Ruthless Monarch

“No, someone kept me up too late.”

“I think you have it backward. You’re the one who kept me up.”

“Let’s agree to disagree.”

“Do you have to work today?” Her voice is soft and tentative.

I shake my head. “Actually, I’ve taken the week off.”

“You have?” Her eyes flare with shock.

“Don’t act so surprised.”

“And what are you planning to do?”

My lip tips into a smirk. “You, of course, all day, every day, for the next seven days.” The sound of her fork dropping on the tray is almost comical.

“Don’t worry, I’ll give you a few breaks.”

“You'll kill me if we don't have breaks.”

“I don’t think you give yourself enough credit. I think you could handle me.”

“So this is our honeymoon of sorts?”

“We aren’t going anywhere. It’s too much of a logistical nightmare, especially with the snow, so instead, I’m sending everyone away. Only the security I need will be staying behind.”

“What will we do?”

“Cook, clean, fuck.”

“You’re incorrigible.”

“But that’s what you like about me.”

“It truly is.” She laughs before bringing the fork back up to her mouth and taking another bite. When she does, she closes her eyes and enjoys the taste and aroma that waft up from the pancakes.

“Are you sure you don’t want any? You said you weren't going to work out again, so you can share my pancakes with me.”

“I’ll only share your pancakes if you let me feed you,” I say to her.

“Okay.”

24

Viviana

* * *

We spend the better part of the day getting acquainted with each other’s bodies. I know we did that last night, but yesterday the lights were off. Today, they aren’t.

Which means there’s a lot more to explore. For a man who touched every inch of my body, it’s like he’s never done it before to me.

He savors every minute.

It’s like he can’t get enough of me, but that’s okay, because I can’t get enough of him either.

It’s funny, I don’t think I’ve ever been so comfortable with anyone in my whole life. Obviously, I’m not including Julia in the sentiment, seeing as I’m not having sex with her, but surprisingly enough, I am at ease with Matteo.

It’s not just that I feel safe with him. It’s not just that he plays my body like an instrument that he adores. It’s the fact that even with our differences, even with the manner in which I’ve come to be here, I feel like he listens to me when I speak.

No man I’ve ever known in the past has ever really heard me. I mean, it is pretty obvious I have daddy issues, and in the past, I’ve always picked a bad boy because of said “daddy issues,” but this feels different.

I’m not ignorant. I’m not stupid. I know that he is unlike any other man in the world. I know what he does for a living. Hell, I know he’s not a good man. But it’s like, at this very moment as he trails kisses down my spine, and I can barely comprehend what I’m even thinking, I know he’s a good man for me. And isn’t that what’s important? How I feel when I’m with him.

He kisses a trail, and then he stops right above my shoulder blade.

“Are you hungry?” he asks, hovering over my body.

“That depends on what you’re offering,” I joke.

“I’m talking about food, Viviana.” It doesn’t matter how many times he says my name. It always brings a fresh wave of butterflies to take flight in my belly.

“In that case, it depends on what you can cook. Because I guess I should tell you this now . . .” I grimace. “I don’t cook. Like at all. I can’t even make a peanut butter and jelly sandwich.”

Matteo lets out a boisterous laugh.

“Well, then it’s your lucky day. Because not only can I cook but I very well may make the best sandwiches ever, and I have a specialty of making peanut butter and jelly sandwiches.”

I look over my shoulder, and I can’t help the smile that spreads across my face.

This man is the complete opposite of how he is with everyone else. He’s different when he’s with me. He’s playful and funny. It’s hard to reconcile the two versions of him. I have a strong feeling that he doesn’t show this side to that many people. Maybe he shows it to Lorenzo.

Maybe he laughs and jokes. But it wouldn’t surprise me if he didn’t. There are too many variables in his work life for him to show this side. Too many enemies, all eager to take his position. In the little time I’ve known him, I can tell this. Also after speaking to my father about him, the way my father guns after him, I know, but if my father had a moment in which he could pull the trigger and take out Matteo without any consequences, he would. That doesn’t sit well for me. I do need to start thinking about how I’m going to handle my dad. Seeing as this is my impromptu honeymoon, although more like a staycation, I don’t want to ruin this moment. I don’t want to tarnish it by bringing up the big elephant in the room.