Page 12 of Say I Do

“It does mean that. This marriage wasn’t just one to bring our families together. You want to go public, which means we have to be comfortable with each other. And what better way to speed that up than sharing a bed?”

Benito sighed as the sound of the shower turning on filled the silence. I huffed as I slipped out of bed. Walking into the bathroom, I hopped up on the counter. My eyes instantly traveled the length of his body, taking in every inch of him. My mouth watered at the sight of his cock, and I had to remember this was business.

I forced my gaze up, meeting Benito’s penetrating gaze. “So.”

“You nag a lot,” Benito said.

Fuck, he was annoying. If it didn’t mean the organization would get hurt by me leaving, I’d kill him and walk away.

I met his gaze head-on. “And you’re hungover. I can make this painful, or you can, I don’t know, pull your head out of your ass.”

If Benito thought he was getting a meek wife out of me, he’d find out real quick why I’d been tied down for our wedding. I would never be the docile type. I had just as much at stake in our deal as he did. The only difference was he stood at the head, and I was a pawn to be used.

“Go cook or something,” he grumbled.

I moved toward the shower and opened the glass door. Benito looked unfazed; he didn’t have a weapon in sight, yet it felt like he’d kill me with his bare hands. My stomach twisted, and need, the damn devil of the world, slithered down my spine and wrapped around my cock.

I cannot be into my husband.

Easier said than done when beads of water rolled down his chest and torso and led to the fucking promised land. I audibly swallowed as I relaxed against the door.

“I don’t cook or clean. If you’re expecting a housewife, it’s not me and never will be.” I let my gaze drag over him intentionally. “Now, if you need help washing off the blood of your enemies, I’m more than willing to perform my husbandly duties.”

“Not needed. You’re just an ornament on my arm now.”

Fuck, I want to kill him.

Anger boiled just under the surface, tugging at me to react even if I knew better.

“I will kill you.”

Benito cracked a smile; it was cruel and void of any real emotion. “Many have tried. Do your best.”

Fuck, this asshole gets on my nerves.I let the door close and left the bathroom. I would either drive my knife into his neck repeatedly or strip out of my clothes and fall prey to the devil.

I wipeda hand down my face as the shower steamed up. Giancarlo and Enzo had convinced me to drink way longer than I’d intended. Normally I could ignore their influence, but last night I’d wanted to succumb to it for once. It almost felt good to be something other than what I was.

Being drunk was a hell of a lot better than thinking.

The only problem was that now I regretted it. I was the one who was supposed to be in control, not those two idiots. If it were up to Enzo and Giancarlo, I would be as chaotic and discombobulated as they were. I couldn’t afford to be them.

My head pounded as I turned the heat up and watched water crash to the floor below. I wanted to crawl right back into bed, but what I wanted and what I could do were two very different things. I forced myself to grab the soap, the water pelting against my skin felt soothing, but the sound as it hit the tiles made my head throb even more.

Fuck. What am I supposed to do with him?

Harlow was nothing like what I’d been promised. My father told me a year ago that he wanted me to marry into the Hayashi family. I’d been reluctant at first, but the longer he whispered in my ear I had to agree that a wife would be good for me. No more long nights that ended with me turning in early and thinking too much. No more loneliness because I would have kids. No more having to worry about the small things because I’d have a wife for that.

Every false picture of perfection I’d been fed had been ripped away. In its place was a growing migraine. I leaned against the cool tiles of the wall and sucked in a slow, steady breath.

Get rid of this hangover, and then get to work. That’s all I have to do.

Harlow’s face flashed in my mind.Seriously, what the hell am I supposed to do with him?Harlow Hayashi was crazy; I quickly figured that out on the day of the wedding. It was further solidified this morning. So, where the hell did he fit into my life?

I was at a loss.

I finished washing before I stepped out and wrapped a towel around my waist. When I made it to my bedroom, I held my breath, almost expecting Harlow to be back in my bed. Instead, it was empty.

The sigh I released was a mixture of exhaustion and relief. I’d never had to put up with someone like Harlow. If anyone bothered me too badly, I found some way to make them disappear. This annoyance, however, wouldn’t just go away. After all, we were married.

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