Shadow Warrior (Shadow Riders 4)

Vittorio used the remote to start the fireplace and indicated one of the deep, very comfortable-looking chairs. She sank into the seat and all but sighed. She had the feeling that she could live there for months without knowing what each individual piece of furniture was like or what each room was used for. She was always discovering new things, almost as if she was on a great adventure.

“This house is so incredible, but it’s really what you’ve done with it that makes it so special.” The house was intricate and complex with the sprawling mix of styles, the turret and patio beneath it the center, and the arms going out in either direction. Inside, Vittorio preferred simplistic designs, sometimes almost stark, but his décor worked and was always the most comfortable, with chairs she wanted to sink into and just stay in.

“I’m glad you like it. I was hoping you would.”

“How could I not?” She brushed back the tendrils of red hair spilling around her face. She’d put it up in a topknot, the way she did whenever she was going to take a bath or sit in a hot tub, but it was already trying to slip loose.

The moment she lifted her hand to her hair, her breasts rose and fell, drawing his immediate attention. Grace held her breath, watching his eyes, watching the way the firelight caressed his face. He looked haunted. She leaned toward him, uncaring that her breasts spilled forward, swaying with her every movement.

“Vittorio, I can tell something is wrong. Just please tell me. If you’ve changed your mind, I won’t lie, it will break my heart, but saying it straight out is far better than me having to guess.”

Vittorio sat back in his chair and steepled his fingers. “Why would you think that, Grace? Even for a minute? You should have every confidence in yourself. Surely I’ve managed to convey how much you matter to me.”

The disappointment in his voice and on his face brought the unexpected burn of tears. His response wasn’t exactly a reprimand, but he was right, and she felt the sting like a lash. Of course he’d be disappointed when he’d done nothing but show her that she meant the world to him. There wasn’t a moment that they were together that he wasn’t touching her, kissing her or telling her she was incredible.

He made it very clear he respected her job. He was unfailingly kind to Katie and always left them to their work after making certain they had refreshments. As the Midnight Madness charity event was coming up very fast, things were getting intense. Grace had to see to a multitude of details, as she always did before any event, large or small. Vittorio, no matter how busy, and he had an office he worked out of—although she didn’t know what he did—always saw to her comfort as well as that of her guest.

“Grace?” Vittorio prompted. “Tell me where this insecurity is coming from.”

He deserved an answer, she just wasn’t certain she had a clear one for him. “I’m sorry, Vittorio. You certainly aren’t the cause of my insecurities. I was just thinking, as we came here from the hot tub, that you make me feel so feminine and sexy.”

“You are feminine and sexy.” His voice was dark with lust. “You’re also clever and smart. You’re strong. You’re the epitome of a woman, and I know I’m extremely lucky to have you. I want you to get to a place where you know that, too.”

She nodded, knowing he wouldn’t like that she didn’t give him a verbal answer. Vittorio required a spoken answer so there was no miscommunication. He didn’t ask many things of her and answering shouldn’t be that difficult—but she didn’t always know why she withdrew and curled into herself.

“Grace.”

One word. Her name. He could say a multitude of things just by his inflection alone. Always soft. Always low, but so much meaning. This was a clear warning.

“I feel strong and worthy of you most of the time. I do. You give me confidence all the time and you do show me that I’m important to you.”

“I show you that you’re the center of my world, Grace, because that’s exactly what you are. I don’t like you to question that because it means I’m failing you in some way.”

Horrified, Grace shook her head. “Vittorio, no. It isn’t you. You’re amazing, truly wonderful. Every single day I wake up I’m astonished that I could actually fall asleep. You gave me that ability. I can’t remember a time when I felt safe, and you’ve given that to me as well. I lived my life in total terror, now it’s a form of paradise. Believe me, I’ll never take you or how we live here for granted.”

She ducked her head for a moment, afraid how he would take the rest of what she had to say. “There’s always going to be a part of me that is that little girl no one wanted. Not my parents, not grandparents, not a foster family. No one came forward to adopt me after the first family when there was an accident that killed the father and the mother turned to drinking.” She’d been young, but she remembered the pain of being taken away and put in another home. It had been wrenching and frightening and she’d felt as if something was wrong with her that no one wanted her.