Chapter 4

ROBIN

Robin smiled and stretched when she woke up in what felt like a cloud. It was the best night’s sleep she’d ever had and was the first time she had slept in a bed. Except for the dream she had about Luca, she slept like a baby.

She got out of bed and took a long hot shower, making use of the creams and lotions that were provided for her.

Not sure what was expected of her, she went downstairs to one of the only two rooms she knew—the dining room.

Luca was there alone, reading a paper and drinking coffee. He looked so sexy in his blue shirt and black dress pants.

She could smell his cologne from the doorway. He smelled amazing; all the men she’d known smelled of sweat and body odor.

Her head jerked to where he sat when she heard him call her name, breaking her thoughts.

LUCA

“Good, you’re here. I’ve been waiting for you. I was about to send someone up to get you.” He was pleased to see she was wearing another one of the staff’s dresses; he would have to remember to pay them extra for their kindness.

“I’m sorry,” she answered. Instead, he smiled and signaled for her to take a seat.

“There is no need to apologize, but we usually eat around eight.”

When he noticed her looking around, he guessed what she might be thinking.

“We’ll be eating breakfast alone. Filippo had business in town to take care of, and Grazia has decided to have breakfast in bed.”

“It’s because of me, isn’t it?” she asked.

He smiled. “We’ll eat, and then I’ll take you into town,” he said, not answering her question.

They ate, and he put on his tie and jacket. “Shall we go?”

He led her to his car, where he insisted she wait for him to open the door for her.

“First, we will stop at Langon’s and get you some new clothes.” He looked down at the flats she was wearing. “You’ll also need some heels and accessories.”

“Accessories?” she asked.

“Yes. Shoes, purses, earrings, and necklaces.” He chuckled to himself. ~She’s so young and naive.~

They pulled up to a posh women’s clothing store. It was bright, and the salespeople were all middle-aged but classy looking.

Luca talked to one, and they were led into a private dressing room. He sat down on the leather sofa. “Follow her into the changing room. Let me see everything you try on.”

When Robin hesitated, he smiled. “It’s okay, I’ll be right here.”

Moments later, he heard a scream; he dashed into the oversized fitting room and saw the sales clerk on her rear.

“What is the meaning of this?” he barked, his eyes going to Robin, who had her arms crossed over her chest as he helped the elderly woman up.

“She pushed me, sir.”

“She attacked me,” Robin cried out.

“No,” the woman cried out. “I was only helping her out of her clothes so that she could try on some new ones.”

“Give me a moment with her,” he said and waited until the sales clerk was out of the room. “Robin, you’ve got to stop being this way. It’s her job to help you with the clothing. She was in no way trying to harm you. Okay?”

“Okay.” She nodded.

Though she agreed, he could tell that she was uncomfortable with what was happening.

ROBIN

Robin modeled so many outfits it was making her head spin, and then he had her try on heels. This proved to be difficult for her; she had trouble walking in them and complained that they hurt her feet.

“You’ll get used to wearing them, and before you know it, you’ll want them on all the time,” he said and then instructed the woman to have the clothes and shoes delivered to his home, along with the jewelry he picked out.

Robin was shocked when she saw the price of the items; one dress alone was over two thousand dollars.

“Now on to the beauty salon,” he said, taking her arm and leading her down the street. The salon was filled with women, Luca being the only male, except for the stylist.

“Give her a trim and some highlights,” Luca told the young man who would be working on her.

He sat reading a paper while she was being taken care of. He looked up at a commotion and saw Robin with her back against the wall. She looked terrified.

“What’s going on?” he demanded, going over to grab her shoulders.

“I don’t want my hair cut off. I like it long.” She sniffed.

Stroking her cheek with the back of his fingers, he gave her a warm smile. “I promise he won’t cut it off. He just wants to trim the ends, that’s all.”

“You promise?” She sniffed again.

“Yes. I like my women with long hair. Now go sit down,” he ordered her. Seemed like he was doing that a lot.

A couple of hours later, she was done, and Luca stood behind her, looking in the mirror. “You look amazing.”

She studied herself in the mirror; she had to admit she liked what she saw.

She felt the warmth of his hands on her shoulders and his hot breath on the back of her neck, which sent a bolt of electricity throughout her entire body, making her shiver.

He was looking at her in a strange way, and if she were more experienced with men, she would have known it was a look of desire in his eyes.

“One more stop to make, and then we’ll go have a bite to eat,” he said as his eyes looked into hers as if he had a strong urge to kiss her, but instead, he led her out of the salon.

He took her to a top-notch jewelry store, where he asked to see the diamond engagement rings. The clerk showed him the most expensive ones since he knew who Luca was. He held one up to Robin. “I like this one.”

She shook her head. She didn’t want a ring, but when she tried to tell him, he wouldn’t listen. “It’s too big,” she said, looking at another one in a different cabinet.

“I like this one.” She pointed to a solitaire with a couple of diamond chips running along the sides. It was less than half the price of the one Luca picked out.

“You sure you want this one?”

“Yes,” she said and nodded.

“Okay, we’ll take it,” he said, and he slipped it on her finger. After paying for the ring, he took her to a fancy restaurant.

LUCA

While they waited for the food to arrive, Luca took Robin’s hand and looked at the diamond. “You could have had the bigger one, you know.”

“I didn’t want one at all since it’s not going to be a real marriage.”

“Oh, but it is a real marriage. I only plan on marrying once; this is for life.”

He saw the pain that flashed in her eyes. Knowing that she knew she would be living in a loveless marriage and one that meant no sex, she would forever remain a virgin.

Though he planned on having a sex life, she, being his wife, would be expected to remain faithful; that’s just the way it had to be.

“You okay?” Luca asked, watching her as she studied the menu.

“I’m fine, will you order for me? I’m not sure what any of this is.” She set the menu down on the table.

After giving the waiter their order, he started asking her questions. “Who are you?”

She looked at him, confused. “What?”

“What I mean is you have blonde hair and fair skin; even your name isn’t Italian. What is your family history?”

“My family’s from America. My uncle moved here when he was very young, and when my parents died, I was sent to live with him. If you don’t mind, I’d rather not talk about it.”

“He hurt you, didn’t he? What did he do to you?” Luca was determined to find out the extent of the abuse. “Was there any sexual abuse?”

Her eyes opened wide, tears filled her eyes. “No, never that. Stop, please stop, don’t make me talk about it.” Her eyes pleaded with him to let it go, which he decided to, for now.

“Okay, let’s eat. I’m sure you’ll enjoy this meal. By the way, you look really beautiful, not that you didn’t before. Do you like your new things?”

“Yes, but why did you buy so much?”

“You needed them. When you become my wife, you’ll need to look your best. We’ll be going to parties, traveling, and I would love to take you to the ballet and the opera.

“All eyes will be on you, so what you wear and the way you behave in public will reflect on me.”

“I’ll be your trophy wife.” She sneered.

“Yes, exactly,” he said with a smile on his face. “We’ll have to get you a wedding dress soon. But first I need to arrange some etiquette lessons for you. Can you dance?”

“No. Is that important?”

“Very much so. No problem, I’ll arrange for you to have some private lessons.”

Taking a drink of his wine, he watched as she started squirming as if she had something on her mind. “What’s on your mind? Go ahead. I’m not your uncle, I won’t hit you.”

“It’s all this money you’re throwing around—such a waste,” she said, her displeasure showing on her face.

“I do not throw my money around foolishly. I spend it on things that are important. Like your clothes I paid a small fortune for, you needed them and as far as the lessons go, those you also need.

“You are an untamed woman who lacks class and refinement. Yet you act ungrateful. Most women would be pleased to have this opportunity to live a life of luxury. I did rescue you from a life of abuse, after all.”

ROBIN

“I know, and I am grateful, but you are also asking me to live a life without a man’s touch while you will more than likely have affairs.”

~I should have bitten my tongue. What must he think now?~

“So you want to be in my bed?”

“I didn’t say that.” Her heart was racing; the way he was looking at her made her nervous.

“I told you I don’t do virgins. I do see where you’re coming from, so later, I may allow you to have small affairs as long as you are discreet about them.”

She shook her head and rubbed her temple. ~This man just doesn’t get me~. ~He has no idea what kind of person I am, one who would never break her wedding vows.~ ~Once married, I will remain faithful, though I know he won’t.~

“Can we leave now? I have a splitting headache and need to lie down.”

LUCA

Luca felt a pang of guilt. Something told him she was not the affair kind of woman. She was young, after all, and did deserve to feel the joy of sex. ~Perhaps I should re-think our sleeping arrangements.~

~I can teach her the art of making love, could take her to a height of sexual fulfillment. But do I want to risk having her fall in love with me?~

Or was it that he was worried he might fall for her?

After paying the bill, he escorted her to his car, and they drove home in silence.