Sarah shook herself, refusing to dwell on past events that she could not change and instead tried to focus on her present.
Breakfast passed with agonizing slowness, the silence broken only by the sound of the Alpha's newspaper as he carefully perused the business section. Sarah barely ate and hated her husband for being so unaffected by the tension that he could finish a hearty meal.Sarah picked up her own dishes and headed to the sink. "You have to eat more than one slice of toast," her husband's voice suddenly growled unexpectedly. "You're getting much too thin." The fact that he had noticed what she'd eaten, despite having hardly glanced at Sarah over his newspaper, startled her. "I'm not that hungry," she responded softly, and placed the dishes in the sink. "You barely eat enough to keep a sparrow alive." He lowered his paper and met Sarah’s eyes for a few seconds before diverting his focus back to the mug of coffee on the table in front of him. The direct eye contact was so unusual that Sarah barely restrained a gasp. "I eat enough," she responded halfheartedly. Normally she would have let it go, but sarah wanted to see if she could goad Lorenzo into meeting her eyes again. No such luck,Lorenzo merely shrugged, neatly folded his newspaper, and dropped it onto the table beside his empty plate. He gulped down the last sip of his coffee before getting up from the table. Sarah watched as Lorenzo stretched, his black T-shirt lifting to reveal the toned and tanned band of flesh at his abdomen. Her mouth went dry at the sight of that dark flesh, and once again she was disgusted by her own reaction to her husband's physical presence. She had spent the first year of their marriage believing that Lorenzo would come to love her. She had valiantly believed that if she loved Lorenzo enough, he would go back to being the laughing, affectionate man she had known in the first few months after they had met. Sarah still wasn't completely sure what had caused the change, but from the snide things Lorenzo sometimes said in passing, she suspected it was her father's influence. After nearly a year of marriage and two heats, that she spent alone in the cold bed, writhing and yearning for her husband who had refused to be bonded with her, she had been forced to face reality, Lorenzo truly hated her. He hated her so much that he couldn't bring himself to speak to her, kiss her, touch her outside of bed, or even look at her. Sarah had finally realized that there would be no thaw, their marriage was a perpetual winter wasteland, and if she ever wanted to feel the warmth of the sun on his face again, she had to get out of Unfortunately, escaping would be trickier than she had thought, she would have to find a way out that did not include hurting her cousin. Elisa and her husband Luke were expecting their first baby, and while Elisa was having a fairly easy time of it,Sarah was concerned that anything that would upset her could be potentially harmful to Elisa or the baby. Also, while Luke’s advertising agency was fairly successful, Elisa had always prided herself on the fact that she held her own financially in their relationship. Taking her bookshop away could put too much strain on their relationship, and Sarah didn't want that on her conscience. Sarah sighed heavily and started to do the dishes, she liked to do little household tasks despite the fact that her thirty-four-year-old husband, who had worked his way up from mailroom clerk to the president of the bank his father owned, "had more money than God," as his father had once put it. Sarah had even enthusiastically insisted on doing some of the cooking herself. They employed a housecleaning staff, as was practical when one lived in a ten-bedroom, five-bathroom monster of a house. Because their marriage united two prominent families, the press avidly followed the intimate details of their marriage, yet Sarah tried to cling to what she believed was a semblance of normalcy. On Saturdays the staff had the day off and Sarah liked to pick up after herself and lorenzo rather than wait for the maids to get to it later. She had never had a "normal" life, and she fondly imagined that these tasks kept her grounded in reality .Lorenzo didn't pretend to understand her need to have a hand in the everyday running of the house and had mockingly accused her of playing house once, shortly after their wedding. She had never seemed to notice it again after that. Sarah stared down at the dishes she had ready to be placed in the dishwasher and quite abruptly abandoned the task halfway through before heading upstairs and leaving Lorenzo still in the kitchen. Sarah changed her clothes from night gown to a blue jeans and a pink plain T-shirt, dragging her vibrant, chest-length chestnut brown hair into a ponytail and tugging on a denim jacket to ward off the early autumn chill. On her way to the front door, she passed by the den where Lorenzo had retreated with his laptop. "I'm going out," she casually called through the open door, and Lorenzo’s head jerked up while his eyes flared with some indefinable emotion. "Where...?" he began. "I don't know how long I'll be gone." She dashed out before Lorenzo could utter another syllable, grabbing her shoulder bag and car keys on the way out. She had her reliable silver Mini Cooper fired up by the time she eventually made it down to the front door. With a cheery little wave that she knew had to grate, she reversed out of the driveway and headed out.Sarah had no clue where she was going and knew that there would be hell to pay when she got back-Lorenzo liked to keep her in a little box labeled "his wife," to be brought out only for social occasions when he needed someone to act as his perfect hostess. Any sign of mutiny from her was bound to have unpleasant and unforeseen consequences. Still, it felt good just to do something so defiantly out of character. Her cellular phone started ringing seconds later and when she stopped at a red light she switched it off and tossed her wedding ring, she didn't need it anymore. It was still early, barely nine, and because it was Saturday, the roads were a bit congested. Still, she felt free and she headed from the relative tranquility of New York, one of the wealthiest and most beautiful cities in the united states , toward the city. Usually he would go to Brooklyn and spend the day with Luke and Elsia but she knew that it was the first place Lorenzo would look.Lorenzo knew how limited
Sarah had to stop losing her shit like this. Waving Micheal away, she fished in her purse and powered on her phone. "I'm fine. Long day, and this is ... difficult." "Of course." Micheal returned to her seat and took up her pen. "You're financially stable, then?" "I am."Sarah’s mother had seen to that she had set up an independent trust fund on Sarah’s maiden name, undermining Sarah’s father at the last. Sarah would never be rich but could live comfortably, if simply, and planned to find a job in any event. "I'll have no problem covering your fees." "Don't worry about that Sarah, we can discuss that later" Sarah nodded. "A divorce can be quite simple as long as your husband doesn't demur." Micheal said speculatively. Sarah could envision Lorenzo punching the air with glee, right before he informed Sarah’s father that Sarah had once again met all wrong expectations. Lorenzo could legally take up with one of those models he normally roamed with, without any censure
So she spent her day going from one cinema to the next-laughing, crying, cringing, or jumping, depending on the plot. It was the most unproductive day she had ever spent in her life and she loved it. By the time the last show of the day finished it was after midnight and she had a throbbing headache from sitting in darkness and the flickering light of the projector all day and a slightly upset stomach from a diet-soda and popcorn. As she headed back to her car, the sudden reality of her situation sank in and she started trembling. Sarah didn't know what to expect from Lorenzo . Sarah had never seen him display anything other than icy control, even in bed, but it was the first time she had ever done anything like this. She always strove to be the perfect omega and perfect spouse, always putting Lorenzo’s or her father's wishes first, and something as innocent as going to the movies without telling Lorenzo seemed beyond reckless, she doesn't even want to think about her visit to
More words? Sarah didn't know how to respond and so chose not to say anything, she felt Lorenzo swallowing before she gingerly released her wrists and stepped away from him. Sarah made a show of rubbing them, even though the alpha hadn't hurt her at all. Instead the omega seemed to have inflicted most of the damage on both of them. A few of her nails were broken and her fists were bruised from the few angry punches she had managed to land against his hard body. Sarah turned around to face her husband and was shocked to see that he was bleeding. He had scratches on his hands and face, including a deep, angry-looking one on his neck. He also had bite marks on his muscled forearms, and a darkening bruise on his jaw. Lorenzo saw her eyes land on the bruise and ruefully rubbed at it. "You pack a mean punch," lorenzo said sheepishly, before looking down at Sarah’s hands and swearing softly in italian. "You've hurt yourself." She lifted one and grimaced at the bruises and brok
"Sarah! Open the damned door!" Lorenzo angrily thumped on the wooden door again, and this time it was loud enough to make Sarah jump up and hurriedly unlock and open the door, for fear that the alpha would wake the live-in housekeeper. Despite the fact that his voice had been only a grim whisper through the wooden door ,Sarah was in no doubt that her husband was absolutely livid. Sarah stood staring up at Lorenzo in the dim light and was surprised by the flash of hot fury on his face, which was so quickly masked beneath the more familiar mask of icy indifference, that Sarah wasn't sure if she had imagined the emotion. "What are you doing here?" Lorenzo asked stiffly. "I've decided to move into this room," Sarah informed him, not quite succeeding in keeping the anxiety from her voice, and Lorenzo’s jaw clenched. Sarah had not anticipated having this conversation until morning. Lorenzo was full of surprises today. Sarah had known that he would be upset about her moving out
Lorenzo’s eyes were still locked with hers and she felt the sudden change in Lorenzo’s breathing and his heart rate. He leaned even closer, his mouth nearly touching Sarah’s lips their breath mingled and came in jagged gasps. If Sarah moved her head, just a fraction of an inch, their lips would touch, she couldn't resist and she tensed herself to do just that, when Lorenzo swore under his breath and stepped away from her. Sarah blinked and felt like someone coming out of a trance. "Just go to bed." Lorenzo put his hand in the small of his back and gave her a gentle push toward the bed. "I'm not going to have..." Sarah began to protest. "I know. I'm not exactly in the right frame of mind for it either." He prodded her again. "You won't touch me?" "Not unless you want me to." He shrugged as if he didn't care either way. "I don't want you to," Sarah asserted firmly. "Then you have nothing to worry about." Lorenzo turned away from her and stripped off his casual shirt,
Sarah clenched her fists and curled into a ball, trying not to think of the tantalizing naked male flesh lying next to her, she knew Lorenzo was awake, she could tell from the rhythm of his breathing, and obviously he knew Sarah was awake also, because the omega was way too tense to be asleep. "Just go to sleep for God's sake." Lorenzo’s impatient voice suddenly rang out in the darkness. "I said I wouldn't touch you and I won't...so you can relax!" She tensed even more at the sound of his voice, and Lorenzo swore softly. "If you can't sleep, I have the perfect solution for your insomnia," Lorenzo murmured suggestively, leaving Sarah in no doubt as to what his "solution." was. "You're not helping matters," Sarah gritted through clenched teeth. "Well, if neither of us can sleep..." "We haven't been in bed long enough to fall asleep...just hush!" Sarah interrupted and hissed. "You know you're being ridiculous, right?" Lorenzo murmured in his most patronizingly logical voic
The air at breakfast the following morning was still thick with tension. The unobtrusive staff had set out the usual Sunday morning breakfast buffet on the sunny patio next to the pool before disappearing into the woodwork. Lorenzo didn't like distractions on Sunday mornings, so he preferred not to see the staff, and usually, even though he insisted Sarah have all meals with him for appearances' sake, he ignored Sarah in favor of his Sunday Times. That morning, despite his usual barrier of the newspaper up between him and the rest of the world-meaning Sarah —she could all but feel Lorenzo’s fury. After an unbearably tense half hour, Lorenzo balled the paper up between his fists and tossed it aside before glaring at Sarah across the glass table. "I want to know exactly where you were yesterday Sarah ," he demanded. "Why do you even care?" Sarah asked tiredly. "You've certainly disappeared without explanation enough times for the both of us." "We're not talking about me
It was three months later and Sarah headed down to the kitchen for breakfast and found her husband already seated at the table, newspaper in hand. He'd already dressed Luciana and had her little baby carrier placed on the table in front of him. Luciana was asleep and Lorenzo was so absorbed in his paper that he didn't notice Sarah at first. It was Ms. Brown day off, so Lorenzo had fixed himself a bowl of cereal, toast, and some coffee. Sarah smiled at the sight of them, her heart overflowing with affection for them both. "Good morning," Sarah greeted cheerfully as she headed over to the breakfast nook. Sarah dropped a kiss on the baby's cheek and then, after the briefest of hesitations, one on her husband's lean cheek. While Sarah was a lot more affectionate these days, Sarah still felt a certain reserve around Lorenzo, not sure if she could touch and kiss her husband as freely as he did to her. Sarah knew she was being silly, but she seemed unable to overcome her emotional ba
Lorenzo smiled bittersweetly. "I know you don't believe me yet," he whispered. "But I'll make it my life's work to convince you." Lorenzo bent his head and kissed Sarah gently, his lips moist, gentle, and sweet on Sarah’s. Lorenzo raised his head much too quickly, and Sarah went up on her toes to prolong the contact. "Enzo..." Sarah didn't know what to say, but Lorenzo shook his head and smiled gently. "It's okay. I just wanted you to know." Lorenzo kissed her again, a little bit more urgently this time. Sarah’s dormant hormones sprang to life in an instant, and she pushed closer to Lorenzo, deliberately rubbing herself against Lorenzo’s hardening cock. Lorenzo deepened the kiss, his tongue plunging into Sarah’s mouth in clumsy desperation, and her lack of finesse made Lorenzo even hungrier for her. "The doctor gave me the all-clear for sex last week," Sarah reminded Lorenzo, and he groaned at Sarah’s urgent words. "I didn't tell you how I felt because I was trying to
The thin sound of a distressed infant's wail jerked Sarah from a restless sleep. She sat up and fought her way out of bed before groggily trudging to the nursery. When she got there she blinked up at the already-present Lorenzo who was cradling their crying daughter tenderly in his strong arms. He was wearing only a pair of boxers and held the tiny baby up against his strong, naked chest. He was crooning gently to her and Sarah was transfixed by the sweet picture they presented. Lorenzo looked up and saw Sarah standing in the doorway. Lorenzo’s hair was messy and standing up in spikes. "Hey." Lorenzo smiled over at her. "I was hoping you'd sleep through this. You looked exhausted earlier. I don't think she's hungry. Just cranky. I think her wet nappy woke her up. I changed her and she's all dry and comfy now, but she hasn't worked the bad mood out of her system yet." Sarah walked over to them and peered over one bulging bicep into Luciana’s scrunched-up little face and smil
"I think it's time you left, Father," Sarah said voice rigid with pain, and her father sneered one last time before he pivoted on his heel and strode from the room. "Don't you dare believe what he just said, cara," Lorenzo whispered rawly, focusing his desperate glare on her. "Don't you dare!" "I know that you love her, Lorenzo," Sarah whispered. Lorenzo wasn't sure if she meant the baby or Martina, and Sarah could tell by the look of uncertainty on Lorenzo’s face that he wasn't sure either and so he was at a loss as to how to respond. "Would you try to take her from me?" "NO!" Lorenzo practically screamed, and the baby startled. Sarah soothed her with slight rocking motions until she started suckling again. Lorenzo reined in his temper and gentled his voice with visible effort. "I wouldn't do that to you. Cara I'd never hurt you like that." Lorenzo looked stupefied and hurt at the question. "But you want her..." Again the ambiguity and Lorenzo’s frown deepened. "If y
Sarah awoke to the sound of angry, hushed voices and blinked groggily as she tried to get her bearings. "I don't want you anywhere near her." Sarah heard Lorenzo hiss furiously and tried to concentrate on the drama unfolding in her doorway where she could see two large men silhouetted. One was unmistakably Lorenzo, and the other...she narrowed her eyes slightly, trying to focus a bit better. It looked like her father. "She's my daughter and I'll damned well see her when I want to," the other man blustered, confirming that he was, indeed, John Malik. "So that you can damage her more than you already have?" Lorenzo asked, almost shaking with rage. "I won't let you get close enough to hurt her like that again. And you can forget about getting that heir you want anytime soon. I refuse to give you that pleasure." "Well, then stay married to her until you do, or give up the vineyard," her father sneered. "The vineyard never meant as much to me as it did my father. You can ha
Sarah’s water broke four hours later, and Sarah was moved to the delivery room. Sarah and Lorenzo hadn't exchanged any further meaningful conversation, he'd just continued to soothe Sarah and coach her through the ever-increasing pain. Sarah didn't ever say it but she was pretty grateful to have her husband there. Even though Lorenzo was as nervous and edgy as a cat in a barrel between contractions, he was a solid rock during them. Four intensely nerve-wracking, sweaty, and pain-riddled hours later, during which time Lorenzo supported her, swore at her doctors, threatened the nurses, and seemed to come close to breaking down into tears on several occasions, Sarah finally gave one last painful push. There was a rush of activity at the foot of the bed as Sarah felt an overwhelming flood of relief. Lorenzo’s eyes remained glued to her face, bright and feverish above the surgical mask they had forced him to wear. He dragged down the mask and leaned down toward Sarah, until his mou
Lorenzo voice deepened and his face softened at the admission. His eyes were gentle as he registered the confusion on Sarah’s face. Was he saying he loved her? And if he was... did Sarah believe him? Sarah wasn't sure of the answer to either question, and a second later she didn't really care when she suddenly doubled over in pain. Lorenzo, Elisa, and Luke all surged forward in concern, but her husband got to her first. He had an arm around Sarah’s waist before Sarah could blink. "What's wrong?" he demanded hoarsely. Sarah grabbed his free hand in both of hers and squeezed it urgently as her entire body quivered in excruciating pain. After an eternal moment, the pain lessened and faded and she pushed her way upright, meeting Lorenzo’s frantic gaze with a panicky one of her own. "It's the baby," Sarah whispered in fear. "I think the baby's coming." "No, no, no." The naked panic and fear in Lorenzo’s eyes did nothing to alleviate Sarah’s own terror. "He can't be coming now
After arriving at Luke and Elisa’s home, Sarah decided to give the couple, who were walking on eggshells around her and trying to comfort her, a break from her presence by taking a nap. Sarah was just slipping into a troubled doze when she heard the unmistakable voice of her husband coming from a distance. She frowned and sat upright, pushing her tangled hair out of her face. Sarah tilted her head, not sure if her imagination was playing tricks on her, until she heard it again. It was Lorenzo, without a doubt, and he sounded desperate and agitated. Sarah got out of bed with some difficulty before waddling to the door on bare feet and opening it slightly. This time she could clearly make out Lorenzo’s voice. "I had nothing to do with that story," Lorenzo was protesting. "And I'll be damned if you keep me away from my family like this." "Sarah doesn't want to see you," Luke stated firmly, and there was a moment's charged silence. "Maybe not," Lorenzo conceded quietly. "Bu
Lorenzo had made good on his promise and had enlisted both Elisa and Ms. Brown aid in ensuring that Sarah took her vitamins and rested enough but that was the only promise he kept. A month passed with barely any word from Lorenzo, and his phone calls, the few that came, were rushed and impersonal and barely lasted three minutes. When Sarah tried to contact him, he was never available, or so the cold female voices on the other end of the line told her. Sarah had no choice but to take them at their word. Sarah kept track of Lorenzo’s movements through the news-online, televised, and printed. His father's death and Lorenzo subsequent taking over of the family's banking and investment empire were pretty hot news items and hardly a day went by that it wasn't mentioned in some form of news. There had been paparazzi coverage of the funeral; despite the media ban the family had put on proceedings, some intrepid photographer had managed to get a picture of Lorenzo standing over his fathe