Page 40 of Jealous Vows

She pushes my hands, ducks, and lunges out of reach.

“Stop.You’re never going to convince me I’m worth whatever you’re about to say.”I watch, still kneeling on the floor and twisted halfway around, as she crosses her arms over her chest and glares at me.“I’ve spent the last ten years hearing nothing but the worst things about me.Anything you say is going to sound stupid.”

I rise and stalk toward her with purposeful steps as I speak.She takes a step back for every one of my strides.

“You will listen.Maybe if I say it enough you’ll start to believe it.”Her back hits the wall.Her features tighten in a mutinous expression.“You’re gorgeous, resilient, and strong, but most of all, you’re mine.All mine.Only mine.Capisci?”

“Whatever you say, Romeo,” she parrots even though she clearly does not believe me.

“Fine,bambolina.Looks like I’ll be repeating myself often,” I murmur into her hair.

Envisioning her rolling her eyes in response, I kiss her forehead and wrap my fingers around her upper forearm again.

“C’mon, let’s bandage and medicate you.We have too much to do today to stay in bed all day,” I announce.

My curious little doll looks at me expectantly, but I don’t offer her any more information.I enjoy the frustration growing in her eyes.

It serves her right for being so stubborn.All she has to do is ask, and I’ll tell her everything.All she has to do is believe me, and then I won’t bombard her with compliments.

All she has to do is say yes when I propose to her.I’ll buy her an engagement ring tomorrow—she’ll choose it without even knowing.I’ll take her to so many stores she’ll forget we even went to a jeweler—and keep it in my pocket for as long as it takes to win her over.

All she has to do is be mine.All mine.Only mine.

Forever.

Chapter 13

Sienna Luciano

I don’t know when Romeosent my clothes for a cleaning, but the gesture may be the nicest thing anyone has done for me my entire adult life.I swallow the lump in my throat and fasten my jeans.

Sure, Romeo bought me a new dress yesterday, but that had elements of him peacocking and showing off his wealth.This is a silent, intimate, sweet, and completely unexpected show of care.There’s no reward for him.

Or at least, that’s what I think until he ushers me out of the hotel and parades me around half the city.After a quick breakfast at the corner bistro, he drags me a few blocks over for a shopping spree.First we visit several convenience, grocery, and home goods stores.My head throbs by the time we make it into the car, but Romeo places a snack and drink in my hands.They revive me enough to make it to the next stop.

I gape at the rows of refrigerated meal trays.My stomach growls even though I just had a snack.Romeo found a grab-and-go health food café where everything is preportioned and packaged.I’ve never been somewhere with so many safe options.My hands shake, and I struggle to decide.

Romeo pays for six different trays, spreads them out over the table in the corner, and sets sealed utensils next to each one before leaning back and focusing on his phone.

I open the nearest tray and try a bite from each compartment.My favorite gets a second bite, but the desert in the next tray grabs my attention so I peel the plastic off and try it.

In food heaven, I eat from two more trays before my manners kick in.I offer Romeo a utensil packet and gesture for him to join me then eat until it hurts to breathe.Romeo’s satisfied smirk when he thinks I’m not looking inspires dirty thoughts way too inappropriate for mealtime.

I ignore the blush creeping up from my chest as I replay the moment I tasted his release.I don’t know what madness came over me, but I don’t regret it.The taste wasn’t necessarily pleasant, but remembering his face in the throes of ecstasy made me want more.

When desire darkens Romeo’s chocolate irises, I set down my fork and announce I’m done eating.

He nods, gathers and tosses the trash, and leads me out to the car.

I groan when we pull up to a clothing store.He won’t take no for an answer, so I sigh and slip my hand into the crook of his elbow and follow him inside.The place has everything except intimates.I grit my teeth and mentally prepare for hours of trying on clothes.

A feminine voice calls my name.I can’t quite place where I heard it before, but when I turn around, recognition flows through me.

Romeo stiffens.His body language says he didn’t plan this meeting and isn’t thrilled by the interruption, but he doesn’t stop me from saying hello.

“Renata?Oh my god, it’s been forever,” I exclaim.

It really has.I met Renata at my last summer camp.We were bunkmates since Valentina wasn’t there.I slowly unraveled that summer as my dread grew.My best friend had never missed an entire summer at camp, and I just knew something horrible had happened.Renata sensed my despair and needed a confidante of her own, so we shared more about each other’s lives than we’d told anyone else.