Chapter 13

Chapter 13

Cristiano

“Get up.” My voice came out sharp, filled with the impatience boiling inside me. The slut on my lap froze momentarily, cocking her head confused at my sudden change of mood.

“What, you don’t like where I touch, Sir?” Her lips curled into a seductive smile, and her hands resumed their slow, deliberate path down my chest.

“I won’t repeat it.” My voice was colder this time, and she got the message. She slowly took her hands back, and then she stood up with a puzzled look on her face. I could see her calculating whether this was her fault or something else entirely, but I didn’t care.

Her touch did nothing but remind me of how far I had come from this life, how much I had fought to leave it behind. But even now, standing in this dimly lit booth, I could feel the temptation to go back to my old ways. I could feel the pull, the same pull that had destroyed men better than me. But I wasn’t about to lose it all for a few minutes of pleasure.

I couldn’t picture the look on Annalisa’s face if she ever found out I had cheated just like Giovanni. I didn’t care much for guilt, but her heartbreak—now that would haunt me.

“What is it, Cristiano?” Cassano's mocking voice broke through my thoughts. He gestured toward the woman who had just risen from my lap. “Isn’t she attractive enough for you? I can tell the manager to send a different one if she’s not to your liking.”

He was enjoying himself, clearly unaware of how much I disliked being here tonight.

I stood up, straightening my suit and wiping at the places she had touched. “I have a wife with a body that puts all of them to shame, Cassano. A very banging body that could do a better job than any of these girls ever could.”

Cassano chuckled as if I had just told a joke. He was sitting there, enjoying himself as the other woman crawled all over him, her hands sliding under his unbuttoned shirt. “Wait, this is about the chick you just married?” His voice alone was annoying me.

“Take that back, Cassano!” I barked, my voice coming out louder than I intended. The room went silent for a moment, and Cassano raised his hands in surrender.

“Quit being boring, man. Not like she’ll ever find out. Even if she does, so what? Women like her know the deal. Men like you are for all women, Cristiano, not just one.”

I glared at him. His words were a weak excuse, the same weak excuses men in this world used to justify their lack of sexual self-control. Cassano's eyes gleamed with amusement as the woman pressed herself all over him, placing soft kisses on his neck. He leaned back into it and let out a moan, clearly enjoying her actions.

“No, you’re wrong,” I said in a low but firm voice. “And I would advise you to quit being a man whore too. What would your children say if they found out you do this? What would their mother think?”

Cassano burst into an arrogant fit of laughter. “My children can’t complain. I provide them with more money than they’ll ever need. That should be enough.”

I shook my head, disgusted by how childish his words were. “You’re a fool if you think money replaces everything.”

But I wasn’t here to lecture him on morality. I didn’t have time for that, nor did I want to waste another minute in this place. I grabbed my glass of whiskey from the table and downed the rest of it in one gulp before turning to leave. “I’m out of here,” I muttered, not waiting for Cassano’s response.

As I exited the club, the valet was already waiting with my car. I handed him a tip and got into the driver’s seat. The low roar of the engine as I sped down the empty streets gave me a moment to breathe. The cool night air came in through the window, clearing relaxing my head a bit, but my thoughts were still spinning.

As much as I hated to admit it, Cassano’s words had touched a part of me. Not because I believed him, but because there was a time when I might have. A time when I would have laughed and joked along with him, and taken the girls without a second thought. But that was before Annalisa.

When I got home, the house was dark except for the warm glow coming from the living room lamp. As I stepped inside, I found Annalisa on the couch, asleep. She looked very peaceful, curled up into a ball with her head laid on the armrest of the chair. Annalisa wore a simple set of pajamas, her hair was tucked into a bonnet, and there wasn’t a trace of makeup on her face. She didn’t need it. I stood there for a moment, just enjoying the look of her eyes closed in a deep sleep. This was the woman I had chosen. This was the life I wanted. Just me and her.

“Why isn’t she in bed?” I muttered under my breath, surprised to find her here.

Grace, our head maid, appeared from the shadows of the hallway. Her voice was quiet as she answered, “She insisted on waiting for you, sir.”

I let out a soft sigh. “Don’t let her do that next time.” I didn’t turn to look at Grace, my eyes were fixed on Annalisa’s sleeping form. My voice softened, almost inaudible so as not to wake her up as I added, “She shouldn’t have to wait for me.”

Without another word, I walked over to Annalisa and carefully scooped her into my arms. She stirred a little, mumbling something incoherent in her sleep, but she didn’t wake up. I held her close, feeling the warmth of her body against mine. Her heat on me was a comfort I hadn’t realized I needed until now.

I carried her up the stairs to her bedroom, making sure to step lightly so I wouldn’t wake her. When I reached the bed, I gently laid her down, pulling the blankets up over her. She shifted again, this time murmuring my name softly, but her eyes remained closed.

I bent down and placed a soft kiss on her forehead. “Goodnight, babygirl,” I whispered, brushing my thumb against her cheek. Her skin was soft and warm, and for a moment, I just stood there, watching her sleep, feeling the urge to protect her from everything in this world. I owed her that as her husband, at least.

I straightened up, taking one last look at her before quietly leaving the room. I didn’t want to disturb her, not after the day she’d had. She deserved peace, even if I couldn’t give her all of it.

I walked down the hall, heading toward my own room. Annalisa didn’t know where I had been, or what I had been tempted by tonight. And I planned to keep it that way. I was done with being promiscuous. I was done with that life. For good.