Page 51 of His to Honor

“You can give me your answer in the morning.”

While I struggle to get to grips with what’s happening, he steps back, closes the door, and locks it. His footsteps recede and a moment later the light goes off, plunging me into darkness. Anger and frustration course through my veins as I tentatively make my way over to the cot and sit on its edge.

I’ve never seen Matteo this way. He’s clearly lost control of his senses. He’s set on marrying me as soon as possible and I have no idea how to prevent it from happening.

CHAPTER 16

Matteo

As I fry up some bacon for breakfast, I stifle a yawn. I barely slept last night. Telling Giulia I intend to marry her was impulsive, but the moment the words left my mouth I knew that’s what I want. It’s time I settled down like my older brothers have. Antonio, Leo, and Alessandro may have faced hurdles with their women, but they’re all happy now. Giulia and I can have what they do. It has to be her. I can’t imagine a future with any other woman.

Taking our relationship in a more intimate direction has been incredible. Fucking her feels so right I can’t believe we didn’t do it years ago, but there’s more to it than that. We love each other. That’s why I don’t understand her resistance. There’s no reason for us to wait to seal our bond.

The first thing I did when I woke this morning was call Damiano to ask him if he could find us a priest. He got back to me within minutes to tell me everything was set for midday at a church in Florence. Apparently, the family has strong ties to it because heorganized that fast. I guess our name carries enough weight that even priests quiver upon hearing it.

I asked Damiano to send Livvy out to find Giulia a dress. My sister has a brilliant eye for fashion and has turned shopping into an Olympic sport. She’ll find something to make my bride look like a queen.

When the bacon is nice and crisp, I plate it up and take it to the table where I’ve already laid out pancakes, fruit juice, and coffee. Rosalia isn’t coming in today, but I have enough culinary skills to make a decent breakfast. I doubt it will be enough to impress Giulia. She won’t be in a hurry to forgive me for locking her away last night.

I regret having to take such a harsh line with her, but she needs to understand that marrying me is not optional. The protection of my family comes at a price and a permanent union with me is the one I plan to extract from her. The moment Giulia gave herself to me, she must have known it could never be taken back. I’ve desired her for longer than I care to admit. Being blind to the true nature of my feelings led to Giulia being married off to someone else. That can’t happen again. I will do anything to make her mine. If that means playing hardball until she sees sense, then so be it.

As I head downstairs to let Giulia out of the cell my cousin had built in case it was ever needed for holding someone for interrogation, I wonder what sort of reception I’ll get. It will either be a violent outburst or the cold shoulder. I’d prefer the former. That’s something I know how to deal with. I can fuck the rage right out of her. Getting through to Giulia when she gives me the silent treatment is much harder.

When I open the door, she’s sitting with her back against the wall. Her knees are drawn up to her chest, and she has a thin blanket around her. Shit. It didn’t even occur to me that she was naked when I put her in here last night. Thankfully, she doesn’t appear to be suffering any ill effects.

“Good morning.” My greeting is intended to test the waters.

She doesn’t respond but sends me a reproachful glare. It won’t work on me. Nothing will make me feel guilty for doing whatever it takes to keep her safe. Who knows what that man would have done to her if he’d had the chance?

“Come and get some breakfast.” My voice is soft, but I leave her no doubt that was a command.

Giulia gets up and discards the blanket. Fuck, she’s beautiful. I have to will my body not to react. She follows me in silence back upstairs to the kitchen.

“I’d like to go to the bathroom and get dressed.” She chooses her words carefully so she’s not actually asking me for permission.

“Go ahead, but don’t try anything stupid.” I wouldn’t be surprised if she tried to walk straight out the front door.

The scowl she aims at me would probably knock a lesser man off his feet. Having been around her for years, I’m immune.

“Why would I run?” she scoffs. “You’ll only chase me.”

“Damn right I will, sweetheart, and you won’t like the consequences when I catch you.”

Giulia snorts derisively, as if what I’m saying is a joke to her. Perhaps she’s still not taking me seriously because we’ve been friends for so long. She doesn’t realize how our dynamic haschanged. Though I’ve always been protective of her, my instinct to keep her safe has gone into overdrive since I made her mine.

Grabbing her arm, I pull her close. I don’t miss the shiver that goes through her or the sharp intake of breath that could equally signify fear or arousal. I suspect, having studied her reactions, that it’s a bit of both.

“Let’s get something straight, Giulia. You are mine and you will show me respect.” Her answering pout isn’t good enough. I tighten my grip on her arm and give her a little shake. “Understand?”

For several seconds, she glares at me. I stare right back, refusing to let her off the hook. Eventually, she softens and bows her head. “I understand.”

She tugs her arm away from me, another act of defiance. This time, I allow it. She got the message. There’s no need to hammer it home.

Returning to the kitchen, I sit at the table. I pour some coffee and juice for both of us. Then I put a couple of pancakes and some bacon on Giulia’s plate. I was planning to scramble some eggs when she joined me, so they’d be fresh, but looking at the food in front of me, I decide there’s enough there already.

I don’t wait for Giulia before starting to eat. I try the pancakes first, drizzling them with a generous amount of maple syrup. They’re light and fluffy and taste amazing. I can’t help patting myself on the back for a job well done. The bacon might be a little overcooked, but it still tastes good.

It takes only a couple of minutes for Giulia to appear. Wearing jeans and a loose-fitting white t-shirt, she drops onto her seatlike a recalcitrant teenager showing her displeasure with a heavy sigh.

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