Page 45 of His Tesoro

“Why?”

“I didn’t want to be a nuisance. Or embarrass Sienna.”

Matteo made a noise deep in his throat. “You have to take care of yourself. Or I’ll be forced to do it for you.” He traced a finger across my shoulder. “But maybe I wouldn’t mind that.” He spoke the last words so softly I thought I must have misheard him. I tried to turn around to see his face, but he held me fast. “Just rest, tesoro.”

It was the same thing he’d called me earlier. “What does that mean?”

He stayed silent until I was sure he would refuse to answer me. “Treasure,” he finally said.

A smile teased at my lips. My medication was kicking in, making me sleepy and easing the sharpest of my joint pain. I let my eyes drift closed, feeling surprisingly safe in my husband’s arms.

23

MATTEO

Iwas pretty sure I’d stepped into some sort of alternate dimension. That was the only explanation for how I was in the bathtub with my sleeping wife.

My sleeping, naked wife.

Pressed against my naked body.

I’d been sitting in the living room, staring out at the city with my scotch in hand, trying to escape my nightmares, when I heard the loud noise coming from Sofiya’s room. I couldn’t remember the last time I’d felt such sharp panic. I’d thrown down my glass, ignoring how it shattered against the floor as I sprinted to her. My heart had pounded as I threw her door open, visions of her covered in blood flashing before my eyes. But there hadn’t been any blood. Just her, curled up on the floor. But I didn’t relax, couldn’t relax, when I saw the tears on her cheeks. Sofiya had told me she often experienced joint pain, but seeing her like that… It twisted something in my chest.

I hated being helpless. I couldn’t protect her from her own body. But the feel of her skin against mine soothed me. I tipped my head back, resting it on the edge of the tub. I couldn’t remember ever feeling this relaxed… at least not since my parents died.

Sofiya whimpered a bit in her sleep and I pulled her close, my hand skimming along her ribs. I’d done my best to not stare at her body—I shouldn’t be fucking aroused when she was in pain—but I couldn’t miss her perfect breasts, tipped with pretty pink nipples, and the blonde patch of curls tempting me to her pussy. My cock was like iron against her back.

I’d done my best to keep distance between us, but with each passing day—passing minute—Sofiya twisted me further and further around her finger.

The realization hit me like a ton of bricks: I wanted my wife.

It was physical attraction, nothing more, but maybe I should stop resisting. We were stuck with each other, and eventually I would need an heir. Would she be interested in having a physical relationship with me? I hadn’t missed how her eyes trailed down my bare chest when she thought I wasn’t looking.

For now, though, I was content to hold her in my arms.

After a while, the water cooled. I needed to get her into bed.

“Sofiya?” I squeezed her gently, trying to wake her. But she just made a disgruntled little noise and curled further into me.

I managed to get us both out of the tub, and she woke up enough to help me dry her off. Then she was back in my arms. I carried her back to bed and reluctantly covered her naked body with the blanket. I stared down at her, relieved to see her relaxed expression. I hoped she wasn’t in pain anymore.

I should leave her and go to my own bed. She wasn’t supposed to be anything to me. Just a player on the chessboard in this game Rustik and I were playing with the Albanians. But for some inexplicable reason, I didn’t want to leave her.

My body moved of its own accord, lying down beside my wife. Maybe I would stay for just a few minutes to make sure she didn’t wake up and need something. It would be very inconvenient if she woke me again with a loud crash. It was logical to stay.

I wasn’t sure what logic made me pull her against my chest and wrap my arms around her, but when she let out a contented sigh, the knot that had been in my chest all night eased completely.

24

SOFIYA

Iwoke softly, as if floating on a cloud, from the best night’s sleep of my life. I kept my eyes closed and snuggled deeper into my ridiculously comfortable bed. Then something behind me shifted—no, someone. Memories of last night flooded back. They were hazy, caught in a fog of sleepiness and pain, but the way Matteo held me in the bath was too perfect for even my dreams to manufacture.

His arms were still wrapped tight around me, his knee pressed between my legs. It was just the right position to take stress off my hips, like my very own body pillow.

I kept my breathing as quiet and steady as possible, unwilling to disturb him. Would he go back to keeping a cold distance, or was this the start of us connecting like a real husband and wife?

I felt it the moment he woke. He stiffened behind me and quickly rolled away. I closed my eyes, disappointment washing through me like a tidal wave.

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