that.”
* * *
“This thing is fucking annoying,” she said after another round of sex that evening, wiggling her leg with the ankle monitor in the air. It had bothered me too the few times I’d come into contact with it during sex, but I wouldn’t risk taking it off. Not only would Luca blow a gasket, I’d also have to supervise Gianna myself 24/7 without the monitor.
“You’ll get used to it.” I tried to pull her against me but she slipped away, moving to the edge of our bed.
“No cuddling as long as I have to wear this thing,” she said.
I laughed. “As long as you don’t ban sex.”
“Maybe I will do that.”
I moved my hand down from her stomach and ran a finger over her clit. “Why would you want to punish yourself like that?”
“You are an arrogant bastard. Maybe you think your cock is magic, but let me tell you something: it isn’t.” She didn’t shove my hand away from where it was stroking her. Maybe she didn’t notice but she’d even parted her legs a bit more to give me better access. I lightly traced her soft folds. I loved her silkiness and the way her body responded to me. I didn’t increase the pressure, only lightly brushed my fingertips over her pussy. She was probably still oversensitive so I needed to be careful if I wanted to guide her toward another peak. Her lips parted and her breathing quickened ever so slightly. I leaned over her and sucked her nipple into my mouth. Pushing her over the edge this time was ever better because I wasn’t busy with my own lust. I could completely focus on Gianna, her labored breathing, hooded eyes, hardening nipples as she succumbed to her orgasm.
I didn’t even care when Gianna turned her back to me afterward, trying to punish me by not reciprocating. I’d gotten what I’d wanted.
“You realize that sex is all there is between us, right?” she said angrily.
“Sex is important.”
“Sure, but it’s not all there is.”
“It’s not all there is,” I said, annoyed.
“Yes, it is, and there won’t ever be more. Don’t think I like you just because I like to fuck you.”
“Thanks for the heads-up,” I growled.
Gianna
I was still annoyed at myself during breakfast, especially because Matteo’s expression was far too smug despite my harsh words. Maybe he thought I’d been joking, or maybe he didn’t care.
My body had a mind of its own, always eager for his touch. It didn’t help that Matteo looked like a male model with his tight white shirt and messy black hair. He was sex on legs, and knew it.
“We are invited to dinner at one of the leading families this week, so Aria and you should probably go dress shopping.”
I dropped my spoon with the yogurt. “You want me to attend a social event with you?” I couldn’t believe he’d drag me into public so quickly. We’d been married for two weeks and the gossip mills were probably still going strong. “Everybody will be talking behind my back.”
Matteo shrugged. “I don’t give a damn what they think and they know better than to say anything in front of you or me.”
“I know those women, they won’t miss an opportunity to talk trash about someone, especially me.”
“Ignore them. It’s not like their opinion matters. They will always talk shit about you. That’s all they can do.”
I didn’t care what they said, but I’d never enjoyed myself at social functions and I doubted that would change any time soon. “I know, but I hate these gatherings. Everything about it is false. People who wouldn’t hesitate to thrust a knife into your back smile into your face if they hope to gain something from it.”
For a long time I’d thought I was anti-social and just didn’t like to be around larger groups of people but during my time on the run, I’d attended several parties and I’d never felt out of place. Even though I’d been pretending to be someone else then, I’d still felt truer to myself than I ever did around the people in our world.
“You’ll get used to them.”
“I don’t want to. That’s why I ran away.”
Matteo searched my face with a curious expression, then his lips twitched. “So you didn’t only run from me?”
“Don’t get your hopes up. You were definitely one of the main reasons,” I said.
“But not the only reason.”
I rolled my eyes and took another sip from my coffee. “Do I really have to attend the