Total pages in book: 77
Estimated words: 75472 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 377(@200wpm)___ 302(@250wpm)___ 252(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 75472 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 377(@200wpm)___ 302(@250wpm)___ 252(@300wpm)
Angelo doesn’t join me immediately, but instead, he walks to a side table where a bottle of whiskey stands. He pours the brown liquid into two tumblers, and picking them up, he brings a glass to me.
“Drink every drop. It will help settle your emotions.”
Like he cares about how I feel.
I down the alcohol to appease him, and it burns a path down my throat, making me cough while my eyes tear up.
Angelo takes a seat across from me, the coffee table between us. For a moment, he enjoys the whiskey before he rests the tumbler on his knee.
He looks at me, and I feel the punch of his intense gaze in the pit of my stomach.
“We need to discuss a few things.”
Yeah, we do.
He pulls the bowtie free from around his neck and tosses the black fabric onto the coffee table. Letting out a sigh, he relaxes back against the couch, and it’s the most casual I’ve ever seen him.
“You’ll be loyal to me.”
I nod because that’s a given.
“And I’ll be loyal to you.” My eyebrow lifts, and it has him asking, “Have you lost your ability to speak?”
“No.” Maybe it’s because of the nightmarish rollercoaster ride I’ve been on the past two weeks, but I can’t keep myself from snapping, “I wasn’t aware what I said mattered. Up until this point, I haven’t had any choices where my life is concerned.”
To my utter surprise, the corner of Angelo’s mouth lifts into a smirk. “You’ve always had a choice, Vittoria. Even tonight.”
A huff escapes me, and I shake my head. “Right. Either I marry you, or I die. Great choice.”
“That wasn’t the choice I offered you.” He leans forward and places the tumbler of whiskey on the coffee table before resting his elbows on his thighs. “You had a choice between marrying me or giving your virginity to me before being forced to marry another man.”
There’s a stab of heartache from how low Giorgio was willing to sink for money.
Angelo’s features tighten with an emotion I can’t place, then he says, “By marrying you, I kept you from suffering a worse fate.”
My shoulders slump, and I put the empty tumbler down on the table before covering my face with my hands.
If Giorgio had gotten his way…
I shake my head to rid myself of the dark thoughts.
Angelo is right, but I can’t bring myself to thank him, because it doesn’t feel like I have anything to be grateful for.
Lowering my hands, I meet his eyes again.
He stares at me for a few seconds, then says, “We will have a normal marriage.”
Sex…
My mind comes to a screeching halt, and I wrap my arm around my stomach as my lips part in a gasp. My voice is hoarse when I whisper, “We have to consummate the marriage.”
Angelo’s eyes narrow on me for a moment, but then the impossible happens, and his features soften with something akin to empathy.
He shakes his head once, then murmurs, “I’m not going to force you to have sex with me.”
It doesn’t matter. We’ve said our vows. I’m bound to this man until death do us part. It’s my duty as his wife to share his bed.
I turn my head and stare at the black screen of the TV as I say, “We have to consummate our marriage. It’s the right thing to do.”
“Look at me,” he orders.
My eyes snap back to him.
He shakes his head at me. “The last thing I want is a traumatized wife who feels I violated her. I’m too busy to deal with that kind of shit.”
Even though his words are cold, they offer me a sense of comfort.
I do have a choice.
I stare at Angelo…my husband, and whisper, “Thank you.”
A frown forms on his forehead. “For what?”
“Not forcing yourself on me.”
He slumps back against the couch, and when he rolls his shoulders, I hear a crack.
Whether I like it or not, we’re married. Honestly, if I had to choose between being married before losing my virginity or being forced to sleep with Angelo and then marrying another…there is no choice.
My tongue darts out to wet my lips before I say, “I’ve made a vow, and I intend to keep it. I’ll be your wife in every sense of the word.” When he just stares at me, I add, “But I have one request.”
“What?”
“No kissing me on the mouth.”
A frown line appears between his eyes as he mutters, “Why?”
“It’s the one thing I’d like to keep until I’ve developed feelings for you.”
He thinks about my request, then nods. “I’ll respect your no-kissing rule.”
“Thank you.”
When silence falls between us, I start to feel nervous and fidget with the silky fabric of my expensive gown.
Tilting my head, my eyes flit to Angelo, who’s still staring at me. “Did you buy this dress for me?”
He just nods.