Total pages in book: 27
Estimated words: 24774 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 124(@200wpm)___ 99(@250wpm)___ 83(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 24774 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 124(@200wpm)___ 99(@250wpm)___ 83(@300wpm)
Chapter 6
Evelyn
Ileaned into Massimo with a happy sigh, content despite the fact that I was entering the unknown. The slight soreness between my legs elicited a warm glow in my chest; it was a sweet reminder that he’d finally claimed me for the first time since I’d been shot. My memories of sex on the plane were hazy, but the pleasure I’d experienced lingered.
I should probably be troubled by the fact that I’d gotten off on being taken while I was half-conscious, but I didn’t experience so much as a shadow of shame over what I shared with Massimo. No matter how perverted his games could become, nothing had ever felt more natural than being safe in his masterful hands.
“We’re home,” Massimo announced when the car stopped in front of a gorgeous, pale yellow building with white balconies. Luxury shops lined the street on the ground floor, but the five stories above were obviously apartments. Pedestrians strolled along the sidewalk, skirting around diners seated at an outdoor café on the corner.
I’d dreamed of visiting Italy for years, and this neighborhood was exactly as I’d imagined it.
Home. I would live here with Massimo. This was my life now, my future. And I would share it with him.
It seemed too wonderful to be real, so much more beautiful and romantic than the mundane future I’d imagined back in Albuquerque when I’d been engaged to George. That life had been one of duty and desperation to please a man who would never be satisfied with me.
Massimo promised me affection, stability, and the opportunity to explore my art. Already, my fingers itched for the camera he’d gifted me, eager to capture images of my new home.
He opened the door of the SUV and helped me step out onto the sidewalk in front of the beautiful yellow building. His strong arm closed around my waist, and he guided me to the intricately carved wooden double doors. He waved a key fob in front of a security pad, and a lock disengaged. He entered with a smooth turn of the large brass knob that decorated the door, welcoming me inside with him.
We crossed a cavernous foyer to a black cage elevator that looked old enough to give me pause. He urged me toward it.
“It’s perfectly safe, and we’re on the top floor. I don’t want you taking the stairs yet.”
I complied without protest, even though I felt fit enough for the stairs. I’d barely moved for long weeks, so I should work out to build my strength and stamina. It was a hot, sunny day, and although the foyer was cooler than outside, I would probably work up a sweat by the time I climbed to the top floor.
Despite its aged appearance, the elevator glided upward without rattling, and I breathed a small sigh of relief. His arm firmed around me in reassurance, and I rested my head on his shoulder as we ascended.
When we reached the top floor, he unlocked the apartment door, picked me up, and carried me over the threshold. A delighted giggle burst from my chest as he spun me in a circle, giving me a dizzying first look at the opulent space we would share.
Cream colored walls with intricate crown molding were decorated with abstract paintings in bold, bright pops of color. We were in a short entrance hall, but he quickly walked deeper into the apartment, eager to show me more.
Sunlight peeked through heavy, rich yellow drapes that covered enormous windows that lined one side of the living room. A glimpse through a doorway on our left showed a hint of a thoroughly modern kitchen, and to my right, I noted a large dining room. All of the furniture appeared to be a blend of cushy comfort but with antique accents: dark carved wood and cream damask upholstery.
He set me down on my feet, but he didn’t break contact, taking my hand in his to lead me toward one of the massive windows.
He pulled the drapes back, revealing a glass door that opened out onto a small balcony with a white-painted wooden rail. Delicate garden furniture crafted in wrought iron provided intimate seating and a small dining table.
My breath caught at the stunning view out to the azure sea. The harbor was dotted with sailboats and a handful of yachts, bright spots of white on the gently rolling waves. The coastline curved, showcasing pastel buildings that trailed off into the distance. Miles away, Mount Vesuvius dominated the skyline, deep blue peaks a few shades darker than the sea at the horizon.
Massimo’s big hands bracketed my waist from behind, and his lips teased the shell of my ear. “Do you like it?”
I turned to him, my eyes stinging with the depth of my emotion. “It’s perfect.” My voice wavered slightly. “More beautiful than anything I could’ve ever imagined.”