Married to My Enemy

He smirked, disposing of the used condom. “Come on.” He brought me to my feet, and I had to hold onto him because my legs felt too weak after the wild round with him. “I want to play more with you in the shower. The night has just begun.”

My body had exploded with pleasure in ways I never knew were possible. And afterward, we’d fallen asleep on his king-sized bed.

As I slept that night, it was the happiest and saddest I had ever felt—happy to have experienced what I’d just gone through, and sad to know that it may be the last time I ever would again, in this capacity at least.

CHAPTER 7

Arianna

When my eyes fluttered open that morning, the bed was cold and empty. I stretched, my body nude under the silk sheets That’s when it hit me again what had happened.

It hadn’t all been just a dream.

I closed my eyes, somehow feeling both ashamed and pleased with myself as I let the night replay in my mind.

I can’t believe what I just did, I thought to myself.

Slowly, I sat up on the bed, clutching the sheets over my body, somehow feeling self-conscious despite the fact that Gio had seen and touched every inch of my body just hours beforehand. I yawned and ran a hand through my hair before another problem arose in my mind.

Swearing under my breath, I looked around his bedroom in search of a clock. It was early—still before seven o’clock. There was no doubt that my parents were going to be wondering where I was and why I hadn’t come home. They were probably worried sick and had called my phone a million times. And I knew if I didn’t report back to them soon, my brothers would be sent out to search for me.

Hastily, I climbed out of bed and pulled the sheets off with me, wrapping them around my body so that I could cross the room to retrieve my phone from my purse. As expected, I had a dozen missed calls and texts.

I quickly dialed my home phone number.

“Arianna! Ari—are you okay? Where are you?” my mother’s voice came out in a rush.

“I’m fine, Mama.”

“Why are you whispering?”

“Because Angela is still sleeping. I hung out with her all night and got tired and fell asleep at her place instead of driving back home. I’m sorry to have worried you.”

“Oh,” my mother said, sounding much more at ease. “Honey, you should have told us. I was about to call your brothers to tell them to see if they could find you.”

“I’m sorry, Mama. We were just having so much fun talking and…thinking about my wedding, I left my phone in my purse and didn’t hear it ringing.”

“Well, I’m glad you girls had fun. But you hurry and get back home soon. You’ve got a big day ahead, you know.”

My stomach turned a flip, but not in a right way. “I know, Mama. See you in a little bit.”

“Okay, sweetheart.”

I ended the call, feeling somewhat unnerved by how easily the lies had sprung from my lips. But there was no use thinking about it. My adventure had come to an end, and it was time for me to get back to the real world and the obligations before me.

I searched around the room for my clothes, finding them tossed haphazardly on the floor from where Gio had practically ripped them off me.

I could hear him stirring about from somewhere in the front of the apartment.

Quickly, I

unwrapped his black satin sheets from around me and placed them back on the bed.

“Morning.”

I gasped and gave a start at the sound of his voice. I spun around, finding Gio standing in the doorway and getting another eyeful of me as I stood before him, completely naked.

Heat rose to my face, and I crouched over, attempting to cover myself.