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Tension still gripped his body even as he walked back into his old bedroom. It was indeed right across hers, just as he had said. But what was a complete lie was the way he had made her believe he meant to sleep here all along.
What the fuck was happening to him?
He had never been thissoftwith another woman outside his family. All of them had been expendable, and he couldn't even recall sparing a few seconds to consider their feelings. The moment he tired of a woman, he would not waste time getting rid of her. The moment a former lover would displease him, he would just as swiftly replace her with someone else.
But Penelope was different, and it was not just because his duty tofamigliarequired him to marry her.
Maybe it was guilt,Cesare thought broodingly.
She had suffered a lot, and more than she fucking deserved, and all because of his negligence.
He owed her, and that was why he was soft.
Just that.
Memories of Penelope started playing back in his mind, and Cesare bit back a groan when he suddenly found himself reliving the alluring feel of her body against his.
FUCK.
He ended up jerking himself off in the shower, which was something he had not done since he first discovered sex at the tender age of ten.
Cesare headed down to the library afterwards to pour himself a drink, but he soon found himself disconcerted to find the place already occupied, and with his grandmother nursing what looked like a glass of wine in her hand.
The older woman motioned for him to join her, and he obligingly walked forward.
Her grandson's hair was still lightly wet from the shower, and Potenziana smiled in satisfaction upon seeing this.
Cesare was not unaware of the way his grandmother was watching his every move as he poured himself a shot of whisky. "You have something to say,Nonna?"
"I'm only curious...you are spending the night here, I take it?"
"You already know the answer to that," Cesare said dryly.
Potenziana's expression turned crafty. "But you also know what I'm really asking is...why."
His broad shoulders moved in a dismissive shrug. "She seemed to take comfort in knowing that I'll be nearby."
"She's started to trust you then?"
"I believe so."
"And you? Have you started to trust her?"
"We've come to an agreement."
The words didn't disturb her as much as the smoothness of his tone did, and her gaze narrowed. "What kind of agreement?"
"Something that will remain between the two of us."
Potenziana thought of how one's past shaped one's decisions in the present, and her mood turned somber. "She's a good girl, Cesare. It's no surprise if at this early a stage you've come to care—-"
"I donotcare for her." Cesare's words came out sharper than he intended, but the way his grandmother visibly took no offense to this only made him feel worse. Disrespect to one's elders was almost akin to blasphemy infamiglia,and a grimace of apology twisted over his lips as he looked at the woman who had been more like a parent to him than both his own father and mother.
"Perdonami, Nonna."
Potenziana only waved a hand. "There is no need to ask for forgiveness,bambino.I know I am being meddlesome—-"
"You have every right to be meddlesome,Nonna.But I also ask, if only for Penelope's sake—-" His voice turned gentle but firm. "Refrain from filling her head with nonsense,per favore.I am not and will never be the type to fall in love, and to say anything to her that would make myfidanzatabelieve otherwise would only lead me to breaking her heart."
