that doesn’t necessary mean there won’t be whips.” He poured a teasing note into his voice but watched her closely.
She sat up straighter. “Vittorio, I’m not into pain at all.”
“That’s a good thing. I just told you I’m not into inflicting it on my woman. I want to bring you pleasure, not hurt you. Sometimes, gattina, playing can be very sexy.”
She was silent for a moment and then she visibly relaxed. “I’ll have to trust you on that.”
He was very pleased with her answer. He took a sip of his wine, wondering what he’d done right for the universe to send him such a gift.
“What about you, Grace? I’d like you to tell me the things that you feel you need in a relationship.”
“I want to feel loved,” she said without hesitation. “I want to know that my man loves me and isn’t looking at other women when I’m not with him. You’re extremely wealthy and used to women throwing themselves at you. You’ve dated gorgeous women and had any number of them. I’m not so certain I can measure up. I’m not exactly experienced.”
He sat back in his chair and studied her face. She was nervous about having sex with him and yet she’d still dressed the way he’d asked and when he’d made a very sexual demand of her, one most women might hesitate to do, she had been courageous enough to do it. She had really given thought to his deliberate mention of whips in the bedroom, and then put trust in him. He wanted to frame her beautiful face between his palms and kiss her senseless as a reward.
“You’re so naturally sensual, bella, you never have to worry about inexperience. Haven’t you heard the things I’m telling you about me? I want things my way in the bedroom. That means inexperience on your part is a plus. It allows me to teach you what I like and want. I can promise you that at the end of the day, I can give you everything you could ever want.”
She rubbed at the sling holding her arm, something she did when she was growing tired of the weight on her sore shoulder.
“Do you want dessert? Merry made her famous raspberry-lemon tart just for you.” He was tempting her on purpose, even though she was growing tired. He wanted her to get stronger and heal faster. The doctor had said she would need additional calories in order to not lose any more weight with the rigorous demands of physical therapy.
She nodded. “And coffee?”
He shook his head. “That would keep you up all night. You need to sleep.”
She ducked her head. “I haven’t slept much since I asked you not to stay in my room.”
He waited, deliberately not answering her. He had known she wasn’t sleeping. Even the doctor had commented on it, worried that she was wearing herself out. There was a short silence and finally she lifted her head.
“Why didn’t you tell me?” He kept his voice pitched low, conveying his disappointment in her. “Your health is paramount, Grace. You know that.”
“Yes, I know, I’m sorry. I was very confused about what your mother meant when she said I met some criteria that you needed for a partner. I was hurt,” she admitted.
“I’m sorry that hurt you, but you should have told me you needed me in your room to sleep.” He collected her plates and put them in a small bin Merry had given him for the dishes. She had eaten little of the salad, but half of the tostada. “Just so you know, the criteria my mother referred to don’t hold a candle to all the requirements I just laid out for you. As for being faithful, I’ve told you, that is something that is part of my code I live by. I would never take a vow with a woman and break it. Tell me what else you need to make you happy.”
“I want the kind of relationship where my man is my best friend. He’s the first person I want to share anything with, tell anything to, be with above anyone else.”
He flashed an encouraging smile. “I’m on board with that entirely.”
“I want children and I want my man to really be a father to those children, really participate in parenting. It’s imperative to me, since I never had it, to know my children will feel loved and important to us all the time.”
Vittorio nodded solemnly. “I agree one hundred percent. I didn’t have