'Toe-muz no! Please---don't!

Alina clutched her chest when she heard Emily's pleading voice just as she opened the front door. What was Tomas doing to her niece?

OMG is he hurting her?

Alina raced towards the living room. Emily's pleading voice was coming from there.
Where the hell was Caroline? Could she not hear darling Emily's plea for help!

'Emily!' Alina burst into the living room to see a smiling Caroline sitting there, with not a care in the world. Infact there was a look of pure adoration plastered across her face. Alina's eyes flew to the floor, to see Emily giggling. She was on her back, wrestling with a blind-folded Tomas who was on all fours.
They are playing Blind Man's Bluff.

'Aunt Alina save me, save me. The dinosaur wants to eat me up.'

Tomas ripped the blindfold off when he heard Alina's voice. She was still clutching her chest, as she observed the pretty picture the three of them made. Her hand gradually fell when she realized her niece was not in any danger of physical abuse. Good heavens, how could she have even thought anything so despicable?

'I got you,' Alina smiled, lifting Emily into her arms.

'Thank you, Aunt Alina,' she hugged her aunt. 'The dinosaur put his head in my tummy and he was tickling me,' she laughed, directing a happy smile at the dinosaur.

'Why aren't you in bed yet?' Alina questioned.

'I---um.'

'Hello cara,' Tomas stood up, distracting Alina. He tucked the scarf that was used as a blindfold into his pocket He put one arm around Emily and the other around his wife's shoulders and kissed her lips. Alina felt herself blush at his possessive kiss.

'Kiss me too Toe-muz,' Emily offered her cheek to Tomas. He obliged smilingly.

'Hey Caroline,' Alina smiled at her sister. She shifted away from Tomas' hold.

'Hi,' Caroline smiled. 'I'm glad you're finally home. Your niece refuses to go to bed, and Tomas has not had dinner yet. He insisted on waiting for you.'

Alina's eyes flew to Tomas.
Good heavens why had he not eaten yet? It is so late!

Not that she had had anything to eat. The restaurant had been so busy, she hadn't had the time and then she was too exhausted to eat and decided to head home.

'Sorry,' Alina murmured. 'I hoped you'd continue without me,' Tomas was on the receiving end of her guilty look.

'I'll put Emelia to bed,' Tomas offered. 'You set the table,' he took Emily into his arms.

'Thank you Toe-muz,' she beamed happily. 'Night mum. Night Aunt Alina.'

'I'll say good night too,' Caroline smiled.

'Oh you can stay and have coffee with us or something,' Alina pleaded. For some reason she did not want to be alone with Tomas.

'I know your husband has been waiting rather patiently for you,' she whispered conspirationally.

Alina's cheeks turned scarlet. She waved dismissively to Caroline and walked into the kitchen.
Was he really looking forward to me coming home?

Alina opened the pots. There was a delicious looking chicken casserole. Alina heated some bread rolls. She took out a bottle of wine. She was so tired. All she wanted to do was grab a shower and curl up on her pillow, but she would have to sit through the meal with Tomas, especially since he'd not had his meal yet. He must be starving!

'Buonasera tesoro,' her husband's masculine arms circled her body from behind.

'Good evening,' Alina murmured uncomfortably, extricating herself from Tomas' arms. 'Why didn't you have your dinner?' she scolded.

'I wanted to have it with you,' he stated.

'Well in future please---.'

That is all she managed to voice, before Tomas pulled her into his arms and kissed her. 'I expect a decent greeting from my wife cara,' he held her face in position and took his time kissing her at leisure. All her resistance finally crumbled, when his tongue snaked into her mouth and was doing dangerous and erotic things to her equilibrium.

'Let's eat,' Tomas instructed. He held the chair open for her.

'Tomas you must---.'

'No talking cara. We eat first,' he reached out to pour her some red wine. Her eyes narrowed. She was a little irritated as she picked up her knife and fork.

'No thank you,' she refused. 'I'll just have water.'

'Did you have a good day?' Tomas enquired, as he dipped a crisp roll into some gravy.

I thought you said no talking! And no, I did not have a good day. How dare you leave this morning without saying goodbye?

'Fine thank you,' she murmured. Not bothering to return the courtesy. She picked at the food and stole a glance at Tomas as he ate heartily. He was on his third bread roll. He looked so ...delectable? He'd showered. He was casually dressed in black corduroys and a grey figure hugging sweater. Alina shifted uncomfortably when Tomas caught her staring.

'Can I serve your dessert?' She spoke softly.

'No thank you cara,' he smiled as he dabbed the napkin at his lips. 'I'm done. Just coffee please,' he requested.

'Sure,' she was pleased to have an excuse to get up.

Alina set two mugs on a tray and waited for the percolator.

'Shall we have it upstairs in our bedroom?' Tomas smiled.

'Eh__ why don't you have yours here, while I shower?' she countered.

'We're going upstairs,' Tomas stated matter of fact.

She wrung her fingers nervously. 'Don't you want to watch television or something?' She did not know why she was acting like a virgin bride on her honeymoon.

'We have a television in our bedroom, if that is your desire cara,' he smiled mockingly.

'No__I want to go to bed,' she blurted.

'So do I,' his eyes danced mischievously.

'I mean to sleep,' she expanded.

'We will do that eventually,' he promised, running the back of his fingers down her cheek. 'Let's go.' Tomas carried the coffee tray upstairs.

'Have your coffee, then you can shower,' Tomas suggested.

'Thank you,' she gulped down her coffee, grabbed a gown and escaped into the shower.

When Alina returned to their bedroom, she thought Tomas would be in bed, naked, awaiting her, but he was sitting on the sofa, still fully dressed. It seemed he was in no great hurry to go to bed. She was glad she'd come out with her gown on and not the towel wrapped around herself.

'Come and have a seat cara,' Tomas tapped the sofa next to him. She looked beautiful, with her red locks tumbling down her shoulders, her skin glowing from her shower. The gown did nothing to hide her sexy hour glass shape.

From his tone of voice, Alina knew it was not a casual suggestion. She tightened the belt around her waist and sunk into the brand new deep cushioned sofas in their suite. She silently cursed herself for choosing those deep settees. She felt like a child now, sinking into the depths of the sofa. She sat as far away from Tomas as possible. Her eyes lifted guardedly to meet his.

'I need to set some ground rules,' Tomas declared. 'You will not be working these ridiculous hours any longer,' Tomas instructed.

Excuse me. I don't need a curfew. I'm not twelve years old!

It was a good thing then that she'd come home close to nine tonight. She'd felt a premonition to leave the restaurant earlier than normal. Rocco had not been too pleased, but what the hell she was the boss.

Generally she worked from four in the morning well until eleven or twelve in the evening depending on how busy the restaurant was, but since Tomas came into her life, it had altered slightly. Now it seemed he was going to ensure the change was permanent.

'You can't dictate to me,' Alina made a feeble attempt at resisting.

'How many chefs do you have assisting you?' Tomas demanded, ignoring her comment.

'Three.'

'Get more if you need them.'

'Excuse me!'

'I am prepared to foot the bill,' Tomas offered.

'You know the hours of a restaurant,' Alina defended. 'You should not have married a chef!' She could not believe his high-handedness.

'In future,' Tomas laid down the law, 'you will not leave home before seven and I expect my wife home by eight pm at the latest.'

'That's ridiculous!' Alina was seething.

'I will give you one week to organize your staff,' he warned. 'I want you to start delegating some of the things you do in the ridiculous hours you keep.'

She supposed it was better than him demanding she get home at five each afternoon or worse still, him instructing her to quit all together.

'Have I made myself clear?'

'Yes.'

'Do you have any questions?'

'No sir,' she hissed, sarcastically.

'Good lets go to bed,' he walked to his side of the bed and began peeling off his clothes.

Alina walked to her side of the bed. It was not going to take her long to undress. She had nothing on under the gown. As he pulled his sweater over his head, she quickly ripped off her gown and slid into bed, tucking the bedding under her chin. Tomas laughed as he observed her, like a nervous mouse, trapped by a bored cat. His eyes were locked on hers as he very slowly unbuckled his trousers. Alina watched fascinated. He was topless. His broad, masculine shoulders looked beautiful. Her fingers itched to rake over the fine dust of hairs on his chest. His trousers fell to the floor. His silk boxers followed suit. Her eyes darkened when his well endowed shaft became visible. She swallowed. Her tongue ran over her parched lower lip.

There was a glint of triumph in his eyes as he smiled at her, accurately reading the desire reflecting in her eyes. 'In a moment cara,' he chuckled as he lowered himself on the bed to remove his socks and shoes, his back to her.

Alina shut her eyes. How could she desire this man when he was so ruthless? How could she be attracted to him when he just rode rough shod over her at every opportunity? She wished she could deny the lust she felt, but the evidence was there, hot, moist and aching at the centre of her traitorous womanhood.

'Good night,' she mumbled, turning her back on Tomas and switching her bedside light of.

If Alina thought Tomas was going to roll over like a good dog, heed her dismissal and go to sleep, she had another thing coming.

'Not yet cara,' he reached for her turning her around to face him.

'I'm tired,' she stammered. Yes she was tired, but hell if she had the option of making wild passionate love with Tomas or the option of sleep, the former was a no brainer.

'It's why I want you to work shorter hours,' he murmured, his lips caressing the soft flesh on her throat. She tried to resist him. She shut her eyes, but that just heightened the pleasure of his seductive lips.

'So beautiful tesoro...so soft,' his tongue laved over breast. It circled her nipple, teasing her. The sharp pain of arousal was driving her crazy. His hands caressed her thighs, his fingers found her eager, moist expectant centre. A cry escaped her throat. Her head fell backwards. His lips blazed a trail of fiery kisses down her throat, scorching her body everywhere it kissed. Her hands gripped him tightly, digging into his flesh, drawing him closer, her hungry lips searched for his mouth.

     'Rocco can you round the other chefs up please,' Alina had arrived early, she had texted her chefs and kitchen staff to come in for a meeting. They were hovering about in the restaurant, enjoying coffee. She needed to set King Casiraghi's decree into motion. She had made a roster to rotate the chefs. She'd called Rocco into her office to enquire if she should hire more chefs. He'd proposed she hire one more standby chef.

Alina waited for Rocco and the other staff to return. For some stupid reason her mind drifted to last night. It had been so beautiful. Tomas was an amazing lover. It had been fantastic actually. He was so patient, his lips, his fingers...

'Alina!' Rocco called to her for the second time.

'Yes,' her cheeks tinged to a hue of pink. 'Take a seat everybody.' She distributed the updated roster, informing them that in future she would only arrive at seven and would be leaving at seven thirty each evening. She thought Rocco was going to freak out as that was the peak period in the restaurant. Instead he just nodded. Alina had promoted him to general manager, so perhaps that seemed to have pacified him. He and another chef would see to the stock purchases from the farmers and the fishermen. All the kitchen staff were getting increases and were visibly overjoyed. The staff were only too pleased with the new roster.

Alina would not be drawing a salary check from the business any longer. She had been speechless this morning when Tomas had presented her with a document that stated she would be receiving an allowance as his wife, it equated to more than four times the salary she drew from the restaurant. When she'd protested that it was too much, he'd just laughed and assured her, she was mistaken. From his arrogant laugh, he presumed she would go through the allowance before the month was over. Alina had just stared at him. There was no way she could be that irresponsible. Even with Tomas now taking care of every domestic bill, Alina still could not undo her parsimonious habit.

Alina tapped the seat impatiently as the driver stopped in their cobblestone driveway. He had driven like a bloody tortoise, with absolutely no urgency in the world whatsoever. She had almost wanted to scream at him to go faster, but had restrained herself with herculean effort. She looked at her wristwatch. The driver had barely cut of the engine. Not waiting for him, Alina flung the door open and ran up the stairs into their home. It was ten past eight.

    'Caro, you should have waited for me in Rome, like I told you to,' a familiar female voice spoke in Italian.

'Alina needed to return to London,' Tomas answered in Italian.

'Well let us leave now,' the female voice continued in Italian.

'I must---.'

'Tomas?' Alina called out.

'Ah you have made it cara,' Tomas smiled, as he checked his watch. When he turned to acknowledge her, Alina saw who the female was. A sick feeling came over Alina. She felt it knot excruciatingly in her stomach. She wanted to throw up.

-       end chapter eighteen-