Page 9 of His Willing Wife

“Yes.”

She was blushing. “Thank you. What, uh,other rules do you have?”

He stared at her. Luca had to scramble hisbrain because she was affecting every single one of his sensesright now. He’d not comeinto this negotiation prepared.

“You don’t hide from me. I want us to sharebreakfast, lunch, and dinner together. You will bring me lunch atmy office, which currently is in your father’sbuilding.”

“Okay,” Tillie said.

“And from now on, we’re not strangers.We’re husband and wife, and it’s time for us to start acting like it.”

He expected an argument but didn’t get one. Tillie merely smiledat him and agreed.

****

Tillie put the last of her clothes intoLuca’s wardrobe, and then stepped back. This was really happening. She hadn’t expectedit to move quite so fast, not that she was complaining, becausethis was exactly what she wanted.

What was there to complain about?

After talking with David, she had finallyrealized she’d been doing everything wrong when it came to Luca.She’d been treating him like a stranger, and even though in essencethat was exactly what he was, they were still husband and wife.

He’d not hurt her, apart from the weddingnight, but every woman’s first time is meant to hurt, at least that’s what the books toldher. Luca hadn’t done anything else to harm her. He’d beenwonderful. She couldn’t find a single fault with him.

So, she’d come to the decision that shewas going to find that marriage she had always been dreamingof. The one hergrandparents had. The one she wanted for herself. Her grandmotherhad always said that the love of a good man started with hisstomach. She decided to cook Luca a meal, and that extended intothe brownie. The ice cream she’d made for herself yesterday, butthere was more than enough to share. Even though on a miserableday, she’d be able to consume the entire carton, she hadn’t doneso.

She felt she deserved a pat on the back,with how the past few weeks had been.

Tillie stepped out of the wardrobe, andthen came face to face with Luca. She’d alreadyshowered and changedinto her silk negligee. In the winter, she loved her cozy pajamasto keep warm. Spring and summer, it had to be a silk negligee,where there wasn’t a lot of fabric keeping it together.

Luca hadn’t showered yet. He’d removed hisjacket and tie and opened the top few buttons of his shirt,exposing some of his chest. Not quite enough for her to see, butthere was certainly enough that made her want to see more. What waswrong with her?

I want my husband.

She didn’t say the words, as there was noway she could say them to Luca.

“I’m going to take a shower.”

“Okay. I have moved all my clothes intoyour wardrobe. Which side of the bed do you sleepon?”

“I don’t care,” he said, and then he moved past her, not quitetouching her.

She got the hint of his masculine cologne,and for a second she couldn’t move. All she could do was stand andwait. He smelled so good. She had thought the same on their weddingday.

Tillie was tempted to slap her face, but shewasn’t interested in the pain, so she moved toward the bed. Therewas no obvious indentation where his head had been.

She opted for the right side, and she slid beneath thecovers. His sheets were as soft as silk, and she rested her headagainst the pillow, which again felt so light. She closed her eyesand tried to relax.

I’m in my husband’s bed.

It is going to be fine.

She couldn’t hear the shower as the door wasclosed, but she knew he was naked and getting wet, and herimagination was starting to go wild.

Focus, Tillie, focus.

Go to sleep.

That would be easy.

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