“Sure. Take your time.” He falls onto the edge of the bed, his arms resting on his knees.
All this time, he’s acted like he doesn’t want me, but he can’t control himself anymore. He can’t even control his lack of patience.
I exit his room and enter mine, grabbing one of the bags I brought home today from shopping.
I knew I would have my way one way or another, so I bought something for him.
“You really know how to drive a man crazy.” His voice travels through the hall as I let out a laugh.
I take my dress off and throw on the red lace I bought today.
Believe it or not, Enzo helped me pick it out.
I chose not to wear a red dress to piss off Giovanni, so that I could make it up to him this way.
Enzo thought I was being ridiculous, but since I am to be the wife of a Don, it’s not like he had any choice in the matter.
I throw on a sheer white cardigan as I walk back across the hall into his room. I lean against the frame of the door as he looks me up and down, his mouth almost dropping to the floor.
“Fuck,” he mumbles, covering his mouth. “Did you buy that today?”
“When else would I wear something like this, Gio?”
“You know I respect you, right?” He walks over and looks down at me, my cheeks heated by his stare.
He pulls me in toward him, lifting me off the floor again.
“Just keep that in mind, please.”
He lays me on my back, his lips leaving a trail of warm kisses down my stomach. “Gio?”
“Yes,amore mio?”
“How many women have you been with?” My question throws him off.
“They don’t matter.”
He doesn’t move me as his hands roam up and down my body, halting on my breasts.
“Ever since the wedding, Nina. No one.”
His eyes fall to the side once he sees the disappointment in my eyes. I never expected him not to have been with anyone else, but I am envious of the other women he has been with.
“Are you still on birth control?”
I nod, wondering how he knows that, but then I remember that my personal business seems to be the talk of the town.
“Nina, you’re all there is for me.”
His words fill my heart with hope. I know that when I marry him, it will either be a business agreement or a love story.
I want to ignore what everyone has told me about love. They all say it’s a ridiculous idea I put in my head by watching too much television and reading too many books. But being with Gio makes me believe that anything is possible.
I pull him down by his tie, tugging down his pants.
Unlike the other times, he allows me to pull them off.
I bring my lips to his, wanting to taste him again. The sweet taste of Giovanni—rum and mint. A taste I could never get tired of.