Page 90 of Nico

“How long have you lived here?” I asked, my head turning left and right, while he carried me through the doorway.

“It has been in my mother’s family for a few generations.”

“Hmmm.”

I tried to free myself from his hold so I could walk, but he refused to let me go.

“We came through the door,” I scolded him. “No need to carry me through this monstrosity of a house. I mean, where are the bedrooms? A mile away?”

He threw his head and laughed. A true, free laugh, and I stared mesmerized by the sound of it. I liked it.

“Not quite,” his voice held a note of laughter. “Would you like a tour?”

I rolled my eyes. “Do we even have that kind of time?”

I was half-joking. The truth was that my insides hummed with excitement and the stupid slut in me wanted his mouth and hands on me. I might as well enjoy the benefits of being married while I can.

My father always told me that trust, love, and lust were all intertwined. I wasn’t sure if I agreed. Because with Nico Morrelli, I trusted him with my body but not anything else.

“How about the kitchen and then the bedroom?” he suggested.

He knew me well because those were the main places I hung out in my own home. It was as if he wanted me to feel at home in this monstrosity of the house. I was more likely to get lost in this place.

“Sure,” I murmured my agreement.

He walked down the grand foyer that had the biggest crystal chandelier and continued towards the back. There wasn’t a part of this house that was modest. The evidence of wealth was everywhere.

“This place is very flashy,” I grumbled for no reason. Or maybe I had a reason. He blackmailed me into marriage for pocket change in his terms.

We arrived on the other side of the house, the large kitchen empty.

“You can change whatever you like,” he said softly. “Redecorate the entire house how you want.” I didn’t know where to look first, my eyes darting left and right, trying to absorb it all. “Just don’t change my office,” he added. “I’m fond of it the way it is.”

I wouldn’t be around to redecorate anything, but I kept the words to myself. Instead, I scanned the open-plan kitchen bleeding into an immense balcony, lit up romantically, giving me a glimpse of its shadows. This was every chef’s dream kitchen. I was by no means a chef, but holy macaroni. This room was gorgeous.

This time, I slid down Nico’s body and slowly walked around the massive room. I must have looked ridiculous roaming around the kitchen, still wearing my wedding dress. I didn’t care. Marble countertops were exactly the way I liked them, white with the splashes of gray. Trailing my fingers over the smooth surface, I couldn’t find one thing I didn’t like. Even the dark cabinets. The stove was superb and there were two of them. There were four ovens and two large Sub Zero refrigerators.

“You have a cook?” I asked. I knew the answer but his gaze tracking my every movement made me nervous.

“I do but he knows to let you do your thing.” I threw him a side glance. I wouldn’t ask someone that worked here to get out of the way because I wanted to tinker in the kitchen. It wouldn’t be fair.

Besides,I won’t be around long, I reminded myself again. Why was it so easy to forget myself around this man? My husband.

I headed towards the ceiling to floor glass wall and noticed a discrete door handle. This place was what you saw in the movies, not real life. Luxury, wealth, and cool perfection everywhere. The view was magnificent even in the dark. The soft glow spread throughout the balcony and the back yards with the massive pool in the center of it.

I sensed Nico’s eyes on the back of my neck. It scared the shit out of me how in tune my body was to him.

Glancing to my left, I spotted my purse there.

“How did that get here?” I wondered out loud. I left it in the car. Heading for it, I dug for my phone.

“One of the staff brought it when we arrived.”

“Fast.” They had to be right behind us, taking a shortcut.

“Efficient,” he retorted back.

“Hmmm.” I checked my cell and saw Grace sent a few messages. Sliding them open, there were a few pictures of kids’ smiling faces. The last one was of Luca, Cassio, and Luciano, each with a kid on their shoulders and the kids’ wide grins. Cassio had Hannah, Luca had Arianna, and Luciano had his son.