Chapter 19

ROBIN

Luca stood behind Robin with his arms around her waist as they watched the people dancing and having a good time.

He put his lips to her ear. “It’s time we head upstairs and get you out of this dress. But first, I must go talk to someone. I’ll be back soon.”

Giving her cheek a kiss, he left her to talk to a woman who had just walked over, congratulating her.

Suddenly Robin started to sweat. Though she had tried on numerous occasions to seduce Luca, she was now scared.

She grabbed a glass of champagne from the tray the waiter was carrying and took two long gulps. Others made their way over to her, making small talk—all were quite friendly.

She was handed another glass which she drank a little too fast. The champagne helped to ease her anxiety, and she became a little giddy.

LUCA

When Luca returned twenty minutes later, he found her surrounded by four men, and she was drinking. Seeing them laughing and one man taking ahold of her arm and asking her for a dance set Luca’s blood boiling.

He rushed over, putting his hand on the man’s shoulder, adding enough pressure that it made him wince. “This dance belongs to me.”

She giggled when he led her to the dance area. “You’re so sexy when you are being possessive,” she said, slurring her words.

“You’re drunk. How much have you had to drink?”

“I don’t know,” she snickered. “But my feet are killing me.” Pulling free from his hold, she kicked off her shoes. Holding them in her hands, she put her arms around his neck, and they continued to dance.

When he felt her body pressing into him, and she reached up, grazing his mouth with her lips, he couldn’t fight the raging desire that filled him.

“You are teasing me, making me want you, but I cannot make love to you in your condition.” No, he wasn’t about to let her first time be this way, with her drunk.

“You said you would, Luca, you promised,” she said, pouting.

Her fingers played with his hair, and her lips went to his neck, kissing his ever so softly. “I want you, Luca. I want to feel the pleasure only you can give me.”

The way she ran her fingers through his hair sent a tingling sensation shooting through his body, not to mention what was happening when she kissed and sucked lightly on his neck.

He was so turned on that he couldn’t wait. Taking her hand, he practically dragged her away from the dance area and headed inside.

With no one around, he pinned her up against the wall. “Oh my god, I want you so badly. I only pray I can wait till I get you upstairs or the guest will be seeing one hell of a show.”

His mouth came down hard on hers, attacking her lips like some kind of wild animal.

A cough behind them stopped Luca. Annoyed, he looked over his shoulder to see who it was.

“Grazia, what the hell do you want?” he said, letting go of Robin.

“For god’s sake, Luca, making out where anyone can see you,” Grazia hissed.

“I asked you what you wanted.”

“Mr. Spencer has some papers for you to sign. I told him this was not the time, but he said you wanted to sign them tonight.”

“Tell him I’ll be waiting in my office.”

When Grazia left, he kissed Robin’s cheek. “This will only take a few minutes. Go to my room, I mean ~our~ room and wait for me.”

Swaying a little, she giggled. “Don’t keep me waiting.” She walked away barefoot and gave him a seductive smile.

He had forgotten about those damn papers, but since they were important, he headed to his office.

“Let’s get this over with. My bride is waiting for me,” Luca said as he took the documents from Spencer’s hands.

Ten minutes later, he shook the man’s hand, and rushing out, he took the stairs two steps at a time.

He had removed his tie and jacket by the time he reached his bedroom; he was anxious to get Robin into bed.

When he entered the room, Robin was lying on the bed, still wearing her wedding dress and not moving.

Walking closer, he felt all the lust and desire drain from his body when he realized she had passed out.

Sitting on the edge of the bed and looking down at her sweet face, he shook his head. Putting his hands on her back, he pulled her up.

Her head fell onto his shoulder as he pulled down the zipper of the dress, then he laid her back down.

He slid the dress down, exposing her breasts since she wore no bra. It was driving him mad seeing them and not being able to do a damn thing about it.

He continued pulling it down till he had it off her, draping it over the chair. As he reached for her panties, he stopped.

It would be better to leave them on or he may not be able to control himself, and he wasn’t a pervert who was going to have his way with a woman who was passed out.

He heard her murmur his name when he covered her with the blanket.

Removing his own clothes, he poured himself a drink before getting into bed next to her. Needless to say, he was disappointed as well as sexually frustrated.

What was to be a night of passion was ruined by her getting drunk. Maybe it was a sign telling him that he had been right to begin with, that she should be his wife in name only.

Getting into bed, he tossed and turned. Sleep did not come easy that night.

ROBIN

When Robin woke, her head was pounding. It felt like drums were banging away inside her head. Sitting up, she rubbed her temples, and realizing she was naked, she pulled the sheet over her exposed breasts.

Looking up, she saw Luca sitting in a chair, staring at her. He looked so handsome in the white shirt and dark pants he wore, but he looked angry.

Robin tried to swallow the lump in her throat, but it seemed to be lodged in there. “Luca, I’m so sorry about last night.”

He sat there, arms crossed. “Why are you sorry?”

“I’m sorry I got drunk and fell asleep,” she said, turning her head away so she didn’t have to see the anger in his eyes. “I don’t know what I was thinking.”

“You didn’t fall asleep, Robin. You passed out. For the past two weeks, you have been tempting me with your body, begging me to make love to you.

“Were you playing some kind of game? And when the time came, you decided you didn’t want sex, so you deliberately got loaded. You ruined what was to be a night of passion.”

“Luca, no. I wasn’t playing a game. I wanted you. I have for a long time now, it’s just…it’s—”

“What the fuck was it? I don’t take kindly to being made a fool of.”

“I was afraid,” she cried out, looking at him with tears in her eyes.

Luca could deal with just about anything except seeing her cry. Any other woman, he didn’t care. But with her, it was different; it tugged at his heartstrings to see her sad.

“Afraid of what?” he said a little less harshly.

“Of disappointing you. Afraid you wouldn’t be happy with me and that you’d seek the arms of one who could satisfy you.

“I panicked, so I had a drink, and then someone handed me another one. I’m not sure how many I had, but I swear I’ll never drink again.”

Luca was still upset and couldn’t help being cold toward her. “Take a shower and get dressed. I’ll have some breakfast sent up, and then we’ll leave. We have a three-hour drive ahead of us.”

“Where are you going?” she asked when he went to walk out.

“Downstairs to my office. I have a few things to clear up before we leave.”

ROBIN

She sat back down on the bed when he left. She was heartbroken. What might have been she’d ruined by getting drunk. She feared that now he would never want her and probably regretted marrying her.

LUCA

Luca was sitting behind his desk when Filippo walked in carrying coffee for them both.

“I thought you would still be in bed with your new bride. Are you okay?” he asked when Luca took the coffee he was offering him without answering.

“What makes you think anything is wrong?” he snapped.

“I have known you for years, and I can tell when something is bothering you. I’m guessing it has to do with Robin.

“Has she kicked you out of the bedroom already? Maybe she needs a break from your insatiable lust.” He laughed at his own joke.

“Nothing happened. She passed out. My bride is still a virgin and is going to stay that way.”

Filippo darn near spit out his coffee. “A virgin, she’s a virgin? You never told me that?”

“Why would I?”

“Look, Luca, I like Robin, and I admit I didn’t think you should marry her at first. But I see she makes you happy, and the girl is head over heels in love with you.

“You cannot deny her the love every woman wants and needs. Go to her, make love to your wife and let her know how much you care for her. She will someday give you a child, an heir. I know you are in love with Robin.”

“Now what makes you think I’m in love with her?” Luca scoffed.

“Come on, man, I see the way you look at her and the way you are so protective. Why won’t you just admit it, Luca? You are in love.

“Go to her and tell her how you feel. I must leave now, but I’ll see you when you get back from your honeymoon.”

Sitting behind the desk, he ran his hand over his face. Perhaps Filippo was right; maybe he was in love. Removing his tie, he headed upstairs—it was time to make this marriage official.

“Opening the bedroom door, he called out to her but got no answer. As soon as he reached the bathroom, he heard the sound of Robin throwing up. There she was squatting in front of the toilet.”

“Go away, Luca. I don’t want you to see me like this,” she cried out when she saw him walking over to her.

He held her hair back, gently rubbing her shoulder with his free hand. “I’m your husband. It’s my job to be here and to help you.”

~Shit, I can’t catch a break.~

Moments later, she stood up. “Give me a few minutes to freshen up, and then we can be on our way.”

~Well, making love will have to wait till she is feeling better.~

“Take your time. There’s no hurry.”

He left her to do what she needed to.

ROBIN

Robin splashed water over her face. Looking in the mirror, she groaned when she saw how pale she looked.

After brushing her teeth, she applied a touch of makeup. It was bad enough that she ruined their special night, and now he had to see her with her face in the toilet.

~How he must be disgusted with me.~

Taking a deep breath, she went into the other room where he was sitting waiting for her.

LUCA

“If you’re not up to it, we can go tomorrow,” he said, his eyes traveling over her.

She looked so pretty in her white cotton dress. He had every intention of coming up here and throwing her down on the bed and ravishing her body as he had promised to do last night.

“No, I’m feeling better.” Picking up her purse, she followed him out.