Page 80 of Red Retaliation
I guarantee that she is.
Wouldn’t it be fun to make her come in public, knowing she couldn’t do anything about it...
My eyes dance and my cock hardens with the prospect, but my hands remain on the table, as do hers. Arianna moves her focus from my thumb circling and stroking her wrist to look at me. To the untrained observer, she gazes adoringly at her new husband, but I know differently by the hint of mockery behind her stunning eyes.
“You must have beenextremelybusy these last few months.” She smiles sweetly. “I wonder if that period of absence from yourfavoriterestaurant andusualtable tallies with losing the woman you used to bring here?”
My eyes darken. How the fuck did she work that out? It’s true that Dell’Oro’s was Lorna’s favorite place. After I’d got rid of her, the place served as a reminder of what she did, so out of principle, I vowed never to darken its doors again. But it’s also the only place with such a private table, so that overrides another of my vows.
Anger ignited; I tighten my grip on Arianna’s wrist. “Look, you...”
“Oh, Grazia!” Arianna extracts herself from me to beam at the waiter laying out our food in front of us. “Sembra delizioso!” Turning to me, she smiles equally as convincingly. “Darling, doesn’t this look amazing?”
I smile, matching her shitty act. “It does indeed.” I nod my thanks to the waiter and picking up my fork, stab it into my spaghetti.
I cut Arianna a look. Another dig about Lorna while she plays the perfect wife?
She’s good, I’ll give her that.
It’s another reminder that Arianna Galvatore has many facets of which I need to keep myself aware of at all times.
CHAPTER
57
Arianna
IF RED DOESN’T WANT me to retaliate, he shouldn’t use the excuse of playing blissful newlyweds in order to touch me, knowing I can’t pull away without drawing attention.
Yet another one of his control tactics?
Because ever since this afternoon, when I stupidly made my attraction to him obvious, he’ll use it at every possible opportunity.
Yes, okay, Iamphysically attracted to this man, but that’sphysically. My brain works too, and it’s screaming the exact opposite, therefore Red can’t expect to escape unscathed. Besides, if I’m honest, I’m intrigued to know whatreallyhappened with his fiancée. Because there’s more to it than what is ever said. However, I doubt I’ll get a word of truth out of him, so I’m grateful the food has arrived to soften the loaded silence by the distraction of eating.
I wind Spaghetti Alla Carbonara onto my fork, refraining from shoveling it in too quickly. Whatever Red’s history is with Dell’Oro’s, the place is stunning and the food even better.Thatpart, I was not exaggerating about.
I look up from my plate, keeping my carefully constructed air of confidence about me, and purposely lick the sauce from the corner of my mouth. It’s already had the desired effect once because I saw Red’s expression when I last licked my lips. It made him hot under the collar, but as much as he revels in blowing hot and cold in his mission to make me his slave, he’s doing a terrible job of hiding how much he wants me.
My experience with men might be limited, but call it inbuilt animalinstinct - Red finds me as equally attractive as I find him, which is infuriating as well as dangerous.
It’s also extremely fucking exciting...
I look back down at my plate; despite my aim to make him as uncomfortable as possible, I don’t want to launch sauce down this gorgeous blue dress. As much as I hate to admit it, Red has good taste in clothes. There was nothing in that selection from Harrods that I wouldn’t choose myself.
He knows how to dress too.
I study Red’s perfectly tailored suit. The dark charcoal, almost black material goes perfectly with his hair and that hot stubble on his face. But something is off with him tonight. Despite his prowess at concealing what’s in his head, there’s something bothering him and, for once, I don’t think it’s about getting one over on me. That’s the second time he’s glanced at his watch. I also caught him checking his phone when I returned from the ladies’ cloakroom earlier.
The conversation between those two unknown men in the corridor earlier is playing on my mind. Is Red’s quietness to do with that? Should I tell him about it?
Pulling myself up for having stupid thoughts, I frown. Why would I give Red information? He’d only use it against me or accuse me of snooping.
Perhaps Liam said I was attempting another escape? Maybe that’s what Red’s strange attitude is about? But I doubt it. If that were the case, he’d be unable to stop himself from saying something.
It’s not like there’s any point in escaping. Not now. Thanks to Red, I have no family to escape to.
Refusing to allow that miserable subject to deter me from my mission, I smile sweetly. “Is something the matter, darling? You’re very quiet. Has something happened at work to upset you?”
