Page 44 of Beautiful Devil

“Good morning,” he says with a sunny cheerfulness in his tone.

“Morning,” I reply, trying to rein in the tiny thrill that runs through me at seeing his happiness.

He strides back over to the bed before bending over and leaning his fists on the mattress. His eyes feel like they’re searing holes through my own, so I instinctively drop them. His gaze is way too intense for this time of the morning. When I peek back up at him, I notice that his bulging biceps are covered in water droplets from his still-soaking wet hair. Both his arms and chest are covered with tattoos.

When I do finally meet his eyes, he says, “I have some things to take care of today, but tonight, we’re going out for dinner to celebrate our marriage. Luigi will be with you today. He’ll take you wherever you need to go to get an outfit.”

I try to be pissed; I really do. But instead, all I feel is an army of flutters through my gut and a small rush of wetness to my core.

Great.

He straightens himself out with a cocky smirk and makes his way into the walk-in closet. I need this man out of my head. His scent, his voice, his large masculine body, all of it. I need it gone.Now.

I jump up and rush to turn on the shower and see that somehow, between yesterday and this morning, everything from my en-suite in the bedroom next door has been placed carefully on the shelves.

I take my time in the shower, hoping that when I’m finished, I’ll walk back out into the bedroom and Fabi will be long gone. Thankfully when I exit the en-suite, I don't sense his presence, and walk intomywalk-in closet.

To the left is a sea of black. Black dress pants, black shirts, black jackets, black shoes, emphasizing the danger of the man to whom I’m now married. On the right, however, I see a handful of oversized t-shirts and two pairs of black leggings.

The closet is a rich cream color and has a square dresser that stands in the middle of the room. Made from a smooth, velvety texture, it’s the same color as the rest of the closet, with shiny silver handles on the front.

I find a small tab on one side and move toward it, pulling the tab to no avail. Changing tactics, I try lifting it up. The top comes up on its own, and my eyes almost pop out of my head. It’s packed full of expensive watches encased in small display boxes, from every designer brand imaginable. Some I don't think I've even heard of before. On the bottom, sits a row of smaller display boxes, each containing a pair of cufflinks. And –surprise, surprise– all designer brands.

Next, I open the drawer below it and see that it’s filled with men’s black dress socks. I continue ruffling through the drawers until I come across one housing a couple pairs of underwear (I’m assuming for me) and take out a pair along with a matching lace bra.

I get dressed and grab the towel in the bathroom, running it through my hair before making quick work of brushing and drying it. With nothing left to do, I exit the bathroom and make my way over to the bistro table by the big bay window.

While I sit at the table overlooking the rose garden, a sigh escapes my mouth at the same time a throat clears behind me. I jump a little from my chair, startled. When I place my hand over my beating heart trying to calm myself down, the man who scared the ever-loving shit out of me leans against the doorway, looking sexy as sin, as he lets out a low chuckle.

“What are you doing here? I thought you left? Don’t you have an empire to run or another woman to kidnap?” I snap at him, anger surfacing all over again at how fucking hot he has the nerve to be.

He crosses his arms over his chest, making his biceps look like they’re about to rip through his dress shirt.

“Is that any way to talk to your husband,gattina?” He’s smirking now, having caught me checking him out.

I roll my eyes at him, and he’s on me quicker than a bee to honey. As he leans down over me, one of his powerful arms lands on the table while his other hand goes around my neck and gives it a firm, but somehow gentle, squeeze. His face is so close to mine that I can barely make out any of his features.

“Did you just roll your eyes at me,gattina?”

“Yeah, and? What's the big deal?”

Apparently, that was the wrong thing to say. A low growl escapes him, andholy fuckis that erotic. Moving so his hot breath is next to the side of my face, he speaks directly into my ear, tickling it with every word and sending goosebumps down my arms and a chill down my spine.

“Roll your eyes at me again,gattina, and your ass will be as red as your face.”

Dropping his hand and pulling away from me, I can’t help but think that – as furious as this man makes me – he already knows me so well.

“Was there a reason for you scaring the shit out of me,dear husband?” I ask while batting my eyelashes.

“Sarcasm doesn’t suit you,gattina. And I would think twice about my advice, because my threat was not an empty one, and I don’t think you’re ready to unleash this beast yet.”

Bastard.

He smiles at me knowingly as he continues. “I came in here to tell you that you can explore the grounds. You no longer have to stay in the room all day. But there are rules you will need to follow. Stay in the open, listen to the guards and my men at all times, and don’t try to leave without my permission.”

“W-what?” I’m so shocked, the I struggle to get the words out.

A droll expression crosses his face before he speaks again. “You’re my wife,dolcezza. This is your home, too. Listen to the rules, and as long as you don’t disobey them, you’re free to roam.”

---