Chapter 7

ROBIN

Robin took a nice long hot bath. Her body ached, and it seemed to help. The bruises on her body were still dark but starting to get that yellow tint, showing they were starting to heal.

She was tired, so putting on her nightgown, she went and laid down, falling asleep instantly.

When she finally woke, she felt better but was not looking forward to seeing Grazia sitting across from her at the dinner table, looking down on her, letting her know she didn’t fit into their world.

LUCA

They were almost done with their meal when Grazia, who seemed to be in a better mood, piped up excitedly, “Luca, I’ve invited Eleonora to come for a visit. I do hope, darling, that you will be polite to her when she gets here.”

Luca was not pleased when he heard this, and that was because both Grazia and Eleonora wanted him to marry her. “Just keep that woman away from me, and no tricks.”

“I promise we’ll be on our best behavior. Eleonora and I are going to plan an engagement party for you and Robin.

“Since you are planning on marrying her, our friends should know, and you can announce the date of your wedding.”

She looked over at Robin, giving her what was obviously a fake smile.

Luca was wondering why Grazia was doing a turnaround, first trying to talk him out of marrying Robin to wanting to plan a party for them.

He couldn’t help but wonder what she was up to and why she was enlisting Eleonora to help.

“You’re right. It is time to pick a date. Robin and I will discuss that later when we’re alone.”

Robin pushed back her chair and walked out of the room without excusing herself.

Grazia shook her head and stared at Luca. “Storming out like that is so un-ladylike. Guess those etiquette lessons are not working.”

“Keep your damn mouth shut,” Luca said. Rising, he went after Robin.

He found her sitting in the garden. Sadness showed in her eyes when she looked up at him.

“Why did you run out?” he asked, sitting down next to her and stroking her hair, loving how soft it felt; it was like silk, and he loved how it smelled.

“I am to be your wife, and yet I am talked about as though I’m not in the room. I expect it from Grazia, but not you, Luca, and that’s what hurts.” She let out a sob and hung her head.

Taking her chin, he lifted it up. “Forgive me. I have been ignoring your feelings. It will never happen again. I give you my word. Will you forgive me?”

ROBIN

They say if you look deep into someone’s eyes, you will see the truth. Looking into his eyes, she knew he was being sincere. “Yes,” she answered.

Taking her hand, he kissed her fingers one by one. “Thank you, but now we must set a date. I was thinking one month from today.”

“So soon?” She gasped, thinking that they would be waiting a few months, not weeks.

“I see no reason to put it off. I have a surprise for you in my office, come, let me show you.”

He took her hand and led her inside.

“I had these delivered while you were asleep. If there’s anything else you require, let me know.”

Robin went and looked through the bags that were on the sofa. There were sketch pads, markers, brushes, and tons of other things needed for sketching.

“I can’t believe you did this, it’s too much, and I’m not that good.”

“Don’t underestimate yourself, Robin. Besides, it doesn’t matter how good or bad you are. If you enjoy doing it, then I want you to have whatever you need so that you can indulge in your hobby.”

“Thank you, Luca, this was very thoughtful of you. Can I ask you something?”

“Anything,” he replied.

“Who is Eleonora? And why did you ask Grazia to keep her away from you?”

“She is Grazia’s friend and is always trying to get us together. I am not interested in the woman. She wants me as her husband.”

“So is she in love with you?”

“Love, no. Eleonora wants a wealthy husband, and I fit the bill.”

“Is she pretty?” Robin regretted saying this; she didn’t want Luca to think she was jealous.

“I must admit she has beauty, but her beauty in no way can compare to you. I’m not just talking about the outside, but the inside as well. You need not be jealous.”

“I’m not.”

Oh god, that sounded unconvincing even to her. She swallowed hard and turned her back to him, pretending to check out the rest of the art supplies.

“Have you slept with her?” She felt his arms going around her waist, his breath warm on the back of her neck.

“I’m not about to tell you who I have bedded. You really don’t want to know.”

LUCA

His mouth moved up and down her neck, leaving soft kisses in its path. He heard the start of moaning as she closed her eyes, tilting her head to the side.

He smiled to himself when he found the spot that had her putty in his hands.

“Sketch me,” he said, his teeth grazing her earlobe.

“What now?” she asked when he stopped kissing her neck.

“Yes, now. I want to see what you can do.”

“Hum-okay. Sit down over there, behind your desk,” she said. Grabbing the pad and some pencils, she sat on the sofa and waited for him to be seated.

ROBIN

When she started sketching and looked up, seeing him watching her, she smiled. “I can’t draw you if you keep staring at me.”

“What would you like me to do then?”

“I don’t know, look at some papers or write something. Surely you must have work on that desk that needs doing.”

Grinning, he pulled open a drawer, took some files out, and started going through them.

When she felt confident that he wasn’t watching, she got started. It was different working with professional equipment, much better than scraps of torn paper and old worn-out pens and pencils.

Her heart was thumping, and her hands worked fast as she began, smiling when she saw him busy at work.

His facial expressions amused her. One minute he would frown, his forehead creasing into fine lines, and the next minute, he smiled.

At one point his eyebrows lifted. He was so deep into work he must have forgotten she was there, sketching him.

Signing the last of the files, he looked up. Smiling, he stood up, walked over, and sat next to her. “Why are you staring at me?”

“I love watching you work. You’re so intense.”

“Are you done with my picture?”

“Yes.”

“Let me see it,” he said. Going to grab it, she moved it from his reach.

“No, I don’t want you to see it. It’s not that good.”

“Hand it to me,” he said, holding out his hand. When she did as he asked, he stared at it, and a smile appeared on his face. “This is very good. You are quite talented.”

Her cheeks reddened. She was not used to getting compliments.

“Thank you.” Her eyes locked on his as he moved closer till his mouth touched hers. He cupped the back of her head, and his kiss deepened as he lowered her down on the sofa, dropping the sketch pad.

She arched her neck when his mouth moved down, lightly kissing and sucking so as not to break the skin.

Her body began to tingle, her breathing hard when she felt his fingers undoing the top few buttons of her top.

His lips traveled down to her breasts. She heard the moan coming from the back of his throat when he sucked on them through the thin material of the bra.

She ran her fingers through his hair, hair that was so thick and soft for a man. His scent filled her nose, his hand moving down her thighs. She wished now that she had worn a dress, desperate to feel his hand on her bare flesh.

LUCA

He lifted his head to look at her. Her eyes were closed; her lips parted slightly in anticipation of being kissed.

“These damn bras you women wear, they should be outlawed.” His mouth then came down on hers, wanting so badly to see and taste her breasts, to lick her erect nipples.

Being so into their passion, they hadn’t heard anyone enter until someone cleared their throat loudly.

They pulled apart, and Robin clutched at her top, nervously doing the buttons back up. Luca ran his hand through his hair in an attempt to straighten the mess her hands had made of it.

He glared angrily at Filippo. “What do you want?” he barked.

“Sorry to interrupt, Luca, but we have to leave now. We’re meeting Mr. Riavia,” Filippo said, averting his eyes from the two on the sofa.

“You’re leaving?” Robin asked, looking at him.

Luca glanced over his shoulder at Filippo. “Give us a moment. I’ll be right there.”

He turned back to Robin, whose face was red from embarrassment. “Yes, I hate to leave you at this moment, but business calls. It will be late when I get home, so I will see you first thing in the morning.”

He took her chin in his hand and pulled her close, kissing her until he had to stop before it went too far. As he was walking out the door, she called out to him, and he looked back.

“I’ll miss you,” she said, hugging her knees as she sat curled up on the sofa.

An unfamiliar feeling raced through him, a warm sensation making its way to his heart. He didn’t know what to say at that moment; what he was feeling was so new to him. Smiling at her, he walked out.

***

Luca was preoccupied during their meeting with Mr. Riavia. He kept going over what Robin had said to him. She was the only woman who had ever said that to him, and he could see in her eyes that she meant it.

“Luca, Luca,” Filippo blurted out, bringing him back to the present.

“What?”

“Mr. Riavia has agreed to our terms. Are you in?”

Luca stood up and shook the man’s hand. “Yes, we have a deal. Now if you don’t mind, I’m heading back home. You coming, Filippo?”

“You go ahead, Luca. I’ll take a cab home.”

Arriving home, he climbed up the stairs. Thoughts of Robin in bed raced through his mind, and he considered sneaking into her room and surprising her.

But he thought better of it, knowing darn well what would happen if he did that.

His desire to have her was becoming stronger every day, but he wanted to wait until their wedding night.

That is, if he could go through with it. He had had only one other virgin, and it did not go well. He didn’t want what happened to Mira to happen to Robin.

Just as he walked past her room heading to his own, he heard her screaming. He turned back and flung open her door.