Chapter 10: The Sweetest Temptation

Theo

The wedding night was a terror that made me cave to leave with Sergi to Chicago to settle a matter that could wait. Or Sergi could very much handle the gruesome part of things but I'd taken off my frustration on the poor man who'd ratted out the confidential information of a senator. Giving him a few broken bones wouldn't amount to the sum. His stupid ass made me lose but it was a fair warning. I was considerate of his family and children.

I left my newly wedded wife by herself for almost a week, no word from me, yet a dozen missed calls from her. Too bad the poor man had to bear the grunt.

The session barely exerted my mind to shut up about the kiss. Not the one at the reception.

My mind kept circling back to that scene.

Mira had been out like a light all through the drive to my apartment. I carried her and laid her on my bed. That was the beginning of my wreckage. Mirabella laid on my bed, id dreamt the day to come and it finally did

Her thick brown curls sprawled on my pillow, I watched her sleep until she moaned in her sleep. Another wreckage.

A tension pulled down my waist.

Why on earth was she this breathtaking even asleep and that moan? It would've been better if I was the cause. I forced the thoughts away. She squirmed in bed, my eyes flicked to the neckline of her dress, it drew me, latched onto my attention till it pinned me beside her. All I intended was a chaste forehead kiss but she'd wrapped her arms around my neck and brought my lips to hers. I didn't retreat, not once. A hero would've stepped away but I abandoned the hero role since making the plan to marry her. I took it as far as it could go with just the kiss. It left me breathless.

Five days later, almost a week, I still get flashes of her in my bed, my head between her legs. Her lips tasted so good, I fed on it like a druggie. I couldn't stop wondering what she really tasted like.

My office door swung open and slammed shut. I jerked my eyes away from my desk to the door.

“How do you live with yourself?” Harper spat out, he looked hung over.

I held him in a gaze, uncertain I wanted to indulge him. Harper wouldn't let off if I didn't. I unfolded and can round to lean in front of my desk.

“By living. Harper. Why are you here?” I crossed my arms in front of me

“Stop what you're doing with Mirabella, tell the press it wasn't real.”

I tutted. “That's where you're wrong Harper, nothing has ever been this real. Deal with the fact that I love her.”

“Wrong!” His voice ricocheted against the walls. “You only took her because you knew I wanted her.”

I chuckled at the nonsense he was spewing.

“You know,…” I picked a string from my shirt, “It is unfathomable that you'd follow me all the way to Chicago to question my intentions about my wife.” I emphasized on the possessive word enjoying pressing deeper into his wounded ego

Harper stormed forward, jabbing his fingers in my chest with every word. “Mira is not a pawn in your sick game, there's an abundance of women who'd be willing to play Theodore.”

I slammed my hand against my desk, standing face to face with him. “Watch it Harper. Mirabella is my wife. Mine.”

His nostril flared and he held my gaze for a spilt second before diverting to the window. “Does she know?” His voice cracked.

I adjusted my tie. “Know what?”

“Does she know this was all your master plan, your manipulative ways?”

I sucked my teeth. “I will tell my wife at the right time. Fucking stay out of my business Harper.”

His brown eyes were red rimmed, his hair haggard and his lips had the same tremble he'd had at the wedding. “Go home to your wife Theo. You don't get to disappear on her after throwing her into your circus.”

It was impossible to ignore the manner he said wife, like it was some despicable thing I did to have married the woman of my dreams. I saw a woman, I didn't pussy around and took what I wanted.

“Get out.” I said quietly.

He glared at me briefly, slammed down the wood clock on my desk and stormed out.

“Get the jet ready for me, I'm going back to Manhattan.” I ordered into the buzzer once Harper was out of my office.

Perhaps Harper wasn't the only coward. I had married my wife and left all alone for nearly a week with no explanation, no honeymoon. It was work, Sergi and I had some important work to do. That was the lie I told myself to avoid answering the questions she would ask.

Mira called on all the days I'd been away but all I'd done was busy her calls. I wasn't ready to have that conversation.

Harper was right, I hated to admit it. It would eventually blow up in my face.

Sergi sauntered into my office, his bottom half done to the top. He flicked an eyebrow up and glanced back at the door.

“Was that Harper?”

I didn't answer and just went to sit behind my desk. “I'm leaving for Manhattan.”

“Knew the day would come sooner or later you jerk.” He dropped into a couch.

I blinked. “Me? Jerk?”

“You married a wife and abandoned her to handle important work.” He air quoted the word important.

“I should've just let the statesmen kick me around then?”

He swept his hand over his full length. “I'm here, Harper is there.”

“You know Harper is not interested let alone help me.”

“Especially not after you took his woman from him. No. You're a jerk.”

I gritted my teeth. “Finish up with the traitors and leave no trace. I'll credit the senator from my end.”

He wiped his lower lip and left a naughty smile on.

My hand traced my pencil case in preparation for Sergi's words, then he spewed.

“So some good fuck? You haven't gotten laid in a hot minute.”

I grabbed my pencil case and flung it to him, he dodged it by a fraction.

“I'll chop off your dick if you ever talk about me fucking my own wife.”

“Scandalous.” He whispered.

“Make sure the package from Italy arrives before I do, Sergi.”

“Yes boss.”

The buzzer went off and I made my way to the rooftop. I would get her flowers from the best store in Manhattan and give her the gift I had shipped from Italy. Explanations would come later.

I landed at about 8pm and phoned the butler at my apartment to find out if Mira was back from her workshop but she hadn't returned and had in fact not been at my apartment. Apparently Bennie has left me countless voicemails.

My blood boiled over. I was clear with my instructions to security and they'd flaunted it.

The driver diverted to her workshop at my command and In fifteen minutes I had arrived. I got out of the car and as soon as I caught her silhouette from the floor to ceiling window with a linen curtain swaying only offering her face intermittently.

I began walking in and signalled my men not to follow me, they stood back.

At the door, I knocked for a moment but I got no response. I turned the handle and let myself in, Mira was swaying as she worked a scraper through a large piece.

I stalked towards her, quietly with an intent to surprise her till I was right behind her, I wrapped my arm around her waist causing her to jerk, her body trembled and her tools fell off her hands and clattered to the ground. She spun around, hands flying and ready for fight, I overpowered her and pushed her into my chest.

She calmed.

“Ma chérie…” I drawled, getting in her scent and relaxing in her warmth. “I missed you baby.”

The thrashing continued and he landed a flimsy punch to my stomach. She packed a punch.

I feigned folding over. “Mira?”

She took away her headphones. “You do not ruin my life and waltz in as you please Theo.” She turned briefly to keep her headphones before ordering me out. “Get out Theo.”

Admiration filled my hollow chest and I put my hands up. Mira was a sight to behold even in her paint stained apron, a black streak across her cheek and her wrapped up hair.

“I'm sorry amore .”

“Don't!” She yelled. “Don't call me that and get out Theo while I'm being nice.”

“I'm sorry I left you all alone amore but I'm here now and I'm not leaving.”

“You're not listening to me, I said , Get out!”

I stepped forward. “You're coming home with me Mira. I'll explain everything.”

“Theo, leave!”

“I'm not leaving here without you. It's late, get in the car and let's leave. Your husband is here now.”

“Leave when you're tired. I'm not going to your place, I'm comfortable at my apartment.” She resumed work, retrieving her tools from the floor. “I have a night out with my friends.”

She always had that every Friday. Shoot.

“I'll flip you over my shoulders.”

My threat brought her to a halt and her body shook in a chuckle. “I dare you.”

And the challenge was accepted. I pulled her arm as she was about to work and in a gentle yank hooked her over my shoulder. The tools fell again and she thrashed and thrashed, punching my arms.

“Fucking put me down Theo!” Her voice rang out.

I ordered my men to ensure her workplace was locked and in order.

I placed her in the passenger seat and she glared up at me.

“I swear, you're lucky I didn't bite off a chunk of your shoulders.”

I licked my lips. “I like it when you bite, amore e.”

She relapsed in her chair and I closed the door, giddy at how quickly I made her melt.

I took the keys from the driver. “I'll drive my wife home. Come with the men.” I said and slipped into the driver's seat taking note of Mira’s eye roll.

“I'm coming with you to your night out. The world needs to know we are married.”

My declaration was met with a stunned gaze from her. “Our marriage isn't something I'm proud of Theodore. Take me home.”