She finally understood the meaning behind the saying “seeing red.” “I am more serious than you canimagine, Luciano.”
“Perhaps you are. Perhaps you are just that out of touch with reality. You do realize a modern couple shares a bed before the wedding? Or does your choice of accommodations allow you to believe it is the year 1500?”
She hated that he could make her blush. That he should keep talking aboutbedsand that whole thing about her being a virgin.
How could hetell?
It didn’t matter.
“Wewill not be sharing a bed. Ever.”
“No,” he agreed so easily it made her want to stomp her foot like a child. “But people must think we are.”
“So you intend to spend the night in my room?”
He shrugged. “Unfortunately, I do not see any way around it.”
“You’remad,” she shot at him as her heart rattled around in her chest, and a heat she couldn’t seem to control crept into her cheeks. Because it was embarrassing to even consider. Embarrassing that people would think they were…
Embarrassment was the only explanation for this heat, for this skittering pulse inside of her. She didn’t know what else it could be. Refused to consider anything but humiliation.
Everything about this was a disaster.
“I seem to recall this being your idea,” Luciano said blandly. “In fact, I seem to recall you coming to my office and proposing to me.”
“Yes, but—”
“Then, take me to your bedroom,cara.”
* * *
Luciano hadn’t really planned on enjoying himself. But it took no effort at all to have her spluttering and red-faced. When for as long as he’d known her, she’d been an icy, impenetrable wall. He’d gotten a little peek behind it that first night he’d come here, but only the polish. Now, he was seeing an actual unraveling, not just a pair of glasses.
Who knew all it would take was a fake relationship, a kiss on the cheek and some suggestion ofbedsto break through her perfect mask?
But she would not be Serena Valli if she did not know how to rein herself in and carefully put that mask back in place. Her chin lifted, her eyes flashed, but other than that her expression was perfectly bland.
He found himself completely fascinated by this change. By the way she could wield such strength of character. It made him want to unwind it, again and again, perhaps even in unwise ways.
“Follow me,” she said briskly, then stalked out of the entry and deeper into her strange house. There were narrow, dark hallways, tiny windows that hinted at little light, and only when they reached the third floor did he realize she must have taken him through the back of the castle that was no doubt originally built for an array of medieval servants. Because the part he had been shown through the other night had been bright, opulent and cozy.
He wondered if it was a purposeful attempt at a slight—no doubt, really, when it was Serena doing the slighting. It amused him, in spite of himself. The little swipes she could take at him that she would no doubt deny.
Like stomping on his foot during their dance.
It did not fully make sense to him that he was enjoying her sparks of defiance. Perhaps because he’d once thought her blandly above such emotion.
Once at the top of the staircase, she led him down what would be a brighter hallway in the light of day since one wall was dotted with windows. The hallway was short, and only led to one door.
With the slightest of hesitations no one would have noticed if not looking for it, Serena pushed the door open. She flipped on a light, and he followed her into the room.
It was big and bright. One wall seemed to be made entirely of glass, and he could not make out the entire view it gave since it was dark outside, but there was water below. Right now, all he could see was a brightly shining moon and pretty starlight.
There was a truly spectacular ornate bed against one wall. Four posters, an array of comfortable looking and colorful blankets and pillows. He found himself transfixed by the idea of cold, uptight Serena cozying into that warm, cuddly bed.
But Serena did not look at the bed. She marched over to a door, jerked it open and stepped inside what appeared to be a very large closet. She reappeared, a little stack of folded clothes in one hand, before she crossed over to yet another door. The bathroom, he imagined.
She said nothing, just disappeared behind this door and firmly shut it behind her. He heard thesnickof the lock being engaged and laughed.
