Page 49 of Of Murder and Matrimony

“What?” I asked innocently.

She laughed drily. “We are not doing whatever you were just thinking. I swear, you were nearly drooling.”

“You don’t want me to bend you over my desk and fuck you while you try to stay quiet enough that Diego won’t overhear?” I teased, smirking when Olesya’s face turned crimson. I took a step forward, and she jumped back, gasping when she found the wall behind her.

Bracketing her in with my arms braced against the wall, I dipped my head and brushed my cheek against hers. Her warm breath kissed my face, and I closed my eyes, inhaling her jasmine scent.

“Dante?”

“Hmm?” I murmured, kissing the sensitive skin next to her ear.

“Did you bring me here to fuck me?” Olesya asked in a whisper.

“No, but I should have.” I sucked her earlobe between my lips, nibbling there until she whimpered. “Next time, piccola fantasma.”

I pushed away from the wall, knowing we’d never make it to our destination if I took it any further. Fuck, I wanted to, but this excursion was supposed to be about Olesya. I couldn’t be so selfish.

Taking my wife’s hand, I led her toward the door. “Come on, let’s get going. You’ve got some shopping to do.”

“What?”

“Don’t tell me you need to get your hearing checked, Doctor.” I grinned at her. “You want clothes. You’ll have clothes. A fucking closet full, if you’d like.”

Olesya tripped over her own feet as we headed down the hall. “Really? I get to choose?”

“I get the final say.” There was no sense in misleading her. While I could grant my wife many freedoms, I was still a controlling man, and I would oversee everything about her. Because I wanted to.

Diego trailed behind us and crowded into the elevator with my men, leaving Olesya and me pressed against the back wall. I stroked my thumb over her bare wrist as we descended to the underground parking, reluctant to withdraw my touch when we approached the car, and she pulled away.

“So, where are we going?” Olesya asked when we were settled and on our way. Her eyes shone with happiness. Exactly what I’d hoped for.

“There are a couple of places I think you’ll like,” I answered vaguely. A lot can change in a decade, including the stores that carried clothing Olesya used to wear. I’d gotten a good sense of her current preferences from her closet in Colorado.

Of course, she’d been buying on a budget there, and money was no object for me. I spent the next few hours trailing after my wife, soaking in her joy as she bought enough clothing to fill the closet in her room. By the time she called it quits, I was exhausted just watching her spend my money.

“Was it really necessary to clear all the stores and make me give you a private fashion show for each thing?” Olesya griped on the way to dinner.

“Absolutely.” I drummed my fingers against my thigh.

She sighed and rolled her eyes. “Other people will see me in the clothes, Dante.”

“Perhaps.” I shrugged and turned toward her, surveying her body as she relaxed against the leather seat. When she looked away from the intensity of my gaze, I grasped her chin and brought her close, forcing her to look at me. “But I’ll always know I saw you in them first.”

Filippo pulled up to the curb in front of Angelo’s, and Stefano held the door for Olesya as I climbed out onto the street, taking in my surroundings. It was nearly twilight, but there was enough light filtering through the buildings to see clearly. Nothing seemed out of place.

Taking Olesya’s hand, I led her into the restaurant. The hostess scrambled when she saw me, grabbing menus and hurrying to follow me back to the private room reserved for my family.

“Good evening Mr. Neretti.” She nodded to Olesya as I pulled the chair out for her to sit. “Mrs. Neretti. So nice to have you with us tonight. Can I start you off with anything in particular?”

I sat at the end of the table next to my wife and glanced at the menu, though I’d memorized the thing years ago. Angelo rarely changed the foods he offered, which was one of the reasons locals loved the place. You could expect quality and consistency, and you never had to worry about leaving with an empty stomach because the portions were big enough to guarantee at least two meals, even for a grown man.

The hostess visibly shook as she waited for my answer, the bangle bracelets on her wrist tinkling. I decided not to scare her anymore. “Just the bread, thanks.”

“Right away, sir.” She scurried away with her head down, refusing to look at the burly guards standing outside the door to the private dining area.

Olesya shot me a disapproving look. “Do you have to scare everybody?”

“I didn’t do anything,” I protested. For once.

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