Page 16 of Vow of Desire

“I am not high strung.”

“You passed out just now. You were having a panic attack. I could tell. I’ve been around enough terrified men to know what a panic attack looks like. Are you scared of me, Luciana? You don’t have to be.”

“I am fine,” I lie through gritted teeth.

“Fine. Keep telling yourself that. But you will break one of these days. And I don’t want you making me look like a fool in the process.”

“It was not my intention to make you look like a fool.” God. Why is he always so clinical? So cold?

“I saw you scream and throw your stuffed animals to the floor the first day I met you. I know what holding in anger looks like. You’re going to break eventually, Luciana. Either let it out in anappropriate place or don’t let it out at all. But our wedding is not the appropriate place.”

“I don’t need you lecturing me. I didn’t mean to pass out. It’s just as embarrassing for me as it is for you. Trust me on that.”

Alexandra approaches our table before Matteo can respond. “Oh, Luciana. I wanted to make sure you were all right. You took a hard fall. That must be so embarrassing on your wedding day. How sorry I feel for you.” She lets out a laugh that makes me clench my hands into fists. Fortunately, they’re under the table so no one else can see.

“You don’t need to be sorry for me, Alexandra. I am married now. Unlike you.”

Her lips contort into fury before a fake smile crosses her face. “Well, I hope you have fun tonight, dear. It is your wedding night after all. Every mafia woman has to go through with it. I’ll be praying for you.” She pats my arm before walking away.

“That woman is insufferable,” Matteo grumbles.

For once, I feel an actual smile on my face. “She really is.” But then I think about her words. How threatening they were. Is Matteo going to hurt me on our wedding night? I’ll know in a few hours.

Matteo speaks to other guests while I force a smile on my face. The entire evening takes forever to pass by and then it’s time.

Matteo stands up, drawing all the attention to him. “It is time for me and my wife to retire for the evening. But all of you, please continue to enjoy the festivities.” He holds his hand out to me. “Shall we?”

After a long moment, I place my hand in his and feel him wrap his large fingers around mine.

This is the moment that I know I’ll never be the same again.

Chapter Five

Matteo

Ican tell my new wife is scared. She’s trembling as we enter the hotel room for our wedding night. Her hand is shaking in mine. Yet, I can tell that she’s trying to be brave. Not wanting to break.

When she passed out, I wasn’t thinking of how embarrassing it was. My first thought was if she was all right. As my wife now, Luciana is my concern. I’m the kind of man who does things without emotion. It makes life easier that way. But I still have the desire to protect her now that she’s mine.

Luciana doesn’t want to show any emotion herself. Her spine is so straight and rigid that I think she’ll snap in half any moment.

I married her for peace. For convenience. It was better to marry Luciana rather than going back to war with Gabriel.

But now that Luciana is mine, I can’t help but want to truly make her mine. I want to push her until she breaks. I want her to show me what’s really on her mind.

Tonight, I’ll begin.

She goes even more still when her eyes land on the large, king sized bed.

“What are you thinking?” I ask in her ear, making her jump. She’s steps away from me but other than that, doesn’t show any emotion on her face. “You’re scared. I told you that you don’t need to fear me. I’m not going to beat you.”

“But you do expect us to have our wedding night. Which means I need to do my duty.”

“How innocent are you? I’m sure your father didn’t let you date. Most mafia father’s don’t let their daughters date.”

“I am perfectly innocent, I assure you,” she says, raising her nose to the sky.

“I wasn’t calling your virtue into question. I just need to know for us to continue.”