Page 130 of Peasants and Kings
“No, what?”
“I hate that I’m so damn curious about them.”
Hadrian’s hand stroked up and down my back. “I don’t like how he looks at you.”
“Luca? You don’t need to worry about him. He’s a harmless flirt. All part of the Italian charm. Besides, that’ll change when he realizes we’re related.”
“Not Luca. Angelo.”
My heartbeat escalated. “How does he look at me?”
“Like he’s trying to piece you together. He can’t take his eyes off of you. Even when you were standing on the terrace talking to Luca, Angelo’s attention always came back to you. It’s not sexual with him, it’s something else.”
“Do you think he knows who I am?”
“I don’t know. How much do you look like your mother?”
I shook my head. “Not very much. I guess I resemble my father. I wouldn’t know though, having never seen any pictures of him.”
We sipped our amaros and enjoyed the reprieve from our guests. I was still uneasy that Hadrian knew the truth about me, and yet I felt like I was able to finally speak freely, without concern.
“Nico and Tor don’t say much,” I said.
“They’re second in commands. They’re meant to watch and protect. To remain vigilant and get their hands dirty when it’s necessary. Angelo and Luca lead.”
“I didn’t quite understand what my mother meant until now.”
“What do you mean?”
“She tried to explain as best she could in the letter about bloodlines and legacies. But meeting Angelo and the rest of them, I finally get it. It’s the way they carry themselves. Like they’ve never been told no…like they’re part of something ancient and sacred. It’s more than just a high opinion of self-worth. It’s like they rule the world…”
He snorted. “They’re modern Romans—and you’re right, they’ve never been told no.”
“If they’ve never been told no, then how will you be able to—”
He placed his lips on mine and silenced my concerns. When he pulled away he said, “I’ll take care of it. They might be modern Romans, but I’m a modern Viking.”
Chapter Twenty-Eight
My dress dipped low in the front showing off the swell of my breasts. The back was cut into a “V”, which bared the golden skin of my shoulder blades.
Hadrian stood behind me in an immaculately tailored suit, tracing the curve of my neck with his finger. My hair had been put up to draw attention to my curves.
“How do I look?” I asked his reflection.
His eyes were dark. “Almost perfect.”
“Almost?” I repeated in mock outrage. “Do you know how long it took me to do my hair and makeup?”
He grinned, and from his inner breast pocket, he revealed a long skinny jewelry box. He flipped it open and presented it to me. It was a delicate, diamond leaf tennis bracelet that appeared to resemble leaves on a vine. He quickly fastened it around my left wrist and then kissed my palm while I gaped at him.
“That’s not all,” Hadrian said, heading to his nightstand drawer. He pulled out a fine box and showed me a matching set of earrings and necklace. “The jewelry will be all you’re wearing when I fuck you from behind later tonight.”
I wobbled in my heels as he approached me. “Jesus, Hadrian.”
Grinning, he nipped my shoulder. “Sterling?”
“Hmm?”
