Sweet Temptation by Cora Reilly

had never had much of either to begin with. Since the mess with Gaia, even less
than before. I propped my arms up on my thighs, trying to reach a state of mind
that would allow me to treat my young wife right. I didn’t want her to resent me.
The door opened, drawing my attention to it and Giulia. She wore a dark
blue silk nightgown that reached her knees and hugged her slender frame. Her
hair fell down her shoulders in soft brown curls, freed of the too-cute sunflowers.
Giulia didn’t move from her spot in the doorframe and nervously smoothed out
her bangs then traced the floor with her bare foot.
“What now?”
I met her gaze. She looked to me for guidance, and that was the one thing I
had no trouble giving her. I straightened to my full height and held out my hand.
“Come here.”
Taking a visible breath, she moved closer until she stood right in front of me.
Without her heels, she only reached my chest. Her strawberry scent was more
prominent than before, and even though I’d never been a man for the sweet
things in life, I suddenly craved it.
I reached up and cupped her head. She held her breath. For a moment, I
regarded her pretty face before I leaned down and pressed a simple kiss to her
mouth to see how she’d react. She stayed still. Running my thumb over her
cheekbone, I repeated the motion. She softened against me.
“Why are you still wearing a jacket?” she asked after the third simple kiss.
Pulling back, I shrugged out of my jacket and flung it over the bench.
Giulia’s eyes took me in.
“And the vest?”
Stifling a smile, I started unbuttoning the vest. She didn’t act how I’d feared,
not how Gaia had acted. The last button gave me trouble, but before my
frustration could rise, Giulia pushed my hand away and opened it with her
elegant fingers. I dropped the vest to the bench as well.
Giulia let out a small breath. “You look really strong.” She reached up as if
to feel my bicep then faltered. I gripped her hand and pressed it against my arm
then flexed my bicep.
Giulia let out a small laugh, and my own lips twitched. She peered up then
darted her gaze behind me. Taking her hand again, I led her closer to the bed.
“Lie down.”
She reclined on the bed, becoming visibly tenser. I pushed off my shoes then
stretched out beside her, still almost completely dressed. Gripping her hip, I
dragged her closer to me and leaned over her.
A hint of nerves crossed her beautiful face. I focused on her body, not her
face, and pressed a kiss to her neck. She was still, holding her breath. Not a great
reaction but not too bad. I pressed another kiss to the spot right below her ear,
and she surprised me by twitching and letting out a giggle.
A teenage girl giggle. I paused then raised my eyes. She bit her lower lip, her
expression caught between embarrassment and an uncertain smile. She looked
like such a fucking girl. Of age, my ass. She was legal, but her antics, her