Total pages in book: 81
Estimated words: 77359 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 387(@200wpm)___ 309(@250wpm)___ 258(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 77359 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 387(@200wpm)___ 309(@250wpm)___ 258(@300wpm)
“Um, where’s your room?” I asked. Maybe if I showed an interest in him, I’d get him to open up a little.
The frown deepened. “This is my room.”
Oh. That explained a lot about the décor. “Thank you for letting me stay in it.”
Disbelief crossed Massimo’s face. “We’re staying here together.”
“Wha—” The word didn’t even make it all the way out of my throat as the reality hit me. We were staying in here together. Tonight? My knees trembled and I thought for a moment they were going to give out underneath me.
“Come on, you can’t be that naïve. We’re engaged.”
“I—”
He waited, we both did, but I couldn’t get anything else out. Until the darkening expression on his face forced me to gather my thoughts. “I thought that we wouldn’t s-share a bed until after the wedding.”
“You thought wrong.”
Tears flooded my lower lashes, but I blinked them back, fearing they’d only anger Massimo more. This man, this stranger, was someone I couldn’t even talk to. How on earth could I be expected to sleep with him?
My mother had only given me minimal information on what I could expect from sharing a bed with my husband, but she’d made it sound like she was certain it wouldn’t happen until after the wedding. And honestly, I thought Massimo was on the same page. I mean, part of the deal in these kinds of arranged marriages was that the bride had to be a virgin, which of course, I was. “I—”
“Are you even capable of finishing a sentence?” he snapped.
Now a tear did fall. “I’m sorry,” I whispered. “I just thought… my mother told me we wouldn’t share a bed until we were married.”
Massimo paced across the room. “I’m getting the feeling there’s a lot she didn’t tell you.” I nodded weakly at his words. “But you’re my fiancée, and you’ll sleep in my bed when I want you to.”
“Okay,” I said, so softly I wasn’t sure he heard. But what else could I say? It’s not like I had any choice in the matter. Or any other matter. If I’d had any options—and the strength to move—I would’ve fled down the hallway. I wasn’t ready for this. I didn’t know him. He wasn’t the handsome, gentle, patient man I’d imagined for my first time.
Well, okay, he was handsome, but not those other things. Would I really have to sleep with such a callous and brutal man tonight?
Still looking angry, Massimo crossed to the far side of the bed. There was a door there, one that I’d thought had led to a closet. But when he opened it and turned on a light, I saw that there was a little room back there. Tentatively, I stepped around Massimo’s bed. Inside the room there was a small chest of drawers and a twin-sized bed.
“However, when I don’t require your presence in my bed, you can sleep in here.”
My breath stuttered out and I realized I’d been holding it. Relief filled me even though I knew this was only delaying the inevitable. Shakily, I moved forward, squeezing past Massimo. The room was tiny—more like a cell than a bedroom, but it had a bed I wouldn’t have to share with anyone. It had a door. It had privacy. “Thank you.”
Massimo’s brows drew together, and I wondered if I’d angered him by basically admitting that I was relieved to not have to sleep with him tonight. But he didn’t comment on that. Instead, he said, “The housekeeper is named Jana. If you need anything, you can find her.”
I nodded, feeling pathetic for the gratitude I felt that he’d finally said something not awful. And also because it seemed like he might leave me alone for a bit. If I could just get a half hour to myself so that I could cry in peace, then maybe I could pull myself back together.
But Massimo dashed that thought. “This door stays open at all times.” He rapped his fist against the door to the small room.
Looking away, I nodded. There was obviously no privacy to be had here, but at least my long hair falling over my shoulder hid the tears on my cheeks—hopefully.
I didn’t move even after I heard his footsteps recede. I didn’t go get my bags. I didn’t use the restroom. Instead, I slid down the wall of the tiny room, curled up on the floor, and cried.
3
LEILA
Darkness greeted me when I awoke. Darkness and a headache.
Plus a powerful need to use the bathroom.
I pawed at the covers I’d pulled over my face but once they slid off me, it was still dark. Dark and unfamiliar.
Then it all came flooding back. The engagement party. The flight here. The fact that I was in a tiny room off of Massimo’s.
I froze, listening. Was he in his bed? I didn’t even know what time it was.