Page 62 of His to Honor

“Yeah.” Alessandro shakes his head. “Maybe he’ll find some red-haired hellion to put him in his place.”

Silence falls as we all contemplate that. As things become awkward, Emilia clears her throat. “Come on,mi amore.”

She grabs Alessandro and tows him away from the kitchen.

“Thanks for the coffee machine,” Giulia calls after Emilia.

“You’re welcome!” The reply comes just before the front door shuts with a loud click.

“Coffee machine?”

“Emilia donated one to the community center. I’ll need a PhD to work it.”

“You’re smart. You’ll figure it out.”

Giulia smiles tremulously then stares down at her hands.

“You want to sit through there?” I gesture out toward the living room. “It’s more comfortable.”

“Yeah.” Giulia doesn’t take my hand when I offer it, choosing to clamber off the stool by herself. I try not to read too much into the refusal of help. Whether she’s mad at me or not, Giulia has an independent streak.

I let her precede me into the living room. She takes a seat on an armchair. Again, I don’t make a big deal out of her not choosing the sofa where she’d be risking me sitting next to her. She probably doesn’t want me close because it will distract from her purpose in coming here, whatever that is.

As I settle on the sofa, she fidgets with the top button of her shirt. I don’t speak. She sought me out and I need to let her do this in her own time.

“I hope you weren’t too mad with Piotr.” It’s not what I expected her opening line to be.

“He’s not the one I want to spank for this.” The words are out of my mouth before I can stop them.

Giulia’s eyes widen. She’s startled, but there’s a flicker of desire there too. I have to ignore the spark that ignites inside of me. There are things that have to be said.

“Look, Giulia, I’m sorry I was such an asshole. I don’t know what came over me. I got super-protective and…”

“You were scared,” she finishes for me.

She knows me well. Not much frightens me, but the thought of someone harming her to get to me is terrifying.

“Even so, I should never have locked you in that cell. I shouldn’t have threatened your family, your dreams. I want you to know that whatever you decide to do, I won’t hurt you or your family.”

Giulia’s forehead creases as her face falls into a frown. “WhateverIdecide to do?”

“Yes.” I pick up the envelope from the table and hand it to her.

“What’s this?” Her tone is wary.

“Annulment papers. We didn’t consummate the marriage, so…”

Giulia shakes her head in disbelief. “I didn’t expect this.”

She probably expected pain, punishments, demands. She came here to face whatever I intended to dish out. Brave girl.

“If it’s what you want, I’ll set you free.”

“Free?” Giulia hums thoughtfully. “So I could date, fuck who I like, marry anyone I want to?”

I grit my teeth, but like Emilia said last night, I’m doing the right thing.

“Yes, but I want to be in your life, if you’ll let me.”

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