“Remotti.” I barked from behind her. How dare she use her maiden name? I had a marriage certificate as proof that she was now… “Giovanna Remotti. My wife.”
She sighed and gave my stable man a small smile.
“Sí, Signore,” Louie replied and nodded his head with a nervous expression. “The horses are ready for you.”
“Grazie, Louie.” I took mywife’shand firmly and guided her toward the stall where her new horse was. “You did it again.”
“Did what?” she asked in an annoyed tone.
“Ran from me.”
“I didn’t run. I merely left.” She was exasperated like me, but it was her that kept being stubborn and dramatic. If she wouldmeet me halfway, I believed we might find common ground. We might even fall in love. It couldn’t be only me who felt sparks.
I turned on her and put her back against the wooden gate. Closing the gap between us, my nose touched hers and it took every ounce of strength in me not to kiss her. “Do not leave me again, without my permission.”
“Really? That’s how it’s going to be with us? And what will happen if I disobey my master?” she asked in a challenging voice.
“Your sarcasm isn’t attractive right now.”
“But it was attractive before now?”
“Enough!” I ignored her and clutched her face in my hand. “Stop pushing me away. That’s an order.”
She gasped and something, maybe fear or it could have been excitement, flashed in her eyes. “Let go of me.”
“No.” I leaned my body against hers and Lord help me, she felt incredible.
“I don’t want you touching me. Please step back.”
“No.” I lifted her face toward mine and rubbed my nose against her jaw. “I’m trying to figure out what to do with you.”
“Surely, you can do that without touching me.” Her chest rose and fell, and she inhaled and exhaled through her open mouth.
“Why do you test me so much? Can’t you just fall in line and be an obedient wife?” I caressed her cheek and gripped her hip to hold her place. She was turning me on, whether intentionally or not. As much as I wanted to deny I cared nothing for her, it would be lie. That was the crazy part. In all my adult life, no woman possessed me like Giovanna.
“If you wanted an obedient wife, you should have picked someone else to marry. No man will ever control me.” Her strength and defiance made me want her more than my next breath.
I wanted to find out if I could control her in the bedroom. I needed to find out if I could make her scream my name. Scream in pleasure, of course.
“You’re forgetting I didn’t pick you. The choice wasn’t mine.” As soon as the words left my lips I knew I’d made a grave mistake.
“Damn, you!” Her hand flew toward my face and connected with my cheek. A loud slap filled the space between us, then she yelped in pain.
I hissed and gritted my teeth.
“Oh. I. Um.” A look of surprise flashed on her face as if she couldn’t believe she’d just hit me.
“You’re stronger than you look.” I touched my cheek. The burning sensation made adrenaline shoot through my veins in the best possible way. “I like feisty, confident women.”
“You disgust me.” She shoved me away and put distance between us. “If you think talking to me this way, will win me over, you’re a fool!”
“I’m sorry.” I raised my hands to show her I would keep myself in check.
“I’m certain you’re not.” She blinked and it was then I noticed the emotion in her eyes. I’d hurt her feelings.
“I meant no disrespect. I know you didn’t have a choice either.” I reached my hand out to her. If I could comfort her in some way, perhaps she would see I wasn’t the horrible person she believed me to be.
“No, I didn’t.” She swiped under eye and composed herself. “And I would have never chosen someone like you but here we are.” Her words gave me pain just as mine had hurt her.
