Sweet Temptation

by Cora Reilly

“Can you sit up for a moment?” With a small frown, she did.

“Oh.” “Just wait a couple of seconds.” Her nose wrinkled. “That’s kind of disgusting.” “I know. But it’s tradition.”

“I did and do find you very attractive.”

“Hmm. Usually I’m good at telling those things. Most men are really obvious about their interest. They get that intense look as if they want to devour you.”

Something angry and dark curled ...

“Did it happen often… that men looked at you like that? As if they w...

“Are you jealous?” “Possessive. I don’t share well. Or at all.”

She laughed.

“That’s funny to you? I’m dea...

She rolled her eyes. Rolled....

I couldn’t even remember the last time someone had dared rol...

It didn’t seem wise, considering I wasn’t going to be the one choosing my husband.”

That was true. She had no say in the matter.

“Save water, right?”

Physically, we’d been as close as two people could get, but emotionally we were worlds apart.

We’d share the bed again—because I’d seen the desire in Cassio’s gaze and because I wanted to. On an emotional level, however, getting closer to my husband would be difficult, I could tell already.

Cassio hadn’t. Every inch of him was pure muscle. Nothing soft about this man—not his body, expression, or eyes. If he noticed my silent scrutiny, he didn’t comment.

I wanted to be held and cuddled. Maybe I had been foolish to think Cassio was someone who would be up for that.

“What is it? You don’t have to be scared of me seeking you out again. We fulfilled our duty.”

“That’s not it,” I whispered. “I just… I…”

“I’m not a mind reader, Giulia, and I don’t have the patience to guess your thoughts.”

Tears stung in my eyes at his rebuff. He let out a small sigh, pushed up on his elbo...

“Are you in pain? Did I hurt you more th...

Cassio was all man, strong and with body hair. Not that he was overly hairy… he wasn’t. My fingers glided lower, over the ridges of his stomach, following the trail of hair until I bumped against his waistband.

“I’m sorry if I made you feel uncomfortable. I didn’t mean to make you feel that way.”

Cassio grunted, almost a chuckle.

“I’m not uncomfortable, and I know that you don’t mean to make me feel the way I feel. That ...

“Are you going to fall asleep like that?” “You wanted me to sleep.”

“I do. On your side, not in my arm.”

My stomach dropped. This shouldn’t have hurt as much as it did. Cassio was my hus...

I scrambled as far away from him as I could.

My side of the bed was cold, not warm like Cassio’s. I swallowed my hurt and my longing, trying to breathe evenly. Still, tears fell from my eyes.

“I can’t sleep with someone close to me. Anyone,” he murmured.

I nodded, because words were out of the question.

“I guess it’s fitting that my second wedding night ends the same way my first did—with my cry...

I wasn’t a fan of physical contact at night and had often not even shared the bed with my deceased wife.

Giulia took my watch from the nightstand. “It’s only eight. Do you really think they’ll disturb us this early after our wedding night?”

Won’t you even sleep in after your wedding night?

Stay out of my business was all I wrote back.

“Okay. I don’t want to keep you from showering. I know how busy you are today.”

“I work a lot, Giulia, and I won’t explain myself to you. As a woman, your only job is to raise my children, but I can’t afford that luxury.”

typing on her phone. She was smiling softly.

I stalked over to her.

“Who are you talk...

Her head shot up, her brows drawing togethe...

“Who are you talk...

Anxiety crossed her face, but I didn’t care if she was bothered by me towering ov...

“Your siste...

I took the phone and Giulia released it wit...

I apologize for my brother’s rudeness because I know he won’t ever do it. I’d say it’s because he’s a man, but his dickheadedness has...