Page 36 of Stolen Bride
“Don’t lie to me.”
“No, I don’t have anything to say to you, Mr. Valentino. I’m cool. It will be good to see your sister again. Now, I appreciate the release off house arrest.”
“It’s for your safety, Stella.”
“I get it. It’s you being a prick about it. What did you think I’d do that would be so stupid? I lived with a man who hadn’t let me leave the house in four years. I’m not tripping about a few months.”
I lose the distance between us and ask in disbelief, “Four years?”
“Yes, so you can see how being cooped up can feel a bit overwhelming.”
“I’m sorry.” She snaps her head back, surprised by my apology. Hell, so am I. Frankly, I can’t remember the last time I ever said sorry for a damn thing.
“Here’s my card.”
“Oh, no. Are you sure you trust me with this? You might be broke by the time I get back,” she warns me with a devious smile that cracks something deep inside my chest.
“Wife, you could spend to your heart’s content and still not bankrupt us. Trust me—my mother has given my father a run for his money.” She giggles, and I pull her into my arms. “Have some fun. We’ll have dinner together tonight, and you can maybe try something on for me.” I wink, kiss her forehead, and then release her. The stunned look on her face matches the one on mine. Fuck—what am I doing? This isn’t what I signed up for. Lust. I married her to slake the lust she brings out in me. That’s all. Temporary, pleasurable, and that’s it.
I rush out of the kitchen, forgetting all about my coffee, and adjust my aching cock. What am I going to do about this feeling in my chest?
Chapter Nineteen
Stella
Hanging out with Gracie and Mrs. Valentino was incredible as we shopped, ate lunch, and gossiped for hours, but all I could think about was getting home to Damiano and our special dinner.
He’d been different this morning when I confessed my imprisonment. The way he held me and the intense look in his beautiful, stormy gray eyes felt like we had a breakthrough.
I picked out the perfect dress for dinner tonight. I skipped up to our bedroom with my purchases, or rather, Adriano helped me. “Goodness, what did you do, buy out the store?”
“Come on, you’re built like a building. Is it really that heavy? I can take them from you.”
“Ha. The boss man would have my neck.”
“Do you know when he’ll be back?”
“He’s in his office, but you know you can’t interrupt him.”
“Yep. Learned my lesson, unless there’s a bitch in there.” I give him a side eye.
“You don’t have to worry about that, Mrs. Valentino.”
“Says you, but he owns a club called Body Count and there are half-naked women dancing around there, and he’s very comfortable up in that suite of his. He has tons of women up there.”
“What? Who told you that bullshit lie? If I were you, I’d never say that in front of Mr. Valentino. He wouldn’t take it too kindly. That’s for business and friends only.”
“Yes, but my stepsister was up there, so there’s no accounting for taste.”
“That was a safety precaution, and Gracie got an earful for that, I’m sure.” He nods and chuckles. “By more than the boss man.”
“Thanks.” We stop at the bedroom and I open the door, entering first. Adriano sets the bags on the floor near the door and then says, “If you need anything, I’m outside here until there’s a need for a switch.”
“Thank you again.”
“No problem, Mrs. Valentino.” He nods and steps out of the room, closing the door behind him.
I take a moment to sit on the bed without saying a word and let out a hard breath. It’s been on my mind since that night, but I refuse to bring it up because there is nothing that will change the past. So what did he mean by it? Did she put her hands on him? That’s possible. She could have flirted with him, and he brushed it off like the jerk at the bar did with me. I didn’t welcome it, but it happened anyway and there wasn’t a way to stop it.