“I’ll go and get us a drink.”
She nodded her head.She ran her hands along the waist of her dress, feeling her side where he’d been touching just moments ago.
“Well, well, well, if it’s not the little thief.”
She had been so lost in her own thoughts, she hadn’t heard anyone approach.Looking up, she saw Lily-Mae stepping toward her.Lily-Mae Ricardo was one of the most beautiful daughters in the Russo Mafia family.She was considered the ultimate catch, and there had been a few times Massimo and Lily-Mae’s names had been mentioned together.
“I’m not a thief.”
Lily-Mae burst out laughing.“You’re a fool if you think this marriage is going to last, because I can promise you, it isn’t.Massimo will take one look at your fat ass and realize what he is missing.He’ll have nothing but mistresses, and the moment you disappoint him, he’ll find a way to get rid of you.People like you do not marry people like Massimo.”With that, and a final glare, Lily-Mae left.
Adelina took a deep breath.She was right.People like Massimo didn’t date people like her.The makeup artist and hairstylist had been able to make her look like a pretty bride, but that was all she was ever going to be.Pretty.
It didn’t matter how many diets she went on, the weight never fell off.She had even gone through a period of time attempting to starve herself in an effort to lose weight.That hadn’t worked.She had decided to be comfortable in her own skin, yet that didn’t feel like it was working now either.She was mousy, plain, and bland.Massimo was a good-looking, sexy man.He shouldn’t be with someone like her.
“Here you go,” Massimo said.
She looked up to see a glass held out toward her.“Thank you.”She took a sip and pulled the glass away from her.“This is wine.I’m only allowed water.”
“Babe, your parents are not the ones in control now.I am.”
And with that, he wrapped his arm around her waist and pulled her close.Did Massimo find her repulsive?Was he just being a gentleman?None of that made sense, seeing as he was a monster.He never showed weakness to anyone.She doubted he was about to start now.
Chapter Three
At the start of thisengagement, Massimo had intended for his wedding night to be fake.He was not going to put Adelina through the pain of losing her virginity.
Only, they had gotten to their wedding night, and seeing her in her gown, being near her, smelling that hint of vanilla mixed with cinnamon, was a tempting combination.She made him ache so damn bad.He’d been wanting her since the moment he turned at the church and saw her walking down the aisle toward him.
To him, Adelina had looked absolutely stunning.He’d been drawn to her throughout the ceremony, and even at the after-party.Dancing with her had been a dream.She fit against him as if she was always supposed to be there.Absolutely breathtaking.
And now, as the door closed behind them for their wedding night, he had seen the looks from some of the women.He’d even seen Lily-Mae talking to his wife earlier, and he had sensed her withdrawal, and it pissed him the fuck off.
Staring across the room at her, with the door now locked, he released his jacket and cleared his throat.
“If you don’t want to ...I understand,” Adelina said.
