Total pages in book: 80
Estimated words: 76501 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 383(@200wpm)___ 306(@250wpm)___ 255(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 76501 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 383(@200wpm)___ 306(@250wpm)___ 255(@300wpm)
I’m blushing furiously. “I’m not talking about my virginity with you.”
“Oh, flower.” His voice is low and husky. “I know what that means. You’re a fucking pure little virgin, aren’t you?”
“Asshole. This isn’t helping at all.”
“I almost can’t believe it. You came to America, but you’ve been a good girl for your family. You haven’t fucked every eager cock that’s wanted you over the years, and I’m sure there have been plenty. You’re a beautiful girl, and now look at you. Twenty-three and a virgin and married to a monster.”
“Luca. Stop it.”
“Should I fuck you right now? Should we get it over with, little flower? I’ll be gentle, I promise. I can take your virginity and make you a woman.”
“Stop it,” I say sharply, anger rising. “You fucking asshole. There’s nothing gentle about you and no, you’re not taking my virginity. Okay? Are we done?”
I can tell he’s smiling in the dark. “You’re right, normally I’m not very gentle, but I can try for my new wife.”
“Leave me alone, okay? Just because I’m not humping everything with tits like you are—”
“You don’t know that.”
“Tell me I’m wrong. How many women have you slept with? Two dozen? Three? Four?”
“I’m not giving you a number.”
“I may be a virgin, but you’re still a prick.” I roll over onto my side. “God, this didn’t help at all. Goodnight. Asshole.”
The room plunges into silence. I bite my tongue to keep from crying because screw this asshole. I’m not going to let him make me feel ashamed of what I’ve done or what I haven’t done. Just because I didn’t meet the right guy and never felt comfortable—never felt that crazy, magnetic, insane explosive desire that I feel with Luca—that doesn’t make me defective or something. I’m still a woman and I don’t need him to make me anything. I haven’t been saving myself, but it hasn’t happened, either.
I won’t be shamed by this bastard.
“You’re right that I’ve slept with a lot of women,” he says quietly and I jump a little at the sound of his voice. “But I’ve never wanted a woman like I want you. I’ve never wanted to share my bed with a woman until now. I’ll keep my hands to myself, flower, but when you’re ready, I’m willing.”
“Willing to do what?”
“To fuck you the way you deserve. Goodnight.”
I shiver and squeeze my eyes shut. It’s one thing to let him lick me and kiss me and slide his thick fingers between my legs—but can I actually sleep with him? Can I let him have my virginity?
I don’t know. And I don’t want to find out.
He wakes up early the next morning, goes into the bathroom, and comes back in running clothes. “Get up. We’re heading out in ten.”
I grumble and glare at him. “I barely slept. You snore.”
“I don’t. It’s called breathing.”
“Like a bear.”
“Get up if you want to run. I have business today.”
“You’re leaving me all alone?”
“I’d gladly stay if you want to experience the joys of sexual congress. Otherwise, I need to get busy saving your ass.”
“God, you’re an asshole, even first thing in the morning.”
“Thought so. Get up.” He rips the blankets off me and I groan. “Get moving.”
I brush and change into exercise clothes. We head right out, and even though I feel uncomfortable in unfamiliar shoes and a sports bra that doesn’t quite fit right and with a guy that knows I’m a virgin and is going to make my life miserable because of it, all those worries evaporate when we hit the sidewalk and start going.
It’s heaven, just like it was down by the beach, but this time it’s a totally different environment. We jog down the sidewalks, through the city, until we reach Central Park. Luca guides me down the paths, around the fountains, and goes at an easy, comfortable pace. I gawk around us, staring at everything, all the new sights and sounds and all the other runners—dozens of them, so many other runners, all out for an early morning jog—and my head feels clear for the first time since my father and brothers died.
It’s hard to overstate how scattered I’ve felt. I was stuck hiding out with Perico for months, and then suddenly that ended fast and violently, and now I’m married to a man I hate, a man that’s part of the family that ruined my life, and I have to accept it or his buddies are going to rip me to pieces. I’ve been running on fumes, but now I feel like I’m coming back to myself, at least enough to keep going.
I focus on my body. Legs moving, arms pumping. Luca navigates the crowds until we reach a quieter part of the park. He slows and stops to stretch in a copse of trees near a pond a few feet off the path and I join him, breathing deep and letting it out as I touch my toes.