“This thing is damn annoying,” she said after another round of sex that night, waving her leg with the ankle monitor in the air. It had bothered me, too, the few times I had come in contact with it during sex, but I wasn’t going to risk taking it off. Luca would not only blow the gasket, but I would also have to personally supervise Gianna 24/7 without the monitor.
“You’ll get used to it.” I tried to pull her against me but she slid off, moving to the edge of our bed.
“No cuddling as long as I have to wear this thing,” she said.
I laughed. “As long as you don’t forbid sex.”
“Maybe I will.”
I moved my hand away from her stomach and ran a finger over her clitoris. “Why would you want to punish yourself like that?”
“You are an arrogant bastard. You may think your cock is magic, but let me tell you something: it’s not. She did not move my hand away from where she was stroking it.
Maybe she hadn’t noticed, but she had also opened her legs a little wider to give me better access. The light traced her soft folds. I loved her silkiness and the way her body responded to me. I did not increase the pressure, just lightly brushed her pussy with my fingertips. She was probably still hypersensitive so I had to be careful if I wanted to guide her to another peak. Her lips opened and her breathing quickened slightly. I leaned over her and sucked her nipple into my mouth. Pushing her over the edge this time was even better because I was not busy with my lust. I could concentrate completely on Gianna, on her labored breathing, her half-closed eyes, her hardened nipples as she succumbed to orgasm .
I didn’t even care when Gianna turned her back on me later, trying to punish me by not reciprocating. I had gotten what I wanted.
“You do realize that sex is all there is between us, right?”
he said angrily.
“Sex is important.”
“Sure, but it’s not everything.”
“It’s not all there is,” I said annoyed.
“Yes, it is, and there will never be more. Don’t think I like you just because I like fucking you.”
“Thanks for the warning,” I growled.
Gianna I was still angry with myself during breakfast, especially because Matthew’s expression was way too smug despite my harsh words. Maybe he thought I was joking, or maybe he didn’t care.
My body had a mind of its own, always eager for his touch. It didn’t help that Matteo looked like a model with his tight white shirt and messy black hair. He had sex on his legs, and he knew it.
“We are invited to dinner at one of the most important families this week, so you and Aria should probably go shopping.”
I dropped my spoon with the yogurt. “Do you want me to attend a social event with you?” I couldn’t believe she would drag me out in public so quickly. We had been married two weeks and the gossip factory was probably still going strong.
“Everyone will talk behind my back.”
Matthew shrugged. “I don’t give a damn what they think, and they know better than to say anything in front of you or me.”
“I know those women, they won’t miss a chance to say bad words about anyone, especially about me.”
“Just ignore them. It’s not like their opinion matters. They will always badmouth you. That’s all they can do.
I didn’t care what they said, but I had never enjoyed social functions and I doubted that would change soon. “I know, but I hate these gatherings.
Everything is fake. People who wouldn’t hesitate to stick a knife in your back are smiling in your face if they hope to get something out of it.
For a long time I thought I was antisocial and simply didn’t like being around large groups of people, but during my time on the run I had attended several parties and never felt out of place. Even though I was pretending to be someone else then, I still felt more true to myself than I had ever felt with people in our world.
“You’ll get used to them.”
“I don’t want to. That’s why I ran away.”
Matthew peered at my face with a curious expression, then his lips twitched. “So you didn’t just run away from me?”
“Don’t delude yourself. Surely you were one of the main reasons,” I said.
“But that’s not the only reason.”
I rolled my eyes and took another sip of coffee.
“Do I really have to attend the dinner?”
Matteo got up from his chair and surprised me with a quick kiss on the mouth. “Yes. I won’t suffer all this alone now that I have a wife who can share my anguish. Do what I do when I have to talk to idiots, imagine what it would be like to cut off their heads.”
Despite how many times I had rebuffed him, Matteo seemed intent on making things work between us. Why did he have to be so stubborn? Couldn’t he finally get tired of me and give me a chance to get away? “It’s easy for you to say, but not all of us are in the habit of killing people.”
Sid’s images wanted to anchor themselves in my brain, but at that moment I could not bear them and cast them out.
“Then imagine what it would be like to see me kill people who annoy you.
After all, as your husband, it is my duty to kill your enemies. Matthew smiled his arrogant smile, his eyes lit up with humor. My stomach churned fearfully, and I immediately looked away from him and emptied my cup.
“I’ll go to Aria and talk to her about going shopping. After all, I have to be a good wife,” I said mockingly, but somehow it felt wrong. My emotions were confusing me, everything about my new situation did.
“You should probably buy some new clothes,” Matteo said as he holstered his gun.
“Is that an order?”
“I didn’t know it was necessary to order a woman to buy clothes. Isn’t that your favorite hobby?”
“Really?” I almost laughed. “Not all women are the same.”
“Oh I know.” There was that smile again.
My eyes lingered on his gun, trying to remind myself that he was really the one. The smile that made my stomach flutter was just a mask.
I stood up suddenly. “Are you and Luca going to be gone all day again?”
“Why? Are you and Aria planning another getaway?”
“Ahah,” I murmured, then lifted the leg of my jeans, revealing the black ankle bracelet. “I can’t, remember?”
“It doesn’t stop you from making plans. Don’t tell me you’re not still thinking of running away?”
I thought about lying but opted for the truth instead. ” Of course I’m thinking about it. Did you think that good sex and a ring on my finger would suddenly change my mind?
“Just good, huh?”
I huffed and headed for the elevator. Matteo joined me inside, his eyes resting on my hand.
“You’re wearing your ring. I thought you’d throw it away at the first opportunity.” I peered at the gold band with the thin diamond line. “Did you carry it with you the whole time you were chasing me?”
Matthew smiled as if he knew I was avoiding his question, and I was. I hadn’t even thought about throwing the ring away. It seemed such a waste. At least I hoped that was the only reason.
“Of course,” he said. “I always knew I’d catch you sooner or later, and I knew I’d have to make you my wife before you ran away again.”
Her confidence was infuriating. She was also incredibly sexy. I was glad when the elevator doors opened and I could get away from Matteo’s smile and my unwanted thoughts. Luca passed me with a simple nod and joined his brother in the elevator.
Aria’s welcome was much warmer. Her face was beaming as she walked toward me and hugged me. ” I still can’t believe you live so close to me. I really missed having you as a confidant.” “I guess there aren’t many trustworthy women around here,” I said, my blood boiling as I remembered how Luca’s cousin Cosima had tricked Aria into meeting Grace and Luca.
“Now that you’re here, I don’t care.” Aria looked at her elegant gold watch. “How about we go for coffee sometime and then go shopping? Luca said we were all invited to the Bardoni’s Christmas party.
I sighed. “Yes. Matteo told me I had to attend.”
“At least we can suffer together. Believe me, Luca is not too keen on that invitation either. Bardoni wants his son to become Luca’s Councilor because in the past the Councilor has always been one of the Bardonis, but Luca wants Matteo and no one else.
“So this party will be even more embarrassing than I thought. Everyone will plot against Matteo and me. Oh joy.
Aria smiled apologetically. “It won’t be that bad. Now let’s go shopping. I need a breath of fresh air.”
Of course, Romero accompanied us as we went out to buy clothes. Perhaps I would have had more fun if I hadn’t had to be careful not to flash my stupid ankle monitor every time I tried on a dress. From the look on one of the salesmen’s faces, I was pretty sure I couldn’t always cover the bracelet with the hem. I realized that for the past few weeks I had barely thought about escape. Too much had happened. And then there was Romero’s constant surveillance every time I went somewhere with Aria.
Also, the ankle monitor made it completely impossible. I would have to find a way to convince Matteo to take that thing off. Once this problem was solved, my desire to escape would probably return with full force.