Chapter 4

Later on I found out that dinner tonight was to introduce me to Giovanni's associates. And I was quite nervous. I had showered, done my makeup, and had put on a long sleeved, silk red, high slit dress, followed by some black heels. There was a knock on the door as I was placing my necklace on and Giovanni soon came in, dressed in an all black suit. I couldn't help but let my eyes wonder his body, he looked so handsome. He walked up to me and took the necklace from my hands and turned me around and placed it round my neck himself. As he finished hooking it in place, he let his hands move to my shoulders, and his lips met my neck, slowly running them up and down it making me shiver with pleasure.

"You look amazing, mio amore. Dressed like this I don't know how long I'll be able to contain myself." He whispered and he bit my ear. A soft moan escaped my mouth as I closed my eyes and melted into his touch. He wasn't making it any easier. "I really did get the best woman." His hands were exploring my curves, roaming round my body and I didn't want him to stop.

Who would've thought that I actually might like my arranged marriage, huh?

"We best get going, everyone has arrived and they are waiting for us." He stopped abruptly and moved himself away from my body. I craved more of his touch, and I wanted him. I had known him all but 2 days and I felt this way. What was going on with me?

We made our way downstairs and Giovanni had placed his arm tightly around my waist when we had arrived at the dining room. Just like all the rooms in this house, it was a beautiful room with a long dining table placed in the middle. The walls had been painted a cream white, and there was also a marble fireplace. It amazes me how nicely decorated this house was.

There was 10 other people in the room, 2 of them I recognised as Giancarlo and Mario. But the rest I didn't know of. As well as me, there was only one other female in the room, and she had jet black hair and blue eyes. She was tall and slim and overall just beautiful. She seemed to be with Giancarlo as she had her arm looped through his. Giovanni didn't go up to them, instead he just stood by me and all eyes turned to us. Authority seemed to radiate of him in this this room. I wonder why. They all seemed to care about him greatly, loyal to him.

"Good evening, everyone. Thank you for joining my wife and I for dinner tonight. This is Evelina," he and I stepped forward and I smiled. I was so nervous. I had already met 2 of them so I shouldn't be too nervous.

"I never thought I'd see the day where Giovanni would be married, let alone to a beautiful young lady like yourself. I'm Carlo, it's a pleasure to meet you." A man who seemed to be middle aged walked up to Giovanni and I and took my hand and kissed it. I could feel Giovanni stiffen and he took my hand from Carlo's and placed it back by my side.

"Nice to meet you Carlo," I replied and smiled tightly. I had a bad feeling about this man.

"Finally, another woman I can talk with! I'm Francesca, it's wonderful to meet you, Evelina." The girl who was with Giancarlo walked up to me and embraced me into a warm hug.

"It's great to meet you to!" I beamed. She was right, another woman to talk to I couldn't be happier.

Giovanni introduced me to the rest of the guests, all of them did business with Giovanni and they all seemed nice apart from Carlo. Francesca was sitting next to me, with Giancarlo on her left side and I on her right. Then at the the head of the table sat Giovanni with me next to him. All the men talked about something I couldn't understand, and they seemed to be getting rowdy. But I let it go because Francesca told me that's just how they spoke to each other.

"I wish I could've attended your wedding, Giancarlo said it was beautiful. But I couldn't leave our daughter." She said as we chatted with one another.

"You have a daughter? How old is she?" I smiled. I couldn't wait for the day where I had a daughter of my own.

"Sofia is 2, she's my pride and joy. Do you think you'd ever want a baby with Giovanni?" She asked curiously.

I blushed and took a sip of my champagne and nodded slightly, "I was thinking about it earlier on today, and I really do want children in the future. I just don't know if he would want them too." I sighed and placed the cup down. Francesca leaned closer and talked in a low voice.

"He's amazing with children and would be a great father. He's Sofia's godfather and is amazing with her. He's a good man Evelina, he might be tough on the outside, but if he cares for you then he'll make sure you know it. And I can tell he cares for you because all night as he's been talking to the other men, he's always made sure to look at you." I blushed at her words and looked at my husband who was busy discussing whatever he was discussing. I decided to take a leap of faith and place my hand on his thigh, not knowing how he'd react. But he didn't turn it away, instead he placed his hand on top of mine and rubbed circles over it.

Maybe married life to him won't be as bad.

Soon after, Mario rose up from his seat holding his champagne glass carefully in one hand and a knife in the other. He tapped the knife and glass together to grab everyone's attention.

"First, I'll speak on behalf of everyone, we are delighted to welcome our friends new wife Evelina," he began and smiled at Giovanni and I, "and then..." he continued but slurred slightly, clearly he had too much to drink.

"And then," Carlo stood up abruptly and picked up from where Mario had left off. "We will tell tales of Giovanni to his bride."

Giancarlo then interrupted him, "don't scare the girl off she only just got here." Giovanni chuckled and took a sip of his whiskey. Carlo laughed again, he might have suggested telling tales as a joke but something seemed off. The way he said it didn't sound genuine, and evil instead.

Carlo walked along the side of the table and stood behind Francesca and I. I could tell she didn't like him either because her body tensed along with mine. She gave my hand a squeeze, and I squeezed hers back. Looking at Giovanni he smiled lightly at me also.

"You must've heard by now about how everyone calls your dear husband, Diavolo. What do you think of this? He asked, with a cruel undertone in his voice. Everyone else might choose to ignore his sly behaviour but I would not. Giovanni still had his hand on top of mine and I could feel it tense under the table, but I just gripped and held it instead. Trying to calm him down.

"That is merely just a nickname, Carlo. Just a rumour." I replied, defending my husband. I don't know if it was because we were married that I felt a protectiveness over him, or the fact that I am starting to like him. Either way, I felt it.

Carlo had walked round to the other side of the table by now and stood facing me. He sent me a small glare, but wasn't ready to give up. "So you don't believe them then?" He asked skeptically.

"There is no reason for me to believe them. My husband is a good man, and he is good to me." Carlo was not getting through me tonight, and he will not try insult my husband either.

Before he and I could continue Francesca interrupted, "I think that's enough of that don't you think? Evelina and I will be leaving to go talk as women privately."

"I hope he treats you well, Evelina." Carlo said before kissing his teeth and swigging more of his alcohol. Francesca and I stood up, but Giovanni pulled me back down and whispered in my ear.

"We won't be long, mio amore." He said and placed a soft kiss on my lips. I closed my eyes and embraced his touch. He let go and Francesca and I decided to go sit in the garden.

"Seriously, I couldn't be more happier to have another woman around here. Carmela is wonderful and all, but sometimes I just want to be around a woman closer to my age." We both laughed at her comment and I took a sip of champagne that I had brought out with me. "Have you got any photos of the wedding?" She asked.

"No, not yet. They should be arriving in a few days. I'll make sure to show you them. I would've been nice if you was there with Giancarlo." I pouted. I think I was slightly tipsy.

"Ugh tell me about it! But Sofia had a doctors appointment so I couldn't leave. But hey! Now we've got all the time in the world." She replied and pulled me into a side hug. I really liked her.

We talked for an hour more, and she had shown me picture of Sofia. She was a gorgeous baby girl, with the same jet black hair and blue eyes that Francesca had possessed. But she had her fathers lips and eyeshape. She even showed me photos of when she was born and Giovanni was holding her. He looked handsome.

"How could I have got so lucky to have married someone as good looking as Giovanni, Francesca? How?!" I asked in amazement whilst slurring a little. God, I'm going to be a mess for Giovanni tonight. Francesca sat there laughing at me, she too was drunk.

"I could say the same for you, Mrs Lombardo." His voice came suddenly from behind. I jumped and hiccuped at the same time, looking behind to see Giovanni standing with his hand in his pocket smirking. Giancarlo stood next to him looking confused at his drunken wife.

"You scared me!" I squealed and blushed.

"Come on, I think it's time these two get to bed." Giancarlo muttered and helped Francesca up.

"Evelina, come to my house tomorrow - in fact, both of you come for dinner!" Francesca said before Giancarlo took her away.

"We would love to," I replied back standing up to hug her goodbye. Her and Giancarlo said goodbye to Giovanni and it was just us two left in the garden. I stood up and walked to him, standing in front of his face.

"What's wrong?" He asked.

"Will you come to bed at the same time as me today?"

He smiled and picked me up bridal style, "yes mio amore."

The whole house was quiet, it must've been late because there was no one in sight. Giovanni carried me into our room and placed me down on the ground. I kicked my heels off and took them to the closet and placed them on the shoe shelf. I took my dress off, and tried finding some pyjamas to wear but everything looked uncomfortable. I decided to look on Giovanni's side of the closet and picked up a plain white T-shirt he had. It smelt like him, and was way too big for me.

I walked out the closet to see Giovanni's back facing me and he had just unbuttoned his shirt. His back was so muscular and he had a tattoo of an eagle in the middle of his back. I wonder how many tattoos he had. He must've heard me coming out the closet and just standing there because as he was unbuckling his belt, he turned round and smirked at me. "Like what you see?" He asked. And all of a sudden I had a boost of confidence and walked towards towards him, enclosing the space between us.

"I know you want me but I want you to tell me." I said confidently looking directly into his dark brown eyes. He turned me around and placed both his hands on either side of my hips, nuzzling his head in the crook of my neck and started placing gentle kisses upwards until he reached my ear.

"I need your body pressed against mine. Your warmth. Your smell. Your fingers wrapped around the curves of mine. The taste of your kiss. I need you, Evelina." He whispered, softly grazing my ear with his lips. With his hands placed on my hips, he pulled me closer, eliminating any space that was between us. I could feel him on me, just like the way you could feel a fires presence in a room, and with every movement he made, I wanted more and craved more.

"But you are drunk. And I will not take advantage of that, no matter how sexy you look in my T-shirt." He said kissing my neck even more. I blushed and turned back around, kissing him softly then made my way towards the bed and got in the covers.

He walked over to the bed, taking his trousers off, leaving him only in his Calvin Klein boxers. I was feeling hot every single second he moved. But I wanted him so much. I moved closer to him and placed my head on his chest, listening to his heart beat steadily, and his soft breathing.

"I want children with you too." He said quietly before I fell into a deep slumber.

***

GIOVANNI'S POV

My whole life, people feared me and the man I was. They feared anyone I was associated with. But Evelina was different. This beautiful woman didn't seem to feel intimidated by my men or by me even. She barely knew me, but had surprised me by her touch and melted my heart with her words.

I had to tell her the truth soon. But now was not the time, it would risk her safety and I couldn't have that.

"I know you want me but I want you to tell me." She had said to me once we arrived to our room and she had changed. She was right, even though it was the alcohol talking, I did want her. I wanted her in more ways she could ever dream. But I had to wait for the right time.

"I need your body pressed against mine. Your warmth. Your smell. Your fingers wrapped around the curves of mine. The taste of your kiss. I need you, Evelina." I said quietly, grazing her ear my lips. I pulled her closer to my body and I could feel her get restless beneath me. She wasn't making it any easier for herself or me.

"But you are drunk . And I will not take advantage of that, no matter how sexy you look in my T-shirt." I said.

We made our way to bed and she placed her head on my chest. Earlier I had heard her speak with Francesca about having children, I didn't expect her to want them with me after all our marriage was arranged, in fact I didn't think she'd take this warmly to me either. But I know I did want children, and I did want them with her. She doesn't know it but I had my eye on her since she was arranged for my brother. But I had to have her for myself and couldn't let her marry someone who wouldn't love her the way I would.

"I want children with you too." I said as she fell asleep on my chest.

And it was true, I did.