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“I have the feeling you already know, and that’s why you’re encouraging it.”
He tried to look innocent and failed.
“Cason,” Ezio barked from across the room. Everyone jumped. “Perhaps it would be a good idea if you check with Clara about when dinner will be served.”
Cason frowned. “She always announces it, or Goro does.”
Ezio’s glare cut through Cason.
Their mother said something in Italian, and Cason sprang to his feet. His smile never wavered.
“For you, Mamma, of course.” He raised Shakarri’s hand and kissed it. “Don’t miss me too much before I come back.”
She tried to pull away, but he held on a little longer than necessary. Then he strode off with full confidence toward the door. Ezio replaced his brother at her side, and the anger coming off him was palpable.
“You will not encourage my brother. He’s immature for his age and will get stupid notions.”
“I don’t remember encouraging him,” she snapped. “You’ve been ignoring me all evening, so I had a conversation with your brother.”
“If your aim is to make me jealous—”
“Don’t flatter yourself.”
His countenance darkened. “Do not push me too far, Shakarri.”
She stared at him for a minute and then spoke in a low tone only he would hear. “Look, I get that we’re from different cultures, and maybe you think you can snap your fingers and I should come running. I’m an American. Beyond that, I’m black. You’re not going to dictate to me when I come and go and what I wear. Feel free to sulk the rest of the night.”
She started to walk away, but his words stopped her. “I believe your payment is due on the twenty-fifth.”
Shakarri whirled around to face him. “We have an agreement.”
The blue eyes narrowed. “Yes, we do, and a part of it is for you to please me.”
“Not unreasonably or illegally.”
“Is it either of those to ask you to wear one of the beautiful dresses I purchased for you? Or to have the courtesy to be home to greet your husband after he was called away right after our wedding?”
She said nothing. What he said made sense, but she wasn’t wrong. Why did she have to feel guilty? Her shoulders slumped.
“Fine, Ezio. What do you want me to do? Go change right now? I’ve been trying to do that, but you won’t let me leave the room.”
He strode up to her and stopped when less than an inch remained between them. Shakarri could feel the heat coming off his body and the attraction she felt the first time she met him—amplified after they slept together. She didn’t love him, but she sure did miss his touch while he was away.
Very dangerous, Sha. Keep him at a distance.
Ezio stroked her bottom lip with the pad of his thumb. She resisted turning her head so he wouldn’t see the reaction he invoked with such an enticing touch. “I want you to be at my beck and call.”
The words were bald and unapologetic. She glared at him.
“You do realize I’m a woman, not a thing?”
His gaze swept her. “Very much so.”
“I won’t move just because you snap your fingers.”
He leaned in closer so his lips brushed her cheek, and he spoke in a deceptively gentle tone. “You will…or else.”
Shakarri opened her mouth to curse him out no matter who heard, but Goro chose that moment to step into the room to announce dinner. Ezio offered her his arm, and Shakarri hesitated to take it.
