The Mafia Twins want me

Chapter three

I barely slept.

The message from the unknown number stayed in my head long after I put my phone down.

Get some rest, Sammy. You'll need it.

Whoever had sent it knew my nickname.

That alone was unsettling.

But I had bigger problems.

Donovan had ordered me to stay inside.

And, for reasons I couldn't explain, I had spent the entire morning wondering when he would come back.

By afternoon, I was bored enough to go downstairs.

I found the library empty.

I picked up a book.

Read three pages.

Put it down.

Picked up another.

Read two.

Then footsteps sounded behind me.

I turned.

Donovan walked through the doorway.

My stomach flipped.

He was wearing a dark suit, his tie loosened around his neck.

But something was different.

He was smiling.

I blinked.

Donovan didn't smile.

At least, not that I'd seen.

"You're back."

He closed the door behind him.

"Did you miss me?"

I stared.

"What?"

He laughed softly.

Actually laughed.

Then he walked toward me.

"Come here."

I didn't move.

He crossed the remaining distance himself.

His hands settled around my waist.

Then he pulled me against him and kissed my cheek.

I stiffened.

Donovan was being odd this afternoon.

It was strange.

His fingers slid gently through my hair.

"Why are you so tense?"

I looked up at him.

"You seem... different."

His smile widened.

"Different how?"

"I don't know."

He leaned closer.

"Maybe you're finally getting to know me."

Before I could answer, he kissed me.

Slowly.

Softly.

Nothing like last night.

There was no force behind it.

No command.

Just warmth.

His lips moved over mine with maddening patience, and somehow that was worse.

My hands found his shoulders.

He smiled against my mouth.

I hated how easily my body responded to him.

He pulled away just enough to look at me.

"There."

I frowned.

"There what?"

"You're not nervous anymore."

I opened my mouth.

He kissed me again before I could speak.

This time, I melted.

Completely.

His hands moved slowly over my back.

He wasn't rushing.

He wasn't demanding.

He was almost... affectionate.

And that shouldn't have felt so good.

But it did.

When he finally pulled away, my breathing was uneven.

He brushed his thumb over my cheek.

"I missed you."

My heart skipped.

"You were gone for one day."

"Maybe."

I stared at him.

Something about that answer made warmth creep into my cheeks.

I looked away.

"You're being strange today."

He chuckled.

"Maybe I was too hard on you yesterday."

I froze.

The memory of last night flashed through my mind.

My face burned.

He noticed. And laughed again.

I had never heard Donovan laugh like that.

I shook my head.

"You're really different today," I said again.

His expression softened.

"Is that a bad thing?"

I looked at him.

"No."

"Good."

He leaned down and kissed my forehead.

Then my cheek.

Then the corner of my mouth.

It was almost unbearably sweet.

I didn't understand him.

Yesterday, he had been a wall of controlled aggression.

Today, he was touching me like I was something precious.

And somehow, the contradiction made me want him more.

He took my hand.

"Come upstairs."

I followed.

I didn't question it.

Not when he kissed me in the hallway.

Not when he pulled me into the bedroom.

Not when his fingers intertwined with mine.

Everything about him felt softer.

Familiar.

Safe.

By the time we reached the bed, I had forgotten the strange message from the night before.

I had forgotten the unanswered questions.

I had even forgotten how dangerous this man was supposed to be.

Importantly, I'd forgotten this was supposed to be a contract marriage.

Because right then, Donovan looked at me as though I was the only woman in the world.

And I let myself believe it.

Hours later, I woke beneath the sheets.

For a moment, I smiled.

Then I remembered something.

Donovan had said he would be gone until evening.

I looked toward the bathroom.

"Donovan?"

No answer.

I sat up.

The room was empty.

I frowned.

He had left without saying anything.

Again.

I pushed the blanket aside and got out of bed.

My clothes were scattered across the floor.

I bent to pick up my dress.

Then stopped.

Something was wrong.

I couldn't explain it.

The room smelled different.

The air felt different.

Even the silence felt different.

I shook my head.

I was imagining things.

I picked up my dress and walked toward the bathroom.

Then I heard the bedroom door open.

"Donovan?"

A man's voice answered.

"Sammy?"

I froze.

That voice.

Warm.

Low.

Playful.

I turned.

Donovan stood in the doorway.

At least, I thought it was Donovan.

He was smiling.

He walked toward me.

"Why are you looking at me like that?"

I swallowed.

"I thought you left."

"I did."

My eyebrows pulled together.

"Then how are you here?"

He laughed.

"You've had too much wine."

"I haven't had any wine."

He stopped.

For half a second, something flickered across his face.

Then the smile returned.

"Come here."

I didn't move.

He walked toward me instead.

His arms wrapped around my waist.

He kissed my forehead.

Then whispered against my hair,

"You really are adorable when you're confused."

I stared at him.

Something wasn't right.

I couldn't put my finger on it.

But I knew one thing.

The man standing in front of me...

wasn't behaving like Donovan.

And yet, when he leaned down and kissed me again—

I kissed him back.

Because whatever was wrong with my husband today...

my body didn't seem to care.

His forehead rested against mine, both of us breathing harder than we had a moment ago.

I should have stepped away. Told myself it would be best.

But my body didn't seem to agree with me. My core throbbing with the need to be filled up again.

My stupid brain gave me the best advice it could come up with. Contract marriage didn't mean I had to be a monk right?

So Instead, my fingers tightened around his shirt.

His eyes searched mine, giving me every opportunity to change my mind.

I didn't.

The distance between us disappeared.

He lifted me on the counter and slowly pushed into me.

And by the time the room fell quiet again, i knew there was no going back to the way things had been.

I was slowly and thoroughly f****d out.

Somewhere along the way, I had stopped questioning the strange change in my husband's character.