Chapter 14 Liana #2
“Don’t get too excited. That’s how I’ll remain for the rest of my life with you by my side.”
“That’s laughable. A desirable woman like you won’t be able to go the rest of her life without physical contact with a man.”
“I’ve gone all these years without it. I think I’ll be perfectly fine,” I snide.
“You think I don’t notice how your body reacts to mine, Liana?
The way your eyes darken when we’re close.
The way you internally fight with yourself every time your body betrays your mind?
It’s only a matter of time before that beautiful head of yours catches up with your body and you’re begging me to take that sweet virgin cunt of yours. ”
My face fumes with an inexplicable heat, but this is exactly what Massimo wants—a reaction—and I refuse to give him one. “You seem to think very highly of yourself, but I assure you, we’ll never be in that situation.”
“We’ll see,” he says, a smirk tugging at his lips.
“No sex and no kissing. If you’re so adamant about physical touch, then a hug or something is permitted.”
“I’m not agreeing to no kissing.”
“Massimo, it’s not going to happen. Kissing and sex are off the table.”
“Absolutely not.”
“This is a nonnegotiable.”
“When Father Barone pronounces us man and wife and tells me to kiss my bride, I will be kissing you,” he grinds out.
The way the vein in his temple pulses tells me he’s ready to go to war for this kiss. Is it worth fighting over? I let out a sigh. “Fine. One kiss. That’s all you get.”
“For now,” he mumbles under his breath, but I hear it clear as day.
“What was that?”
“I said, sounds good to me,” he says with a tight smirk on his face.
I roll my eyes. “So, condition number four is accepted? No sex. One kiss. Minimal touching.”
“Unless you beg me. Write that in.”
“I’m not writing that in.”
“Write it in or I’m leaving.”
“Massimo …”
“Liana …”
There’s a silent standoff between the two of us for what feels like several long minutes before I finally concede, taking my pen and writing in his ridiculous demand.
Just remember why you’re doing this, Liana.
“There, your absurd request has been written in.”
“Good girl,” he says, and I hate how it instantly has the hairs on the back of my neck standing on end, sending a jolt of electricity straight to my core.
What the hell?
Doing my best to ignore it, I say, “Condition number five—I’m assuming if I ask to continue residing in my apartment, you’re going to throw a fit about it?”
“You’re not staying in your own apartment. You will move into my penthouse. That’s a nonnegotiable.”
“I figured,” I mumble. “Seems like I’m the one being a lot more reasonable than you. You’re welcome …” Moving on before he has a rebuttal, I say, “Because I have to move in with you, condition number five is that I have my own room.”
“No.” He shakes his head.
“Yes.”
“Absolutely not.”
“Why not?” I demand.
“I don’t think you understand what’s happening, Liana. You and I are going to get married, which means we’ll be husband and wife. You’ve already asked a lot of me. I refuse to go the rest of our lives as roommates. That’s not what we are.”
“We’re not really anything, Massimo, so I’d say roommates is a step up.”
“You will sleep in my bed. That’s it,” he grinds out.
“Not going to happen.”
“Stop arguing with me. You’re making this so much more difficult than it needs to be.”
I smile sweetly at him. “I’m just giving you a little sneak of what married life will be like with me.”
“You’ll grow out of it,” he mutters, folding his arms across his chest.
“Pardon me?”
“I said, you’ll grow out of it. You’re going to get tired of this little attitude you have with me once you realize I’m not here to make your life miserable.”
“But you are making it miserable,” I snap. “I’ve told you multiple times what you could do to make me have even an ounce of respect for you, but you refuse to do it. Would it help if I said I’ll go on a date with you if you just stop this madness with Alessia and her dad?”
“My dad insists I get married immediately so I can officially take over the family. There’s only one woman I’ve ever planned on marrying, and I’ll be fucking damned if I don’t get her.”
“I’m not a thing you get, Massimo!”
My breaths come out short and harsh. I’m so frustrated with this man. Why can’t he just see what he’s doing is unfair and unreasonable? It just feels like he’s trying to ruin my life.
Massimo is silent for a few moments until he finally says, “I refuse to get married to anyone else, Liana. If this is the way it needs to be done, then so be it.”
I shake my head. Speaking to him is like talking to a wall. There’s no use.
“I’ll have my own room,” I say, diverting my attention back to the contract.
“You will not, and that’s the end of that discussion.”
My gaze snaps up to Massimo, and his eyes are sharp on mine. Unwavering. There’s no point in arguing with him over this anymore, but if he thinks he’s won, he has another thing coming. I will not be sleeping in his bed.
“Fine,” I grind out. “You’re so damn demanding,” I grumble, crossing the condition out on my copy of the contract.
“I’m demanding? You’re the one who’s coming at me with insane conditions that I’ve mostly accepted.
I’m working with you here because I want you.
This might just be a business arrangement for you, but you’re my fucking past, present, and future.
You will sleep in my bed, and you will make the most of this marriage.
Don’t close me out, Liana, or else this will be the worst life you could ever live. ”
“Is that a threat?”
“This marriage could be the best fucking thing that ever happens to you, but you’re too busy ignoring what both of us already know.”
“The best thing that could ever happen to me? How is that possible when you’re forcing me to do this?” I exclaim. Why doesn’t he understand?
“You know what,” he says, pushing himself to an abrupt stand, “I’m fucking done with this.”
I do the same, pushing myself up from my seat. “What does that mean?”
“You don’t want to get married? Fine. I don’t fucking care anymore.”
“Does that mean—”
He lets out a deranged laugh. “Please do not even think about asking me to help you with the Carusos.”
“But, Massimo—”
“I’m giving you what you want, Liana. You don’t have to get married to me, but if you think I’m going to help Alessia’s problems with her boyfriend and his dad, you’re seriously fucking mistaken. You want to be done with me, fine, then let’s fucking cut ties right here, right now.”
Not giving me a second to speak, let alone process what he just said, he turns sharp on his heel and heads for the door, not bothering to look back once.
My jaw bobbles up and down, but my words get caught in my throat. Massimo continues to the door, and just when I think he’s going to pay me one last glance, he pushes his way through, letting it close on his heels.
I’m left speechless. Just when I thought I had the upper hand, he goes and turns the tables on me. Did I really just ruin any hope I had at helping Alessia?