Page 12 of Between Steel and Secrets
My fingers graze her chin, and I bring her lips to mine. “Apparently not. I value yours above all else.” I lean in and kiss her.
Her body relaxes for a fraction of a second before she slaps me and shoves my hand away. Nova stands and backs away, muttering under her breath that this can’t happen here.
“You just hit me.” I’m dumbfounded; the sting against my cheek burns and I can’t quite ignore it.
It’s not like we haven’t shacked up together under Moreno’s roof, but it was late at night and in my bedroom.
Nova grins and glances away. “I told you no. You should have listened.” She saunters off toward the door, and I chase after her.
My arms wrap around her waist, and I spin her around to face me. “You’re right. I’ll respect your wishes. I won’t kiss you,” I whisper, my breath teasing her lips apart, but I don’t close the gap.
I drop my hands from her hips, and I swear I hear her whimper.
“I won’t touch you.” I remove my hands from her waist, giving her exactly what she’s been asking for.
Nova leans closer to me, I’m not sure she even realizes that she’s doing it.
“We won’t share a bed tonight,” I whisper, and her gaze falls to my lips. “No kisses. No touches. No cuddling together and sharing a blanket. None of it.”
She pulls her bottom lip between her teeth. I know the restless and needy look in her eyes, and she’s teetering on desire winning, but I won’t let it. She’s drawn the invisible line, and I won’t cross it.
“Good.” Nova forces the words out, but I can tell she doesn’t mean them. “You hog all the blankets anyway.” She snickers, and I refrain from letting my fingers graze her cheek.
“There is something that you should know?—”
“What?” She stares at me, waiting for me to answer, hanging onto my every word.
“Your father already knows about us.”
Her eyes widen and her face goes ghastly just as her lips part. Had she not made it clear that she wants nothing to do with me tonight, I’d be kissing her right now, reassuring her that everything is fine, but instead, I waltz past her and head inside the house.
“No.” Nova’s in mere shock, shaking her head, denial setting its course, as she stands there, unmoving. “He can’t know.”
“He’s known for months.” Do I tell her about Dante ordering me to marry Harper and wanting to keep it a secret?
“How long?” Nova rubs at her forehead and studies me.
I contemplate how much to tell her. Is it worth her knowing all of it? What good would it do for her to hear how they wanted me to marry another woman? The last thing I want is to upset Nova.
“Don’t lie to me, Ashton.”
“A while. Before their wedding.” I gesture to the house, hoping that answer will suffice. It’s the truth, I’m not lying to Nova, but I don’t see any point in revealing anything that might upset her. Especially since it doesn’t matter anymore.
Harper and Luca are wed.
“And you kept this to yourself?” Nova’s eyes widen. “Why didn’t you tell me?” She smacks my arm and stomps toward the door of the house.
“For this reason, precisely. I didn’t want to get my ass beat by a girl.” I’m smiling, and she’s glaring at me.
“You’re sleeping alone tonight, Ashton.”
I was already planning on that when she told me to keep my hands to myself a few minutes ago. “Okay.” I try not to feign hurt.
We head inside, and Luca is barreling right at me. “Pack your things, we’re leaving for home in ten.”
I glance past him in the direction of Dante’s office. “Does your father know we’re going home?” I would have expected him to encourage our stay, if not extend it. While Massimo is dead, I’m unsure who will take over his position if the threat remains to Luca and his family.
“It was his idea.” Luca turns and heads for the playroom.
