Page 57 of Inescapable Ties
“You OK?” I asked.
“Just work.” He wrapped his arms around my waist and started kissing the back of my neck down my shoulder. “I’d rather be in bed with you than dealing with this bullshit.”
“So let’s stay in bed then.”
Emilio laughed, his arms still wrapped around me from behind. He used the mirror to look at me. “I have to go out. And neither of the Dino’s are available.”
“So I can go with you?”
“Tch. No. I’ll have to drop you off at your parents.”
I pouted, jutting my lower lip out in a stubborn gesture. The mere thought of going to their house filled me with dread.
It was ironic, really. When I first learned that my parents had arranged for me to marry Emilio, I was convinced that my life was over. In reality, my life before marriage was at best mediocre. A monotonous cycle of creating YouTube videos and dodging family dinners and events filled my days until Emilio came along and changed everything. Being married to him had breathed new life into my existence, filling it with joy that I never knew was possible.
“But I want to stay with you,” I whined. “I don’t want to go there.”
“I already texted Alessio,” he responded. “Your father won’t be home until late tonight, and I’ll be back to get you by then.”
Alessio served as Martina’s personal bodyguard, so it was safe to assume they were both at the house. It wouldn’t be absolutely horrible if I got to spend time with my sister.
“Fine,” I said, the pout still on my face. “But I still don’t want to.”
“Sorry, Jaws. I’ll make it up to you.”
He placed a soft kiss behind my ear, then playfully nibbled on my earlobe. The simple gesture sent sparks throughout my entire body.
“I can start by picking up where we left off before we got interrupted,” he murmured.
“How the heck did you come so much?” I said.
It was still dripping out of me at random intervals. I had to put a panty liner in to not dirty my underwear.
He looked over from the driver’s seat, giving me one of his signature facetious smiles. “Well, I have a hot wife. I just can’t contain myself.”
“You’re ridiculous,” I said, laughing as I turned away to look out the window.
“I know,” he said as he turned into my parents’ driveway. “But you love it.”
A fluttering sensation filled my stomach at the mere mention of the word love. The emotions I experienced when I was around Emilio were unlike anything I had ever felt before. He made me feel invincible, as if I could conquer the world. My heart soared in his presence, and a sense of pure joy enveloped me.
We arrived at the front of the house, where the butler stood waiting for us. He quickly opened my car door with a polite bow. Emilio also stepped out of the car, even though he was just going to leave again.
“I’ll see you later on, OK?” he said.
“Yeah,” I responded.
He leaned in to give me a kiss, but was interrupted as my brother, Rolando, opened the front door. He had an uncharacteristic scowl on his face, and I worried he might be picking up on some on father’s habits.
“You didn’t have to get up for us,” Emilio said. He tried to play it off as lighthearted, but I could sense some tension in his voice.
My brother ignored his comment. “Thank you for dropping Luciana off. We’ll talk to you later.”
Rolando reached to grab my wrist, which unnerved me, as it was something our father commonly did. Before he could, Emilio wrapped his arm around my waist and pulled me into his body, placing a gentle kiss on my lips.
“I’ll see you tonight,” he murmured into my lips.
“Yeah,” I whispered.
