Chapter 9
Chapter Nine
Ciara
Sneaking out is so much easier when I don’t have a guard following my every move.
I take the car into the city and after researching on my phone, I find a nightclub to go to.
Might as well party. It’s my honeymoon after all.
It’s not like I’m going to get anything from my new husband.
Marco is distant and confusing but every so often I’ll see a spark of passion in him.
I wish I could see more but I know he won’t show me.
He doesn’t trust me after I admitted to wanting him dead and honestly, I can’t blame him for that. I wouldn’t trust me either.
The nightclub is packed with people at one in the morning. This is where the night owls go. Where the wanderers go.
I grab a drink – some fruity cocktail that tastes good but I know is going to give me a hangover in the morning – and head onto the dance floor. I let myself get lost in the alcohol and music. No one, not my father or brother or husband, can stop me from having fun.
A man approaches me. Closer in age to me than Marco is. Cute with dark hair and a slim build.
He speaks to me in Italian and I shake my head. “Sorry,” I say.
“Ah. You’re American.”
“Yes. Am I that obvious?”
“Maybe a little. I’m Andre. Come dance with me.”
I hesitate. Marco made it clear I couldn’t date other men just because we’re going to live our lives apart. But… Marco isn’t here right now. And it would be fun to dance with a cute guy. Nothing more has to happen.
I place my hand in Andre’s outstretched one and let him pull me deeper into the crowd. “I’m Ciara.”
“An interesting name.”
“It’s Irish.”
“I thought you said you were American.”
“I am. Irish American.”
“Ah.” He shakes his head. “You Americans define things in a funny way. Here everyone is just Italian.” He settles his hands on my hips and pulls me in closer to him.
The heat from his body is comforting. Relaxing.
It feels good to be close to someone. To not have to fear if that person will try to hurt you or not.
Try to control you or not. Get under your skin.
Andre and I dance without saying a word. He runs his hands along my hips and down to my ass. I promptly place his hands back on my hips. I’m not here to be felt up. I’m just here to dance and to get lost in the moment.
Andre quirks his eyebrow at me – like it’s a challenge – and lowers his hands back down to my ass, giving it a squeeze. I shove him away from me.
“I said stop.”
“You didn’t say a word.”
I huff. “I think I made it clear I don’t want you to touch me when I moved your hands away from my ass. So stop.”
“Sorry, baby. I won’t do it again.” He pulls me back into his arms and we sway together. But after a moment, his hands find their way back down my legs. I shove him back.
“I said stop. I’m done here.” I turn around and that’s when I run right into Marco.
It’s like déjà vu. The first time I snuck off to a club, I ran into Marco but it was pure coincidence. But this time… I don’t think that’s the case at all.
“Marco,” I gasp.
“You’re coming home with me. Right now.” He grabs my arm and pulls me away from Andre.
“I was dancing with her,” Andre complains.
“No. You were putting your hands on my wife,” Marco hisses.
Andre’s eyes widen. “I didn’t know she was married.”
“Just be lucky this is a public place.”
“What does that mean?”
Marco shoots a glare in Andre’s direction. It’s enough to stop anyone in their tracks. “Don’t touch my wife ever again.”
The possessiveness in Marco is frightening… but also a little exhilarating. I’ve never had a man fight for me before, who wasn’t my dad or brother. I can’t help but feel the tiniest tingle make its way through my body.
Marco holds my hand until we’re out of the club but the second the fresh air hits my face, he lets me go. “What the hell were you thinking?”
“I am a grown woman. I’m allowed to go to a club if I want.”
“And flirt with other men. I told you that you were mine. You’re not allowed to date anyone else.”
“I’m not allowed to date other men but I’m also not allowed to date you. You don’t want a life with me. I’m destined for loneliness. How is that supposed to make me feel?”
“You wanted me dead.”
“And then I didn’t,” I snap. “But right now, I’m reconsidering that. You’re trying to control my life the same way my dad and brother have.”
“You left the house to go to a club and dance with another man. How is that supposed to make me feel?”
“You want nothing to do with me. Does it matter?”
“It does matter. You are mine, Ciara. I will not let a man steal you away again.”
I stumble back. “Away again? What are you talking about?”
Marco shuts his eyes, shaking his head. “It’s nothing. A slip of the tongue. Let’s go home.”
“That’s not my home.”
“Your home is with me now.”
“God, why are you so frustrating and confusing?” I storm past him but he only follows right behind. “How did you find me anyway?”
“I heard you leave the house right away. And then I saw you take the car out so I followed you.”
“I thought we only had the one car.”
“I made sure to have spare cars available at the chalet. It’s good to have extras.
You never know when you’ll need them. I followed you and saw you dancing with that man.
I waited to see how long you would do it for but when I saw that fucker putting his hands on you, I had to stop it.
” The intensity in his voice sends a tingle through my body.
We reach Marco’s car and he motions for me to get inside. With a sigh, I do, knowing I have no other choice. Marco drives us back to the chalet in silence. His knuckles are white from how hard he’s gripping the steering wheel.
Marco storms inside the house and tentatively, I follow behind.
“You are mine,” he says, whirling around to face me.
“I got that. And yet, you want nothing to do with me. Make that make sense.”
“You are not allowed to dance with other men at clubs.” He keeps stepping closer to me until he backs me into the wall. His hands place on either side of my head. “You are only allowed to dance with me.”
“Fine then. But you’re only allowed to dance with me. Not with any other woman.”
His hands settle on my hips. They feel so different from Andre’s. More firm. Stronger. More in control. I notice the scar on Marco’s hand and I touch it before I can even think about it.
“What happened?”
“I was shot in the hand. By Will Taylor. It’s why I want him dead. He tried to kill me but he didn’t succeed.”
“Clearly not.”
“I’m sure you wish he had succeeded. Then you wouldn’t have to be married to me right now.”
I tilt my chin up. “You’re exactly right. I wish you were dead.”
“And I wish you weren’t such a brat.”
“And I wish you weren’t such a controlling asshole.”
Marco and I glare at each other, both of us breathing heavy. His eyes flick down to my eyes and back up to mine and there’s a breath between us…
Right before his lips find mine.
I gasp when he kisses me deeply. There’s an intense passion there I’ve never felt before. All the kisses I shared with boys back in high school were nothing like this. Electric and powerful and all consuming. I can’t think. I can’t even breathe.
Marco’s hand slips from my waist down to my upper thigh. I don’t push him away. I’m tired of hating my husband. I just want to feel excitement and fun for the first time in my life.
In one smooth motion, he places his hand under my dress and cups me between my legs. I can feel the heat from his hand through my underwear. I gasp when he begins to rub me. Not once do I shove him back. It feels too good to tell him to stop.
Marco kisses me deeper as he rubs me harder. His fingers are calloused and firm. Marco is making a statement: I am his.
My hands find his shirt and I pull him closer. Never have I felt this wild before. This unhinged. No one has ever gotten under my skin the way Marco has.
He pushes my underwear to the side and slips his fingers against my skin.
The moment his finger touches my sensitive nub, I know I’m done for.
My body is achy and throbbing for a release.
I’ve touched myself plenty of times in the past but it’s never been like this.
All consuming. Marco’s touch is lighting me on fire and I can’t stop it.
I gasp against his lips when he presses down on my clit. Somehow, it both hurts and feels like the best pleasure I’ve ever experienced in one breath.
“You are mine,” he growls against my lips right before he slips his finger inside of me. My inner walls clamp down. “Tell me. Has any man touched you like this before?”
“No,” I admit. “Never.”
An intensity enters his eyes before he kisses me harder. My legs open wider as he runs his finger in and out of me. It hurts a little but I love it. I never want this to stop. I never want this feeling of excitement to leave me.
Marco moves his finger faster and faster. My hips buck against his hand, desperate for the release I know will come. I need this. I need this. I need this.
He pulls his finger out of me and presses it against my clit as he whispers in my ear, “No other man will ever touch you.”
It sends me over the edge. I gasp and cling to Marco as my orgasm hits me. It’s so much better than any of the orgasms I’ve given myself. This connection with another human being… it’s the most alive I have ever felt.
I let myself rest my head on Marco’s chest. His heart is beating fast and yet, he looks so calm. How is he able to do that?
For the first time since I met Marco, I feel close to him. I feel… hope. Like we can make this work. Like I don’t have to fear and hate my husband. That we can be happy.
That I can be happy.
That is until Marco pulls away from me and a cold, distant look covers his eyes.
“Marco?” I ask.
“Don’t ever sneak out to a club again. Don’t ever flirt with another man again.”
“Or what? You’ll do what you just did to me? Is that such a bad thing? Enjoying our time together?”
“No. It’s not a bad thing. But I still don’t trust you. Remember you are mine, Ciara. And stay in line.” He turns away from me with a stiff back.
I huff. “I can’t believe you. I thought…”
“You thought what?” His tone is hard and cold, making me flinch.
I thought we could have something but I don’t say it out loud. “Nothing,” I say instead. “It’s nothing.”
He nods once before walking away, leaving my body and mind confused once more.