A Marriage of Discretion

Chapter 1

Millie

Istared at my reflection in the mirror as I finished securing the clasp of my diamond tennis bracelet. Bright green eyes twinkled back at me as I tilted my head, pushing back the curtain of dark hair behind one ear.

Matching diamond earrings winked back at me, as if to reassure me that I looked perfect.

Even though I had nowhere to be tonight, that didn't stop me from dressing the part. The adoring wife. Classy, wealthy, and privileged.

It was a position in which I had many role models to draw from—my mother, for one.

Never look anything but your best, my dear. Even at home.

My phone beeped, and the distinct sound I had assigned to my husband's messages sent an excited shiver down my spine. As it often did whenever I thought of him.

Alessio: Home late tonight. Wait up for me? x

My stomach dipped before it rose again. My face betrayed no emotion as I dutifully replied.

Millie: Of course. I'll let Rose know to keep a plate warm for you x

He was late again. It was the same case most nights, so I had no idea why I thought tonight would be any different.

After all, he was late the night of our second wedding anniversary party last week.

I'd kept the crowd entertained, laughing and circling the room while my husband continued to work through the first hour.

But Alessio was a busy man. If he wasn't working in his London office, he was either in Scotland, Italy, France, or America, overseeing his portfolio of hotels.

I didn't want to complain. After all, I was a very lucky and privileged woman.

Even without my marriage to Alessio, my life had been filled with private education, butlers, house managers, drivers, and expensive holidays abroad.

My dad golfed with the Earl of Foley every Saturday, and my mum grew up with direct descendants to the throne, some of whom she was still close friends with.

So I had no reason to be discontent. And when Alessio was present, he was a passionate and generous husband. We rarely argued; we had a lot in common and a healthy sex life. I knew he cared for me and respected my position as his wife.

It was just unfortunate that those emotions were about the extent of what Alessio felt for me.

I was under no illusion that he loved me.

Loved my body, sure. Loved my familial connections, yes.

Loved that I organised his many dinner parties, knew who every guest was, and their relevant titles.

He loved that I knew how to work a crowd and how to make each person I came across feel special.

He didn't need to keep me by his side during dinner events to ensure I said the right thing and behaved a certain way.

Convenient.

The perfect trophy wife with the right connections.

It wasn't his fault that I had fallen madly in love with him.

In fact, most people who knew how we started would be surprised that I had any affection for him at all. But you couldn't help who you loved.

With a deep sigh, I started on the clasp of my bracelet. After all, there was no point in wearing it when I had no one to impress.

Warm lips caressed my neck, causing an involuntary shiver to rattle my skin. A moan escaped me as fingers slid up my silky-smooth thighs.

"Alessio?" I murmured.

"Who else would it be?"

Firm lips covered my own, and I eagerly opened to welcome the smooth invasion of his tongue. Warm skin and a hair-roughed chest greeted me, and I couldn't stop the groan of pleasure that climbed my throat.

Alessio naked was my favourite way to find him. And although I'd waited up—annoyed—until nine p.m., all negative thoughts escaped me as my body turned to goo under his knowledgeable touch.

In one fell swoop, my nightie was nothing more than a puddle on the floor. His body fit neatly between my thighs, and I snaked my hands up his side until they clasped around his smooth back.

"You drive me mad." He groaned against my throat. "My sweet wife."

Sweet wife.

My eyes flew open, and I stared at the ceiling while his large frame moved over me.

Sweet could be taken as a compliment. I mean, it was a compliment.

But to me, sweet equalled docile. Sweet equalled making sure his dinner plate stayed continuously warm while he ignored my texts asking him when he'd be home and then staying up in sexy lingerie until I fell asleep watching Coronation Street.

As a completely unrelated example.

Tonight, I didn't want to be sweet. I wanted him to see me. To know that I was more than a body that he could fuck and a mind that knew the difference between a Valentin de Boulogne painting and a Gerard van Honthorst one.

I dug my nails into Alessio's back, causing him to stiffen.

My mouth licked at his ear before my teeth scraped against the shell.

His answering groan had me smiling, and with a strength I didn't know I possessed, I flipped him over before climbing on top of him.

His eyes lit up at my movements, his hands coming to rest firmly on my waist.

"Well, hello. If I knew this was waiting for me, I would've come home sooner."

My stomach hollowed and I moulded my smile into a seductive smirk. I hated that he joked about it. No apology or explanation was offered for his lateness. I wanted to wipe that look of male satisfaction off his face. To let him see, for once, that I held all the power.

Holding his gaze, I lifted my hands to cover my breasts.

The nipples pebbled beneath my palms as I stroked them, circling the areola with my fingers.

The heat in his eyes told me just how much he was enjoying the show.

His thick erection grew longer against my thigh.

I trailed a hand down my stomach, watching his chest rise more rapidly as his dark gaze followed my movements.

I dipped down into my crotch, feeling my slippery wetness. Delving deep, a moan caught in my throat.

"Dio mio," he swore. His hips lifted, seeking a connection to my damp pussy.

"Taste me," I commanded, lifting my fingers and placing them against his firm, full lips.

His mouth opened, and he sucked in my fingers, his hand catching my wrist to stop me from pulling back.

"You taste delicious," he approved. "But I need more."

He twisted me around until I landed with my back on the mattress. I wanted to scream in frustration as he took charge again. But that trapped scream turned into a moan as he lifted one shapely leg and placed it over his shoulder.

"Look at this messy cunt," he rasped, his thumb rubbing my clit.

He held his long, thick shaft and lined it up to my willing pussy.

An embarrassingly long and loud moan pushed past my lips as I felt his cock stretch me. Once he was fully seated in me, he started to thrust into my wet pussy. The sound of skin slapping on skin echoed through the room, alongside the chorus of moans and grunts.

He bent over my body, one leg still over his shoulder and the other climbing up his back. His eyes stayed focused on my swaying breasts as he pounded me into the mattress.

"Dio, you feel good. I can't get enough of you.”

I could only clutch him and hang on as his almost violent fucking had a continuous string of curse words leaving my mouth.

"Oh, shit. Oh, fuck. Yes, yes. Alessio, don't stop!"

By the time I reached that ultimate peak, I was a bumbling mess. Alessio soon followed, bending me like a pretzel as he fucked me through my orgasm. His answering groan was the last thing I heard before the fog of pleasure took over.

The following morning, I stared at myself in the mirror, not recognising the more than satisfied woman looking back at me.

My lips were swollen, and a distinct bruise was visible on my neck.

My eyes carried shadows from a night peppered with sex.

Alessio had been insatiable, as had I. My sore pussy was a testament to that.

My eyes caught on my husband as he came up behind me in the mirror.

One hand landed on my shoulder as the other placed a distinctive box from an exclusive jeweller on my dressing table.

With a demure smile, I opened it and spied a platinum band with a full circle of diamonds.

My expert gaze knew it would have set him back at least 20k. A drop in the ocean for him.

"It's beautiful. Thank you, darling." I lifted my face dutifully for his kiss.

"I called Penelope, and she advised me what dress you're wearing tonight. This should pair well with it."

"It does. You have impeccable taste."

His other hand came down on my shoulder, squeezing it. "I have another late night tonight, so I'll get changed at the office, come pick you up, and we'll head straight there."

I plastered on a smile, and lifted my hand to squeeze his.

"What will you do today?"

He was already looking at his reflection in my mirror and straightening his tie. He had no care for my plans but still felt required to take an interest and ask.

I glanced down at my dresser drawer. The letter, which I'd been putting off for a while, burned a hole in my conscience.

"I'll probably meet up with Marina to see if she needs any help with the gala tonight. Maybe some shopping," I lied.

He nodded, even though I knew he hadn't really absorbed my words. "Very good. See you tonight."

He placed a gentle kiss to my head before turning on his heel and leaving.