Chapter 26
LIANA
Last night was a mistake.
When I decided to get myself off while Massimo was in bed with me just to get under his skin, I didn’t think he’d join in and do the same. When he did, I couldn’t help but actually imagine it was him touching me, and I was more turned on than I thought I’d ever be in a situation like that.
I ended up sleeping in his bed all night, having one of the most restful sleeps I’ve ever had—annoyingly enough—and when I woke up the next morning, I snuck out of bed, leaving a sleeping Massimo, and immediately left for work.
I’ve been working on a design when Izzy walks in.
“Uhh, what are you doing here?” she says.
I glance up from my iPad with a furrow in my brow. “Uhh, working? I have some things to do before I leave for Italy in a couple days.”
She sets her bag down on her desk and removes her coat. “No, I mean, it’s the day after your wedding. Why are you here?”
“Contractual wedding.”
“Yeah, whatever. Still a wedding, nonetheless. Now stop avoiding the question.” She walks over and takes a seat in the chair across from me. “Why’re you here?”
“Because I still have a company to run.”
She scoffs, narrowing her gaze on mine. “Please, you know everything would be fine without you.”
“And what do you expect me to do if I’m not here working?”
Izzy shrugs. “Well, I mean, with that kiss, I figured—”
“Oh, no, please do not start that with me.”
“Okay, Miss Testy. What is wrong with you today?”
I let out a sigh. “I’m sorry. I just … didn’t get much sleep last night.” Lie.
Izzy is silent for a moment, studying me, then says, “You look pretty rested to me.”
“You know, for my best friend, you’re sure drilling me quite early this morning.”
“Yes, and as your best friend, I deserve to know how your wedding night went.”
“Contractual wedding.”
Izzy waves me off. “Oh, pish posh. What happened last night? I need all the details.”
I quirk a brow at her. “Are you feeling okay?” She knows how I feel about Massimo, so why does she even think there’s a possibility anything happened between us? I mean, something did happen, but she’s not supposed to think that.
“I watched the two of you very closely last night. Massimo couldn’t keep his eyes off you the entire time you were doing your best to avoid him. And that kiss? You can’t tell me you didn’t feel anything from that kiss.”
“What kiss?”
“You’re not fooling me, Liana. Now, spill. I want all the tea.”
“I don’t know what to tell you, Izzy.”
“Fine, you don’t want to tell me, then I’ll find out straight from Massimo. I still have his number.”
“You wouldn’t.”
“Try me, my dear, sweet, innocent cousin.”
I let out an annoyed sigh. “You’re just as persistent as that man,” I mutter.
Izzy claps and squeals. “Yay! I knew you’d come around. Now, out with it. I know something had to have happened.”
“Calm down. I’m still a virgin.”
Izzy’s shoulders slump forward.
“Oh my gosh! I can’t believe you seriously would think I’d have sex with that man.”
“He’s hot, Liana. You’re married now. You might as well make the most of your relationship.”
“You’re delusional.”
“I’m the delusional one? Aww, sweetie, you don’t really think anyone expects you to stay a virgin much longer, being married to Massimo Bonetti, do you? That man is all man, and you’ve been the object of his desire for years now.”
“Have you forgotten he forced me into this marriage? That he’s an asshole?”
“Sometimes, fate has a funny way of forcing us to do things we might’ve not thought were a good idea but really actually are.”
I roll my eyes and shake my head. “Well, no, we have not had sex, and I don’t plan on having sex with him anytime soon, but …”
“But??” she says, sitting taller in her seat.
“I might’ve … tried to get back at him last night for making me sleep in bed with him.”
“Oookay. What did you do?”
“I might’ve … gotten myself off while he lay next to me?” I scrunch my nose because saying it out loud truly sounds like the dumbest thing I’ve ever done.
Izzy gives me a blank stare. “You got yourself off … while you were next to him …”
“Yeah, and uhh … he did too.”
She continues to give me her blank stare. “And he did too … As in, you both got yourselves off next to each other … in bed.”
I nod, my face still scrunched. “Initially, I did it to make him suffer a bit. You know, having me be so close, yet so far. Him not being able to touch me. I figured it’d make him squirm a bit.”
“Sounds like there was lots of squirming,” Izzy mutters.
“But then he decided to join in, and then we ended up finishing. Together. While thinking of one another.”
Izzy gives me that blank stare again, then I lean forward, placing my elbows on my desk and bringing my hands up to cover my face. “Oh my gosh, this was literally the worst plan I’ve ever had.”
She finally lets out a laugh. “Or this could’ve quite possibly been the best plan you’ve ever had. Oh my gosh, Liana! You’re a freak! I knew you would be. As soon as you found a guy, I knew you’d be a freak in bed.”
I drop my hands to my desk. “I am not a freak!”
Izzy laughs again. “Uhh, I beg to differ. Getting yourself off in front of a man like that? Ballsy, first of all, and oh so damn delicious.” She squeals. “I’m so proud of you.”
“Isabella, this is not something to be proud of. My plan didn’t work. It backfired completely, actually.”
“Well, of course it did. You thought Massimo would get scared of having a woman fingering herself in bed? Come on, Liana, I know you’re smarter than that.”
“Yes, I truly thought it would make him squirm and he’d get all mad about it because he wasn’t doing it to me. Make him storm off and sleep in another room.”
Izzy contemplates my words. “That actually does make a little sense. Okay, I see where your intention was, but men love seeing their women get themselves off, so that could’ve gone either way, to be honest.”
“Yeah, well it went the wrong way. The very wrong way.”
“Or did it go the right way?” She wiggles her brows.
“Isabella …” I scold.
“Liana,” she says, with a quirk in her brow and a smile on her face.
“You’re supposed to be on my side.”
“I am on your side, so talk to me. Why are we still trying to fight Massimo?”
“I just—” I let out a sigh. “I don’t want to get too attached. I have my business, I have you guys. I don’t need a man. I don’t need … another person to think about … Care about.”
Izzy’s smile flattens and her big brown eyes portray sympathy. “I get it, I really do, Liana. But sometimes, fate puts people in our lives that will bring us so much more than the heartache we’re afraid of.”
I bring my eyes up to hers.
“Just try to remember that, okay?”
I give her a small smile and nod. Everything Izzy is saying makes sense, but I made a promise to myself years ago that I would never let my heart fall victim to a made man.
I fear what could happen if I start opening myself up to Massimo, and that’s why I have to keep him at a distance. For as long as I can.