Page 33 of Vicious Union

He looks me for a moment before nodding. “You have a point.”

“I know I do.”

“And just like that, you annoy me again.”

I smile as I flick through my magazine.

* * *

Emilio is annoyed the entire flight to Rome. Between the food on the airplane not being up to his standards to the crying baby behind us to the snoring passenger in the aisle over, he finds fault with everything.

“Emilio, chill.”

“How can I chill? This airline should be ashamed of themselves for how they make their food. It’s First Class. I expect better. And people should not bring crying babies on planes. It’s inconsiderate. And if you’re a snorer, then you shouldn’t be in sleeping anywhere where someone might hear.”

I look at him for a moment. “Who hurt you?”

He stares back before a tiny smile passes his lips. “Fine. I’ll admit, I have exacting standards.”

“You can say that again.”

“I’m a De Luca. I expect the best.”

“And I’m married to a De Luca now,” I say. “Don’t I get the best things, too?”

“No. Because you drive me insane.”

“Well, maybe you’re the one driving me insane.” I flash him a smile. For a moment, I’m at ease. Emilio and I are actually … teasing each other. Playful banter.

His eyes soften for a fraction. “Let’s just get to Italy.”

“And have a real wedding night?”

His eyes go from soft to dark. “Well, you did ruin it when you got drunk.”

I lean in closer to him, so no one can hear me. “Looking forward to fucking me, aren’t you?”

“A mature woman shouldn’t talk like that.”

“Well, call me immature, then. But you are, I know it. I saw how your body responded to me after you touched me this morning. You were hard.”

He lets out a rough breath. “So, what if I was? Doesn’t mean I want to fuck you.”

“Ok, then.” I lean away from him. “We’ll just see what happens after we get to Italy.”

“I agree.”

I sneak a glance at Emilio out of the corner of my eye. He looks completely unfazed by my attempt to seduce him. “You’re not a virgin, are you?”

He scoffs. “Of course not. Why would you ask that?”

“I don’t know. Because you don’t want to have sex with me.”

Emilio glares at me. “Caterina, enough. I am not a virgin. I haven’t been for a long time. That has no bearing on whether I want to fuck you or not. And for your information, I’d love to fuck you just to shut you up.” He grabs a book from his carry-on and begins reading, effectively ending the conversation.

“Ok,” I say. “Totally a thing a virgin would say.”

I can hear him growl under his breath, and it makes me smile the rest of the way there.

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