Chapter Seven
“Massimo, come on, you cannot be serious.”
“I am serious. You’ve already worn way too many clothes than I would like you to wear, and I’m not going to tell you again. All you can wear is an apron as you cook me breakfast. I want to see that ass working.”
She rolled her eyes, it was like the past couple of weeks hadn’t even happened, and she loved that. “You’re insane.”
“No. I’m a man that knows what he wants, and I know I want you, and I also want to see my wife’s ass.”
He wouldn’t allow her to have any clothes. His rules, and he was refusing to budge, which was also driving her insane. Of course, she loved it as well. Although, cooking without any clothes on did take a while to get used to.
“I should make you starve,” she said, leaving the bedroom. She was about to go straight to the kitchen, but then she stopped and turned around. “What about Romero?”
“What about him?”
“He’s been dropping by unexpectedly. I don’t want him to see me naked.”
“My brother is not going to see you naked and if he ever did, I would gouge out his eyes. As it happens, he is busy. I’ve got him doing a job for me, and I’m taking care of you.”
She sighed. “You have an answer for everything.”
“So I’ve been told.”
Elsie laughed, but this time she gave her ass a shake as she made her way into the kitchen. She let out a scream as she didn’t get very far before his hands were on her.
“You know how to drive me crazy. I’m starting to think we should skip breakfast.”
“But the wait can be that bit more … pleasurable,” she said. She was more than happy to skip breakfast and to make up for lost time.
Being with Massimo was a dream. Not just the sex, but his company, his everything. She tried not to think about how much she had missed being with him. It was hard to do. After she ran, it had been easier to not think of Massimo, but instead imagine him with Isabella, making love to her, wanting her. It was insane and totally messed up. And it had nearly ruined their marriage.
If she ever saw that bitch again, she was going to hurt her. Elsie clenched her hands into fists just thinking about what Isabella had nearly done, and she had almost let her. All because the woman wanted Massimo. But her husband didn’t want anyone but her, and she needed to remember this.
“Babe, what is it?” Massimo asked.
She stared into his blue eyes. “I’m just thinking about her .”
“Don’t. She’s not important.”
“I know, but I ran and nearly let her win.”
“No, you didn’t, because look around, as you and my brother keep saying. I kidnapped you, which means she wasn’t going to win. Isabella is never going to win.”
Elsie sighed. “But she’s always going to be there. Like you said, you can’t hurt her.”
“You’re right, but I can do what I can to protect you.”
“I’m sorry,” she said. “Please forgive me.”
“I already forgive you, but I want you to tell me from now on.”
“What?” she asked.
“I want you to tell me everything. What they’re saying. What they’re doing. Any comments they’re making. Even a dirty look.”
“Massimo, it’s not that simple.”
“It is.”
“I’m not a snitch.”
Massimo chuckled. “I know, and you’re not going to get them killed, but their actions should have consequences, and trust me, baby, I want to make them pay. You’re my wife. I chose you, and they should not be treating you with anything but respect, and I’m going to make sure you get it.”
“Won’t it make them hate me more?” she asked.
“Look into my eyes,” he said.
She stared into his blue eyes, and they stared at her with that hard, impenetrable look. “And you will see that I don’t give a fuck. If they want to cause problems, that’s fine. I’ll fix them and finish them.”
Elsie sighed. “So that’s my husband. Dealing with all kinds of problems. Being my … knight.”
“Always.” He took possession of her lips, and she was quite happy to lead this back into the bedroom, only her stomach chose that moment to make itself heard as it growled. “Now, I have to make sure you feed both of us.”
She groaned. “We could go back to the bedroom.”
“Indeed, we could, but we’re not going to.” He spun her around, and they walked into the kitchen together.
Elsie loved it as he tied an apron around her waist, getting her ready to cook them dinner. He kissed her neck, and then she was on her own. Her ass was exposed, but her chest and stomach were covered. This had happened because on one of the occasions she’d been cooking for them, she’d gotten some oil on her body, as well as some cooking water. She had burned herself, and Massimo had been pissed about it. Since then, he always insisted she wear an apron.
Going into the kitchen, she didn’t even need to look at him to know his gaze was on her ass.
Opening the fridge, she found some breakfast sausages, eggs, and today she was interested in some pancakes. She already knew from previous trips that he had a small pantry, and she went to grab some ingredients to make some delicious pancakes.
There was also a small jar of maple syrup, which was a must. She knew Massimo didn’t like maple syrup with his scrambled egg, while she didn’t mind at all.
She got to cooking and every now and then, she kept stealing glances toward Massimo, who was watching her ass. Each time she did, she gave him a little wriggle.
“There is only so much strength a guy has,” he said.
“You’re the one that insisted on us eating breakfast.”
“I’m being a caring husband.”
She turned back to the stove but she had a smile on her lips, because that was one thing Massimo was to her—a caring, loving husband.
****
“You’re sure you don’t want to go back to the main house for Christmas?” Elsie asked. “I know you like to entertain.”
“I don’t like to fucking entertain. It’s an obligation I don’t agree too,” Massimo said, lifting the axe and bringing it back down on the wood.
He was now convinced his wife wouldn’t try and make her escape, so he’d allowed her to accompany him to chop some wood for the fire. They had already gotten a delivery of supplies, including groceries. Romero had arranged everything for him.
“Yeah, but you’ve always said it is good for family relations,” Elsie said.
“And I’ve had enough of family relations this year. I promised you a Christmas at this cabin, and that is exactly what we’re going to have.”
Elsie smiled. “You did this for me?”
“No offense, babe, but I could have kidnapped you to the basement at home, along with all the warehouses I own. It didn’t have to be quite as comfortable as I made it.”
She sighed. “You make everything sound so romantic.”
He loved her sarcasm. Again, Elsie was the first woman to not accept his shit. She didn’t allow him to treat her with anything but respect. She wasn’t afraid of him.
“I always think of everything.”
“Well, if you’re thinking of everything.” She jumped down from the bench she’d been sitting on. “How about you teach me how to chop that wood?”
If it hadn’t been for the snow, he would have gladly had her butt naked. However, he didn’t want her to catch her death with cold, so the clothes were essential, as well as the scarf, and he couldn’t forget the hat he’d made her wear.
“Be my guest,” he said. “Come here.”
She removed the gloves he’d forced her to wear, and she came walking toward him.
Gripping her waist, he pulled her in close and put the axe in her hand.
“You’ve got to hold it firmly within your grip, and then lift it up and bring it straight back down. You must use force, otherwise you’re going to get it stuck.” He took the axe from her, giving her a demonstration. “You see.”
“I’ve got it.” She grabbed a log, placing it on the stand. “I’m ready.”
He didn’t know if this was a big mistake giving her the axe. Massimo stayed close as she lifted the axe, and he watched as she brought it down, and she did so with the right amount of force to slice the plank of wood in two.
She let out a whoop and spun around toward him. “See what I did there?”
“You’re a natural.”
“Can I go again?”
“Go ahead.”
He watched as she grabbed another piece of wood, putting it in place, and with one swoop of the axe, it sliced through the wood.
“I had no idea this could be so much fun.”
Massimo fell in love with her even more.
She did several more slices, and then he took over as she went back into the cabin to get them a hot chocolate. This time, he had a little test for her. Prior to leaving the cabin to cut wood, he’d left his keys on the kitchen counter for her to take. If she was going to leave him, now was her chance. She wouldn’t get very far, as he’d disconnected the necessary cables to start his car.
He’d known she would go for a hot chocolate break. Elsie never drank hot chocolate any other time of the year. It was her one treat of the whole year. A month of drinking hot chocolate.
Slicing through several pieces of wood, he waited, and Elsie came out of the cabin carrying two mugs of hot chocolate. He put the axe down, and Elsie handed him a mug.
“I appreciate you putting your keys in the way of temptation,” she said, holding them out on her finger. “But I don’t need them.”
“You’re not pissed?” Massimo asked.
She pursed her lips and glanced past his shoulder.
He waited.
“No, I’m not. I get it.”
“You do?”
“I left without warning, and now, in the last couple of days, it was like before I went. You had no warning that I was going to run like that.” She shrugged. “It makes sense for you to be concerned that I’m … lying.”
Massimo looked at her and shook his head. “It’s not about that.”
“Yeah, it is. I didn’t give you any warning. It’s not like I told you Isabella chose every moment she had to draw in that blade of doubt. You were out, and I’d hear you in the background. I knew you were dealing with business, and she was part of it. I got jealous.”
“Isabella wasn’t and has never been part of any business dealings, babe. She’d turn up, but trust me, she was never a welcome guest, and I had nothing to do with her. Sure, she’d try to talk to me, to get me to … I don’t know, get closer to her. I have a wife, Elsie. If I didn’t want to marry you, I wouldn’t have.”
Elsie glanced down into her hot chocolate. “You’re right. I just … I don’t know. I think I panicked. It’s … not being wanted is easier to handle than being wanted.”
He stared at her and saw the tears glistening in her eyes.
“Elsie—”
“Time and time again, I dealt with rejection. I mean, people would come to the home, and they tried to make it look like normal visits, but we all knew it was to check us all out, to see if there was someone they wanted. Sometimes someone would get picked, other times, no one was there. Rejection becomes like a second skin. It’s easier to deal with.”
And again, he was reminded of how different her life was.
“I would never reject you,” he said.
“I know that now, but … it’s easier, right. I’m not trying to make excuses, but one day, I hope you can trust me.”
“I do,” he said. “I know you’re not going to take off again.”
Elsie smiled and went to him. He held his arms open for her and was careful not to spill his hot chocolate.
“I love you,” she said.
“And I love you. Also, I think I’m going to need the name of every single person that came to the foster system and didn’t choose you.”
Elsie laughed. “No, I can’t even remember half the names, and besides, it’s not their fault.”
“Seriously, you’re going to try to defend them?” he asked.
“It’s not about defending them. Some of them needed the money, and others were doing it as a job.”
“Taking care of kids is not a job.”
“I get that, and having kids will not be a job to us. Also, hopefully, none of our kids will ever end up in the foster system.”
“Never,” Massimo said.
“How can you be so sure?”
“I always have people in place, and I’ll make sure our child or children have the best care. Of that, you have my word.”