Chapter 75: I Only Want You

Brichese, Brescia.

MAXIMILIANO.

The chilly morning sun peeked through the gray curtains as I reluctantly swung my legs off the bed. I groaned, rubbing my eye with the heel of my hand. I had high hopes for this morning, but something just felt off.

Adreana had been distant and reserved since we left The Palazzo. She barely spoke during the drive here, and I knew it was kind of my fault. I just couldn't pinpoint the exact cause of the sudden change in her behavior.

I headed to the guest room, imagining her snug under the covers, quietly breathing and catching up on much-needed sleep. I entered the room.

The bed was empty. All tidied up.

I frowned, recalling Dr. Moretti's reminder: Adreana needed proper rest due to her hormonal issues. I froze beside the bathroom door when I found her naked in the shower with her back to me. I slowly knocked on the door, which she'd left ajar.

Adreana glanced behind, her jet-black hair and flawless skin all wet. She gave me a blank look and nothing else. She resumed bathing and ignored my presence like she saw nothing.

I walked out of the guest room to give her some privacy. Okay. Not in the mood. I should give her some time to get acquainted with her new surroundings.

Our "marriage" had yet to be consummated—contrary to my expectations. After I'd kissed her goodnight, I retreated to my room last night when Adreana said she liked this room better because of the view.

So I kept to myself. I wouldn't pressure her about sleeping in my room and sharing the same bed with me.

She just needed some time to adjust to our new set-up. The whirlwind of the past few days clearly left her overwhelmed. More anxious than usual.

I took a quick hot shower, put on clean clothes, then headed back to the guest room, hopeful for a real conversation with my wife.

"My wife."

Dammit. It still felt weird. Saying it out loud. But I'd better get used to it now.

I just wanted to ask if she'd like to go somewhere. Unwind and hang out with me somewhere she'd never been. My throat and chest tensed up before I knocked on the door. Standing outside the guest room, I put on a friendly smile the second Adreana opened the door. "Wanna hang out at the park?"

"No." She didn't even look at me before she walked away and crouched beside her suitcase, her hair still damp. She wore a baby blue shirt dress now. Most of her legs were bare.

Why was she not unpacking her stuff? She looked like she was packing up her belongings. Getting ready to leave?

My heart sank. My gut tightened when she kept avoiding my eyes. I stepped closer to her and her luggage, struggling to contain my frustration.

"Why're you packing?" I asked, my voice a little too aggressive.

"Going back to work."

To Grand Luxoria? "What? You're leaving now?" I pulled a face and crossed my arms. I knew she wanted to get back to work ASAP, but her excuse just sounded made up.

Considering the circumstances, we were supposed to be spending our first day as a married couple in this house, exploring the nearby towns, enjoying our privacy and each other's company. I already told her yesterday that she could work from home this month, especially given the rising number of positive cases in Florence.

Staying here with me was the safer option for now.

As some tension lingered in the dim space around us, I sat on the edge of the neat bed, just patiently waiting for her to give me a straight answer and direct her undivided attention to me.

Instead, Adreana walked past me and rushed into the bathroom, leaving me alone on the bed and grappling with a flurry of emotions I couldn't shake off.

***

A quiet minute later, I got up from the bed when she stepped out of the bathroom with her bag of toiletries. I scowled. I stood next to the huge windows, just watching her every move. I looked away and muffled a sigh with my fist.

Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Adreana gripping the edges of her suitcase, as if she needed to hold onto it for dear life. I took a few steps forward and broke the awkward silence first. “So? Where are we spending our honeymoon budget?”

Her immediate reaction was a frown that made her bare lips pout. Her cheeks turned pinkish, and her gaze showed agitation.

“Want me to choose?”

“Are you being serious right now?”

“Why? I can't take my wife on a proper honeymoon trip?” I took a couple of steps forward, my gait slack. I stepped closer to her until my sock was already touching the wheel of her blue suitcase.

She held my gaze, until hers dipped down to my lips for a second, long enough for her to push me away. She didn't.

I placed my thumb under her chin and tilted her gaze back up to meet mine. When she didn't pull away, I gently kissed her on the lips, taking in her addicting scent and the softness of her mouth. To my disappointment, she didn't kiss me back. "Are you meeting up with someone? In Florence?"

Adreana backed off, her mouth tense, just staring at me incredulously. The silence quickly turned awkward. Tense. She practically shoved me when I tried to get too close again.

I grabbed her by the waist to pull her in. I wrapped my arm around her back to keep her still, our bodies pressed together and sharing each other's heat.

Her gaze narrowed. Her fists clenched on my chest, her jaw stiff. For a moment she looked like she wanted to slap me. “D'you really have to go there?”

I maintained my poker face. “Why? I can't ask?”

She tried to move her head away from mine while my arms trapped her against the closet doors. Like she couldn't stand to look at my face any longer. “Why would you even ask me that?”

I stared at her beautiful lips. “Just making sure I've got no competition.”

She rolled her eyes and faintly shook her head, another scowl furrowing her brows. “You honestly think I'd marry you in front of your entire family and then go on a date with some bloke the next morning?” Adreana scoffed, her tone almost livid. “Are you for real right now?”

“Just asking.”

“Am I nothing but a dumb, gold-digging slut to you?”

“No.” I gripped her hips after nearly yelling at her, the regret instant. “But why won't you just say yes? Why can't we go somewhere?”

“Ugh.” Adreana sighed out loud and smothered a grunt of frustration with her palm.

I didn't take my eyes and hands off her. We had to sort this out now. Whatever this was, it had to stop. “What, you scared of me now or somethin'?”

“No.”

“So what's the deal?”

No answer.

“I'm not gonna get you pregnant again. Okay?” Unless she wanted me to. Unless she changed her mind and decided having a baby with me would be the most logical next step.

“Oh my g— I just don't wanna leave your mum behind. Alright?”

“Meaning?” I let her go when she kept squirming in my arms.

“She's all alone, at home. I-If your dad pops up out of nowhere, he might...”

“Mamma's fine. Don't worry about that.”

Adreana closed her eyes. Another flush of red spread across her cheeks, as though she could barely restrain her anger.

Screw it. This had to stop now. I didn't want another fight. I just wanted her to stay here. With me.

Right by my side all day. All week. All the fuckin' time.

“Hey. Relax. Okay? Everything's fine.” I leaned in and ran a finger along her temple, down to her cheekbone, then down to her pouting lips, my gaze dropping to her heaving chest.

She flattened her slightly quivering lips beneath my finger.

Instead of pissing me off, her anger just made my blood heat up. Not because I wanted to keep arguing. Or because I wanted to put her in her place. Not at all.

Her eyes told me enough.

I knew she wanted me to confess to something, and not just give her some half-meant apology. This was a prelude to something. I had a feeling she's just too scared to admit it to herself. “Just use your laptop. Stay the night. I'll drive you back to Florence first thing.”

“You're not going to work?”

“No.” I dragged my palm down my mouth and jaw. “I can work from here. For now. Amara said you can do most of your work out of the office.”

Adreana only stared. She didn't even budge.

“The broadband's working fine.” I pointed to the windows. “I just paid for an upgrade. The speed and connection's reliable, if that's what you're worried about.”

Adreana stayed frozen in front of me, her gaze fixed on the floor, her mouth forming another grimace.

“If we're gonna make the lawyers believe all this, we gotta make this look real.”

She glanced at me with a pained look, then averted her eyes again. She seemed to be processing what I just said, abstractedly staring at the old carpet as if it would give her the peace of mind and reassurance she wanted.

I stared at the almost frantic way she rubbed her temple. It just made me want to wrap my arms around her again. Comfort her. Tell her everything's fine. Embrace her. Then kiss her senseless.

After we exchanged vows in front of everyone, I didn't expect she would kiss me back after I gave her that boring peck on the cheek. I figured it was her way of proving to our audience that she showed up by choice. That she said yes because she fell hard for me, too. Not because I told her to.

Pushing the memory aside, I cautiously placed my arm on her shoulder and caressed her back. My heart raced. My insides coiled into knots.

When she finally lifted her gaze to look into my eyes, I didn’t see any fear. Or anger. I saw mostly anticipation, some uncertainty, and the flare of heat that taunted me to close the gap between us.

Shit. How the fuck was I supposed to keep my hands off her all week? It was impossible, and I had to show her just how much I wanted her to stay.

Suppressing a scowl, I slid a hand under the hem of her thick shirt, caressing her warm thigh. I tightened my other arm around her lower back.

Adreana drew in a sharp breath, yet didn’t protest. For a moment she just stared at me, stiff and tight-lipped. Her eyes showed hurt. Disappointment.

I had to know the reason. "What's wrong?" I squeezed the back of her thigh, massaging the tense muscles under her firm ass.

She tilted her chin to look me in the eye, her gaze searching. Her lips softened out of their straight line as a comfortable silence filled the room. “Why'd you say you'll stop talking to her if you don't really want to?”

I stared into her stunning eyes, my mouth dry all of a sudden.

Oh. Okay. She heard me talking to Mykaela on the phone last night. In my room.

That's what triggered her. She was hurt that I broke my promise. She didn't expect I'd lie to her about not talking to Kel again, even though I already told her she had nothing to worry about.

“Just making sure her family's safe, not in any kind of trouble.” I kept my voice low, controlled, almost emotionless. When Adreana kept her mouth shut tight, I pulled away, the torn look in her eyes making me feel like a spineless liar. “I'm over her. Okay?”

Her mouth twitched but she didn't say anything. She looked like she was about to cry, her eyes glistening, her face still flushed.

“We broke up months ago. I'm not cheating. Get it out of your head.”

“And I'm just s'pposed to believe you don't have feelings for her anymore just 'cause you said so? Just 'cause I want you? And care about you?”

I backed away from her and let out a sigh, my hands resting on my hips. I was too exhausted to argue, but apparently she wanted to ruin our first day here with an unnecessary fight. “Adreana, I'm not in the mood. Okay? Let's just drop it.”

She flexed her jaw muscles, her fingers absently fumbling for the wedding band on her left hand.

“I’m not cheating on you. I'm not Joachim.”

She glanced down and said nothing.

“Fine. Leave. Go back to Florence if you want.” I stroked the side of her warm face, my eyes focused on hers. “I'm not forcing you to stay. Or sleep with me. But if you want to fuck, just say so. I'll be in my room.” Ignoring the pounding in my chest, I let go of her and practically stormed out of the room before we could stir up another pointless spat.