Sweet Temptation by Cora Reilly

bedroom beside Simona’s nursery. That way you’ll have the bed for yourself.”
Giulia walked out of the living room. I was frozen, not because Giulia had
caught onto Elia. No, because she wanted to move out of our bedroom. This time
it was definitely my fault. I hadn’t fought Gaia when she’d insisted on her own
room many years ago. I’d accepted it. I wouldn’t make the same mistake, not
only because I feared a repeat performance. I wanted Giulia in my bed, close to
me.
I chased her and caught up with her on the staircase. Cupping her elbow, I
turned her around to me. She almost lost her balance and had to grab on to my
shoulders to steady herself. Her eyes swam with tears. This was at least the third
time I made my young wife cry. Marriage wasn’t the place for cruelty. That was
what Father had said, and I’d been certain I wasn’t guilty of it. Yet cruelty came
in different shapes and forms. Giulia had done nothing to deserve my suspicion,
my coldness, and yet she’d been punished for another’s crime.
“I won’t let you move out of our bedroom, Giulia. You’ll stay.”
Giulia searched my face. “Why? You don’t even want to hold me at night.”
Fuck. The look of hurt in her eyes made me long for those whips again.
“Stay.” I cupped her cheek. She leaned into the touch. I brushed her cheekbone.
“Why?”
“Because I tell you to.”
She shook her head. “Give me another reason.”
“Because I want you close. Because I liked falling asleep with your
strawberry scent at night.”
Her mouth twitched. “Strawberry scent?”
I bent down, pressing my face into the delicious spot where her throat met
her shoulder, soaking in that sweet aroma before pressing a kiss to her skin.
“Like a goddamn strawberry field. I don’t even like strawberries.”
She giggled, twitching under my mouth. “Who doesn’t like strawberries?”
“Me. They are false packaging. They promise sweetness, but most of the
time they are sour and watery.”