Falling for Her Husband: The Renaldis, Book 3 Read online

  A hint of uncertainty appeared in his dark gaze and he bent his head, his eyes peering into hers. “Really? Do you mean that, Amber?”

  She gaped at him, confused by his switch in moods. Her husband was rarely unsure. She honestly couldn’t remember ever see him look at her this way. He was always confident, assured, arrogant at times but then sweet and thoughtful too.

  “Of course I mean it. I couldn’t wait to come home. I was so tired of being cooped up in the hospital when all I wanted was to be with you,” she admitted.

  He crushed her to him, careful of her arm, his hand cupping the back of her head as he pressed her close. She nuzzled her face in the crook of his neck, breathing deep his warm, familiar scent and she closed her eyes, her head buzzing at being so close to him, so completely enveloped in his embrace. “I missed you too. So much I felt a part of me was gone while you lay in that hospital bed. Promise you’ll never leave me again.”

  “I-I promise,” she vowed, her lips moving against his neck with her words. “I love you, Vince.”

  Hearing his wife say those words sent a wave of relief crashing over him so soundly, he was surprised he could still stand. It was ridiculous, the swell of emotions that overtook him lately every time he thought of how he almost lost Amber. He’d held it together the entire time, from the moment she’d been hit by the car, through the ambulance ride to the hospital, to sitting beside her bed while she lay there unconscious, her cool, slender hand clasped in his. All the while he both mentally and verbally implored her to wake up, show him a sign that she heard him, squeeze his hand, something.

  He was a rock. Solid. Dependable. His family praised him for his strength. Amber’s family thanked him for sticking by their daughter since they couldn’t be there themselves. Her mother broke down on the phone, sobbing as she asked for forgiveness that she wasn’t there by her daughter’s side. He reassured her that it was no one’s fault. Amber’s family dynamic had always confused him and probably always would.

  Having her in his arms, nestled so close, her bare skin on display for his hands to caress and her declaration of love…he almost broke down and wept like a baby. This was his second chance. No way could he mess this up. If he did, he’d only have himself to blame.

  And he refused to ruin this opportunity.

  Carefully he guided her to the bed, gently pushing her so she sat on the mattress’s edge. She gazed up at him, those big blue eyes drinking him in, her face flushed a delicate pink. She was beautiful, even with the bandage, the cast, the scratches and bruises on her skin. He both hated seeing that reminder of her suffering and loved that his wife was a strong little warrior who could survive anything.

  “Now who’s the one thinking too much?” She flashed him a smile, her teasing words drawing him back to the present. Reaching out, she took his hand and settled it on her unharmed cheek, leaning into his touch as her lids fell at half-mast.

  She’s gorgeous. Tempting. And she knew it.

  “I was thinking how grateful I am to have you here in front of me. Your injuries could’ve been so much worse…” His voice drifted off and she sat up straight, letting his hand drop as she sent him a stern look.

  “Let’s not think of what we could’ve lost and instead focus on what we have.” Her hand went to the waistband of his jeans, slender fingers curling until they brushed against his skin. “Let’s concentrate on each other. I need you, Vince. So much, it hurts.”

  Amber slowly unbuttoned the fly of his jeans, her fingers nimble as she tugged the buttons from their holes. Swallowing hard, he watched as she spread the denim wide, then smoothed her fingers down the front of his black-cotton-covered erection. “Someone is happy to see me.” The teasing lilt in her voice was his undoing.

  “Lay back,” he rasped, his harsh voice surprising her. She jerked her head back, her gaze meeting his, and without a word of protest she dropped her hand away from his cock to lie on the bed. Waiting for his next command. “Stay still.”

  She didn’t move. Pleased with her obedience, he shoved his jeans from his hips and kicked them off, then reached for her, pulling her yoga pants off of her, until she lay there, trembling and gorgeous in just her black cotton panties and bra.

  He looked his fill, his skin tightening, his need growing. She was beautiful. All his. He could’ve lost her. If not from the accident, then with her threatening him with a divorce. Somehow, he lucked out and she was here.

  And he vowed to himself that he would never let her leave again.

  Methodically he stripped off his clothes until he stood before her naked. Now it was her turn to look her fill, her gaze roaming over him, lingering on particular spots, her eyes darkening with arousal. His cock hardened painfully and he grasped hold of it, giving it a slow, squeezing stroke, trying to get himself under control.

  “Are you going to stand there and play with yourself or are you going to join me in this bed?” Her voice had gone husky like it usually did when she was turned on and his body heeded an answering call.

  He was just as aroused as she was, maybe even more so.

  Without a word Vince climbed onto the bed, climbed over his wife until she was pinned directly beneath him. He braced his hands on the pillow on either side of her head and he caged her hips with his knees. She arched the slightest bit, her breasts straining against the cups of her bra and he reached out, drew his finger atop first one, then the other breast. Goose bumps followed in his wake.

  “Beautiful,” he breathed, bending down to run his lips over the path his finger just took. She shivered beneath his mouth, a breathy little moan falling from her lips, and he darted out his tongue, licking her skin. “You taste just as good as I remembered.”

  “Has it really been that long?” She thrust her fingers into his hair, clutching him to her, and he closed his eyes for a brief moment, trying to calm his racing heart, his overly amped body.

  She didn’t realize it had been months since they were last together. Her memory was gone. He had to tread carefully for fear of alarming her. Curiosity could prompt her into asking too many questions.

  Questions he didn’t want to answer.

  “It feels like an eternity,” he murmured against her skin as he wound his arm around her, fingers undoing the clasp of her bra with one simple flick. “Seeing you in the hospital and not being able to touch you was almost the death of me.”

  “Well, you can touch me now.” The smile on her face almost blinded him it was so bright. His heart tugged in his chest. She seemed so happy to be with him, so content. A far cry from the woman he’d argued with on the sidewalk less than a month ago.

  “Vince.” She pressed up against him, her breasts in his face, and he tugged on the straps of her bra, baring her to him. “Touch me,” she urged again.

  So he did. He touched her everywhere, his hands mapping her entire body, his mouth following the same trail. She writhed beneath him, gasping and moaning, encouraging him when he stroked her in a particular spot that she approved of. She was so wet for him, so hot as he delved his fingers between her legs, searching her delicate folds. He brought her to the brink of climax with only a few caresses, sent her careening over the edge with his tongue on her clit, and when he finally entered her welcoming body, it had taken everything within him not to come right on the spot.

  But he got himself under control because he wanted to make it good for her. Make it good for them both. She touched him with such reverence, her hands sliding over his body, making him shiver. And when it was over, when the remnants of his orgasm still clung to him and he collapsed on top of her, careful not to crush her, she touched his cheek, her fingers petal soft as she caressed him.

  “I love you,” she whispered, and he closed his eyes, pressed his lips to the side of her neck.

  Decided then and there he would do whatever it took to never let her go again.

  Chapter Nine

  “You need to tell her the truth.”

  Vince paced the length of his living room, hi
s cell clutched tight to his ear. Leave it to his mother to be the only one to call him on his shit. “I plan on telling Amber the truth…in time.”

  Claudia Renaldi snorted. Literally snorted. Vince hadn’t heard that indignant sound for far too long, and he wished to leave it that way. Unfortunately, that wasn’t the case. His mother was frustrated. Angry. If he didn’t watch it, she’d probably launch into a string of Italian, telling him exactly what she thought.

  “In time. What does this mean, Vincenzo? That you string her along and let her believe everything between you two is bright and perfect?”

  “It is perfect,” he said, because thankfully, it was. Like a little miracle, his relationship between him and his wife was doing so well.

  She’d been home from the hospital for almost two weeks. During that time, she’d gone to physical therapy twice for her arm, which was now in a much smaller cast. Besides the PT, they only left the apartment for meals. Otherwise, they stayed in. Together.

  Talking, laughing, lying about in bed naked. Touching, kissing, making love. It was ideal. The way they were together, it reminded him of how they’d been when they first married. That honeymoon phase hadn’t lasted long, much to his disappointment. He’d returned to Italy for work. She’d gone on one photo shoot trip after another for her job. They were rarely together…

  And then it had gone to complete hell. Resulting in a terrible argument, ultimatums and an accident that could’ve ended Amber’s life.

  He was having his second chance and he wasn’t about to let this go.

  “Only because you are keeping the truth from her.” His mother paused, and he waited for her to continue. Because he knew she had plenty to say on the subject. “She won’t be upset if you tell her the truth, Vince. Look at what a wonderful, attentive husband you’ve been. She knows how much you love her. And I know that Amber loves you.”

  Vince breathed deep, unable to deny what his mother said. Yes, they were in love. Yes, things were going well. But he was scared. He’d finally told Amber that more time had passed than she originally thought, that she’d simply forgotten everything because of the accident and subsequent coma possibly giving her amnesia. She’d accepted that explanation, though she’d been curious. Asking him all sorts of questions.

  Was I still modeling? When did you come to live with me in New York? Have you met my parents yet? Why were we having such a heated discussion before the car hit me again?

  He was able to answer most questions and evaded the rest. How he hated that.

  “I told you I’ll tell her. But I’m going to take my time with it,” he finally said.

  “What if she finds out by mistake? What if someone else tells her that there was trouble between the two of you? How would she feel then? Like you’d lied to her, that’s how,” Mama said.

  “Who the hell could tell her besides you?” he said, his tone accusatory even though he didn’t mean it. But damn it, his mother was pushing every single one of his buttons and he didn’t have time for this shit. Amber was due back from physical therapy within the next fifteen minutes, so he needed to wrap this phone conversation up quick.

  “As if I would say such a thing to my daughter-in-law,” his mother said with a sniff. Great, now he’d offended her. “That you would even imply so is hurtful, Vincenzo.”

  “Sorry,” he said gruffly. He always felt like he was apologizing to the females in his life. “I swear, Mama, I will tell Amber everything. Slowly. I don’t want to overwhelm her.”

  “Are you approaching this situation slowly to protect Amber? Or to protect yourself?”

  As if he’d say “protect himself”. He’d sound like a selfish ass if he did so.

  But he guessed that made him a selfish ass, then because that was exactly why he was doing this. It had everything to do with him not wanting Amber angry with him.

  He didn’t want to lose the love of his life. If that made him a jerk, then so be it.

  “My darling, be good. Tread carefully around that lovely wife of yours. Make this right.” His mother rattled off a bit more of advice before he finally hung up with her and he flung the phone from his hand, watching with satisfaction as it landed on the seat of the overstuffed chair nearby, exactly where he wanted it to go.

  But the satisfaction left him as quickly as it came. He’d prefer smashing the damn phone against a wall and watching it shatter to a hundred pieces, but that was stupid. Pointless. He would have to channel his anger elsewhere. Turn the emotion into something else.

  Like love for his beautiful, sweet wife, who was just walking into the apartment with a giant smile on her otherwise weary-looking face. “Vince. Come hug me.”

  He loved how demanding she was and how silly but sweet those demands were. Striding toward her, he carefully tugged her into his arms and dropped a tiny kiss on the tip of her perfect nose. “Tough session?”

  “I wish I could get this stupid cast off.” She raised her arm. “They say I’m healing, quickly and that they’re proud of my progress, but I don’t think that has much to do with me.”

  “I’m proud of you too,” he said, dropping a kiss on her uninjured cheek. The bandage was gone, the healing gash on full public display, and she was terribly self-conscious of it. She covered it now, pulling away from him so she could touch it with the fingers of her left hand. “And you have everything to do with the quick healing of your arm.”

  She rolled her eyes and laughed, her expression growing quickly somber. “I spoke to my mother today.”

  “How is she?” He kept his voice purposely neutral, trying his hardest to ignore the fear rising within him.

  “Worried about me. Thankful you’re here taking care of me.” Amber shook her head. “I told her that was my husband’s job and she laughed. Said that my dad never really took good care of her or any of us so it surprises her that you’d be so attentive.”

  Vince frowned. This was the most she’d revealed about her family dynamics since he knew her. “Your father is not very…attentive?”

  Amber sighed and hung her head, her tongue slipping out to lick her lips. He shouldn’t be aroused by a glimpse of her tongue. Damn it, they were trying to have a serious conversation.

  But he was. His skin tightened at first sight of her tongue like he couldn’t control himself.

  “I know I haven’t talked much about my family to you,” she said, her voice low, her gaze locked on the floor. “I might not be able to remember some things, but that I know for certain.”

  “Why is that, Amber? Why haven’t you told me anything?” he asked gently.

  “My father is a drunk. An alcoholic. He tries to work, but he can never hold down a job. Or he lies and says he’s working and he’s really at a bar getting drunk. Throughout the years I’ve put him in various rehabilitation centers and the place he’s in now is one of the most expensive in the US,” Amber explained. “We hide his behavior, his addiction. We always have. It’s become so ingrained in me, in my entire family, that we all just do it automatically. That’s why I didn’t tell you, Vince.”

  “Because you didn’t trust me with such delicate information about your family?” He refused to be hurt by that. She’d grown up like this and he couldn’t hold it against her. Especially with the information he was withholding from her.

  “Of course I trusted you. You’re my husband, I love you.” She lifted her head, her gaze imploring as she studied him. “Like I said, it’s how we functioned. Keeping his problems secret, not letting anyone know that he’s in and out of rehab. This is the last straw, Vince. This is the last place I will send him. If he can’t stay clean after leaving, then I can do nothing but stand back. I’ve given him what I can.”

  “You’ve given him more than he deserved,” Vince said, his voice tight and full of anger. It wasn’t fair, Amber’s father taking advantage of her money, her ability to help him so easily. The money she must’ve thrown away for his rehabilitation only for none of it to stick…

  Must make her sick
to her stomach.

  “He’s my father. I had to do for him what I could to make sure he received the help he needs.” She took a step toward him and he grabbed her, pulling her in close. “I hope you can understand and respect my decisions. I’m sorry that I kept this from you for so long.”

  He felt like a complete ass just with her words. “There is no need for forgiveness. You did what you believed is right and I love you more for it.”

  She sagged against him, her face pressed close to his chest. “I’m so lucky to have the most understanding husband in the entire world, I swear.”

  Ignoring the wave of guilt slapping him in the face, he slipped his arms tight around her waist and squeezed her close. Held her like he was never going to let her go…

  And he didn’t plan to either.

  Amber let Vince hold her. She absorbed his strength, inhaled his scent and closed her eyes, reminding herself that her husband loved her so very much.

  So why couldn’t she ask him about the strange dreams she’d been having? And the even stranger conversation she had with her mother?

  She’d been plagued with dreams—nightmares, really—of her and Vince fighting. Of their voices rising with every angry word they hurled at each other until finally she always offers the same threat.

  I’m leaving. I want a divorce.

  Each time she woke up in a sweat, her heart racing, the panic consuming her. She’d lie there, her husband snuggled up close, and stare at the ceiling. Mentally telling herself it was all just a dream. The argument wasn’t real. She loved Vince and he loved her.

  The dreams lingered, though. Hung in the dark corners of her mind, making her feel like it was all too damn real. She tried her best to shove the awful thoughts away, but they felt too much like…

  Memories.

  When her mother called while she was on her way to physical therapy, they’d had a great conversation. Her mother had been full of guilt at first at not being able to leave and come see her, but how could she? Amber’s little brother and sister were in elementary school, Mom worked fulltime and Dad was in rehab. It would’ve been impossible. Amber was tired of the guilt and basically told her mother exactly that. Her mom totally agreed, then said something odd.