The Scorsolini Marriage Bargain

“It is my body.” But the words came out breathy. His touch was doing things to her and he wasn’t even meaning to, she was sure of it.

Though casual affection was another thing she was not used to from him and didn’t know what to make of it now.

“Sì. It is your body…a beautiful, generous body that it is my privilege and responsibility to ensure you care for adequately.”

“You’re my husband, not my father.”

“Your father would have ignored your pain. I will not.”

He was right, but somehow that memory did not have the power to hurt her as it once had. “I don’t want your father upset.”

Claudio moved his touch from her nape to take her hand in his. He aligned their fingers, his long tanned ones dwarfing hers. “Your hands are so small, so delicate…so beautiful.”

The breath froze in her chest for a second and then she inhaled as her heart started tripping. He had commented many times when they were making love how much he adored having her hands on him, but never had he said anything outside the bedroom. “Um…your dad…”

Claudio clasped her hand in his and smiled, disconcerting her further. “Vincente is fine. At my request, he has spent several days longer in the hospital than the doctor initially recommended. During that time, he has been on bed rest and restricted from the phone, but he has been up and about, walking the corridors and visiting other patients since two days after the surgery. He is well on his way to recovery.”

“But he’s still weak.”

“Do not let him hear you say that.”

Therese had to acknowledge the justness of that warning. “It’s all Flavia can do to keep him in the hospital and resting for long periods.”

“Precisely. He would not thank you for trying to protect him at your own expense. I only thank God Mamacita decided now was the time to come back into his life because I do not think the rest of us would have been so successful.”

“They’re a good couple.”

“Yes. It is too bad they took so long to figure that truth out.”

“Infidelity isn’t something you can easily dismiss.”

“Not my father in himself or Flavia in him, I know…but she seems to have come to terms with the past as has he.”

“I’m glad.” She loved both proud people and was so happy they had found each other again.

“I also, but do not think you are going to derail this conversation. I have spoken to your doctor in Miami and he has agreed to fly here in four days to perform the operation.”

“You had no right to call him,” she gritted. “And I do not want to have the procedure here.”

Claudio glared right back at her, all affability gone, but his hold on her hand was still gentle…as if even in his anger he was cherishing her. “You had no right to keep your condition a secret from me. You could have had the surgery months past but for your attempts to do so.”

“I told you why I did that.”

“I do not agree with your reasons. You should have told me. This is the truth.”

She looked out over the grounds. They were sheltered from a view of the palace by trees and shrubbery, but she could see the spires rising above the treetops. “You are too arrogant for words sometimes.”

“Only sometimes?”

She laughed. She couldn’t help it. He was so unapologetic, but he was being bossy for her benefit. Not to hurt her and deep in her heart she knew that. “It only makes me mad enough to spit nails sometimes.”

“I cannot imagine you spitting anything, my proper little wife.” He spoke close to her ear, his lips settling in a gentle kiss against her temple before he pulled his head back.

It was a full three seconds before she could respond. Because she knew she had to fight the impact of that kiss, she forced herself to dwell on the unpleasant side of reality. “A proper wife could give you a child. I won’t be able to and if I have the surgery here, the whole world will know about it. You’ll be labeled heartless and selfish when we divorce.”

In a totally unexpected move, he grabbed her by the waist and lifted her onto his lap, then cupped her face so she had no choice but to meet his eyes. “There will be no divorce and if you attempt to leave me, I will be labeled worse than that.”

“What do you mean?” she asked and was embarrassed by how weak her voice sounded.

“You will not leave me, Therese.”

“You’re not talking kidnapping…you can’t be.” But by the look in his eyes, she could tell he was thinking about it. “That’s ridiculous, Claudio. You are not one of your marauding ancestors.”