“You don’t have to, Salvatore. Really, you don’t.”
I arch a brow and snort. “I don’t have to, but I will. You’re not going anywhere without a guard. Even if that guard is me. Nowhere alone, bambola. Not ever again.”
“Never again?” she breathes.
“Told you once already, did you not believe me?” I ask.
She shrugs a shoulder. “People say things, but honestly how is it even possible to never be alone again?” she asks.
She’s serious, and it’s cute as fuck. I lean back in my chair, watching her, my eyes never leaving hers as I just wait for it all to click into place.
“You’re going to go everywhere with me, all of the time, even to the bathroom, aren’t you?” she asks on a whisper.
“If I need to, then I will. Don’t underestimate my need to keep you safe.”
She doesn’t speak right away, she continues to just look at me, then she reaches across the table and covers my hand with hers. Glancing down, I see the ring winking back at me from the light in the restaurant and I see what she means, that thing is fucking huge.
“Salvi,” she whispers. Lifting my gaze from her hand to meet her eyes, I smile at her, but she has a serious expression on her face. “I know you’ll keep me safe, it’s why I came to you and nowhere else.”
Her words are like a double-edged sword through the chest. She’s saying she feels safe with me and that is amazing, but I couldn’t keep my own sister alive. I couldn’t protect her, not even being my sister, being part of the Zanetti famiglia could protect her. How the fuck I think I’m going to truly keep Rosana safe, I don’t have the first clue—but I’m going to try.
“Tomorrow we’re shopping,” I say, changing the subject again. “Do you want me to have Maci join us?”
Rosana smiles, taking her hand from mine and fuck me, but I miss it. I instantly miss the touch of her skin against my own. Clearing my throat, I shift in my seat and wait for her answer. She shakes her head.
“I liked today, just us,” she says as her cheeks tint pink.
It’s cute as fuck and sexy as hell all at the same time. I’ve never met a woman that could be both cute and sexy at once, but Rosana Macchio ticks both boxes and she is straight endearing.
Rosana Macchio.
Just thinking of her with my last name is another fucking reason I want to pick her up and fuck her on this table. It’s something else that’s sexy as shit, her with my last name—forever.
“Then we’ll go shopping tomorrow, just us. You get a list ready of stores and we’ll spend the day together.”
“You won’t hate that? Spending a day with me and shopping?” she asks.
I see a little twinkle in her eye, maybe she is secretly getting off on having me do something that she knows I’m not going to like but am willing to do it just for her—to satisfy her.
“I’d never hate a day with you, bambola, no matter what we do,” I offer with a wink.
Her face goes from pink to deep red, even sexier. Her gaze drops to the table, then she lifts it to meet mine. “Next time we’ll spend the day doing what you want to do,” she says, her voice low and husky.
“I’m going to hold you to that.”
Rosana licks her lips. “Promise?” she exhales.
This is a dangerous game, but I’m willing to play, mainly because I would be more than happy to consummate this marriage sooner rather than later.
It’s been a while since I’ve been laid, but even if I had sex with someone else yesterday, nothing on this earth could lessen the desire that I have for the woman sitting right in front of me.
“Promise.”
ROSANA
If Salvatore is always this way, attentive, sweet, kind and caring, I don’t understand why he’s single. Why he would even need to have a contracted marriage. He is not only kind, attentive, and sweet, he’s also handsome.
Okay.
He’s hot.
Just seeing him in his suit, I can imagine that what lies beneath it is even better and that’s saying something because he looks fantastic in his tailored suit. He places his hand on the small of my back as he guides me toward the elevator in his building.
Looking around, I inhale a deep breath, then let it out on a long exhale. I am no longer terrified, not now that I am with Salvatore, but I’m nervous and still scared for the future. I don’t know what Miguel is going to do once he realizes I’m gone, then when he finds me.
As big as New York is, there is no way that he won’t find me. Especially if his whole purpose was to fuck with Gavino and the Zanetti famiglia. This will be the first place he looks for me. Maybe not with Salvatore himself, but someone in the famiglia without a doubt.
“You’re, okay?” Salvatore asks, breaking my inner tumultuous thoughts.
The elevator car doors open, we step out together, but I stop and turn to him in the hallway instead of walking toward the front door that is just a few feet away. Clearing my throat, I tilt my head back and look up into his eyes.
“I’m okay, just nervous about dinner tomorrow,” I admit.
He watches me for a moment, then his lips curve up into a small smile. “Don’t be. I got you, Rosana, in all things.”
Licking my lips, I nod my head once and take a step backward. He is watching me, his smile still firmly in place. He takes a step toward me, then past me to the door. I watch as he slips his key inside and opens the door, holding it for me.
Walking past him, I make my way into the living room, unsure of what to do at this point. Tonight was wonderful, Salvatore is wonderful.
He’s saved me from a fate that I don’t even want to imagine. But it doesn’t take away the fact that I am very much pregnant with someone else’s baby and he very much married me as a favor.
“You looked amazing tonight,” he says softly as he locks the door, then turns to me.
His eyes scan my body as he loosens his tie, then unbuttons the top two buttons of his shirt and shows me a bit of his chest, including some dark chest hair.
It’s hot.
I have never been with someone old enough to really have much chest hair, so I’ve never thought about it much. But Salvatore is Italian, and he’s older. He has the hair, and it is sexy.
“Thanks,” I whisper. “You too.”
He chuckles softly, shaking his head as he takes one step toward me, then another, until he’s close enough to touch me.
Tipping my head back, I look up into his brown eyes and search them, wondering what is lurking behind them. He doesn’t show me, he’s closed off, but I hope that one day I can find out all of his secrets, and so much more.
“Time for bed, bambola,” he murmurs.
“Salvatore,” I breathe.
His eyes darken right before my own and he shakes his head once. “It’s been a long day, time for bed,” he repeats.
“I’m not sure I want to go alone after all,” I confess, taking a step toward him.
He doesn’t move, doesn’t even flinch as he watches me. In fact, it’s as if he’s as still as a statue. He watches me and I wait for his response. When he doesn’t say anything right away, I chance taking another step toward him and I’m just centimeters from touching him. So close that I can feel all of his body heat.
“If you don’t take your ass to your room and lock the door, then I’m not sure I can control myself, Rosana.”
“I’m not sure I want you to,” I admit boldly.
His eyes darken even more, they’re pitch black as he watches me and he is stone solid, he is like a marble statue. I bet if I touched him, his muscles would feel that way beneath my fingers too, like chiseled marble.
“You do not want me to fuck you right now. You’re scared, and a lot has happened. If I go up there with you, I’m going to take you as my wife and I am not going to be gentle. I’m going to fuck you into the mattress until you’re screaming my name. You’ll regret it in the morning and I’ll regret treating you that way.”
Pressing m
y thighs together, I’m not quite sure that I would regret anything he’s describing at all. I don’t push it though. He is wound tight and I have a feeling once the string is plucked a bit too hard, he is going to come completely undone.
“Good night, Salvi,” I whisper before I turn around and hurry toward his bedroom.
I decide not to poke the bear, even though everything he said sounds extremely enticing and exciting all at the same time. I’m not ready for anything right now. I’m married to him, but I need to come to terms with what has just happened to me.
The situation that I put myself in with Miguel, the situation that I am now in with this baby. Once I’ve sorted myself out, maybe I can attempt to have a real relationship with my husband, but until then, I should stay away just as he’s warned.
Chapter Six
ROSANA
I didn’t sleep.
Instead, I stared at the ceiling all night long until finally I just decided to get up and get moving for the day. After throwing up for a good ten minutes, I showered and got dressed for the day in my new clothes.
Tucking my white sleeveless shirt into the high waist of my khaki-colored pants, I let out a sigh as I cuff my pants before slipping my feet into another pair of gorgeous heels. These are nude and soft, out-of-this-world suede.
Fastening the brown belt around my waist, I reach for the coral blazer on the bed and slip it on before grabbing my purse and heading down to find Salvatore.
Today I’m supposed to be shopping all day, spending the entire day with a man who completely sends me in a tailspin just by looking at me. I don’t know how I’m going to stay away from him. I don’t know how I’m supposed to steer clear when all I want to do is beg for him to touch me—everywhere.
Before heading downstairs, I look over at the guest bedroom and notice that the door is open, and the bed is made. If I had to guess, it looks as if nobody slept in it last night at all. My heart starts to race, does that mean that he went to someone else?
I shouldn’t care, we aren’t sleeping together or anything, we’ve both made it clear that our relationship is just in name only, but why does my heart squeeze and my entire being ache at the thought of him screwing someone other than me?
Looking around the living room, I frown when I don’t see him anywhere. Staying still, I strain to listen for his voice. I don’t hear that anywhere, either. Where could he be? I think to myself, then I hear the front door slam behind me.
Spinning around, my entire body freezes at the sight in front of me. It’s Salvatore. He’s wearing just a pair of gym shorts and sneakers. He’s bare-chested.
Bare. Chested.
My lips part as I watch him walk through the door, using what looks like could be his T-shirt to wipe the sweat from his face.
He’s spectacular.
I was right. He looks like he’s been chiseled from stone. He’s not skinny, but his body is long and there is thick muscle stacked on thick muscle. It’s clear he enjoys food, but also works out, a lot. My fingers itch to touch him, and I have to ball my hand in a fist to keep from doing just that.
Salvatore grins when he realizes I’m standing right in front of him. “I’ll take a quick shower and change. We’ll go for breakfast, you hungry?” he asks.
I want to lick my lips, but I remember that I’m wearing a new shade of lipstick that I don’t want to mess up, so instead, I just nod my head. He winks on a chuckle and jogs past me and up the stairs. I turn around to watch him go and almost whimper at the sight of his muscular back and ass as he moves.
It’s not fair, not at all. He’s absolutely gorgeous and my weakness is good-looking cocky assholes. I have a feeling he can be all of those things. He is hot as hell, but I think he can be cocky, and an asshole too. He’s going to be the death of me.
How am I supposed to be married to him and not touch? Shaking my head, I pinch my eyes closed and repeat to myself over and over again that I’m supposed to take this time to heal. I’m pregnant with someone else’s baby.
No way does Salvatore want to be with me when someone else’s baby is inside of my body. Does he?
I mean he did say he wanted to fuck me last night and the way he said the word fuck sent waves of desire throughout my entire body.
I wanted that last night and I really want it this morning.
Walking over to the glass door that leads to the balcony, I don’t go outside, instead I look out at the city in front of me. It’s beautiful. As always.
I’ve always loved the cityscape scenery and all of the excitement it holds, potential and otherwise. But it doesn’t seem as grand as it used to, as thrilling. In fact, I feel like it’s far more exciting inside this condo than outside.
“Ready?” Salvatore’s voice calls out.
Turning my head, I look back over my shoulder at him. He’s jogging down the stairs wearing a pair of tailored navy slacks, deep brown gorgeous leather loafers, and a white shirt buttoned, the sleeves rolled up to his forearms with no tie. His hair is wet and combed back neatly. He looks absolutely perfect.
“I am,” I whisper.
He grins, walking over to me, and stops just a few feet away. He extends his arm and holds out his palm for me. I shouldn’t slip my hand into his.
But I do.
I should not get a shot of desire straight to my center when his warm hand curls around mine. But I do. I also should not secretly and silently beg him to kiss me. But I do. He doesn’t though.
His eyes darken slightly before they turn back to their regular shade of brown, then he turns and tugs me behind him. Together, hand in hand, we walk toward the front door. Slipping into the hall, he locks the door behind us, then we make our way to the elevator.
Once we’re inside the elevator car, I close my eyes and inhale. It’s a mistake. His scent is too strong in these close quarters, standing right next to him. I want to turn to him, inhale and then lick him from head to toe.
I can’t do this relationship without the physical. It’s just simply not possible. Shaking my head, I refuse to allow the thoughts to enter my head.
I remind myself that no man has ever made me come before. I’ve always had to take care of myself, so I can continue to do just that. I make a mental note to order a few toys online and it will alleviate all of this messiness.
With a nod of my head, the decision has been made. I’m going to get some toys and take care of this little attraction issue myself. That way, everything will be just us being roommates. A marriage in name only and I won’t have to worry about anything.
“You look like you’re thinking hard over there,” Salvatore murmurs.
And my plan goes to shit right there with one sentence, because his voice is like smooth husky sex. I want him. Looking up at him, I press my lips together and shake my head before I speak.
“I’m fine,” I lie.
His lips twitch, and the corner of his mouth pulls up as he watches me. The look is cocky as shit, and I knew he could be. He also knows that I want him, it’s obvious that I do and I hate myself a little for that, but I also don’t care because it is what it is at this point.
I’m physically attracted to my husband, so sue me.
SALVATORE
Sexual tension is real. I’ve never felt it like this before. Sure, when I was younger and had crushes on girls, it would be there, but this isn’t a crush on a girl sitting next to me in class. This is different. This is deep and wanting, the tension is so thick you could cut it with a fucking knife.
I watch as she tries on sexy as fuck clothes, then shoes, and now she’s looking at bags. I don’t know how much money I’ve spent today, and I don’t fucking care either. I would spend every last dime I had to make her smile the way she has all day today.
“You hungry?” I ask when I look at my watch and notice it’s well after three in the afternoon.
We ate a huge breakfast this morning, then had sandwiches at a café for lunch, but she looks a little pale. I’m thinking she may need a break, we’
ll get a pastry somewhere, and a drink. Rosana sets the handbag down on the table and looks back at me.
“I am. Tired too,” she admits.
“Are you admitting that you’ve shopped until you’ve actually dropped?” I ask with a grin.
She rolls her eyes to the ceiling, a smile firmly planted on her lips. “I think I have,” she admits.
“Do you want that one?” I ask, pointing to the bag.
She looks back at the bag, reaching out to touch it, but lets her hand drop. “It’s gorgeous, but you’ve already bought me so much and I have a few bags to get me started.”
Lifting my hand, I wave the sales associate over. “Ring up this bag please.”
Five minutes later, bag in hand, we leave the store. There is a pastry shop just a few doors down, so instead of going to the car, I guide Rosana down the street. When we arrive, I notice that there is quite a bit of outdoor seating.
Holding out a chair for her, I help her to her seat. “Thank you,” she murmurs.
“Are you in a mood for anything? Looks like they have cupcakes, scones, cookies, things like that.”
“Cupcakes?” she asks, her voice rising just a touch.
Laughing, I nod. “From what I can see inside the shop, there are some thick frosted cupcakes. Chocolate?”
“How did you know?” she asks.
Chuckling, I give her a wink. “You murdered those poor chocolate chip pancakes at breakfast.”
Her eyes widen and she blinks before she lifts her hand to her chest, as if I’ve offended her. She smiles when she speaks her next words and I know that she isn’t angry at all.
“Me? I don’t think so.”
Shaking my head, I walk away from her, slipping into the shop and stand in line behind two other people who are ordering.
Looking back at Rosana, I watch her as I wait for my turn. It’s odd, being just feet away from her feels too far. I feel like the only way that I can protect her is to be right next to her. As if she isn’t safe sitting just a few feet away from me.
Becoming her Salvation (Zanetti Famiglia Book 7) Page 5