Total pages in book: 27
Estimated words: 27333 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 137(@200wpm)___ 109(@250wpm)___ 91(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 27333 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 137(@200wpm)___ 109(@250wpm)___ 91(@300wpm)
He wants to know what I think of his home.
Our home.
And oh, how the thought alone makes my head reel!
My old home in Boston was in the heart of the city, and my dorm was no different. Both were located in the heart of the city, and there wasn't a day I didn't see, hear, or feel the hustle and bustle of fast-paced living.
But now that I'm Lorenzo's wife...
Nature greets me from every corner, but instead of feeling isolated and overwhelmed, I'm filled with anticipation and excitement.
Home.
This is my home now.
And when I turn to Lorenzo, I say very simply, "I love it."
A few seconds pass.
And finally, my husband responds...with a nod.
Note to self: Lorenzo is allergic to talking, definitely.
He takes my hand again before we resume walking. I'm hoping that his touch will no longer make me feel hot and bothered, but it's a futile wish. My body is on fire, and my heart is no better, with the way it insists on galloping away like a racehorse out to win a championship.
His staff is all lined up to congratulate and welcome us when we enter the palazzo. Lorenzo gruffly introduces me to his majordomo, a one-legged ex-SWAT whose demeanor reminds me so, so much of Francisco that I find myself fighting back tears as the older man introduces the rest of the household.
It's not that I want to go back, but I just suddenly miss how my life used to be.
(Come back, Giancarlo, please come back!)
"If there's anything you need, please let me know, signora, and I will do my best to assist you."
I push my sadness away and summon up a smile for Lorenzo's majordomo.
"Grazie, Teo. I appreciate the offer very much, and I'll likely take you up on it sooner than later."
Lorenzo continues with the house tour after dismissing his staff, and my heart starts racing anew when we make it to the second floor. All I can suddenly think of is the fact that we're about to share a bedroom—-
"And this here," my husband murmurs, "is your bedroom."
Or not.
"Teo will have the rest of your things up shortly."
Are we seriously not sharing a bedroom?
"Rest for now. We'll have dinner at seven."
All I can do is stare helplessly as Lorenzo turns away.
Is this for real?
But then my husband suddenly turns back to face me, and I can't help holding my breath.
Is he going to take it back?
"I almost forgot."
Lorenzo reaches for my hand—-
Yes, yes, yes.
—-and gives me back my phone.
"I didn't mean to read your messages," he says tautly. "But I want you to know that I meant it when I said you are safe with me. I will only be your husband in name. I give you my word."
I think I'm in shock again.
Because I've just realized that it's not my husband's word that I want but his body.
Journal Entry
Lorenzo's staff is so extraordinarily nice. And charmingly insistent that I dress up for my first dinner with their master. Honestly, all that's lacking is for Be My Guest to play in the background, and it would seem like we're roleplaying Beauty and the Beast.
Only...the Beast already looks like a prince.
So how else is he cursed?
Am I just reading too much into nothing?
Or is there something I'm missing?
"ARE YOU FUCKING KIDDING me?"
Lorenzo had just stepped out of the shower, and the first thing he saw was how his entire wardrobe had been ransacked.
Fuck. Fuck. Fuck.
When Teo had suggested he dress up for dinner, Lorenzo had only given the older man a look.
Why the hell would he dress up in his own home?
Teo had simply nodded, and Lorenzo had thought that was the end of that.
But he was wrong, obviously.
Teo was no war hero for nothing, and the older man had easily won this battle by getting rid of his clothes.
Or almost all of it rather, except for his suit.
Fuck. Fuck. Fuck.
Teo knocked on the door. "Do you need anything, signore?"
Lorenzo flung the door open. "Damn you."
"You have ten minutes to dress up, signore."
"Is that another fucking threat?"
"Would you like me to play some music while waiting? Something like Fifth Dimension's Last Night I Couldn't Sleep—-"
"I'll be down in fucking five, damn you."
Teo allowed himself a smile. "Grazie, signore."
Lorenzo's teeth gritted against each other as Teo walked away, and he actually heard the older man start whistling.
And of course, it had to be that song about losing sleep, which Lorenzo wasn't guilty of.
He just happened to need only a few hours of sleep, but that didn't mean he had been nervous about meeting his wife.
Because he hadn't been.
At all.
Dammit.
Lorenzo went on cursing his majordomo even as he dressed himself in haste. The old man was no liar, and Teo would make good his threat if Lorenzo were to come down one second too late.
The dining room was ablaze with lights when Lorenzo came down, and unfortunately, all of those lights came from dozens of fucking candles.