Alessio stalked toward me until he was standing in front of me, our bodies almost touching. “There is nothing wrong with that. You’re my woman. You have every right to appreciate my body and call it whatever you like,” he muttered in my ear, his breath tickling me there.
“And if you stop being stubborn, you can do anything you like with it too.” He placed a kiss on my ear, his tongue moving downward to my neck, leaving a wet trail. He kissed, licked, and sucked until it was almost impossible to refuse him.
“Alessio,” I breathed.
“You want my cock inside of you, don’t you? I know you’re wet right now, dripping for me.”
He was right. This infuriating man.
“Alessio.” Placing my hand over his chest, I pushed him away. “Behave. It’s only three days.”
“Exactly! Three fucking days of torture!” he growled, crossing his arms over his chest. “One day,” he tried to bargain.
Not happening.
“Nope. Three days.”
“One day, kitten. That’s all you’re getting.”
“No.”
“Fine! One day and a half.”
“No. Three days.”
“Ayla, stop being stubborn,” Alessio glared.
“You stop being stubborn. You said any punishment.” I glared back.
“Two days! That’s it. No more,” Alessio snapped.
“No.”
“Two days, Ayla. Whether you like it or not, I’m coming for you in two days,” he said, the promise clear in his eyes and voice.
Throwing my hands in the air, I huffed. “Fine! Two days of no touching.”
“Can you wait for that long?” he asked, coming closer again.
No. It was going to be torture.
“No,” I replied honestly. “You’re right. It’s going to be torture.”
Alessio sighed before wrapping his arms around me. “Then why?”
“Maybe I am still a little mad?” Returning his hug, I placed a kiss over his chest. “I forgave you. But that doesn’t mean I’m not still slightly hurt.”
“Okay. Two days,” he mumbled in my ear.
Alessio pulled back, and I leaned on my tip-toes, kissing him soundly on the lips. Pulling away, I pressed my palm over his chest. “I need to get back to work.”
He brought his hand up and trailed a finger down my cheek. “I’ll see you down for dinner.”
Chapter 17
I left Alessio in our room and joined Maddie in the kitchen. Without giving her any warning, I pulled her away from the oven and twirled us around. She looked surprised at first but quickly let out a laugh.
Coming to a stop, I hugged her tight before letting go. “I see everything went well,” she remarked.
“Yes. It was perfect. Maddie, he is simply amazing,” I gushed in utter contentment. “Sometimes I feel like I don’t deserve him. But I’m selfish. I don’t want to be without him.”
Maddie smiled, her face glowing with happiness. “I’m so happy for both of you. Don’t give up on him, okay?”
Shaking my head, I promised, “Never.”
It was a promise I was going to hold close to my heart. He was mine, and I was going to fight for him every day.
“I’m surprised you came down so fast.” Maddie raised an eyebrow at me before going back to the oven to remove the roasted chicken.
“Umm…yeah about that. Itoldhimhecan’ttouchmeforthreedays.” I said the words so fast they ran together before snapping my mouth shut in embarrassment.
“Huh?” Maddie asked, confused.
Sitting on the stool, I cleared my throat before speaking again. “I told him he can’t touch me for three days because I was still mad.”
Maddie stared at me for a second before busting in laughter. “You’re withholding sex? Oh my God, this is priceless.”
I shrugged. “But it’s two days now. He tried to bargain with me.”
“Of course. This is Alessio we’re talking about. I’m surprised he even accepted two days.”
“It was a hard bargain,” I agreed.
“I’m proud of you, girl,” Maddie said, her chest puffing out proudly. “Alessio needs to know what he did was wrong and won’t easily be forgotten.”
I nodded and helped her out. Maddie and I switched to small talk about anything and everything when I heard a very familiar voice.
My back straightened, and I saw Maddie freeze.
The voice came closer, and I held my knife tighter.
Nina.
What was she doing here?
I saw Maddie glaring at the doorway, and I took a deep breath. And then I heard her.
“Maddie,” she greeted. “I just need a glass of water.”
Maddie didn’t reply. Turning around on my stool, I faced her. She was wearing a pretty tight black dress that barely came to mid-thigh. Her red heels were pretty but so tall I wondered how she walked in them. Her blonde hair curled beautifully around her shoulders. Her face was glowing, her lips red with lipstick. In other words, she looked absolutely gorgeous.
Nina looked at me up and down, sizing me up before scoffing, rolling her eyes. “I’m surprised you’re still here,” she mumbled.
“What?” I asked, placing the knife down on the counter.
“After what you saw, I thought you would be all butt hurt and poor you would be running away in embarrassment,” she replied frankly.