Page 32 of Sacred Vow

“We’ll see.” He smirked, tugging me to my feet. “Let’s go, kitten, we need to clean you up.”

An hour later, we finally left the apartment dressed casually for our date. I had no idea what to expect, but I looked forward to it. Being out with Romeo for the first time in a social setting really shone a light on the circumstances of our marriage.

Could it even be valid if it’s performed against someone’s will? Maybe not for most people, but I wasn’t most people. I was the only child of Santo Calogerà, a daughter born with a duty, just as Romeo had performed his duty as a son of Luciano Vitale to take a wife, not for love, but for power. That was the reality of our world. Did he want out as badly as I did? Somewhere, were there lovers begging for his attention? Or a mistress who had his heart, but who his family found unsuitable for marriage, someone I would eventually be required to meet and perhaps even befriend? Or did he prefer sex to be transactional, uncomplicated by emotion, handled by women paid to keep things uncomplicated?

I know he was as surprised as I was that we were so compatible sexually. But mentally, and emotionally, could we ever be as naturally aligned as we were in the sack?

“Where are we going?” I asked.

“No questions, Principessa. You’ll see when we get there.”

I was surprised when Romeo took me to the garage and told me to get in a sexy black sports car. “No guards?”

“Yes, guards, but not here with us.”

He helped me in and buckled my seat belt. I loved this quieter version of him, the one where he held doors and treated me as a lady. As long as it wasn’t a shift in the power exchange between us, because I really enjoyed my dark nasty devil.

The car roared to life, and we zipped down the driveway to the gate and out onto the main road. I leaned back, a smile on my face. No matter what happened now, I somehow knew the day would be a good one.

An hour later we were sitting on a rooftop near the waterfront sipping mojitos. Not having had breakfast, the drink went right to my head but took care of the remnant of the hangover I’d woken up with.

The deck was surrounded by beautiful flowering vines, offering each guest privacy from their neighbor. Not that we had many to begin with, as there were only two other tables with guests and they were on the far side.

“This is a pretty spot. Thank you for bringing me.”

He lifted his glass and clinked mine. “To us,” he toasted.

“To us.”

When the food arrived, Romeo fed me a bite of each item before allowing me to eat by myself, reminiscent of our wedding day.

“The food is delicious. Why isn’t the place busier?” I asked before allowing an oyster to slip down my throat.

“It usually is, but it’s a family venue and I bought it out for our luncheon. Those tables are taken up with our guards.”

“They are?” How had I not noticed? He was right when he said we would be guarded, yet have privacy. But wait, a family venue? “Does that mean Vincenzo is here?”

“I’m sure he’s somewhere around here looking for ego strokes.”

“You do me a disservice, brother!” Vinny’s handsome face popped around the floral arboretum. I couldn’t help but laugh. He was the exact opposite to his brother. Where Romeo was all dark and swarthy and often closed off, Vincenzo was light, carefree and completely in the moment every time I saw him, which hadn’t been often, but I was looking forward to getting to know this brother who followed his dreams.

“Sister!” he cried, gently taking my hand and kissing the back.

“Watch it!” Romeo growled.

Vinny smiled, his eyes sliding to me. “How did you manage to get my grumpy brother to take an afternoon off and relax? You must teach me your Jedi ways.”

Considering how effortlessly Romeo made me bend to his will, I couldn’t help but laugh at that, then huffed, pretending to take offense. “I’ll have you know, this was all his idea. Now don’t ruin it, Vincenzo,” I scolded, “I’m having a wonderful time with my husband.”

Romeo perked up at that and smirked at his brother. “You heard her, bugger off.”

Shaking his head and muttering in Italian about ungrateful family members, Vinny left us.

“To a peaceful meal.” I held up my glass.

My husband smiled. “I’ll cheer for that,” he said and clinked my glass.

When the meal was done, and the dishes cleared, he patted his lap invitingly. I looked around, ensuring his guards were far enough away not to hear anything that may happen.