Chapter 9

Paige had never enjoyed taking a bath as much as this one before. It was so relaxing, the water so warm and the towels were like drying herself with what she imagined a cloud felt like.

Slipping into a silky nightgown got into bed, waiting for her husband to join her. They had yet to make love as man and wife. She was, to say the least, a bit scared but part of her was anticipating what was to come.

The way he roamed over her body with hands skilled in the art of lovemaking and the way he kissed her had her wet just thinking about it. She was his wife and would give herself willingly.

But he never came back to bed before she ended up falling asleep.

When she woke up in the morning he was laying next to her, his back to her. When she shifted her weight he rolled over onto his back.

"Gabriel, when did you come to bed? it must have been late."

"I was busy, had things to do that needed done," he said, running his hand over his face.

He then jumped out of bed and pulled on a pair of pants.

"I'm going to work out in the gym before breakfast," he said, walking out without giving her a second look.

There was an ache in her heart, it appeared as if her husband didn't want her sexually. She was nothing more than his roommate. She felt a sense of loneliness, she had no one to talk to or anywhere to turn. Wiping the tear that trickled down her cheek she got up and dressed for breakfast.

"Is my husband joining me?" she asked the butler when she noticed only one plate was set.

"Mr. Maestri has eaten already, he says he will be ready to take you into town in an hour. Can I get you anything else?"

"No, I have everything I need." Taking her fork she pushed the scrambled eggs around on her plate with her appetite gone.

Not being able to eat she gets up and goes into the other room, sitting down at the piano. Her fingers ran smoothly over the keys and she began singing the song she was playing, it was a sad love ballet.

Gabriel heard the singing when he came down the stairs.

"Who is that?" he asked the butler who was holding out his jacket.

"That is Mrs. Maestri sir. If I may say she has a lovely voice, like an angel."

"Thank you, Erin. I will take her jacket and give it to her, you're dismissed."

Walking down the hall he stops at the door and watched her. She really did have a beautiful voice, but she looked so sad.

At that moment he felt a twinge in his heart, was she that unhappy being married to him?

did he make a mistake by forcing her into it?

She felt someone watching her so she stopped playing and looked over at him.

"You play beautifully and you have a lovely voice."

"Thank you," she said.

Standing up when he walked over, holding her coat out for her to put on.

They were quiet on the way to the hospital.

The doctor spoke only a little English so Gabriel had to stay with them during the whole examination to translate between them.

He was shocked to learn that as a child she had gotten a virus infection that had weakened her immune system. So it was stressed to them that she must be careful, and the first sign of a cold or any other illness she was to be checked immediately.

Being told that she appeared to be in good health and the baby was doing OK they left the office and he took her shopping for clothes. Then they stopped for some lunch at an outdoor cafe which he noticed seemed to make her happy.

"Gabriel, can I ask you something?"

"Yes," he answered.

"Why did you come to bed so late last night, was it to avoid me?"

"I've been out of the country for over a month, I had much to catch up on and didn't want to disturb you." Leaning back in his chair he smirked. "Why did you miss me?"

She looked down at her cup of tea, running her finger along the rim.

"It was our wedding night and you left me alone."

"Were you expecting me to make love to you?"

Her face turned red and she couldn't look at him. "I am your wife and want to be one in every sense of the word."

He takes her hand, feeling how it shook. His other hand reached out, cupping her chin and lifting her head up.

"You have no idea what you are asking. I'm a passionate, hot-blooded Italian man and if I start I will not be able to stop from having you whenever the mood strikes. So until you are ready for me and some of my dark, sexual desires I'll wait."

"What do you mean by dark sexual desire?"

He narrowed his eyes at her.

"Have you ever been made love to up against a wall, or tied up and blindfolded. Or in an elevator, in the backseat of a car in broad daylight as people walked past? Perhaps in a bathroom, while others waited to use the restroom. You say it's your duty as my wife to give me pleasure. Careful angel, once you give me that permission there will be no stopping me."

Her jaw went slack, she didn't know if he was serious or just toying with her. "You wouldn't dare."

He leaned closer to her, putting his hand on her leg.

"Wouldn't I? I bet you might even like it if I tied you up. To see you laying there all helpless and at my mercy would be a real turn on."

"You're a monster," she said, slapping his hand away.

Jumping to her feet she took off, leaving him behind while he paid the bill. She wandered blindly through the busy street filled with people doing their shopping at the market square. She soon realized she was lost, and not speaking the language couldn't ask anyone for help.

"You lost darling?" a man asked her in broken English.

The man looked dirty and poor but he had a friendly smile. She was happy that he spoke and understood some English. She told the old man who her husband was and luck was on her side, the old man knew of Gabriel. They walked to a nearby shop where the old man got Gabriel's phone number to his cell and dialed it, telling her husband where to find her.

When he arrived he thanked the old man and handed him some money for helping Paige. He then grabbed her arm and headed in the direction of where his car was parked. He didn't realize that the tender flesh of her arm was becoming bruised from the tight grip he had on her.

"Get in," he snapped when they got to the car. "Do you know how much trouble you could have gotten into?".

She sat in her seat, not speaking as she rubbed her arm.

What could she say? he was right, she did a foolish thing running off like that. With no money and not speaking Italian she was asking for trouble.

"I ought to chain you to the bedroom and never let you out." He pounded on the steering wheel with his fist.

"God damn it, Paige, you're carrying my child." He looked over at her. "What if you had lost it, then what?"

She started crying, the thought of losing her baby was too much to bear. "I wasn't thinking."

"Damn right you weren't thinking. From now on you go nowhere without me or a guard. A woman alone in these parts are not safe."

"Am I to be your prisoner?" she dared to snap at him.

"If that's what it takes." Putting on his sunglasses he drove the rest of the way home without speaking to her.

When she had taken off and he couldn't find her he felt fear. He never felt fear since he was a young boy. But now he had a wife and a baby to look after, and she had no idea of the dangers out there. He was starting to regret his decision to marry and bring her here.

It might have been better to set her up in an apartment and take care of her and the child financially. It was too late now, she was here so he would have to make the best of it.

As soon as he put the car in park she jumped out and headed into the house and went straight to their bedroom. She felt stupid and humiliated, but more than that she was scared. At first, the stranger scared her but he turned out to be very kind. It was Gabriel who scared her the most, he was so angry, she could see it in his eyes.

She turned when the door slammed shut behind her and she turned around.

"Gabriel," she said, her breath hitching in her throat. His eyes were different, softer, showing concern.

Putting her fears aside she went over to him. Placing her hands on his chest she looked into his eyes.

"I'm so sorry. I should not have run off like that." He didn't speak, only stared at her.

Her hands moved up and went around his neck. She pressed her body against his, her lips went to his neck and started kissing. The feel of his heartbeat increased and she felt the hardness of his dick as it was pressed against her.

"I want you," she whispered in his ear.

He pushed her away, breathing heavy his eyes swept over her. His dick throbbing he could no longer deny that he wanted her.

He grabbed her, pulling her back to him and grabbing the back of her head kissed her, his free hand went to her breast and he moaned into her mouth when she moved her hand down to his crotch and felt how hard he was.

Picking her up carried her over and laid her down on the bed. He tore off his clothes and getting into bed removed her dress. Pinning her hands above her head with one hand, the other moved down and under the panties while his mouth devoured hers hungrily. He had wanted to do this for so long now, he wondered why he waited so long.

She raised her hips when he slid the panties down and got on top. She felt good, soft and when she ran her fingers through his hair he entered her with one hard thrust and heard her moan.

As he moved up and down inside her he lifted his head to look at her.

"I should have done this the first night we got here. I tried to resist you but I can't. You're so sweet, so soft and you should be with someone who can treat you right. I will only end up hurting you but shit, I can't let you go."

"Then don't let me go," she said, pulling his head down for a kiss.

Grabbing her legs he put them over his shoulders and watched her as he rode her hard, pounding into her, loving the sound of his name when she screamed it out.

"Come for me, I want to see your face when you come."

When she did he felt more like a demon than ever before, having fucked his angel till they both collapsed from pure ecstasy.

"You would never hurt me would you?" she asked, feeling his toned abs.

"I have never hit a woman and I will not hit you. But I'm not good Paige, one way or another I might end up hurting you. I'm evil, a devil."

"No, you are not evil, I know you're not and someday I will prove it to you. I will show you that there is a heart that beats warmly inside your chest."

"You are so young and foolish my sweet angel, my heart is dark and cold," he said, giving her a kiss as he rolled onto his side.

This night he did not turn his back to her, they slept in each other's arms.