Fragile Longing

The other men gave me curious looks.

“I promised Sofia to pick her up at half past.”

Pietro smiled. “Don’t make your wife wait on your first day. I’ll pay.”

“Will you and your family be joining us for dinner tonight, Dante?”

“No, I’m afraid I have to return to Chicago. I have a meeting with Senator Clark early in the morning.”

I inclined my head and strode away. When I crossed the lobby toward the restaurant, Emma, Anna, and Sofia left the restaurant.

Emma’s face lit up when she saw me. Anna looked less pleased to see me. Sofia had probably shared details of our night with her, which didn’t sit well with me. I’d ignored Marco’s messages asking for details.

I bent and hugged Emma.

“Are you okay?” she whispered.

“Always.”

I straightened and held out my hand for Sofia. She embraced Anna before taking my hand. Anna gave me a tight smile, warnings flashing in her eyes. I ignored her subtle threatening tactics.

“Are you ready to go? With your family coming over for dinner, we should be back in time for you to meet the staff.”

Sofia nodded. She waved at Emma and Anna then followed me. I squeezed her hand, searching her face. “How was lunch?”

“Good. Nobody tried to interrogate me.”

“They probably hoped you’d share tidbits without prompting.”

“There isn’t really much to share,” Sofia mused as she met my gaze.

“Yet,” I murmured. “But I’m willing to change that whenever you’re ready.”

She tilted her head but didn’t say anything. A small part of me regretted that I’d kept my control last night.

The drive passed mostly in silence. Sofia seemed lost in her thoughts, and I wasn’t used to having to work for a woman’s attention like that, even if Sofia was more than worth it. “I want to show you the city tomorrow after breakfast. Indianapolis isn’t a tourist magnet, but there are quite a few things to do.”

Her brow furrowed adorably. “Sure.”

Fuck, I wanted the giddy, infatuated girl back. This cautious version made me feel out of my element. Maybe that was what she wanted. Sofia was clever.Dinner with Sofia’s family was a pleasant affair as usual. Even Samuel suppressed the lingering hostility between us. After they left and the staff finished their shift, we were once again alone. I gestured at the fireplace. “Would you like me to light a fire? We could have a glass of wine.”

“I’m kind of tired,” she said. “I’d like to go to bed, but if you want to stay up, I don’t mind.”

I got the feeling she’d prefer if I stayed downstairs so she could fall asleep alone, but I wouldn’t allow her to put more distance between us.

“I’ll join you,” I said, setting my hand on her back as we headed upstairs. She didn’t pull away, and I didn’t exactly get the impression that she loathed my touch. Maybe she wanted to hate it, but I doubted she actually did.

I loosened my tie as soon as we entered our bedroom and dropped it on the bench in front of the bed. Sofia eyed me curiously as I began unbuttoning my shirt. I had no intention of hiding in the bathroom whenever I had to change. We were married, and while I wouldn’t touch Sofia unless she wanted me to, she’d have to deal with me being in different states of undress in her presence.

Sofia moved toward the window and looked out over the grounds. Then she surprised me by reaching for the zipper at her back and pulling it down. I followed as inch after inch of her smooth skin came into view. She turned around, not looking my way, and casually shrugged out of her dress, letting it pool to the floor as if she undressed in front of me every day.

Despite her played ignorance to my attention, the faint tinge of pink on her cheeks betrayed her. Fuck, I couldn’t take my eyes off her in her red lace underwear. Red suited her perfectly. She ran a hand through her hair then slanted a look at me. Her expression was probably meant to be blasé, but I noticed the nerves flickering in her eyes. I had to hold myself back from crossing the room and pulling her against me. Instead, I calmly continued unbuttoning my shirt and shrugged it off before I unbuckled my belt and stepped out of my pants.

Sofia watched me for a moment, then she slipped into the bathroom. I took a deep breath before I followed her. “Do you mind if I get ready as well?”

Sofia had her toothbrush in her mouth and shook her head. I stopped at the sink beside hers and began brushing my teeth. I watched her eyes travel down my body in the mirror. I had trouble not looking at her, especially with the way her nipples puckered under the thin material of her bra. She finished before me, and when I followed her into the bedroom a little later, her back was to me as she pulled her nightgown over her head. She was wearing only those tiny silk panties beneath it. My cock sprang to life. I didn’t bother hiding my arousal as I got into bed beside Sofia. She wanted proof that I desired her and if getting an erection just from watching her in nightwear wasn’t enough, I didn’t know what might be. I stretched out on my side, facing her. There was an arm’s-length between us. Sofia draped the blankets up to her shoulders before she looked at me.