Chapter 14

ROBIN

Robin had chosen a long red strapless dress for the party; it had a small slit up the one side, and she wore her hair down.

She put on the crystal necklace and earrings that she’d found in the tin box; after cleaning them, they shone.

She sat and applied her makeup at what she now knew was a makeup table. Her fingers played nervously with her necklace as she looked in the mirror.

She was scared to death about this party. Everyone here would be wealthy and well-bred, and she was uneducated and poor.

If they were anything like Grazia and Eleonora, she would feel so out of place and be made to feel like dirt.

A knock startled her. She stood just as the door opened, and Luca walked in, wearing a black tux and looking like a god.

She swallowed the lump that suddenly appeared when his eyes moved over her. “Is this dress all right?”

He said nothing, just stared. She couldn’t tell what he was thinking. His face held no expression. “Luca, what do you think of this dress?”

“I think you should take it off,” he said, running his right thumb over his bottom lip.

Her heart sank. She thought for sure he’d like this dress; he had once told her he liked that color on her. “You don’t like it?” she asked.

“Oh, I like it. You look absolutely gorgeous in it. It shows off your curves, very sexy.”

“Then why do you want me to take it off?”

LUCA

Moving swiftly, he pulled her into his arms, his mouth going to her neck and taking in her scent. He groaned.

She smelled like freshly cut roses, sweet, and her body underneath his hands was warm, and he got so hard, it hurt.

“You’re so fucking beautiful that I’m afraid I’ll end up tearing it off you and taking you over to your bed. I don’t think I can wait another two weeks.”

Moving his head, he put his hand around her neck, bringing his mouth down on hers.

Pushing her up against the wall, his other hand went up under the slit of her dress, moving up to the silk panties she wore.

But then he cursed when there was a loud knock at the door, and he heard Filippo yell out.

“Luca, I know you’re in there. The guests have arrived and are asking for you.”

Letting go of Robin, he placed his palms on the wall, trapping her between his arms, and he shouted out, “We’ll be right down.”

Smiling at Robin, he said, “The men will be all over you like bees to honey. You belong to me, remember that.”

Taking her hand and draping it over his arm, he led her out and down the stairs to greet their guests.

He knew she was nervous by the way her hand was trembling. “You’ve no need to be worried.”

“I can’t help it. These people are rich and sophisticated, everything I’m not.”

“Stop putting yourself down. You are every bit as good as they are. You’re smart, beautiful, and have a charm about you that they will be drawn to. I will be by your side the whole time. If you have a problem, let me know.”

ROBIN

Grabbing a glass of champagne for himself and a non-alcoholic drink for Robin, he introduced her around.

Though they were polite, she knew they were staring and whispering about her behind her back.

She felt Grazia’s and Eleonora’s eyes following her. It felt like she was under a microscope, and if it weren’t for Luca holding onto her, she would have fled.

Later on, Luca stopped a conversation he was having with an elderly couple, saying he was going to have a dance with Robin.

She placed her hand on his shoulder, the other one in his hand and stood the required distance between them. She gasped when he pulled her close against him, their bodies touching.

“Luca, what are you doing? I’m keeping the space you taught me.”

“That is for when you are dancing with another man, but with me, you will be this close. We are, after all, getting married.”

“If I were to dance with another this close, then what?” She felt her temper rising. He was so possessive.

“Then I would have to destroy him. You are mine, and no other will have you.” He ran his finger along her jawline, his eyes darkening, letting her know he was serious.

He looked irritated when Filippo tapped him on the shoulder.

“Luca, you have been hogging Robin for hours now. Give some of us a chance to dance with her before the night ends.”

He smiled at Robin. “I guess I have been selfish all night. Enjoy yourself.” Kissing her cheek, he left her in Filippo’s arms.

“You look lovely, my dear. Are you having a good time?”

“I feel a little out of place,” she answered.

“You will have to get over that. Being Luca’s wife, you’ll have to attend many functions. Are you sure you want to go through with marrying him?”

“Why would you ask me that? Why wouldn’t I?”

“Luca is a complicated man. He has a reputation with the ladies. You are young and naive. It is only a matter of time before he takes a mistress. How are you going to handle that?

“He is also a very possessive man. What’s his is his. He will not share you with another man. Can you live that way?”

“I don’t think Luca will do that to me. Once we are married, I’ll give him what he needs. There will be no reason for him to go outside the marriage for sex.”

Yet the doubt crept into her head. Would he be faithful or seek the warmth of another body? If he were to, she would leave him; she would never share him.

“You don’t have to marry him.”

“What?” She looked at him, eye to eye.

“I’m saying if you don’t want to go through with it, he will not force you.”

Her eyes glistened, giving her away.

“You want to marry him because you’ve fallen in love. Oh, you poor child, you will get your heart broken.”

LUCA

Luca was standing with Grazia, listening to her bitch about him marrying Robin instead of Eleonora. He pretended not to listen, and as if on cue, the woman walked over to them.

“Luca, you’ve been avoiding me all night,” Eleonora said, touching his tie and leaning in close, so close that her wineglass tipped over, spilling her red wine all over his shirt.

“Oh my god, I’m so sorry, Luca.” Looking at Grazia, she winked as he stared angrily down at his ruined shirt.

“Eleonora, how terribly clumsy of you,” Grazia spat. “Luca, you must go up and change. You cannot walk around looking this way.”

Staring angrily at Eleonora, he hissed, “Be more careful in the future. Excuse me while I go change.”

GRAZIA

“Well played, Eleonora. Now follow him up and do whatever it takes to get him into bed.”

“Leave it to me. Just give me some time before you send that bitch up. Once she walks in and sees us fucking, she’ll never agree to marry him.”

LUCA

Luca went into his room, took off his jacket, tie and shirt, and tossed it into the wastebasket. Going into the bathroom, he washed his chest to get the smell off.

There was no way it was an accident; she did it on purpose, but he wondered why.

His question was answered when he returned to the bedroom and saw Eleonora sitting on the edge of the bed.

“Get the fuck out,” he snapped at her.

She rose when he got close. “I am sorry, Luca.”

“Like hell you are. I don’t know what game you think you are playing, but it’s not going to work.”

“Okay, you’re right. I’m not sorry. I wanted to get you alone, to tell you that we belong together. Don’t you remember how it was between us? Those two days we spent making love.

“We should be the ones getting married, not you and Robin. That girl is all wrong for you. She has no class. She is just poor trash.”

“We never made love, we only fucked. Having sex with you was boring. You were like ice, with no warmth, no feeling.

“You were the worst lay I’ve ever had and the biggest mistake I made. Now get out of my room before I throw you out.”

Instead of leaving, she moved closer. Her one hand went to his chest, rubbing his nipple, and the other hand cupped his crotch.

“Fuck me, Luca, one more time and let me prove to you that I can be better. I will suck your cock till you cum screaming my name. I promise you won’t regret it.”

He looked at her, placing his hand over hers.

ROBIN

Robin looked around for Luca but couldn’t see him. He had promised he would stay by her side the whole time, but he was nowhere in sight.

People were talking to her, but she was finding it hard to keep up with them. They were talking finance and business. She knew nothing about either and was becoming anxious.

When Grazia showed up and pulled her over to the side, she was almost grateful.

“Robin, dear, Luca has gone to his room, and there’s someone who wishes to talk with him. Would you be a dear and go up and bring him down? I would do it myself, but I’m really busy right now.”

Grazia was being too nice, making her suspicious. “Why did he go upstairs?”

“I don’t know. What he does is none of my business. Please, Robin, enough with the questions. Will you go get him or not?”

It was strange that Grazia asked her and not one of the help. “I’ll go,” she answered; she was happy to get away from all these people.

LUCA

Luca removed Eleonora’s hand from his chest, holding her wrist. “By the feel of my dick, you can tell you are not turning me on. Remove your hand.”

When she did, he grabbed her shoulder roughly. “If you try this again, I will throw you out of my home.

“I will marry Robin, and I can tell you this, she is all woman, and just looking at her gets me hard, unlike you. Now leave my room immediately.”

Their heads turned toward the door when it opened, and Robin walked in. He saw the hurt in her eyes when she saw them together. He quickly dropped his hands from Eleonora’s shoulders.

ROBIN

“How could you?” Robin cried out. Turning, she ran. Going into her room, she closed it and turned the lock, tears falling from her eyes.

Hearing Luca’s voice and the pounding on the door, she yelled at him to leave her alone.

“I’m not leaving until you open this door and let me explain.”

“You don’t have to explain. I know what was going on. You were about to sleep with her. I hate you, and the wedding is off,” she screamed through the door.

“Open this fucking door before I break it down.”

Moments later, it opened, and her tear-stained face glared angrily at him. Her eyes showed hurt and hate. “We have nothing to talk about. Go back to her and finish what you started.”

“I have something to say.” Slamming the door shut behind him, he grabbed her.

With so much force, she shoved him, surprising him with her strength.

“Don’t you dare touch me. I will not be treated this way by you or anyone else ever again. I know what you two were doing. God, you can’t even wait.”

She backed away when she saw the fury in his eyes, and he grabbed her, only adding to her own fury.