Chapter Fourteen
Olivia
Every aspect of today had been magical. It was as if someone had listened to everything I had mentioned I loved over the years, and wrapped them up into one day.
From the moment I walked up the aisle, I had been aware of Maximus.
His body heat constantly drew me to him, and I was helpless to resist.
How the hell did I manage to find myself married to Maximus Rossi?
His presence soothed me, yet made me hyper-aware of his every movement.
His long, tanned fingers fascinated me as they moved while he talked.
The memory of them still tingled on my skin from his innocent touches.
I never realised that fingerprints left latent marks on your skin since it had never happened before.
“I believe that’s our cue,” Maximus said, leaning over to speak to me, his breath fanning my ear. I knew there was nothing sexual in his touch, but I swear the man was running red hot today.
“Sorry?” I turned to speak to him, and our noses touched.
“The first dance,” he said. “It requires both of us to be present.”
He was eroding my sanity, and addling my brain. My legs wobbled when I stood, Maximus’ strong fingers wrapping around mine to guide me.
I desperately tried to remember that this was Maximus, my oldest friend and the man who could kill you with his hands. Yet, when one of those hands landed on my waist, and the other held my hand, all thoughts evaporated from my head.
We had danced once before at a Christmas party when my favourite seasonal song came on in the main ballroom. We had awkwardly swayed together, and laughed when we stepped on each other’s feet.
The man in front of me right now had improved dramatically as he guided me expertly on the dancefloor.
My heart stopped before beating frantically when he spun me suddenly, dipping me back toward the floor with his arm holding my back.
His grin was infectious, and I clung to him as my balance and emotions both spiralled out of control.
This was a new and dangerous side of Maximus that I hadn’t experienced before, someone playful who made my heart beat faster, and a tightness to form in my stomach in awareness of his masculinity.
The day passed too fast, with too much food and champagne consumed, my head light even as I waved goodbye to everyone as Maximus bundled us into his car.
“Where are we going on our honeymoon?” I asked, stretching to try and loosen my dress that was wrapped around me. I hadn’t wanted to change out of it since I only got to wear it for one day in my life.
“Somewhere warm,” Maximus replied. “No need to pack any sweatshirts.”
I rolled over in my seat, watching his side profile. His hair was so dark it reminded me of a crow’s wing. I couldn’t see his cobalt blue eyes from this angle, but they were in stark contrast of the darkness of the man. He possessed a classic Roman nose, depicting his Italian heritage.
He glanced at me, giving me a peek at those blue eyes. “You’re staring,” he commented.
“I’ve never had a husband before,” I replied. “I’m trying to figure out if you look different.”
His laugh washed over me. “Am I supposed to grow horns?”
“Nope.” I made the word pop, my head falling back onto the seat. “Men are supposed to be fat and boring when they get married.”
He shot me a bemused look. “That’s the husbands who never have sex, and eat too much to compensate for it.”
“So sex keeps you fit and muscular?” I asked, the courage of champagne making me brave.
The car slowed as Maximus gave me his full attention for a moment. “It depends how active your sex life is.”
“Should I be concerned about a harem full of women since you have such a magnificent body?” I asked, realising too late that I had said it out loud.
“What?” The car swerved as Maximus swung his attention to me suddenly. “How did you make that analysis?”
I yawned, snuggling further down into the seat. “You tend to wander around the house in your panties,” I replied. “And even a virgin can assess you have a near perfect body, and if that is honed from sex and debauchery, then you must have a harem of willing sex slaves.”
His laugh sent goosebumps rippling over my skin. “Men don’t wear panties.”
“Yes, you do. I’ve seen them. They hug your bum cheeks.”
Maximus spluttered beside me, his hand pushing through his hair. “You are driving me in-fucking-sane,” he muttered.
“Why?” The champagne had eroded all my carefully constructed walls, and now a deluge of my inner thoughts had come cascading out of my mouth.
“Is it because you wanted one of those other beautiful single women who kept making eyes at you as your wife? I thought it would be impolite to stab them with a butter knife at our wedding for touching you.”
“Liv! What the fuck has come over you?” He swung the car into the driveway, and I would have fallen on the floor only the seatbelt held me in place.
“No one has come over me, I thought we’d agreed I was a virgin.” I tried to push myself to a more seated position, but my dress had turned into the equivalent of seaweed, and was restraining me.
“Fuck!” Maximus slammed his fist against the steering wheel, shocking me into silence. He hit the brakes suddenly, bringing the car to a halt.
“What?” I asked when he turned to face me. “You seem upset.”
“One, if I had wanted a different woman as my wife, I would have married her. Two, you are one of the beautiful women, so I wish you’d stop classifying yourself as something less than that.
Three, if you need to stab someone, at least use something sharp enough to inflict damage.
Aim for between the third and fourth ribs and angle upwards.
Lastly, I’ll make sure to rectify your final point. ”
“Do you think I’m beautiful?” I asked, ignoring all the other points.
His lips lifted in that half smile that did ridiculous things to my heartbeat. He tucked my hair behind my ear. “Baby, you’re the most beautiful woman in my world.”
His statement had struck me dumb as I couldn’t think of anything to say. No one had ever called me beautiful. I was the last sister to marry, the last one anyone ever looked at when I was at a party. I had always felt plain and ordinary in a world filled with stunningly beautiful woman.
I tried to look away, but his hand on my cheek stopped me.
“Come on, let’s get inside.” He climbed out of the car, and walked around to free me from the tangled mess I had gotten myself into.
While I tried to smooth my dress down, Maximus stood and watched me, his hands on his hips.
I glanced up, and he rolled his eyes at me while shaking his head, picking me up as easily as if I weighed nothing at all, and throwing me over his shoulder, his hand landing on my ass.
“Hey!” I tried to struggle free, but he slapped my ass, silencing me. Part of me wanted to be outraged at his action, but there was a bigger part of me that almost purred at his touch.
This man was a paradox who confused me. He was violence and anger wrapped in the most handsome man I had met, his deep voice activating a flame inside me.
“It’s tradition that I carry you over the threshold of our home,” Maximus said, his hand sliding over my ass, and making my legs tremble.
“Does that not apply to a real wedding?” I asked, trying to move my hair out of my face.
Maximus set me on my feet in the main living area, his hands landing on my hips to tug me against him. All the air seemed to expel from my lungs because I found it difficult to breathe.
“I don’t know what you think happened today, Livvie, but that was a real wedding.
We are married, for better or worse, and it will be a marriage in every sense of the word.
” His words sent ripples of awareness over me.
We had both lived in this house all week, but tonight felt different, intimate in a way I couldn’t explain.
His touch on me was more possessive, and his fingertips left ownership in their wake.
“Max…” I desperately tried to find the words I wanted to say. “Thank you for today. I know everyone dreams of finding the one person they want to share their lives with forever, but you saved me from an unimaginable fate.”
He tucked a stray piece of hair behind my ear. “I never do anything I don’t want to, surely you know that by now. For all you know, I planned this day for years, and finally caught you.”
His eyes contained an intensity that sent butterflies frantically beating against my chest. I knew he was joking because this man was surrounded by the most beautiful woman in the world, so why would he set his heart on someone as plain as me?
I narrowed my eyes at him, and pushed against his chest. “Behave, Max. Our friendship worked because we were always honest with each other.”
He lifted my hand to his face, kissing my wrist. “I’ve always been honest with you.”
To cover my confusion, I freed myself, and moved to the bar he had created filled with expensive bottles of alcohol and crystal glasses. It was also where he kept his treats in a small fridge behind the bar. He slowly removed his tailored jacket as he watched me raid his chocolate stash.
“Hungry?” he asked, nodding to the treat in my hand.
“I’m a married woman,” I replied. “I no longer have to watch my weight.”
He raised his eyebrows, removing his cufflinks one at a time. “Keep your calories up, I’ll help you work them off.” His husky tone made my stomach tighten, the look in his eyes sending a shiver down my spine.
I pointed at him. “I don’t like the gym, and I refuse to run on a treadmill like a hamster on a wheel.”
His eyes met mine. “Noted. No cardio through running. I’ll be imaginative.”
He rolled his sleeves up, revealing his tanned skin, his tattoos slowly revealed to me one roll at a time. The patterns on his flesh had tempted me in the past, my fingers wanting to trace them on a magical journey.