Chapter 23 Massimo
MASSIMO
Liana has managed to ignore me for most of the reception, throwing herself into conversations with guests every time I manage to make eye contact with her. But when the DJ announced our first dance, there wasn’t going to be any more escaping me.
I walk over and slide my hand into hers. “Hope you don’t mind me stealing my wife away,” I say to her cousins, then drag Liana to the dance floor.
Tugging her into me, I wrap my hand around her waist and take her hand into mine, holding it out to our sides.
She clears her throat. “You didn’t have to drag me away like a caveman, you know.”
“Smile, belleza, or everyone here will think you hate me.”
“Well, it wouldn’t be far off from what I do feel for you.”
I chuckle deeply. “You and I know that’s so damn far from the truth.”
“Whatever, Massimo,” she says, rolling her eyes.
I tighten my hold on her, pulling her into me so her chest is flush with mine. She nearly stumbles at the move, and when my hand falls to the curve of her back, she snaps her sharp gaze to mine.
“What do you think you’re doing?”
“Liana, aren’t you exhausted from keeping this wall up between us?”
“Not really,” she mutters.
“So you’re telling me you didn’t feel anything when I kissed you at the altar?”
“If disgust counts, then yes, I did feel something.” She smiles sweetly at me.
“I didn’t realize you kissed all men you disgust like that.”
She narrows her gaze on me, and I chuckle.
“Yes, mia moglie. The way your mouth opened so perfectly for me—like it’s known what it’s wanted for the past six years, and you finally gave in. And the way your body relaxed into mine and let me take over, even if it was for just a moment.”
I brush a loose strand out of her face, then cup the side of her neck and rub the pad of my thumb over the soft skin of her cheek.
“Imagine how it would be if you stopped fighting me and we could have this all the time,” I say.
Liana leans into my touch, almost subconsciously.
She needs me just as fucking badly as I need her, and she’s finally starting to realize it.
The song ends, and instead of stepping away from me, Liana gets closer and gazes up at me with a twinkle that has me intrigued.
My eyes drop to her plump lips, and I lick mine in anticipation, knowing how fucking delicious they taste on mine.
But just when I think she’s going to lean in for a kiss, something sharp pierces my toe.
I let out a grunt but hold my shit together.
Did she just fucking stomp on my foot?
“That was for trying to kiss me again when I’ve already held up my side of the deal and given you the one that was written into our contract.
” She smiles. “Try it again, and my stiletto will get acquainted with other parts of your body.” She slides her gaze down my body, then back up. “Understood, mio dolce marito?”
Without waiting for me to answer, she whips around and walks off the dance floor while I’m left stunned in place.
Not because she nearly broke my toe with her ridiculously fucking sharp heel, but because my dear little wife just called me her sweet husband, and I don’t give a fuck that she was being facetious about it. It has me yearning for more.