I shrug. “Yeah, just a bit tired, is all. It’s been a long drive.”
He nods. “I’m taking us a long way in case someone tries to follow us.” He stretches slightly, and I hear his spine click into place. God, that is sexy.
We walk into the hotel room, and I rummage through my luggage to find my nightie and toiletries. “Once we get to Pennsylvania, I’ll have to find a laundromat to wash our clothes.”
“I’ll have someone take care of it,” he says. “I don’t want you out on the streets more than necessary.”
I frown. “So, I’m going to be cooped up all day?”
He sighs. “Amelia, don’t make this more difficult than it already is.”
I look up at him. He’s not that far from me. Since last night he’s been looking at me as though he would take every inch of me and worship it. I can’t help but lean up to him and press my lips against his. It might be the wine, but I need to taste him. We kiss softly at first, small kisses over and over again, until I press my lips firmly against his and swipe my tongue over his lips to gain entry.
His tongue slides out to dance with mine, and soon, he pulls me against him, gripping my waist. I can feel his semi-hard dick against my upper leg as the kiss becomes more passionate. I slide my arms around him and run my fingers through his hair, messing it up as I grip it and tug, silently begging him for me.
He pulls away slowly and looks down at me with an expression I can’t translate.
“Amelia are you sure you want to do this?” his eyes are searching mine, and I lean up again, but he stops me this time. His burning gaze holds mine, and he murmurs, “Do that again… Kiss me again, lean into me and beg for me with your body and I won’t ignore it like I did in Maryland. Submit to me, and I will consider you mine again, that you want to be mine again. That this won’t just be a transactional marriage, we will be lovers.”
I bite my lip and stare at him, thoughts racing through my mind.
“I’ve told you what I want. You can’t tease me like this. Make your choice, kiss me or back away.”
Chapter 22 - Frankie
There is no going back from this, not this time. I’m not going to let her toy with my feelings just because she has an itch she needs to scratch. The reality of the matter is that she’s either mine or she’s not, but one way or another, this game needs to end.
If she chooses me, I will not let her go, not this time. I will possess her in every way, and I will protect her. She will be mine, my wife, the love of my life. She knows how I feel. I can’t be any blunter than I have been. It’s up to her now.
The night we slept together in Maryland was everything to me. I felt as though a piece of my soul that was missing had been stitched back together with me. It might sound sappy, but it’s the truth. I felt like I was home in her arms, with her in mine. It’s meant to be, or it’s not.
She pretended it was nothing, and I allowed that. I allowed her to act as though what we had meant nothing, and I won’t let that happen again. If she wants me, she has to commit. There are no two ways about it.
I step back and watch her. “If you want to be mine, then come here and declare it.”
This isn’t going to be a one-night, every now and then thing. If she wants this, truly wants this, she’s going to have to come over here and kiss me. Then I’ll finally know it’s meant to be and that we can start our lives as one, together, forever.
I see a look on her face as though she’s come to her senses. It unsettles me, but she blushes. She turns away from me and goes to her bed. No word, not even a goodnight. I get into my bed and turn off the light.
It’s her decision. I will never force her to be mine. As much as it hurts now, at least I know for sure, and I can now guard my heart and my feelings. This is just a marriage of convenience, and that is all it will ever be.
I try to sleep, but there’s a dull ache in my chest. It’s like I’ve been spurned, and now only half my heart resides in my chest. The other half is asleep in the bed opposite mine.
I eventually fall asleep, and when I wake up, she’s already dressed. She’s sitting on the bed, reading a book. She looks so beautiful, but that’s not the sort of thought I can think of anymore.
The decision is made.
I get up, go to the bathroom, and prepare for the day.
I take out the secured laptop and check on my emails. Alessandro has explained where I need to go first and what he needs me to sort out.
It feels so weird not to be able to make these decisions for myself. I’ve worked hard for my position in the family, and now I’ve lost that as I’ve lost her. And it’s all because of her. Ever since I bumped into her, my life has turned upside down, and nothing has gone right.
Maybe this decision is for the best.
We spend the day mostly in silence. She asks me if she can order room service and if I want anything, but that’s about it, really. I respond to Alessandro about some emails and work that needs to be done and then I take a nap. I’m driving at night this time and need to be rested. Before I do, I tell her not to leave the room, and she doesn’t seem to because when I wake up, she’s still there.
“I’ve ordered dinner,” she says. “So, we can eat before we hit the road.”