~~~~~

Lili was asleep. It was midday the day after their date, and Nicolo was watching her, savoring every deep breath she took. Though he knew his jealousy would become a problem if he didn’t get it under control, yet she looked so satisfied that it hardly felt worth trying. Nicolo loved her. She was resilient, serious, beautiful, kind, and intelligent. One look at her had him wishing he wasn’t in the business, yet if he wasn’t, he never would have met her.

“You are my greatest enigma, Lili.” He whispered before placing a gentle kiss to her forehead. “Even I don’t understand why or how much I love you.”

She shifted a little before a soft, sleepy sigh parted her flawless lips. Liliana fell asleep cuddled into his side, her right leg thrown over his, her head cradled into the crook of his shoulder, and her hand resting on his chest, and he had never felt so complete before. Last night had been like a dream to take her somewhere nice, have her compliment him, as well as what happened after they returned to the hotel.

Just thinking about it was making a certain member rise, but he didn’t want to wake her. Not now that she looked so peaceful and happy, when usually she seemed so cold and distant. Nicolo exhaled out his nose, hoping to cool his already heating blood. Just being near her was enough. He knew he was overbearing and prideful, and that his love may just be a burden for her. The sweep of her eyelashes lifted slowly, revealing those beautiful chocolate brown orbs.

“What time is it?” She wondered, sleepily; then a little more alert, she looked into his eyes. “Nico?”

“It’s noon. I’ll order room service.” Nicolo started shifting a little to sit up when her arm wrapped firmly around his chest, stopping him. “Amore Mio?”

“You’re warm. Don’t leave.” Liliana countered, then dozed back off as if she hadn’t just dropped a bombshell on him.

She wanted to cuddle more? Usually, when she woke up, she was awake and ready to start the day. Perhaps yesterday tired her out more than she was willing to admit. When he first got her call about the attack, it was difficult to sit still. Every instinct within was screaming to run to her aid and save her. Nicolo had even been disappointed he didn’t get to actually do anything for her. By the time he arrived to the house, she’d already captured an attacker, and the Accardi handled the sniper.

“You are acting out of character, Lili.” He stared at her sleeping face in confusion, then sighed and reached for the nearby room phone. “Vorrei effettuare un ordine per il servizio in camera da consegnare tra due ore. Mia moglie avrà fame quando si sveglierà, quindi porta più cibo che puoi”.[MT1] 

This was just the start of their little four-day vacation away from the Villa and he planned to make full use of it. His goal? To get her to tell him she loved him before they returned home. They made love almost every night since their marriage. They even talked about things that were bothering them to each other and worked together to keep their family safe. Yet he’d never heard her say those words so he didn’t know how she felt about him.

~~~~~

An hour and a half later she woke again, this time pulling away to sit up as she normally did, exposing her tattoo to the afternoon sun. This bedroom of the suite had one wall facing the rising sun, though Nicolo would only use the term wall loosely. It was actually a massive one-way window, giving them a wonderous view of the town. His normal room at the Villa was in the center of the house, so there were no windows. Given this view of her, he was glad for their foray into town yesterday.

Liliana turned to glance at him before walking towards the bathroom without even grabbing the robe hanging nearby. It was so natural for her, being undressed, that she never seemed to consider decency, and made him wonder. Why? Even before their marriage, she never showed any shyness about it. A knock on the door interrupted his thoughts, so he opened it with his weapon behind his back. Once he realized it was only the waitstaff, he sighed in relief. This was perfect.

“Hai il tempismo migliore. Mia moglie è sotto la doccia e non sa che ti ho chiamato.” He shook the young man’s hand, passing a wad of cash in the process. “Grazie per aver fatto iniziare perfettamente questa giornata per lei.”

“Prego, signore. Per favore, ci faccia sapere se ha bisogno di qualcos’altro.” Nicolo walked the staff to the door, then turned to face the cart with a broad smile. [MT2] 

“Nico, who was at the door?” Her sweet voice called from the bathroom. “Work?”

“No, Amore Mio. Breakfast… Though it’s more like early dinner.” He replied, chuckling when the door snapped open in an instant and he glanced over his shoulder. “I told you last night. We have four nights of this to enjoy, so join me.”

“You failed to mention I slept all day. You also failed to mention the jacuzzi in that bathroom.” Lili pointed with her thumb over her shoulder, then her eyes landed on the cart holding the food. “Though I cannot really complain about food. With all the exercise last night, I feel starved.”

When she approached, Nico turned and smiled as he crossed his arms, gaze sliding down her barely clothed body. She finally grabbed one of the robes but didn’t tie it, so he could enjoy the view a little longer. Before she could reach the cart, he slid his hand into her robe and around her waist, effectively stopping her. Brown eyes narrowed in frustration, but she let out a gasp when he grabbed her bottom to pull her closer.

“You’re going to need all the energy you can get, so eat to your hearts content. You’re mine for four whole days.” Nico mumbled into her ear, then nipped at her lobe when her hands slid down his chest. “Then again, it might be fun to tease you while you eat and watch your reactions.”

“If you do, I’ll get you back when you least expect it.” The bittersweet threat had him hardening, and she slipped out of his arms, hands lifting an empty white plate from the cart. “I’m a hungry girl. It wouldn’t be wise to keep me from my food.”

“And I’m a hungry man who’s being denied his snack.” He pressed himself against her back as she filled her plate while lifting a lock of soft brown hair. “If I cannot savor it these next four days, I might just die.”

Her hair fell from his hand when she turned to look at him over her shoulder. There was a wicked grin on her face, one he knew he’d seen before. He’d already told her to stop teasing him, yet she seemed intent on doing so. His hand slid roughly up her body, from her stomach to cup over her chest, but the challenge in her eyes didn’t waver. Nicolo wanted to hear her beg for him, and say she loved him, yet she always did things that pushed him over the edge.

“Give me ten minutes, Nico. Please?”

“You ARE being nicer to me…” Nicolo stated, backing away to stare at her in confusion. “Am I dreaming?”

She took a seat in the nearby armchair, careful not to spill anything, and started eating without replying. He didn’t know what brought about this change, but perhaps he shouldn’t question it. Nicolo knew Liliana was her own woman, didn’t like to depend on people, and hated being questioned for her motives. She was also a double-edged sword made of ice. Unless you served a purpose to her, she was not kind.

“You asked me to be nicer to you.” She interrupted his thoughts, and he looked back up at her serious yet softer expression. “We’re married, we work well as a team, and I don’t hate you.”

It wasn’t ‘I love you.’ It was very Liliana though. She wiped at her lips with a napkin, then took a few more bites of the meat on her plate. Her loose pink robe ties dangled at her feet, revealing all of her from the neck down, making him lick his lips. He was already throbbing with desire, something that had him wondering. How much did she plan to ensnare him? He glanced at his watch to see that only three minutes had passed.

When his gaze rose to watch her again, she wore a knowing smirk before taking another slow bite; her legs parting a little. It wasn’t an invitation, but it certainly had Nicolo leaning forward a little and planting his head on his hands. Until that plate left her hands, he would remain like this. Waiting and watching. Lili seemed determined to not look away as well, making sure she kept up her sexy pose until the plate finally clattered as she sat it back on the cart.

“I love you, Lili.” He whispered into her ear, having moved the instant her back was to him, then demanded. “Say it back.”

He still wanted to hear her say it. That he was the only man in the world she loved, even if she never said it again afterwards. They’d known each other for eight months now, and enjoyed each other’s company often. She angled her head to look into his eyes, those brown orbs saying more than her mouth ever would. For once, Liliana looked afraid, yet she still squared her shoulders.

“Why? What do my actions tell you?”

“That you hate me and will search for the fastest way out of this marriage.” Nicolo answered with a shrug, stepping back when she turned to face him. “You weren’t excited for the wedding, and all you ever talk about is ‘playing wife,’ to me.”

“I don’t hate you. I already told you that. And I wouldn’t search for a way out of this marriage. My grandfather picked you.” She answered, crossing her arms over her chest with a frustrated sigh. “Weddings are just a show for everyone else, and isn’t ‘playing wife,’ what you need me to do? What would my saying those words do?”

She walked closer, but he stepped back, a little stunned. Even still, her loyalty was to her grandfather. The man had all but dropped her off on the Romano family and disappeared, yet Nicolo’s own loyalty to her counted for nothing. When their eyes locked again - despite being in the same room - it was if they were continents apart. Was there anyway to resolve this with her? Nicolo wanted to be loved by the woman he loved, not this.

“Do I not deserve to know how you feel about me?” He wondered, crossing the room to take a seat on the bed. “You always tease me, leaving me questioning myself, and it doesn’t feel good, Lili. It’s torture to not know.”

Liliana crossed the room, then took his face in her hands, drawing his gaze up to her features. Despite knowing what he knew about her now, she still looked like a fragile woman who needed protection. The ceiling lights cast a halo over the top of her head, giving her an ethereal glow that had his mouth shutting tight. She was the most beautiful woman in the world, always leaving him breathless.

“Nico, I love you.” His Lili sighed softly, then pressed a gentle kiss to his lips. “They’re just words, but since it seems to bother you, I’ll try to say it more.”

“Do you mean it?” As his heart swelled with hope, his fists clenched at his sides.

“Yes. Now will you quit moping? It’s annoying when you’re upset.” She looked towards a painting on the wall with a pout. “I hate it when you don’t act like your normal, egotistical self.”

“Egoista, vero?” Nicolo asked as he swallowed thickly when the robe slipped off her shoulders as she backed away. “Solo con te, Amore Mio.”