Page 22 of His Stolen Bride

Bella

My breath stills when I feel something drift across my jaw.

“Sleep, beautiful,” I hear Santino say as he places a gentle kiss on my lips.

His heavy steps then lead away from me before I hear the click of the door. My eyes open, and I wonder how long I’ve been asleep. I roll over and grab the pillow, then hug it close. The smell of Santino fills my lungs. My body is sore in the best of ways from how many times he took me last night. I smile at the memory of how good he made my first time for me.

He knew I was awake this morning. That’s why he was being so sweet instead of just up and leaving. But he was sweet hours ago, too. I let the pillow go and fling it across the room. This man is confusing. I sit up, knowing I can’t lie here all day. I need intel. I also need to check on my sister. I’m sure she’s going crazy wondering what happened with my father. Plus, I know she’s waiting to hear the details of my night with Santino.

I make my way into the bathroom. I gasp when I see myself. My lips are puffy, my hair a wild mess, and I look a little different. I can’t place what it is exactly. I try and straighten everything the best I can before I go in search of my dress. My fingers trail along the inside of my thighs when I see the little red marks there that must have been from Santino’s short beard when he’d had his head there.

My whole body heats thinking about it. My sister has mentioned a few times that Leo does it to her. I thought it sounded uncomfortable and awkward. I was so wrong. None of it had been. The only thing I felt was pleasure. Is sex always like that? It’s not as if I have anyone to ask. Gianna has only been with one person before. There’s no way I’m asking my new husband. I don’t need him getting a big head.

“Bella!” My name echoes through the halls. I let my dress drop to hide my thighs. I hate that I couldn't go to the meeting today with my father. My dad is always saying I’m a Carrera, and now my husband is claiming I’m a Baldino. Yet, I still don’t get to go to any meetings or get to know shit about any of it.

“I demand you move this minute.” Gianna’s voice on the other side of the door. “What are you doing in there?”

My face heats thinking about why I'm here. Santino and I didn't make it far last night. I’d been all over him. I bet he throws it in my face later.

“No one gets in unless she allows it, and I’m not to wake Mrs. Baldino,” I hear a man tell her. I pull the door open before my sister can give the man another earful. Her eyes go wide when she sees me. She pushes past the man to get to me. Leo tries to follow her in, but the guard on my door doesn't let him.

“Sister time,” she tells Leo before shutting the door herself. “You had sex!”

“Well, you didn't need to close the door if you were going to shout it.”

She throws her hand over her lips like she can trap the words back into her mouth.

“Are you okay?” I ask. She lets her hand fall away.

“Am I okay? Are you okay?”

“I am well.” I smooth the wrinkles out of my dress. She keeps staring at me, a slow dreamy smile spreading across her face. I knew she was going to act this way. I need to set the record straight so she doesn’t think this is some fairy tale that’s going to have a happily ever after.

“You’re smitten.”

“What?”

She smiles even bigger.

“Don’t get any ideas in your head. Yes, we had sex. No, it wasn't terrible. But it was only sex.”

“Are you sore?” Her face turns more serious. “I know my first time, I was sore.”

“I’m fine,” I tell her again. I am a touch tender. Not enough that I would turn down another round of sex with Santino. Oh my God, what is wrong with me?

She gasps and puts a hand to her mouth. “What if you really fall for him?” My sister keeps going, dreaming up a fairy tale in her mind. “What if …”

I’m about to burst her bubble when I realize I shouldn't. Wouldn't it be better if she thought all those things were true? That’ll make it easier for her to leave me behind when the time comes.

I decide against my earlier plan. Instead, I smile and nod, reminding myself not to grab on to what she’s selling herself. No good will come of it. I need to stay on course and remember my purpose: protecting Gianna. To get her out of here before anyone finds out about her secret.

I don’t want a man to just fall in love with me. I want to be respected. To me, that would make a real marriage. One where I wouldn’t be left behind because someone thought my ears shouldn’t hear the things they spoke of. I’m not deemed important enough to hear the conversations, but I sure can be traded in their games. Used as a pawn for their benefit. Sexist assholes, the lot of them.

“Have you eaten breakfast?” I finally cut in. I need a shower and to talk to Leo.

“No.” She grabs my hand and leads me from the room. When I step out, I find there’s not only one man standing guard at my door, but two.

“Were men on your door last night?” I whisper to my sister. She shakes her head. Interesting.

“I want to know everything about my new husband,” I whisper to Leo, who gives me a firm nod that he’ll handle it. I’m sure he’s already on it.

As we head back toward my old bedroom, I try to understand my new husband. All the things he’s done are not adding up. My head starts to hurt as I think everything over. Why is he being so good to me?

He must want something from me. That has to be it. That’s how men work. What he wants, I have no idea. He made me pledge myself to him last night in bed. That funny flutter happens in my chest again thinking about it.

I have to figure out what his motives are. The sooner I do, the sooner I can guarantee the safety of my sister. I need to use him before he uses me.

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