Page 45 of Vow to Corrupt You
In the morning, I gather my belongings and leave Nikos’s residence. I don’t have classes until the afternoon. But after what happened last night at the restaurant, I can’t seem to find a place to decompress here. The sinful images keep corrupting my mind. What has happened to me? It was like something possessed my body, something wicked.
I call Chiara and ask her to meet me at one of our favorite coffee shops. I sit at the table by the window, nervously tapping my fingers on its wooden surface. Though the aroma of freshly brewed coffee hits my nostrils, my mind is consumed by the memories of last night. The ring of my phone makes me nearly jump out of my skin, and the name on the screen actually does that to me.
“Hello?” I barely manage to mutter.
“Cecilia told me you left in haste,” Nikos’s deep, low voice rumbles on the other end of the line. “Where are you?” Cecilia is Romano’s main maid who’s been working for Nikos for at least two decades.
“Last time I checked, I didn’t need your permission to leave the house. I’m your wife, not your prisoner, isn’t that right?” I might sound sassy, but the words are almost lodged in my throat. “Besides, your bodyguards won’t leave my side. Don’t pretend you don’t know my every move, my exact location.”
I can literally sense his growing smirk through the phone. “I’m pleased you’ve finally come to terms with your role as my wife.” There is a moment of silence before I hear his amused tone again. “Enjoy your coffee and your time with Chiara.” He hangs up.
I take a deep breath. Why does the mere sound of his voice make me feel this hot? How the hell did he manage to get into my head? Under my skin?
“Cousin!” Chiara’s cheerful voice snaps me out of my thoughts, providing a much-needed break from the turmoil in my mind. She takes a seat opposite mine, and without further delay, she starts her interrogation. “What’s going on? To say you sounded troubled over the phone would be an understatement.”
My eyes roll back in my head, but I know she’s right. I exhale a shaky breath, trying to gather my racing thoughts as I pass the black coffee I ordered for her across the table.
“It’s about Nikos…”
“Did he hurt you?” Chiara leans toward me, agitation brewing in her eyes like the coffee being made for other customers.
“No,” I frown, “not physically.”
Chiara gives me a confused look.
“Not mentally either, I mean…” I mumble, stumbling over my own words. I don’t even know how to verbalize it.
“Are you developing feelings for him?” She leans in slightly, a twinkle of amusement and intrigue in her expression.
“I think it’s more of a physical attraction.” I feel my cheeks flushing red. “More along the lines of lust.”
“And?” Her mouth curves slightly as if she’s mildly entertained. “Where do you see a problem? You’re attracted to your husband. I mean, it could’ve been worse. He could be hideous to look at.”
“That’s the thing, because problem is, I don’t want to feel that way.” I cover my face with my hands. “It’s like whenever he’s around, my body refuses to listen… His touch feels… intoxicating. It’s infuriating,” I whisper-shout.
The slight smile of enjoyment on Chiara’s mouth is still there, but I try to ignore it. “Nikolaos is incredibly handsome. I think it’s just expected that you feel this way.”
“Handsome as he may be, it’s not enough. It can’t outweigh his disturbing tendencies.”
“Can’t, or you don’t want it to?”
I stare at my cousin, searching for an answer to her question anywhere in the depths of her whiskey-colored eyes.
“I don’t want it to…” I let out a breath of guilt, resignation? It could be either. “I know what kind of man he is, what he’s capable of.”
“Nothing any other man in the Mafia isn’t.” I feel like my cousin is more used to living in the mafia world. Despite my papà being involved with the Mafia and me literally growing up surrounded by mafia men, he’s always tried to keep us and this side of his life as far apart as possible. Or perhaps I refused to accept that my father works for the Mafia—that he, in fact, is a criminal. I tried to block it from my thoughts, living in denial, while Chiara has always accepted things for what they were. Besides, her brother has always wanted to climb the mafia ladder and become someone significant, like their father once was. He’d take Chiara wherever he could so she could meet influential men in that sphere. I’ve always had the impression that Domenico would love to marry her off for his own gain. He’d be thrilled to know Aric is not only in the Mafia, but actually a member of an immensely influential and dangerous secret society. Perhaps he knows? I mean, people talk. There might be some rumors among the Mafia members about the society? Or is it so exclusive only the Gods will ever know?
“You know I’m right.” Chiara gives me that satisfied look, and my shoulders slump and lips purse.
I know she is right again, but the reality of this situation goes against everything I believe in…
“I don’t want to have a cold-blooded, brutal, merciless…” I struggle to find enough words to describe the ruthless gangster my husband is. Finally, I give up. “I don’t want someone so evil, and who is a killer. I want a Prince Charming who brings light into my life and loves me for myself, and not because of some contract he signed.”
“Are you sure that was what you want, Serena? Or perhaps that’s what you thought was the right thing to have?”
“Well…” I’m afraid I don’t know the answer to that myself, and that’s the issue. I’m battling between what I truly want and what is right to want. This is what Nikolaos Romano does to a person.
“Serena, look. You shouldn’t feel guilty for being attracted to Nikolaos. We can’t choose who we are attracted to. Physical desire is a part of being human. It doesn’t make you a bad person.”
