Page 13 of Immoral

My gut is a mix of dread and excitement. I once again detest myself for my body not getting on the same page as my brain. I square my shoulders. "We aren't going on a honeymoon."

He crosses his arms, and the flight attendant interrupts. "Mr. and Mrs. Marino, please get ready for takeoff."

My stomach flips.Mrs. Marino.

"We are," Gianni insists then steers me into the bedroom, kicking the door shut with his foot. He reaches behind me and unzips my dress.

"What are you doing?" I cry out.

"Calm down, Cara." He shoves my dress to the floor then pulls the covers back. He points. "Get in."

"No! I'm not sleeping with you!"

His jaw clenches. He firmly repeats, "Get in."

I stay planted, placing my hand on my hip. "If you think I'm going to do whatever you say, you're wrong!"

"Fine. Keep your attitude for now." He picks me up.

I shriek, "Put me down."

He places me on the bed, tucks the covers around my body, then cages his forearms around me. My heart beats harder, and he states, "You need to sleep. I'll be in the other room if you need me. But make no doubt about it, you'remywife. Youwillsleep with me. So get that thought out of your head."

"No. I won't. I will never—and I mean never—sleep with you," I declare.

His eyes travel down my face, pausing on my lips, then to my breasts. My cheeks burn. He slowly meets my gaze again. His finger strokes my cheek. In his cocky voice, he proclaims, "One thing you seemed to have forgotten is I know you, Cara. I know how even when you hate me, your body craves mine."

I say nothing, breathing harder, wishing I could pull him into me and forget about the past.

But I can't. So I reply, "Keep telling yourself that. One day, you'll realize you don't know me anymore. I'm not the girl you can use and abuse anymore."

Something passes across his expression. I'd call it remorse, but Gianni Marino doesn't know guilt and regret. I remind myself not to fall for it. He studies me closer then lowers his voice. "I wasn't lying, tesoro. I'll right the wrong I've done to you."

I turn on my side and hug the pillow. "No, you won't. You can't. You have no heart. Now, leave me alone."

3

Gianni

Stale air fills my lungs.I kiss Cara's forehead and leave the bedroom. Her reaction shouldn't surprise me, but my warped mind thought getting married would somehow change things between us. I thought she'd love the dress, but I don't think she did. All I keep hearing is her voice.

I vow to never love, cherish, or honor you.

I vow to always remember who you are and what you've put me through.

I vow to accept your protection and be grateful for it, but nothing past that.

I vow to stand by your side and always know the extent of your cruelness but never be fooled by it again.

I scrub my hands over my face, plop down on the seat, then glance out the window, staring at the gray sky. That wasn't what I had played out in my mind while waiting for Luca to outbid the room. I assumed Cara would give me some pushback, but I thought once she saw the dress and heard my vows, she would realize how bad I've always had it for her.

I'm an idiot.

"Mr. Marino, would you like something to drink?" the flight attendant asks, pinning her doe-eyes on me.

I almost groan out loud from boredom. Women are so predictable. If Cara weren't in the other room, if I hadn't just made her my wife, I'd bend this woman over and try to fuck the desperate need I feel for my tesoro out of me.

It never works, but I always try. I don't even know how many years have passed where I've done that. A dozen? Twenty? All the women I've screwed are one big blur. I wouldn't even know the names of most of them if I happened to run into them.

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