Page 125 of Urgent Vows
Chapter 41
CATALINA
I wake from a fitful doze when Severu's hand lands on my shoulder. He tugs me onto my back, leaning over to kiss me. His lips taste and feel so good, but I turn my head away.
There is no way I can handle sex right now. Yoga keeps me limber, but when the pain flares like this, any movement is too much.
"What is wrong?"
"I can't right now."
"Is it that time of month? Is that why you were so tired earlier?" Concern fills his voice. "Do you have cramps? Should I get you something?"
"It's not that."
"Then what is it?"
"It hurts too much right now. I can't spread my legs." If I try to walk right now, I think my leg would give away. I only hope I can go the night without needing to pee, because I'd probably have to crawl to get to the bathroom.
"What hurts?" Severu asks, sounding worried. "Was I too rough with you last night?"
The night before we'd made love with me up against the wall before we went to bed, where Severu had seduced me into another round of lovemaking. He'd been voracious for some reason and had woken me twice more to join our bodies.
Come to think of it, the lack of sleep probably did contribute to my exhaustion, but he wasn't too rough. It's never too rough, no matter how out of control he gets sometimes. I like it hard or gentle. With him it is always perfect.
"No. It's not that. It's my hip."
He sits up and turns on a light. "Did something happen to your hip? Do you need a doctor?"
"A doctor can't fix what was broken fifteen years ago."
"You weren't hurting like this yesterday."
"I always hurt, but it's usually manageable."
He frowned at that. "What made it unmanageable today?"
"Walking in a 5K. Your mom is no slouch in the fitness department," I try to joke and then I sigh and offer truth that it pains me to admit because it's about more than a once-a-year event. It's about every day. "It didn't help that it was followed by a reception when I probably should have taken some time for Yoga. The two hours spent on my feet in high heels tonight really did me in."
"Wearing high heels hurts you?" There's something in his voice that I can't place. "Why the hell do you wear them then?"
"They're part of the uniform of a don's wife. Your mother and sister agree on that." And I have to admit, all the capos wives wear heels as well.
"When you went shopping with her and Giulia, Aldo said you were limping."
"I didn't know he noticed." I'd done my best to hide my pain that day. "Your mom and sister are tireless shoppers."
"Marathon shopping, walking 5Ks and wearing heels? That's what makes you hurt the most?"
"I don't love going up and down long flights of stairs either." Might as well tell him everything. "But I can wear heels."
"How long can you normally wear a pair of heels before your hip starts hurting?"
I sigh. "About half an hour. Longer if I can sit down, of course." I force a smile. "What cannot be changed, must be endured."
He nods, like he understands and then, his gorgeous face cast in grim lines, Severu gets off the bed. Is he leaving? Going to call a doctor? But he doesn't go toward the door to the hall, he goes to the walk-in closet.
A few seconds later, shoes start flying out and landing with thumps on the bedroom carpet. Every single pair of heels I own ends up in the melee on the floor. He comes out of the closet wearing a t-shirt and sweatpants I've never seen him in. I mean he has to wear something besides a suit to work out, but I've never seen it.
