“You catch on relatively quickly, Red. It will make our association so much easier in future.”
“Well, you Majesty, Duke, Prince, King or whatever … decree this! You are a medieval jackass if you for one moment think you can order me what I should wear!”
“Signora! You cannot speak to the King like that! It is not …” Benito nearly swallowed his tongue, but kept quiet when Gabriel lifted his hand.
“So Mr. Butler sir, what would my penalty be? Am I to be trussed up in chains and thrown in the dungeon?”
“Signora!”
Gabriel laughed in genuine enjoyment. Damn, this woman was refreshing.
“Well, we do have a dungeon and if I remember correctly there is this one chamber that was used for torturing of prisoners in the late 1600’s. Maybe we should go and explore it together, Red.”
His eyes travelled agonizingly slowly down her body and her nipples tightened when his eyes touched on them straining against the tight white cotton covering them. His slow sensual smile was testament of his acknowledgement thereof.
“I can think of a few things I could decree with you in chains, Bella Donna.”
“What do you want?”
His eyebrows rose at her abrupt and rude tone as she changed the topic. She definitely needed to be taught a lesson or two. Lessons he couldn’t wait to dish out.
“You wanted to speak with me, Red. I have some time over breakfast which has now been wasted by me having to come and fetch you.”
“Oh … now you decide to feed me? I thought the intention was to starve me.”
He frowned. “What are you talking about?”
“You mean you do not know? You had me locked in this room since yesterday morning and this is the first time anyone bothered to come here!”
Gabriel turned to Benito who blushed red and grinded his teeth.
“Benito? You did not feed her?”
“My King, I beg your forgiveness! It totally slipped my mind! I am not used to … I am terribly sorry, Signora!”
Benito was really very upset and Sienna nearly felt sorry for him. Nearly … had he not been the one to lock her up in the room. Gabriel’s mouth was drawn in a tight straight line and she was surprised at how angry and upset he appeared about her not being fed the whole day.
The sound of a vehicle driving up the driveway caught Gabriel’s attention and he walked to the window to see who it was. He groaned and dropped his head on his chest. Benito stood next to him and felt his pain. On any given day his sister, beautiful and sparkly as she was, took a lot of energy for him to deal with.
“It appears the Princess came for a visit, my King.”
“Indeed it does. Heaven help us … two of them on one day! Tell me, Benito. What have I done wrong to be punished this way?”
He shook his head and turned back to stare at Sienna, his brow marred with a deep frown. She lifted her eyebrows. Now what?
“The dress, Red and hurry up. I am sure you are hungry and my sister does not like to be kept waiting.”
She gaped at him.
“You are NOT serious?”
His brow rose and his amber eyes turned nearly gold. He pushed his hands in his pant pockets and rocked back on his heels.
“Benito, you better go and greet Sophia. Take her to the breakfast patio so long.”
“Yes, my King.”
He waited until Benito left and pulled the door closed behind him. His glare indicated he had decreed and she was expected to obey. She slammed her fists in her sides and glared back at him.
“I am not changing my clothes! There is nothing wrong with what I am wearing. It is not my fault you live in the medieval ages where all females wore, were dresses!”
“Red … either you put on a dress, or I will do it for you.”
“You would not dare!”
“I wouldn’t?”
“Look … ehm … King …”
He bit his cheeks not to smile at her effort to get the King past her lips.
“I am here to do a job and will hardly be in your presence … and besides, I did not bring that many dresses with me.”
“Really? Let’s just check, shall we?”
He aimed for the walk-in cupboard and she grabbed his arm to pull him back. He stopped when she gripped his arm against her breasts and his shaft rose like a balloon blown up very slowly.
“This is ridiculous! I am not going to change my clothes!”
She realized his body had tightened and his eyes were trained on her breasts. His arm pressed tightly in between them. She nearly flung his arm back at him and took a step back. Her eyes clashed with his and her breath solidified in her lungs at the sizzling look in his. He took a step in her direction but froze when the door opened after a brief knock.
Gabriel groaned when his sister peeped around the door with a broad smile on her face.
“Am I interrupting?”
She walked into the room and looked curiously from her brother to Sienna, who just knew she stood there with a flush on her face. Gabriel shook his head and pulled her close for a hug and a peck on her cheeks.
“Would it matter if you did, dear sister?”
She giggled and rapped him on his shoulder and held her hand out to Sienna.
“Good morning. I am Sophia Donati. This lug here’s sister. You must be Sienna Thorne?”
Sienna shook her hand and returned her friendly smile. She was short but perfectly build; a female version of her brother with her long dark hair and golden eyes. She was absolutely stunning. She frowned up at her brother.
“Is there a problem, Gabe? What are you doing in Miss Thorne’s room? You do know it is not proper for someone of your stature to be alone with a female …”
“Gmph! You’re preaching proper when I caught you numerous times in Andreas’s bedroom alone before you were even engaged?”
“Gabriel! That was different and you know it.”
“I do? Do tell, Cara. I can’t wait to hear this.”
“Tsk! You’re the King!”
“Oh, Madre de Dio …! If that is the case, then all of you better change the way you see Kings. I have no intention becoming a bore and a pain in the butt.”
“Too late … you’re already a pain in the butt!” Sienna mumbled to herself and his golden gaze caught hers with a glare.
“You were saying, Red?”
“Oh … nothing! I … was just wondering when I am going to be fed!”
Sienna caught the bursting humor in his sister’s eyes and blushed realizing she also heard what she said. She glanced up at Gabriel through her lashes and winced when he still glared at her. He nodded towards her cupboard.
“You have five minutes, Red. Sophia and I will go down so long.”
“Oh for the love of …! I told you I am NOT changing into a dress! I am quite comfortable in my jeans!”
Her direct and angry response earned her even more respect. She had no compunction taking him on in front of his own sister. Sophia’s gaze sharpened and her mouth widened into an even wider grin. She looked up at him, eagerly awaiting his response. His eyebrows lifted at her direct challenge. She obviously believed she had the upper hand with his sister present. She could not be more wrong.
Sienna came to the same realization when the glitter in his eyes hardened and before she could jump away from him had her arm in a hard grip. He pulled her resisting and wriggling body after him in the direction of her closet, telling his sister over his shoulder.
“We won’t be long, Sophia. Please tell Greta to start with the hot food so long.”
Sophia complained loudly, but spun around to do his bidding, the wide smile still on her lips which turned into chuckles when she heard Sienna’s complaints.
“Let me go! You are nothing but a big bully! There is no way you are a King! Except as king of the Jackasses! No! Damn you!”
Gabriel started unbuttoning her top and she slapped at his hands fiercely. He grabbed her hand in his and pulled her tight against him. Hi
s eyes burned like liquid gold.
“You are taking a very big chance to challenge me at this moment, Red. You owe me and I’ve been hard for you since you seduced me yesterday morning. I can give you no guarantee that I won’t take you right here on the floor, the moment I have your pants of. Fighting me … Baby, you can be assured I am closer slamming into you than you are to your next breath!”
“I’ll change! Just leave!”
“Tsk … now that’s a pity! Five minutes, Red. If I have to come and get you we won’t leave this room for a week!”
He leaned down and his lips took immediate possession on her mouth. She did not even have an opportunity to deny him entrance he surged inside so quickly. His kiss was hard, deep and wild. So wild their teeth gnashed and she was tempted to throw him on the floor and jump his bones he turned her on so hard. Her panties were soaked by the time his lips left hers. He stroked her lips with his thumb and his eyes scorched hers.
“Yes, Red. It is going to happen … and soon! That I have decreed!”
Sienna glared after him until the door closed behind him before she slumped against the wall behind her. How was it possible for this man to turn her on with the lightest of touch, the heat and glitter in his eyes? She would be in big trouble if she stayed here. She would have to convince him to let her go.
Well, Sienna was just as hard headed
as Gabriel was. Something both his sister and him realized when she walked out on the patio where they were having breakfast.
“What the hell is that?”
Gabriel glared at the … tent she wore and cursed. It billowed out loosely from her shoulders to feet.
Sienna looked down at the dress she had decided on and looked at him with genuine amusement.
“It is what we western women call a maxi dress, your Majesty. Very comfortable and cool, I must say.”
His glare intensified and his eyes narrowed. There was nothing more he enjoyed than being openly challenged.
“You are sorely trying my patience, Red. But in respect to Sophia, I will let the matter rest … for now.”
“Oh, please brother dear! Don’t mind me. Pretend I am not here.”
Sophia has never come across a woman that openly challenged her brother … actually challenged him at all. They were all so in awe of his lineage and title, they became totally subservient and meek. Even the women that he took out literally fell over their own feet to please him. It was no wonder he had no interest in any of them, apart from the short liaison now and then. She has come to despair that he would never meet a woman that would have him give up his single status. She would know; she has tried for years. He just turned thirty four and it was high time he found his soul mate in life.
Breakfast at least was done with relative smoothness. Sophia asked Sienna so many questions that they knew her whole life story by the time the plates were removed. Not that there was that much to tell. She was a single child, born and raised in New York. Her parents died in a car accident when she was fifteen years old and she has lived with her grandmother since. She has always had a love for history and knew that was what she wanted to do from early in her life. She graduated at the age of twenty and went on to complete her Master degree the following year.
“So Sienna, you work at the Smithsonian Institution in Washington DC. How is it that you can take assignments such as these?
“I am head of the Department and have a very competent team in place. The museum is happy to let me go as most of the work that I have done one way or the other end up in their archives.”
“So, you are not necessarily rooted in New York? If there is an opportunity to move to a different state, would you take it?”
Sienna did not have to think about it for too long. As a matter of fact, she and Gramps discussed this at length over the past year. They both felt it was time for change.
“Yes, as long as Gramps goes with. I could not leave her. We have become very close. Besides, she is not that old and actually quite active still. She is the only family I have left.”
Gabriel just sat listening throughout the interrogation and was impressed with how serious Sienna was about her work as well as her commitment to her grandmother. Family to Italians was very important and it was the one thing they always looked for in others.
“May we please discuss this assignment? I don’t think I am the right person for this. I know of numerous Historians that would be ideal to take over from me almost immediately, so there would be no delay to commence.”
Sophia frowned and looked at Gabriel, who watched Sienna with a slight smile on his mouth.
“That is very disappointing to hear, Red. I summed you up as someone who would honor commitments and agreements. Was I wrong?”
She simmered at his audacity. He knew very well why she could not stay. Not that she could mention that in front of his sister.
“I am, but I think you would agree we have set off on the wrong foot and it just would not work.”
“Hmm … I happen to disagree completely, cara. We have set off wonderfully and I can’t wait to continue.”
She bit her tongue and seared him with a violet blaze. Sophia watched the interaction with interest. There was an attraction between them that Sienna desperately tried to ignore but her brother kept on tempting and pushing at her.
“Well, I for one would really be disappointed if you could not stay. I searched for a long time, before I decided to approach you. I wanted the best, and I was told I found the best. Surely you and Gabe can iron out whatever is between you?”
Sienna sighed. Now her reputation was in jeopardy if she pulled out. She glanced at Gabriel before she asked Sophia, “How would this work? Do I report my findings and queries to you?”
“Oh heavens no! I can’t be here all the time. It will be you and Gabe. Although I do believe you will be going to the Castle in San Marino for a week or so. There is an extensive library with age old books that could be valuable for your research.”
“How old?”
Her eyes brightened at the thought and Gabriel smiled. His sister just knew which buttons to push.
“There are manuscripts dating back as far as the early 1300’s. It really is something to experience. Please, Sienna. I really want you to be the one to finish this project for us. I need some help to get this non-believer to accept his throne!”
“Drop it Sophia. If you and Aunt Viola are so hung up on the throne, why don’t you just take it? I am quite comfortable performing the odd princely duties, but I am too busy to take over all the rest.”
“Tsk … you know the King of San Marino always has and always will be a male.”
“Well, except if he … decreed it … differently! Everyone here seems to accept that readily enough!”
Sophia burst out laughing and Gabriel looked at Sienna. His eyes promised retribution and she cringed. Maybe she should not raise her opinion so readily. She must really put a guard in front of her mouth. She was likely to end up in that torture chamber he had spoken about!
“I am afraid the contract you signed was quite tight. The terms and conditions were very clear. If you withdraw, or in any way jeopardize the family, you will have to pay the penance.”
“Penance? There was no mention of any penance!”
“You should really read the small print before you sign any contracts, Red. Or do you have two million dollars lying around somewhere?”
Sophia bit her lip to keep her face expressionless. He must really want to keep Sienna here if he could sit lying with such a serious and straight face.
“Two million dollars?” Her voice was soft.
“Either that or ten years in service to the Royal family. If I really wanted to, it could be changed to jail time. You can always choose.”
“I don’t believe you! Slavery was absolved centuries ago! And for that matter blackmail is illegal! I would have noticed something like that.”
“Would you have? Or were you so excited about the job that you did not
read it through properly? Maybe you knew being such a professional person, you abdicating your duty would never happen? Benito, please go and fetch the blue file on my de …”
“That … won’t be necessary.”
She realized he would not hand her the contract to read if he was lying. He was right though. There was never a doubt in her mind that she would carry out the project successfully. She glared at him and he smiled at her. He was too attractive for his own good … damn the man!
“Very well, but I would prefer to move back to the cottage.”
“I am afraid that is not possible. When I was there yesterday I noticed the roof needed some work and paint. I already have a team coming in to do the repairs in the morning. Besides … staying here is much more comfortable and … convenient.”
“Convenient for whom?”
“You of course. There is no Wi-Fi connectivity at the cottage, so you would have to come here anyway and the library is also fully stocked on tons of volumes of historical bundles on the lineage.”
She threw her hands in the air and then rested her forehead in them for a full count of fifty. She groaned loudly and sat back in her chair.
“Obviously I do not seem to have much of a choice. I just need to make one thing clear. I am not here as an employee. I am a historian doing an assignment for you. I do not have specific work hours and I may leave the Island any time I wish to.”
“Hmm … everything is fine, except leaving the Island. You will only leave if accompanied. By either Benito or me.”
“That is ridiculous! I am not a child to be looked after!”
“You will be treated as anyone else involved with the family and that includes protecting you.”
“Against what?”
“Paparazzi, reporters, the odd enemy or two.”
“Are you saying my life could be in danger?”
“Not with me there. I will protect you, Red, never fear.”
“Yeah … but who will protect me against you?” She mumbled. Sophia peeled with laughter who heard what she said and she blushed.
“What was that, Red?”
She just shook her head and Sophia could not stop laughing. Gabriel was not very happy that he was left out of the joke and excused himself when his cell phone rang.
You Owe Me, Baby Page 3
