Chapter Three
Luca was not in a happy mood. Uncle Ed had paid him a visit, and had wanted to try and work out some kind of deal that meant he got to keep the money he’d been stealing from his brother.
It wasn’t going to happen.The Goodwin’s only error as far as he could see was hiring Uncle Ed. The bastard had attempted to cover his tracks using distraction techniques and his family connections to get away with it for so long. Before he could outright take the money and run, Luca made sure that money was returned to the company, or at least what was left of it.
Uncle Ed had worked to destroy the company that had given him a good lifestyle. Today he had to listen to the man’s excuses, lies, and then attempts to blackmail as well as threaten him. Luca wasn’t easily manipulated, nor would he ever be.
It annoyed him. Actually, no, it pissed him off. The stupid asshole had worked to exploit his ownfamily, and now he wanted to try and make everyone feel guilty for it. If these manipulations persisted, he would involve the law, it was as simple as that.
Running his fingers through his hair, he sat at his desk at home and felt the temptation to pick up his cell phone and watch Tillie on the cameras.
Ever since he had gotten her to dance for him, he’d kept his distance. Luca wasn’t used to these feelings. He was a man who was known to take control, who got what he wanted without any questions asked.
On their wedding night, he’d been the dominant one, telling her what to do, and then the moment he thrust balls-deep inside her tight cunt, he’d felt that thin barrier give, and then the sounds of her pain. He hadn’t been prepared for Tillie’s virginity. And now, it was making him keep his distance, even though it was the last thing he wanted to do.
He was no coward and he didn’t back down from a fight, but facing a virgin he hurt was a lot harder than he thought it would be.
Luca didn’t reach for his cellphone. It had been a few days since he last saw her. Not that he was openly avoiding her, because he was not. No, he was busy working, keeping his part of the deal.
She’s not keeping hers. She’s my wife, and is supposed to be in my bed.
Each time he thought about how desperately he wanted his wife at his side, in his bed, underneath him, all he saw was the pain in her eyes as he took her that first time. Fuck!
Luca was about to slam his fist down on the desk when there was a sudden knock on the door. Itwasn’t a soft knock either. This was from someone determined to be heard.
“Come in,” he said.
The door opened and Tillie suddenly appeared. “Good evening, Luca,” she said. In her arms she carried a plate, and he frowned.
“Good evening,” he said.
This was new.
“So, I don’t know if you have eaten food or anything, but I didn’t want you to be sitting in here hungry.” She came toward him and he couldn’t help but admire the curve of her legs. She wore a knee-length skirt and a short-sleeved top, and she looked so beautiful, so in control, comfortable, and to Luca, very sexy. The skirt seemed to skim across her body.
She rounded the desk and putthe plate down in front of him. He looked at it and at first didn’t quite comprehend what was happening.
“What’s this?”
“This is chicken, mashed potatoes, vegetables, and gravy.” She held out a knife and fork for him to take. “Here you go.”
“I know what this is, but what is this?” he asked.
“It’s your dinner. I don’t know whenwas the last time you ate a decent meal, and, well, I don’t want you to starve.” She rounded the desk and further surprised him by not leaving. In fact, she pulled up a chair and took a seat. “Enjoy.”
“Where is your food?”
“I ate it as you were coming indoors. I had made you up a plate and was keeping it warm in the oven.”
She locked her fingers together and then leaned back, looking comfortable as she watched him. “How was your day at work?”
“It was good,” he said.
Luca stared at the food, and it looked stunning. He held his knife and fork and decided to take a bite of the chicken, and he was delighted to see there was also stuffing inside. He took a bite and then closed his eyes as the flavors danced across his tongue. They were exquisite.
The flavors of the chicken and stuffing married so well. He couldn’t resist taking some of the mashed potatoes, which were creamy and delicious.
“Amazing,” he said. He saw the smile on Tillie’s face and he watched her. “You cooked this?”
“Yes, I did. It was one of my grandpa’s favorite meals, especially after a long day, and I know you left early this morning.” She did give a tut. “I don’t think it’s healthy for you to be at work all day, and then come home and get right back into your study. Maybe it’s time for us to make some ground rules.”
“You’re going to give me ground rules?” he asked.
“Only to help improve your health. If you’re at work all day, then you’re not working atnight.”
“And if I don’t listen?”
“Then you get a very angry wife, and seeing as I know where you work, or at least can find a wayto locate you, I think you should follow my rules.”
The vegetables were delicious and Luca couldn’t deny he loved this newfound confidence in his wife as she sat back, telling him exactly how it was going to be.
“Working all day and night is not good for you. I don’t care if you think you’re healthy.Our health declines if all we do is focus on work. I’m not going to stop you doing what you do, but if you’re not going to take care of your health, I will.”
Before he realized what was happening, he’d already finished his meal. Normally, he ate takeout, or leftovers from a restaurant. Luca couldn’t remember ever enjoying a home-cooked meal. Unlike Tillie, he didn’t have a family.
The moment he was finished, Tillie got up. “I’ll be right back with dessert.”
He didn’t complain as she walked away from him, and he admired the shape and curves of her ass. She looked so damn tempting. All he wanted to do was touch, to taste, but instead he held himself back.
She returned less than five minutes later with a small plate and smaller spoon. “Chocolate fudge brownie with vanilla ice cream.”
Once again, she took a seat in front of him, and he took a taste. “Did you bake this?”
“Yes, and I did the ice cream yesterday.”
The flavors were out of this world. “How did you learn to cook like this?”
“From my grandmother. I was close to her.”
The food was amazing. It felt like he’d only taken a few bites and the food was gone. Tillie got to her feet and reached for the plate to take away.
“I think it’s time for you to take a nice, hot bath, get out of your work clothes, and spend the rest of the night relaxing.”
“Not so fast,” Luca said. “Sit.”
“I need to go and tidyup your dishes.”
“They can wait.”
She looked like she wanted to argue, but she didn’t. Tillie put the plate down, and then slowly lowered herselfinto the chair opposite him.
At first, Luca just looked at her and tried to figure out what he was going to say to her. There were so many things, but right now, all he wanted to focus on was the fact she was in his officeand not running away screaming.
“You want to start making rules, I think it’s only fair that I make a few rules as well.”
“What might those be?”
“Our marriage?”
He saw the tension in her shoulders, and even though she tried to hide it, she was not a master like him.
Luca sat back and stared at his opponent. In that moment, she was his opponent.
They both wanted different things. Tillie wanted him to take care of himself and not work so much. He wanted Tillie.
“What rules would those be?” Tillie asked. “Are we talking about what we agreed in church in front of the priest?”
“No,” he said.
She licked her lips, and he couldn’t help but see how sensual that act was. Her lips looked so plump and inviting. His cock hardened at the sight. Damn it, he wasn’t used to entering negotiations withsuch a sexual need sweeping over him.
“What rules do you have in mind?”
“You no longer sleep in a different room. You’re my wife, and you’re going to start acting like it. You sleep in my room, in my bed, no exceptions.”
“Imight just want to point out that it was you who put me in the spare bedroom.”
“You were a virgin.”
“And I’m no longer a virgin. You did take care of that.”
“Have you always had a smart mouth?” he asked.
“I’ve been known to argue with the best of them, and if you mean by helping to get what I want, then yes, I have.”
Damn it, every second in her company was only fueling this need he had for her.
“I see no problem with sharing your bed and being a wife to you. I figured I would let you set the pace, seeing as you were the one to keep your distance.”
“I wasn’t expecting you to be a virgin.”
“Why not?” Tillie asked.
“You’re beautiful, and the moment I saw you, I knew I wanted to fuck you, and I don’t know how any man could have looked at you and let you get away.”
He saw her cheeks heat.
“You think I’m beautiful?”
“Yes.”
She was blushing. “Thank you. What, uh, other rules do you have?”
He stared at her. Luca had to scramble his brain because she was affecting every single one of his senses right now. He’dnot come into this negotiation prepared.
“You don’t hide from me. I want us to share breakfast, lunch, and dinner together. You will bring me lunch at my office, which currently is in your father’s building.”
“Okay,” Tillie said.
“And from now on, we’re not strangers. We’re husband and wife, and it’s time for us to start acting like it.”
He expected an argumentbut didn’t get one. Tillie merely smiled at him and agreed.
****
Tillie put the last of her clothes into Luca’s wardrobe, and then stepped back. This was really happening. She hadn’t expected it to move quite so fast, not that she was complaining, because this was exactly what she wanted.
What was there to complain about?
After talking with David, she had finally realized she’d been doing everything wrong when it came to Luca. She’d been treating him like a stranger, and even though in essence that was exactly what he was, they were still husband and wife.
He’d not hurt her, apart from the wedding night, but every woman’s first time is meant tohurt, at least that’s what the books told her. Luca hadn’t done anything else to harm her. He’d been wonderful. She couldn’t find a single fault with him.
So, she’d come to the decision that she was going to find that marriage she had always been dreaming of. The one her grandparents had. The one she wanted for herself. Her grandmother had always said that the love of a good man started with his stomach. She decided to cook Luca a meal, and that extended into the brownie. The ice cream she’d made for herself yesterday, but there was more than enough to share. Even though on a miserable day, she’d be able to consume the entire carton, she hadn’t done so.
She felt she deserved a pat on the back, with how the past few weeks had been.
Tillie stepped out of the wardrobe, and then came face to face with Luca. She’d already showered and changed into her silk negligee. In the winter, she loved her cozy pajamas to keep warm. Spring and summer, it had to be a silk negligee, where there wasn’t a lot of fabric keeping it together.
Luca hadn’t showered yet. He’d removed his jacket and tie and opened the top few buttons of his shirt, exposing some of his chest. Not quite enough for her to see, but there was certainly enough that made her want to see more. What was wrong with her?
I want my husband.
She didn’t say the words, as there was no way she could say them to Luca.
“I’m going to take a shower.”
“Okay. I have moved all my clothes into your wardrobe. Which side of the bed do you sleepon?”
“I don’t care,” he said, and then he moved past her, not quite touching her.
She got the hint of his masculine cologne, and for a second she couldn’t move. All she could do was stand and wait. He smelled so good. She had thought the same on their wedding day.
Tillie was tempted to slap her face, but she wasn’t interested in the pain, so she moved toward the bed. There was no obvious indentation where his head had been.
She opted for theright side, and she slid beneath the covers. His sheets were as soft as silk, and she rested her head against the pillow, which again felt so light. She closed her eyes and tried to relax.
I’m in my husband’s bed.
It is going to be fine.
She couldn’t hear the shower as the door was closed, but she knew he was naked and getting wet, and her imagination was starting to go wild.
Focus, Tillie, focus.
Go to sleep.
That would be easy.
Just go to sleep.
Sleep was not coming, and it certainly wasn’t anywhere closer as the door to the ensuite opened, and Luca stepped into the bedroom, complete with a towel around his middle.
Most of his chest was bare apart from a single tattoo near his heart, and it looked like writing more than an image.Tillie wasn’t close enough to make out what it was.
He was currently drying his head with another towel, and as he did so, it seemed to flex and tighten all his muscles.Once he’d done his hair, she stayed perfectly still on the bed and listened to him move around.
Seconds passed, maybe even minutes, as he then padded back to the bathroom, only to return seconds later with nothing on.
He didn’t hide his body, but Tillie looked away.
She didn’t hear any other sign of him changing or pulling on a pair of pants before the light went out, and then he climbed into bed.
“Why are you tense?” he asked.
“Tense? I’m not tense.”
She nearly freaked out as his fingers touched her shoulder.
“I’m not going to hurt you.”
Tillie rolled over and came face to face with her husband. Even though the room was dark, she could still make him out.
“I know that,” she said.
Now all thought had left her. It had been a long time since they were this close. He was within touching distance. And kissing distance. And naked.
She couldn’t forgetthe naked part.
“Why are you tense?”he asked again.
Tillie opened her mouth, closed it, and then she had to try and think. Why wasn’t she naked? What was it about Luca Winters that took all her thoughts away and turned her into a bumbling idiot?
Ah, right, she remembered.
“You’re naked.”
She was pretty sure she saw the smirk on his lips, eventhough it was dark.
“Yes.”
“And you don’t own any pants?”
“You know I own pants, but none I wear to bed.”
“What about a pair of sweatpants?”
“No.”
She frowned. “Everyone owns a pair of sweatpants.”
“Not me.”
She glared at him. “You’re just trying to be difficult.”
“Actually, I’m not.” He leaned in a little closer and she felt his breath against her face.
He smelled mintyand the temptation to kiss those sensualadorable lips was so strong. She had no choice but to fight it.
Tillie didn’t have a clue whatshe was doing. She could cook and bake, even clean, and hold a conversation, but sex … all she knew was what she had read.
“I don’t sleep in clothes, and I’m not about to start.”
He further surprised her by the feel of his fingers sliding across her stomach.
“What are you doing?” she asked.
“Simple, I’m going to hold my wife as I sleep. Do you have a problem with that?”
“No.” Her answer didn’t quite sound right, so she cleared her throat and then responded, “No, I don’t.”
“Good.”
She didn’t know how they managed it, but Luca was curled against her back, an arm banded around her waist, and she felt the length of him nestle against her ass. She wasn’t uncomfortable. In fact, she felt so relaxed, and slowly, minute by minute, her eyelids started to feel heavy, and then sleep claimed her.