Page 26 of Brutal Mercy

Oh god, I’m married to a man I just met. He returns to my side on the chaise. Before he instructs me, I hold my arms out to wrap around his neck.

“Good girl. Glad we don’t have to fight about that.”

“Why would I when you’ve already explained that it’s a moot point?”

“I’m glad that you’re such a fast learner.”

“Takes one to know one.”

He chuckles as he lowers me onto a dining chair. “Touché, Mrs. Massimo.”

“This looks amazing.” There is steak, angel hair pasta with a marinara sauce, salad, and fresh rolls. I don’t remember the last time I ate steak.

“Rosa is an amazing cook, and her steak Florentine is out of this world. You won’t find a better steak,” Hades assures me.

“Well, if it tastes as wonderful as it smells, I’m sure I’m in for a real treat.” I pick up my utensils. The first few bites we eat in silence. And holy crap, he wasn’t kidding. This steak is amazeballs. The meat melts in my mouth and bursts with flavor.

“I have a question for you.”

I wipe my mouth on my napkin and smirk. “I’m sure we both have plenty about each other.”

He flashes a grin, and I swear I feel brain cells faint. Hades is a gorgeous man. But it’s a sharp, brutal beauty. But when he smiles and it’s genuine, it transforms his features and makes me feel like I’m experiencing sunshine on my face for the very first time. I feel the warmth of it in every nook and cranny of my system.

“Touché. What I’m curious about is why are you still a virgin? You’re a beautiful woman. I’m sure you haven’t lacked in the guy department.”

It’s a valid question. One I knew he would ask because his shock earlier was too genuine. And he appears the type who needs to know how everything and everyone works. After taking a long sip of champagne, I respond, “It’s not really that I planned on remaining a virgin until now. It just sort of happened that way. After my parents died, my whole life changed in an instant. I was suddenly my sister’s guardian and in charge of the store they owned. I hadn’t graduated high school yet when they died. It was two months after their deaths that I achieved that milestone. And the only reason I finished was because the teachers were sympathetic to my plight and ensured I passed. But the first year after, I had to learn how to manage a business and figure out payroll and taxes while helping my sister, making sure she was doing her homework and attending parent-teacher conferences. And there just was never any time for dating or any other activity.”

He lays his hand over mine on the table and squeezes. “I’m sorry. That had to be hard, doing all that yourself and on your own. I’ve looked at store reviews online, and they’re all positive. From what I can tell, you’ve done a remarkable job with the place.”

I blush at the unexpected compliment. “It has been challenging. But to finish answering your question, since my high school boyfriend broke up with me after my parents died, there hasn’t been anyone because there was simply never enough time. If I wasn’t working at the store, I was home cooking dinner and doing laundry and a myriad of other tasks. Rinse and repeat every day. But I have a question for you.”

“Shoot.”

This is more embarrassing and more unsettling, but I also need to know if I might possibly wind up pregnant after tonight. “Are you going to use a condom tonight since there are no concerns about diseases?”

He wipes his mouth on the linen napkin. “No. You don’t have to worry about whether I will or won’t at this juncture. We won’t be having sex tonight.”

“We won’t? Why not?” I hate that I sound hurt and disappointed. Because even though I may be unsure about being married to him, I want him.

“Believe me, babe. I would like nothing more than to lay you down on that bed and fuck you until our bodies plum wear out. And I do plan to spend our nights together doing nothing but fucking you. But I don’t make a habit of fucking an injured woman. I want you feeling better first. We’ll give that ankle a few more days of healing before we engage in sex.”

“Oh,” I don’t really know how to respond to that. No one had considered what would be best for me since before my parents died. My silly heart sighs. Is there a chance this could be the real deal and not just some bargain we struck? “Whatever you think is best.”

He chuckles. “Glad you see it my way. I didn’t get to say before we were interrupted earlier, but you look gorgeous. I’m sure when the pictures of our wedding hit social media, I will be the envy of every man in the metro area.”

“I have another question. You and your siblings are all named after Greek gods. Is that something you do in your family?”

Hades grins. “Yes. Well, no. It’s not a family tradition. When our mother met our father, she was a professor of Greek literature, along with being half Greek herself. So when they had us, in a nod to our mom’s love of everything Greek, they named us all after Greek gods. Making sure our names pulled from both sides of our heritage, Italian and Greek.”

“That’s nice. Are they still alive?”

He shakes his head, a shadow crossing in his eyes. “Sadly, no. They passed almost ten years ago. But enough about sad topics. It’s our wedding night. Is there anything you’d like to do? I could take you on a tour of our house. We can watch a movie in here or down in my movie theater.”

“There’s a movie theater in the house?” I gasp.

“Of course there is, since I can’t always get away. There’s also an indoor and outdoor pool, a library, multiple living rooms, a ballroom, and plenty of spare bedrooms. We can pick out one for your sister or let her pick it out. Ares has his own suite up on the third floor, and Athena is up on the fourth.”

“And who else lives in the house?”

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