Page 47 of Sacred Blood

“You like that, too,” I countered and she blushed. “You like to be controlled, punished and spanked, and not just during sex. You crave my dominance, although you haven’t yet come to terms with your desires. You have sacrificed so much to have your freedom, and you feel that by submitting yourself to me, you are betraying the young girl who fought in any way she could for equality in a family dynamic where daughters are honored for obedience and not for their thoughts or desires. You aren’t betraying that girl, Gabriella, you are making way for the woman to emerge and it’s okay to let yourself want something that part of your brain interprets as archaic or backwards.”

Her eyes continued to round at my words. A truth I was sure she’d never explored, never mind engaged in dialogue about.

“I…erm, yes, you are correct. I feel uncomfortable wanting what I want at times. I feel like a slut and that has always been viewed as negative.”

I reached up and brushed my thumb along her cheek.

“There is nothing shameful about desire, Gabriella.”

She held my gaze.

“Wanting to be loved. Wanting to be wanted. Wanting someone you trust to take care of you. None of those things make you weak.”

Her breath caught.

“You've spent so much of your life fighting for the right to make your own choices that you've convinced yourself wanting someone is the same thing as surrendering to them.”

“And it's not?”

“No.” I shook my head. “It's choosing. There's a difference.”

Something vulnerable flickered across her face.

“Really? There is nothing about me you would change?”

“Nothing, tesorina. You're stubborn, complicated, infuriating, and beautiful exactly as you are.

A treasure made for me. Now say you’ll marry me.”

She rolled onto her knees before me. “Yes, Gaetano Vitale, I will marry you.”

I gathered her into my arms and brought her to the edge of the bed, then knelt on the floor and removed the little box from my pants pocket and presented it to her.

“Good thing you said yes. I didn’t want to have to take this back.” I opened the box, drawing a gasp from Gaby.

“Oh my god, it’s so beautiful. I’ve never seen anything like it before.”

Nor would she. I’d had the ring flown in from an artist in Florence who made it on the fly in record time and sent it straight to me. It was an Italian infinity design, black tungsten carbide and rose gold twisted together around a massive center stone.

I removed it from the box and slid it onto her finger. A few tears leaked down her cheeks. She gazed at me, eyes wide open, really looking at me, searching. Her expression slowly morphed, her eyes glittering with humor. “Does this mean I’m now Mrs. Doctor Vitale?”

“Oh, so this was your plan all along, to marry the infamous Doctor Vitale.” I rose to my feet and gently pushed her back down on the bed.

“Well, what parents wouldn’t love a doctor for a son-in-law?” A furrow appeared between her brows. It was such an ordinary question, the kind asked by people who didn't grow up measuring every relationship against power and obligation.

“Hey sweet girl. Stay with me.” Her thoughts had already raced three steps ahead, worrying about problems that didn't exist yet. “Our marriage will be on our terms, not dictated by others' perceptions. We’ll get it all sorted. You’ll see.”

She smiled sweetly. “I hope you’re right.”

“I’m always right.”

Chapter Eleven

Gabriella

I was spent. Two days of nonstop sex had made me delightfully pliable in both body and mind. So much so that I almost missed his instructions.

“Make sure you dress appropriately for the trip home.”