Dante, but no matter what you do, I won’t give you a name.
Anger flashed across Dante’s face, fiercer than yesterday.
It was a real fury and for the first time it was directed against me. What had Bibiana said? Dante did not tolerate disobedience. “You have lived a sheltered life, Valentina. I’ve had hardened men tell me the same thing, and they eventually spilled all their secrets.
“Then do what you have to do,” he blurted, pushing me away.
“Cut off my toes and feed them to me. Beat me, burn me, cut me, but I’d rather die than be responsible for the death of an innocent man.
“So he’s an outsider.”
I stared at him open-mouthed. Is that what he deduced from my outburst? God, he was good at this. He hadn’t harmed a single hair on my head and had already wrung some information out of me. “I didn’t say that.”
But it was too late. Dante smiled. “You didn’t have to.” His eyes were sharp and eager. He looked like someone on the prowl. “If Antony has taken his lover home, I assume you have met him, know his name, and can describe him to me.”
I tightened my lips, staring at him tormentingly. Not in a million years would I have told him what he wanted to know. I had already said too much. I would have to be more vigilant in the future.
Dante came closer again. He touched my hips, and yet the mere touch sent tongues of fire through my belly. I wanted him, perhaps more than ever. What was it that made dangerous men so irresistible?
“Aren’t you loyal to me?” he murmured. “Don’t you think you owe me the truth? Don’t you think it is your duty? Not only because I am the leader of the outfit, but because I am your husband.
“And you owe me a decent wedding night. As my husband it should be your duty to take care of my needs. I suppose we both will have to live with disappointment.
His mask broke. Without warning, he grabbed me and spun me around so that my back was pressed against his chest.
“I am a patient hunter, Valentina,” Dante said in a low voice I could hear all the way. “Sooner or later you will tell me what I want to know.” His hand slid down my side to my thigh, lingering there for a moment, making me hold my breath in anticipation and confusion. He lifted my nightgown as he reached down to my panties. I shivered and pressed myself even harder against his chest.
The cool fabric of his shirt rustled on contact. It was a strangely erotic sound. Dante slid a finger under the lacy fabric of my panties and brushed my folds. I whimpered , already wet and aching from our discussion and his proximity. I wasn’t sure why he was suddenly touching me or what had caused that change of heart, and I didn’t care as long as he kept touching me. He slipped his fingers between my lower lips and his breathing deepened.
“Do you want this?”
“Yes,” I hissed, rubbing shamelessly against his hand, but his other arm encircled my waist and held me still. “I want you, Dante.” “Tell me what I want to know.” He slowly stroked his fingers back and forth. The slow sensual assault made me breathe heavily. I was already so close. My body had waited too long for this. My legs began to shake and I threw my head back against Dante’s shoulders. “Don’t you want me?” I gasped instead of what he wanted to hear. His finger grazed my clitoris as if in response, and I pulled away with a little cry as ecstasy exploded inside me. Dante’s arm around my waist held me up, strong and unyielding, as I trembled under my climax.
“I do. That’s the problem,” he growled. Suddenly he let go of me and took a step back. I clung to the window sill to keep from falling to the ground. I turned around, my pulse still pounding in my veins, but Dante was already leaving the room.
What had just happened?