“Get out!”
“Not what you were saying last night. Come here.” I put a hand over her lap and make like I’m going to pull her to me.
“Get away from me!”
Sitting up, I lean toward her and brush her hair away from her face. “You invited me to stay last night. Don’t you remember? You rolled onto your belly and spread those beautiful legs and begged me to fuck you.”
Her face burns beet red. “I didn’t beg you. I just…I was drunk. You took advantage.”
“Do you remember how hard you came on my dick?”
She remembers and she’s embarrassed so instead of answering me, she turns away. “What time is it?”
I check my watch. “Ten.”
She looks over at me, down at the outline of my erection beneath the blanket, then quickly up at my face.
“Look, whatever happened last night, I was drunk, and it’s done. We’re not doing that again. There’s no need. Your family even saw the sheets. Marriage is consummated. End of story.”
“No, not the end of the story. We will definitely be doing it again. And what’s more, you want to do it again. Don’t lie to yourself, sweetheart.” I push the blanket off and stand up fully naked.
Her gaze drops to my dick, which is hard, a state it is getting used to being around her.
“I’m not your sweetheart,” she says, trying to avert her gaze.
“You can look. I don’t mind.”
“Well, I do.”
“Come on. We’ll take a shower, then go down to breakfast. I’m sure you’re starving, and you’ll want something for your headache.”
“I don’t have a headache, and I’m not showering with you or eating with you.”
“You eat with me, or you don’t eat.”
“I hate you.”
I turn to walk away. “Not what you were moaning—”
She throws the pillow at the back of my head.
I grin, picking it up as I turn back to her.
“I wish I had a rock to throw at you,” she says.
“I’m going to pretend I didn’t hear that.” I toss the pillow back to her. She catches it, and I turn to go.
“Did you know that part?” she calls out before I get to the bathroom. “That they’d parade the sheets around?”
When I look back at her, I’m not grinning anymore. “It’s not a big deal. It’s done, and it’ll keep you safe.”
“So, you did.”
“My family’s traditions need to be honored.”
“Just say you knew, Damian.”
“I knew, Cristina.”
“You could have warned me.”
“And what would that have done?”
“What if I wasn’t a virgin? What would you have done then?”
“Punished your uncle.”
She looks confused. “What?”
“A part of the rules.”
“I don’t understand.”
“He was responsible for you until I came to claim you. So those eight years your father bought, the burden of raising you and keeping you…intact…rested on your uncle’s shoulders.”
“Then why did you want to have that doctor check me?”
“Because I’m sure you had boyfriends he didn’t know about.”
She doesn’t say anything.
“He got paid, of course.”
“The apartment renovations and our lifestyle. That was all you?”
I nod.
“He did it for money?” Her face falls. “My own uncle betrayed me for money?”
“There was more. He wanted custody of his kids. I assured that.”
“How?”
“I have some influence.”
“They’re with my aunt now, though. Simona is, at least, and Liam on weekends.”
“Our agreement lasted until your eighteenth birthday.”
She looks away, shaking her head. “This is crazy.”
“Yeah, it is.” I walk away then, into the bathroom, and switch on the shower. I take a piss while the water warms up, then step under the stream of hot water.
When I’m finished, I wrap a towel low around my hips and walk out into the bedroom. She’s still sitting on the bed, but she’s got a robe on and is hugging her knees to herself.
“Go get showered and ready. I’ll wait for you.”
“Are they all going to be down there?”
“Probably not. But you’ll need to get used to being around them. I told you, you’re safe now.”
“How am I safe? I don’t understand.”
I sit on the edge of the bed and look at her. Even after the night she’s had and hungover like she is, she’s pretty. But she needs to eat. She’s already lost a couple of pounds since being here.
“Did you hear what my father said to my brother?”
“That because of some rules he can’t touch me.”
“That’s right. No one can. You belong to me. You’re my wife. My property. Only I can touch you.”
“What year is this? Did we go back in time, and I’m not aware?”
I adjust the robe at her breast, tugging it closed, tugging her closer. “It’s what will keep you safe. Just like with those men at the party. They won’t touch what’s mine. If they do, they know there will be war.”
“Your brother kissed me on the mouth.”
My jaw tightens. “And he won’t do it again.”
“And all because you married me? Because I’m your property.” Her eyebrows rise so high on her forehead they disappear behind her bangs.