Sweet Temptation

by Cora Reilly

“I told you the...

I scanned the previous messages to see what Giulia had told my sister, but she’d only written that she still had to get used to me aft...

“Trust is the base of a ...

“How would you know?” Was she really trying to tell me something ...

“I think I know more about the workings of a marriage...

Her expression flashed ...

“I wonder if Gaia would agree.” She snapped her lips shut, he...

Fury burst through me the same time a ...

Mia’s smile fell when she spotted me. Her eyes darted to something behind me.

“Everything okay?” she whispered.

“I saw what you wrote my wife.”

“Are you spying on her?”

“You will stay out of my marriage, Mia. I’ll only say this once. Remember your place. And most of all, don’t talk t...

“I’m sorry for mentioning your late wife, Cassio. I didn’t mean to upset you.”

Surprise filled me. Her eyes and expression were earnest.

“Let the meat show begin,” Giulia said under her breath.

I squeezed her side in warning even as I had to stifle a smile.

“You’re now my wife and need to act accordingly. I can’t afford to ...

Giulia let out a tiny choked sound, and her cheeks took on a red hue the moment she spotted them. “This is mortifying.”

Mia hugged me despite my reluctance of public displays of affection.

“Mind your own business.” She narrowed her eyes. I had lost count of the times I’d told her this, but she failed to comply with my wishes.

“You were decent.” She touched my hand resting on my thigh with her fingertips. Feeling eyes on me, I turned back to the table. Christian, Felix, and my father watched curiously. My expression tightened.

“Are you okay? You can tell me if you aren’t. Cassio is my brother, but I’m a woman first.”

“Don’t let him turn you into something that’s not you. Our world needs girls like you.”

I needed to find my place in Cassio’s life by myself. He wouldn’t tolerate anything else.

This was my home now, and soon I’d meet the children I’d raise.

I’d have to fight for every bit of power and freedom—he wouldn’t hand over either freely.

High-pitched barking almost gave me a heart attack, and a small ball of reddish-brown fluff stormed through the hall and latched itself onto Cassio’s trouser leg. Growling, the small dog started to tug at the fabric.

I blinked then bit my lip, stifling laughter. It was too ridiculous a sight not to be amusing.

“Sybil, didn’t I tell you to keep the goddamn d...

I touched his arm, terrified for the helpless animal. “Don’t hurt it.”

“That’s it,” Cassio growled. “Tomorrow this thing is gone.”

“I’m sorry, Mr. Moretti. I went into its room to clean and it slipped out. I tried catching it all day, but it’s too fast. And Daniele hid from me again. I don’t know—”

“You can’t do that,” I said, horrified.

Sybil gave me a look that conveyed I should keep my mouth shut. Cassio, however, ignored my comment altogether.

I walked over to the terrace

“Don’t.”

“Giulia, don’t.” Warning rang in his voice. Or what? He pushed off of the sofa when I opened the door and picked up the shivering ball of fluff.

The dog remained quiet as I pressed it to my chest. I could feel matted fur from months of neglect.

“That thing stays outside.” His eyes were harsh, but I didn’t look away. “I gave you an order.”

“It seems I’m as badly trained as your dog.”

“Set it back down. I won’t allow you to bring it inside.”

“If the dog isn’t allowed inside, then I’ll stay outside with it. We can keep each other warm.”

“That flinch was unnecessary, and I don’t want it to happen again, all right?”

“You don’t want me to react that way or I won’t have reason to react that way?”

“You won’t ever have reason to.”

“You sure?” I said it more to annoy him than anything else, but my words were softened by a tiny smile.

“Now put the dog down.”

My smile widened. “No.”

“I gave you an order. I’m your husband and my word is law.”