Page 10

These thoughts were all too much, and the shower looked so inviting that I put them aside for now and concentrated on getting clean.

Discarding the sheet, I carefully dropped to my feet and help tight to the vanity.

My legs were a little steadier now that my shoes were off, and I’d stretched out my toes.

I undid my garter belt and unsnapped the stockings, rolling them down and kicking them off.

I tried not to look at the stains along the top where they had sat against my inner thighs.

The thought of exactly what had stained them was going to send my thoughts straight back down the spiral I had just pulled my mind from descending.

Limping over to the shower, I let out a groan as the water pelted into my sore muscles. It was sheer bliss, and I didn’t want to move. Not wanting to risk slipping over, I sat on the bench and let the water play over my legs, massaging each little knot and ache out until I felt like I could stand.

As my muscles became looser, it was now easier to move around.

I reached for the shower gel, finding it was the same vanilla scented one I had at home, and that small piece of comfort almost had my tears welling again.

Instead, I lathered my hands and rubbed the comforting scent into my skin, washing away everything that had happened since the wedding.

Between my thighs was still tender, but I was careful to wash there too, not wanting any trace left on me.

It wasn’t due to shame or disgust, I simply wanted to be clean.

To face the men as myself, without carrying a piece of them with me.

Even if Renzo was already stamped all over my heart.

I stood in the shower until a gentle knock at the door pulled me out of my reverie.

The door opened a crack, but not enough to let anyone in.

“Food is ready, do you want to come down? I can’t guarantee there will be any left if you don’t, but I will do my best. Havoc has been complaining about how hungry he is since he woke up.

” Milo’s voice was soft and inviting. As he spoke, my tummy rumbled, and I realized I hadn’t eaten since the small bites of dinner and cake Renzo had insisted I have at the wedding.

I was hungry. For as enticing as the thought was of staying in this shower, I needed food.

“I will be right out.” Reluctantly, I rinsed off one last time, and then turned off the shower heads.

I hoped Renzo’s home had a shower like this, if not, I was going to have to ask for one.

It was going to be our home, anyway. This was the most relaxed I could remember feeling, and the thought of not being able to have this small haven of peace in my life was one I didn’t dare to dwell on.

The towels on the rack were warm and fluffy, and more than large enough to wrap myself up in once I was dry.

I had brought no clothes in with me, so I had to step out in only the towel, blushing as Milo looked me over.

There was a little heat in his eyes, although he was doing his best to hide it.

He kept his eyes on my face, and I appreciated his respectful nature.

“There are clothes for you in the closet. I will wait here while you find something and get dressed.” He was always waiting for me, it seemed.

Was he worried I was going to run if he left me alone?

Not wanting to get into that discussion, I moved toward the closet, stopping when I saw my dress on a hanger inside the door.

I had forgotten the care Renzo had taken in removing it from me, and I was glad to see it wasn’t ripped.

It was such a beautiful dress, and while I would never wear it again, it soothed my heart to see that it wasn’t ruined.

That feeling gave way as I stepped into the closet, confusion taking over.

Milo had said there were clothes in here for me, but I couldn’t see any that were suitable.

There was a selection of Renzo’s suits, some sweatpants, and a few t-shirts.

I even checked the drawers, but there wasn’t so much as a scrap of underwear that would fit me.

I knew my mother had packed clothes for me, but they were nowhere to be seen.

Not wanting to step out into the room naked, I took down one of Renzo’s business shirts.

It was long enough to be a dress on me as I buttoned it up, covering myself. It was going to have to do.

Stepping out of the closet, Milo was standing next to the bed, which had been stripped of its sheets.

It was probably for the best, as they must have been an absolute mess.

The smile on his face made me feel a little self-conscious, and very aware that I wasn’t wearing any underwear.

I wrapped my arms around my body, but it only made him grin more.

“You look good in Renzo’s clothes, ragazza dolce.

I am sure he’s going to have trouble keeping his hands off you.

But let’s get you something to eat first, hmm?

” I knew he teased, but right now, the thought of anyone touching me intimately made me wince.

I still ached everywhere, even though the shower had helped.

My mother had warned me I might be uncomfortable the morning after, but I was sure she hadn’t been expecting that I was going to have sex with three men.

Just imagining the look on her face if she ever found out haunted me.

The feeling of his hand on my lower back snapped me out of my thoughts as his gentle push urged me toward the door.

I could walk on my own without too much of a struggle now, even if there was a slight limp to my gait.

I hoped I wouldn’t hurt like this every time.

Surely sex couldn’t always be this hard on my body.

How did women get anything done if they were always aching so much?

As much as a part of me wanted him to, I was glad Milo hadn’t picked me up.

It was important that he was letting me walk on my own two feet.

I wanted to be standing when I saw the other men.

To show them they hadn’t gotten the best of me, that I could take everything Renzo had to give me.

I didn’t want him to regret marrying me.

My mother had always told me that made men needed powerful wives, and I was determined to be as strong as he needed.

The walk through the villa wasn’t long, and the main bedroom was just down the hall from the kitchen.

The aroma of coffee and pancakes was making my mouth water.

I had thought I was hungry when Milo had mentioned food, but now I was ravenous.

It felt like my stomach was going to devour the rest of my body if I didn’t eat soon.

I also hadn’t had a coffee since the day before the wedding, as my mother hadn’t wanted to risk me spilling anything even close to my dress.

Stepping into the kitchen, the first thing I noticed was Renzo wasn’t the one cooking.

I wasn’t sure why I had assumed he would be, but it was Havoc at the stove.

Renzo was seated at the table, with his laptop open and a phone in his hand.

When he looked up and saw me, a smile broke over his face, and I felt my whole soul lift.

As much as I had tried to convince myself there was no way he could be mad at me for doing what he wanted, seeing him smile made it feel like everything really was okay.

Stepping away from Milo, I crossed the kitchen toward Renzo.

It was hard to ignore the leer Havoc was giving my legs or that he was standing bare-chested.

He gave me a little wave of the spatula he was using, and I hurried the last few steps, focusing on Renzo until I reached him.

My husband’s hand immediately cupped my backside through the shirt as he tugged me closer.

Bracing a hand on his shoulder so that I didn’t fall onto his lap, I leaned in for a kiss.

The one I got in return was much more passionate than I expected.

His tongue always seemed to find its way into my mouth, no matter how chaste and sweet I intended it to be.

When I finally extricated myself and pulled back, I almost stumbled.

I was sure my cheeks were pink, and I was breathing heavier than I had been when I walked over.

Renzo looked smug, like my reaction was exactly what he had intended.

Part of me wanted to wipe the look off his face, but a bigger part felt just as smug that I had made him so happy.

“Sit down, little tesoro. Havoc is cooking, and I am sure, after the busy day you’ve had, you could use the food.

” His voice was tinged with amusement, but that didn’t stop his words from hitting straight between my thighs.

The faint pink on my cheeks had to be red now as he brought my thoughts back to what we’d been doing earlier.

Any worries I had about him being mad were washed away by the smirk he was wearing.

Did it mean he was serious about what he’d said?

About my belonging to all of them? I was starting to think it didn’t sound like a bad idea at all.

I did what he told me to, taking the seat beside him.

Milo eased my chair closer to the table before joining his brother in the kitchen.

The two moved around each other in an intricate dance they had clearly done before.

Havoc plated up the pancakes while Milo poured coffee.

They instinctively knew where the other was without looking, moving around with hot drinks and plates, but never once bumping into each other.

I was more than a little envious of their simple comfort at being so close to another person.

I always felt like I was going to run into people in the kitchen.