“Had to use something to spread the jam,” he answers, seemingly amused by my question.
I could point out there are proper butter knives for that but my knife is spotless regardless. “Did you prepare this for me?” I ask, touched by the gesture.
“Well, the cookmadeit. I carried it upstairs.”
It still counts in my book. “Where is that poor girl they had with them?”
“She’s resting in a guest room on the main floor last I checked.”
“I should go see her,” I say, starting to rise. “She’s bound to be frightened and-”
“You will eat and drink some coffee, Caterina. It will help with the hangover. You can visit Matilde later.”
Matilde, such a pretty name for a girl trapped in a horror story. An exchange student from Sicily, she was nabbed by traffickers last week. I can’t imagine what she’s gone through. If those men were preparing to do what I think they were, I hope Alessio did kill them whether he’ll admit it to me or not.
Sipping coffee, I agree to my husband’s orders, not wanting to quarrel. I can go see her in a little while. Who would’ve thought I could feel so happy experiencing my first hangover? Who would’ve thought he’d bring me breakfast in bed? After taking a couple of bites of toast, I return to the coffee. The caffeine will hopefully give my brain a kick-start, and it’s not like I’m hungryenough to eat eight slices of toast. I study my husband as I sip. “You look tired.”
“Many late nights lately. I’m used to it,” he replies, sitting on the bed beside me and taking a slice of the toast for himself.
Embarrassed that Bibi’s taunting got to me, I hate that I made it another late night for him though I was enjoying our first date. Wearing my new sexy dress, I was surprised how empowered I felt. It was a thrill seeing the way his eyes drank me in when we arrived. Perhaps his strength helps me find my own. I still can’t believe what he did to me in that back office or how bold I felt preparing to return the favor. The interruption wasn’t exactly welcome but helping Matilde was far more important.
My brow furrows when I note the black velvet jewelry box hiding under a folded napkin on the tray. I didn’t notice it what with being preoccupied by toast and coffee and Alessio. “What’s this?”
“A gift.”
“For me?”
“Who else?”
My heart speeds up. Alessio has given me many pieces of jewelry since our betrothal, but this is the first time he’s here beside me when he gives it. It makes it extra special and, for once, I’m eager to see what he’s chosen for me.
The hinge swings back, and there's a gold chain inside with an unusual charm attached, a perfect facsimile of a human canine dipped in gold. “It’s, um… why a fake tooth?”
“Because my kitten has teeth. And it’s not fake,” he says, selecting another slice of toast.
“Who…”
Something dark and disturbing flashes in his eyes and my words dry up. What had he said the night of our betrothal?‘An eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth, a bride for a brother.’It hadmade me supremely uneasy then, but Alessio stuffs the toast in his mouth, licking jam off his thumb, and his dark look passes.
I know who I married but, perhaps for this morning, I’d rather let it be. He’s assigned sentiment to it which makes the gift a thousand times more meaningful than any previous gift he’s given me. “I love it,” I declare, pulling my hair to the side and wordlessly indicating that I wish for him to fasten it. He does, softly kissing my bare shoulder when it’s done, and I know it’s not just the gift I love.
He is a monster but nothing like what I feared when I learned of our arranged marriage either. He’s been patient - patient for a man like Alessio - and gentler with me than I could’ve even dreamt of. He’s protected me at every turn. He’s waited weeks for me to be ready when I expected to be raped on our wedding night. I’m sure he’s tired of waiting and I am, too.
“Alessio…” I whisper, setting down my coffee on the tray and lying back upon the bed. “I’m ready now.”
“Ready for wha-oh! Shit!”I giggle helplessly as he hurries to right the half-empty coffee cup after understanding dawned and had him tipping it over.
Gazing up at him, I toy with the necklace. “I don’t want more coffee or toast this morning. I want you. All of you.”
His momentary clumsiness vanishes as he quickly sets aside the tray and crawls over my body, leaning down to capture my mouth. “You’re certain?”
I nod, afraid to open my mouth in case my courage might flee. It’s enough of a response for him and he kisses me, slow and deep, igniting a hunger inside me no breakfast can satisfy. I sink deeper into the mattress, loving how strong and warm his body feels above mine. My hands explore yet again, all those muscles and scars I’m learning by heart.
Soon, my breath grows short with excitement, and I pull his shirt over his head. He rucks up my nightgown, helping to slipmy panties off. He’s still in his pants. They’re a different pair from the ones he was wearing at the club last night. I decide not to focus on that. His erection grinds against my pussy, the friction driving me mad. I focus on the desire he awakens in me.
Slipping a hand between us, Alessio tests my readiness for more. He chuckles. “You’re soaked. Not with period blood this time, I hope.”
I should smack him. Instead, I helplessly writhe beneath him. “More, Alessio. I want it.”
