11. Chapter Eleven #2
Nico can’t just take me against my will like I want him to. If he just did it, then I wouldn’t have to feel any shame. I could hate him forever.
But by giving me the choice, it means I have some agency in our relationship. It means that I have to choose to be with him if I want to experience that pleasure all over again.
The words are on the tip of my tongue…
And then the doorbell rings.
“Saved by the bell,” Nico mutters before opening the door. It’s Adrien with another woman on his arm. This one is a redhead.
“Nice to see you again, Sasha,” Adrien says as he enters the foyer.
“You too. And who’s this?” I nod to his date.
“Jessica. She’s visiting from California.”
“We met at a nightclub,” Jessica explains, “and he invited me here. How romantic.”
I want to tell her that the next time Adrien comes over, he’ll have another woman on his arm, but I don’t want to hurt her feelings, so I keep my mouth shut with a smile.
Behind them is another man. He’s average in looks but his clothes scream wealth. From the fancy watch to the designer suit he’s wearing, he’s a man who knows money.
“Giovanni,” Nico says, shaking the man’s hand. “This is my wife, Sasha.”
Giovanni sets his eyes right onto me and instantly, I feel uncomfortable. There’s something about his gaze that feels both scrutinizing and violating at the same time. He eyes me over and he nods, like he approves.
I huff. I don’t need anyone’s approval.
Nico sets his hand on my back in a silent warning to be nice.
“Hello,” I say.
“So, you’re the reason I was told to speak English.”
My mouth drops open. “Uh… I never told Nico that you had to speak English around me.”
“I just know it leaves you out of the conversation,” Nico says, “and I want you to be included. I’m trying.” He throws me a wink. The gesture, of course, makes my face flush. Pretty much everything Nico does makes my face flush.
“Well, I prefer speaking in Italian,” Giovanni announces, right before he switches to the other language. He and Nico start up a conversation as we head to the dining room. I can make out a few words – business and allies – but otherwise, I’m lost.
Adrien gives me a knowing look as he sits across from me at the table. “You hate being left out, don’t you?”
“You’re French. Aren’t you left out too?”
“I know multiple languages, including Italian. So, no. I’m not left out.” He sets his arm behind Jessica’s head, curling his fingers around her shoulder. She leans into him with a giddy smile. I feel so bad for her. She’s going to be thrown away like all the other women Adrien has brought around.
It makes me appreciate Nico more, I have to admit. He has committed himself to me. That is one thing I can say in his favor.
Nico looks even more animated as he speaks in Italian.
It lights up his entire face. The urge to move in closer to him and soak up his energy is strong.
So strong that I almost do it until I push it down.
I can’t fall in love with Nico. It doesn’t matter that we shared something powerful.
That he showed me pleasure when no one else ever has.
That he makes my stomach flutter every time he’s in the room.
He's still not a good man.
But I’m not good either. I helped kill a man.
Yes, I was forced into it but I didn’t fight as hard as I could have.
And there was a dark part of me that didn’t want to be taken away from Nico and brought back to Natalya and Mikhail.
What my sister and her husband have is love.
I would just be a third wheel around them.
With Nico, I get the chance to form my own identity. If I can just accept that he’s a murderer. Which is something I’m not sure I’ll ever be able to do.
The dinner goes by smoothly as we all converse.
The three men dominate the conversation.
Jessica looks happy just to be invited while I sit back and observe.
Watching Nico in his element reveals so much about him, from the way he speaks with confidence to the way he moves with power.
Adrien and Giovanni are powerful men themselves so the fact that Nico can stand out amongst them is a sexy thing.
Sexy. Great. Now I’m thinking of Nico as sexy.
“Excuse me,” I murmur. “I have to use the bathroom.” Nico nods, dismissing me but Giovanni follows me with his eyes as I leave the room. It’s unnerving to say the least.
I splash water on my face to cool myself down. Thinking Nico is sexy is only going to lead to bad things, like ending up in his bed. A warm heat spreads between my legs. Would that be such a bad thing? He is my husband after all. No one would blame me for being with him.
Except for myself. And maybe Natalya.
We were never close growing up but I always desired for her attention. I wanted to be just like her. Effortlessly beautiful. A great dancer. Demure. But I was never those things. I didn’t grow into my looks until a few years ago and I’ve never been demure. I’m too brash for that.
As for being a dancer, I just never took to it. I could tell my dad was disappointed in me for not being exactly like Natalya. I think it’s why I’m desperate for her approval and she would be so disappointed in me if I fell for Nico. She would tell me I need to be better.
With a low huff, I slam my hands onto the counter top. Control yourself .
After taking a deep breath, I leave the bathroom and enter the hallway…
Where Giovanni is.
A quick glance around tells me that we’re alone.
“Hello,” I murmur, trying to walk past him but he says my name, stopping me.
“I wanted the chance to talk with you. Away from your husband.”
Warning alarms start going off in my head. “Why do you want to talk with me away from Nico?”
“I’ve heard rumors. That he forced you into marrying him. Is that true?”
I promised Nico I would be on my best behavior. I don’t think telling Giovanni how much I hate Nico is being on my best behavior.
“I… didn’t exactly agree with the marriage,” I say carefully.
“So he did force you.”
“Not exactly.”
He tilts his head to the side, eyeing me over. “Then what would you call it?”
“I’m not sure. I should be getting back to the table. Did you need to use the bathroom?”
He doesn’t even spare the bathroom a look. “I figured you would be beautiful. Nico only ever spends time with beautiful women. But you’re something else.”
“Something worse?” I joke.
“I’m in awe of your beauty. Nico is one lucky man. That is, if you like him.”
“I… don’t not like him.”
He chuckles, stepping closer to me. On instinct, I step back. My gut is telling me that none of this is right. “I’m curious, since Nico and I will be business partners, how is he in bed? Is he any good?”
I blink. “Did… are you actually asking me this? I just want to make sure this isn’t a language barrier thing.”
“Trust me. I know English. And I meant what I asked. Do you enjoy your time with him when you share a bed?”
“I’m not sure Nico would want me talking about this.”
“And you care what Nico thinks? I’ve heard of his new wife. How bold and blunt she is. How she doesn’t bend to his will. Were the people who told me this wrong?”
“No,” I say quickly. “Not wrong. But this is a dinner party for you and Nico to become business partners. Nico won’t appreciate if I try to ruin that. And I’m not going to tell you about my time with Nico when we’re alone. That’s intimate. Private.”
“Does he fuck you good?”
I back away from him as he gets closer. “I wouldn’t know. We haven’t…”
Giovanni’s eyes widen. “You two haven’t had sex yet? You’ve been married for how long now?”
“Just two weeks. But we didn’t know each other before then.”
“Ah. So an arranged marriage. That’s a little more understandable. But I can’t believe he hasn’t claimed you yet. If he doesn’t soon, someone else will.”
There’s a threat in his voice – like he’s the one who will claim me if Nico doesn’t.
“I should be getting back,” I say in a rush before slipping past him.
Nico turns to me as I take my seat beside him. My conversation with Giovanni is pounding in my head. Without even thinking about it, I grab Nico’s hand under the table, seeking safety.
He gives me a startled look before squeezing my hand in return. His eyes have a lot of questions in them but I don’t have answers. I just know that I need to hold onto him to steady myself.
Giovanni returns to the table and doesn’t even look at me, like our conversation didn’t just happen. There’s something dangerous going on and I don’t like it one bit.
Nico
I bring Giovanni and Adrien into my office after dinner is over.
“So, now that you’ve been to my home,” I say, settling into my chair behind my desk, “and met my wife, are you more comfortable with making a deal with us?”
“I am. But I do have one proposition for you.”
I share a look with Adrien, who shrugs. He doesn’t know what Giovanni is going to say either.
“What is it?” I ask.
“I want one night with your wife.”
I blink, then laugh. He can’t be serious. “I’m not sure I heard you right. What did you just ask me?”
Adrien tenses, like he knows a fight is about to break out and one will if Giovanni doesn’t take back what he just said to me.
“I want one night with your wife,” Giovanni repeats, loud and clear.
“Why the fuck would you ask me that?”
“Because she’s a beautiful woman and you haven’t taken her yet. I would love to know what you’re missing.”
I shoot to my feet. “You come into my home. I offer to make a deal with you, which will not just benefit me, but benefit you too. And you ask me if you can fuck my wife? Why in the world would you think I would allow that?”
“Because your wife told me herself that you haven’t taken her. It was clear on her face that she wants a man to fuck her good.”
“You’re making a mockery out of me. You never wanted to make a deal, did you? You wanted to come to my home and humiliate me and my wife.”
Giovanni raises his hands in surrender. “I will make a deal with you, Nico. I know you need the help since you were almost killed by one of your guards. But I will only offer my help if you give me your wife for one night?”
“Get out,” I seethe. “Before I kill you right here and right now. An act of mercy if you will. Leave.”
“I will. But you’re missing out on something great. We could have more power than you could imagine. All you have to do is one little sacrifice.”
“I will not give Sasha to you. So go.”
Giovanni leaves with a huff like what I just said was unreasonable when he’s the one who gave me an unreasonable request.
“Are you sure about this?” Adrien asks me.
I stare at him like he’s fucking stupid. And he is for asking me something so ludicrous.
“Giovanni could mean a lot of power,” he continues.
“When you have a wife you care for and would kill for, come back to me and tell me if you would give her up for any man to fuck, and then we can talk. Now leave. I’m tired of seeing you too.”
Adrien walks away without a fight but I can tell I’ve upset him. His ego can deal.
Right now, I need to go talk to my wife and get answers. If she told Giovanni about our sexual activities, then I’m going to have to spank her.