Page 95 of Sins of the Orchid
“Minx.” He nipped my earlobe. “Stay still. You are going to eat, and then we are doing something fun.”
I turned my head around and our eyes met. “Sex is fun,” I muttered.
He laughed. Softy. “It sure is, but we’ll be doing something else.”
“Like what?” I asked.
“Swimming. Maybe do some sightseeing on my motorcycle. Go dancing.”
My eyes widened. “I like it all but the motorcycle. Not sure—”
“I’ll keep you safe. I promise.” When I didn’t say anything, he took my chin between his fingers. “Do you trust me?”
“I do,” I told him without any hesitation. I have trusted him for as long as I’ve known him. He made me feel safe. “Motorcycle and a date it is then.”
He rewarded me with a kiss on the tip of my nose, instantly sending shivers down my spine.This man!I had to get a grip around him, otherwise I’d turn into a doormat for Santi.
Looking back out to the sea to admire the view, I tampered down my reaction to him. “This place is amazing,” I uttered softly. “Do you come here often?”
His grip around my waist tightened slightly, though I was unsure if it was intentional. “No, I haven’t been in years.”
My eyes searched him out, but it looked like he wouldn’t elaborate. “Why not?”
He shrugged. “When my mamma died, Pà didn’t like coming back here. Honestly, neither did I.”
There was no emotion in his voice, but I sensed sorrow underneath it all. After all, I experienced it firsthand. Adriano, Santi, and I had that in common. All three of us lost our mothers young.
I laid my hand over his big one and gently squeezed it.
“I’m sorry,” I said softly.
I remembered Mr. Russo’s comment about my mother all those years ago. I assumed he wasn’t a faithful husband, though when it was your own mamma it was probably different. Adriano wouldn’t have known about the infidelity since he was too young when she died. But Santi wasn’t too young. He would have picked up on his father’s infidelities.
Except, I couldn’t ask him about it. I didn’t want to cause him pain. He loved his mamma, there was no doubt about it. Most of the men of the Cosa Nostra were unfaithful. After all, it was how I came to be. My father was unfaithful to his wife. Though, it wasn’t something I wanted repeated. I wouldn’t be anyone’s side piece, nor could I live with a husband that would be unfaithful.
“Eat,” he instructed. “You’ll need your energy.”
Without hesitation, I reached for a croissant and bit into it. The flavor burst on my tongue as I chewed, then I eagerly took another bite. Suddenly, I was famished.
“Jesus, this is the best croissant I’ve ever had,” I uttered, my mouth half full. The food practically melted in my mouth.
“It’s my mother’s recipe.”
“Holy shit, it is so good.” I leaned forward and grabbed another one. “Don’t tell me you baked it.”
He chuckled. “No, the cook came early this morning and prepared it all.”
“Ahhhh. If it’s a man, tell your cook I’ll marry him,” I teased.
He gently pinched my thigh, his gaze darkly amused. “Then I am lucky it is a woman. Or I’d have to kill my cook.”
I pecked his cheek, then brushed my lips against the corner of his lips. It was positively wrong how my body warmed up whenever he behaved possessively. Ithadto be unhealthy. I sensed he wasn’t entirely joking and a big part of me liked it.
Downing my coffee, I slid off his lap.
“I’ll take a quick shower.”
I almost wished he hadn’t taken a shower already so we could do it together.Next time, I thought to myself. As if he read my thoughts, his eyes darkened.
