Page 13 of His to Honor

“Not a word, Giulia. You’ve had things your way, now it’s my turn.”

Her forehead creases. “What do you mean, I’ve had things my way? None of this is what I want.”

My jaw clenches. “Didn’t I tell you to keep your mouth shut? Now, do as you’re told or I’ll take you back out there and whip you with my belt in front of the entire staff.”

For a minute, I think she’s going to call my bluff. It is just a pretense. There is no way in hell I will let another man enjoy the pleasure of seeing me turning her pretty ass red.

Giulia stares at me, chin raised and lips pouting defiantly. I can almost see the thoughts flying through her head as her eyes widen slightly and then narrow again. Her shoulders sag. She unzips her pants and lowers them, along with her panties, to mid-thigh. I didn’t ask her to bare her ass, but I’m not going to say no to seeing my palm prints on her peachy skin.

“Now, turn and brace yourself. This is going to hurt.”

She draws in a deep breath and turns. Her hands shake as she raises her palms and slaps them against the wall. Without me having to ask, she moves her feet apart as wide as she can manage with her pants wrapped around her legs. Then she shoves her ass toward me.

“Good girl.”

At that, she growls, no doubt taking my compliment as an affront to her strength and independence, both qualities I admire in her. Not wanting to draw this out, I deliver three harsh spanks to her ass. Her flesh wobbles and her skin turns pink. Giulia gasps and glances over her shoulder at me. Her eyes are glassy, like she’s about to cry. I know it’s not because I’ve hurt her.

“Tell me what you’re thinking,” I demand.

She shakes her head and turns away from me. “Get on with it, Matteo.”

Infuriated by the disdain in her voice and her refusal to answer me, I unbuckle my belt and draw it through the loops of my pants. Giulia spins around. Panic flares in her eyes as she watches me folding my belt in two.

“What are you doing with that?”

“Teaching you to think carefully about disrespecting me.”

“Disrespecting you? Because you’ve earned my respect, right?”

Most people respect me because of my family name and the reputation that precedes me, but Giulia knows the person I am behind the public façade and she won’t show me deference if she doesn’t feel it’s due.

“Maybe not, but I certainly haven’t earned your hatred.”

She pulls her shoulders back, squaring up for a fight. “Well, tough shit, because you have it.”

Her words sting even though I know she doesn’t mean what she’s saying. She might be pissed at me right now, but hate is an extreme emotion. “You don’t hate me, Giulia.”

“Don’t I? Perhaps the last few months have given me time to reevaluate my feelings. Perhaps I realized I hated you even before you and Marissa fucking Locatelli made fun of me.”

There’s no ignoring the note of bitterness in her voice when she mentions Marissa. Is she jealous of that skank? I know better than to ask. Giulia’s obviously upset right now, and I’m not about to provoke her further.

“You don’t hate me,” I repeat, firm in my belief that she’s just being dramatic.

“Yes, I do.” She draws in a shuddering breath. “I hate you for making me put my life on hold to sort your sorry ass out.”

I snort in disbelief. “I didn’t ask you to come.”

“No, you didn’t, but if you weren’t refusing to go home, your brother wouldn’t have had to come and threaten everything that matters to me, so I’d do his bidding and bring you back.”

Her voice drips with disdain. Clearly she thinks my desire to spend a bit more time in Italy is down to some spoiled tantrum I’m throwing. It’s not. I just wanted to stay here to sort my head out. The last thing I expected was for my brother to bring Giulia into the situation.

“What did Antonio say to you?”

“It doesn’t matter.” The petulant jut of her chin suggests the reverse is true. “It’s your fucking fault I’m here. Everything’s your fucking fault.”

“What’s my fault?” I reach out to touch her face and she shrinks back against the wall. I tilt my head to the side and try to soften my expression. “Giulia?”

“It’s your fault everyone in our circle is mocking me. It’s your fault I had to marry a man older than my father.” She takes a deep breath. “You didn’t even try to save me.”

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