Page 13 of Forbidden Lord
Fair. He’d married Sheena because he was out of time and options. Stefano’s lists were probably a good habit to have, but Matteo had never done them. Matteo sipped his wine and then put it down on the coffee table. “And for that, I’m eternally grateful because now you’re officially my wife.”
She put her glass down next to his and stood. “I don’t feel different.”
He rose as well and tugged on her waist to face him. “Wait until we get back to Avce—then it will feel real.”
She glanced up at him with wide eyes. He’d let her wait for their wedding night, but he needed hope that his life wasn’t completely over. He leaned down and their eyes shut the second his lips met hers.
Matteo needed the thrill her kiss brought.
Chapter 5
Sheena checked her ponytail for the fifth time as Matteo finished his coffee. Last night he’d slept on the couch and he’d insisted she’d take the bed.
Despite his proclamations, Matteo had always been a nice, sweet guy to her.
She’d had coffee, a croissant, and some yogurt, which was all her stomach could handle this early in the morning, though she looked forward to the bigger breakfast later.
She still wore her jeans from yesterday, but without asking, Matteo had lent her a black t-shirt.
Today she’d get her clothes out of her apartment; Matteo’s house would have a studio for her so she could lend her place to one of her up and coming artists until her lease ended.
She’d sell her work she’d created, and the money would flow back into her account eventually.
For now she had to figure out what she needed to do as Lady Golchin, a countess.
The title jerked her out of her thoughts and her stomach twisted.
A lady in some country home wasn’t how she’d pictured her life. She highlighted her cheekbones with subtle makeup and braided greenery from the budvase on the breakfast tray in her hair. Matteo’s shirt was big so she used an elastic to bunch the sleeves at her shoulders, creating an artistic flair. This might be overdone, but today she faced off against a bully.
And this time she was an adult.
She returned to the dining nook as Matteo finished his coffee—they were dressed in matching black t-shirts and jeans, only his fit him to perfection, showing off his muscles. She pressed her hand against his shoulder. “Are you ready to go, Matteo?”
He dropped his napkin to his plate and stood. She led him toward the door and he said to her back, “Once we move into our home, we are expected to share a bedroom.”
She turned around. She had to know if he would come to her defense, or his friend’s, and then she’d really know he was the guy she remembered and hadn’t just imagined his kindness for years. Matteo had been nice in school, but that was mostly alone. He hadn’t witnessed her worst moments. She nodded. “One step at a time.”
He offered his hand, which she accepted. “I won’t push you, but I won’t sleep apart. We’ll figure everything out.”
“I trust you.” And the crazy part was that she did.
He held the door open for her to pass into the hall toward his best friend’s suite.
If all went well, then they’d see each other a lot in Avce. But this time she wasn’t the girl they’d laughed at.
She’d never be that girl again.
Matteo’s hand sent tingles that she ignored—she would be strong. He knocked on the door. They waited in silence until Stefano opened it and she stared at the Marquis of Normanni. She squared her shoulders.
He waved for them to come in and hugged Matteo as he welcomed them. “Matteo. Sheena. Chelsea. Cassidy.”
She turned her head and saw that her best friend, Chelsea, and her sister, had walked in behind them.
It seemed there would be an audience for whatever happened.
Sheena inwardly let out a breath. Having Chelsea here meant she had an ally.
Chelsea would remember how Sheena had cried in her dorm room after Stefano’s mean teasing. Stefano gestured for everyone to come in. “I didn’t know you ladies were joining us. Welcome.”
