Page 111 of When She Tempts (The Fallen)
I cross the office in two steps, push my fingers into her hair, and claim her mouth with a brutal kiss.
She makes a sound of surprise before melting right into me.
When I pull back, her eyes are wide. “What was that for?”
“Nothing,” I say, knowing I can’t tell her the truth. “Let’s go.”
The dining room is lit with soft candlelight, and the table is set. Martina urges me to sit down and then disappears into the kitchen to get our first course.
While I wait for her, I gaze at the fireplace. It’s unlit, but she placed a few thick candles in the hearth, and their flames flicker inside.
I don’t know why my mind takes me in that particular direction, but I begin to imagine what it could be like to truly be with her. To live here together and have dinner like this every night.
The vision comes far too easily. I see it in vivid detail, like a movie playing on a screen. The way she’d smile at me. The soft brush of her fingertips against my skin. The smell of her cooking and the soft murmur of our conversation. We’d eat dessert, and then I’d drag her out of her seat and onto my lap. She’d giggle at me putting my hands up her skirt and then moan when I made her come. I’d taste her on my fingers and tell her that no matter how much I love her cooking, she’s still the best thing I’d ever taste.
Her voice snaps me out of my thoughts. “First course is rib eye with black peppercorn sauce.”
I look at her and pretend like I didn’t just imagine my ring flashing on her finger instead of some Grassi’s.
There’s a contented smile on her face, and as pleased as it makes me to see her happy, I can’t stop thinking about the conversation with Damiano.
Soon, she’ll be promised to another.
I knew it was coming, didn’t I? I just didn’t think it would happen this quickly.
“You haven’t tried it,” she says, gesturing at my plate as her smile dims.
Cazzo, I need to forget about that call.
I taste the meat, and fuck, it’s good. She waits for my reaction and beams when I tell her as much.
Something bumps against my shin, and I look under the tablecloth to find Sophia looking at me with expectant eyes. “Tommaso already fed you,” I tell her. She snorts and quickly abandons me for Martina, who doesn’t even try to put up any resistance.
She cuts off a small piece of her meat and hands it to the dog, who swipes it immediately with her tongue. Martina smiles at Sophia. “I’m getting attached to you, you little cutie.” She glances up at me. “She’s tired. Probably from all the exercise she got today when she ran away from me.”
Something occurs to me then. “Have you taken her on walks before?”
“No, this was the first time. I bumped into Polo after he hurt his ankle. Since he couldn’t walk, I offered to take her in his stead.”
I frown. “Did he tell you to go to the woods?”
“Yeah, I think he forgot you didn’t want me going there, but I told him I couldn’t. I was just going to take her behind the garden, but then she ran way.” She drags her hand over Sophia’s fur, and I follow the movement with my eyes.
Did Polo really forget, or was he trying to get her to go there on purpose?
I saw the way he looked at Martina the first day she arrived. Being stuck here, he must have been eager for a plaything, but I shut that down right away. I made it clear she wasmyguest.
Until she became so much more.
When he saw the mark on her neck, he couldn’t hide his jealousy. Even though he’d just apologized to me and was clearly trying to keep a straight face, a flash of it had come through.
He knows about the cottage and the grave there. Did he think that by letting her discover that place, he’d push her away from me? Martina said the lock was rusted and easy to open. I haven’t gone back to check it after I boarded the place up, but what if Polo tampered with it?
My suspicions seep like rot through my bones. I’ll need to investigate, but for now, I won’t let that boy’s meddling distract me.
Whatever he may have attempted clearly failed.
I reach across the table and grasp Martina’s hand. She meets my eyes. “Is everything all right?”
