Chapter 3 House Rules

VITTORIA

"Let's go over the dos and donts," Cooper says, his tone annoyingly parental. "No phones. Hand that over. It might be hacked."

"Oh fck no." I clutch my phone tighter. "I have to know what my friends are doing. Who knows how long I will be locked up?"

"There is a burner for emergencies." He reaches for it, and I defend myself the only way I can.

"Did you just fcking bite me?"

"I am not giving it to you. I can't live without this." I protest, tucking it into my shirt. He gives me that are you kidding me glare before snatching it right out of my cleavage.

"You didn't just reach into my bra." I shriek, my face burning.

"I did what was necessary," he replies coolly.

"I hate you." I yell as he pockets it inside his jacket.

"I don't give a fck. Rule number two, don't leave the property without me, even if the house is on fire. Rule number three, you will participate in chores."

"Do I look like I wash dishes? A maid takes care of that." I don't even know how to make my bed. The staff does everything. God, I am so spoiled.

"That brings us to rule number four, before I was rudely interrupted." I roll my eyes and look out the window at the sky.

"Are you even listening?" he asks sharply.

"Unfortunately yes. Please continue your tyrannical manifesto."

"No one else is allowed in the house. You will have to learn to do chores. What is the saying? Baby steps until you get there."

"Controlling motherfcker," I whisper under my breath.

A small smile tugging at his lips tells me he heard that. "Rule number five," he continues. "We will spend only on essentials. Number six, never let your cover slip. You aren't there to make friends."

"What if a sexy cowboy likes me?" I ask, testing him for a reaction.

"Tell him to fck off. Nobody is allowed to touch you."

The possessiveness in his tone sends a bolt down my spine. He has no right to sound like that, especially when he claims he isn't attracted to women.

"Number seven.."

"You mean number eight? The nobody should touch you part wasn't a rule."

"That isn't a rule. It is the mentality you should have around men," he says firmly, his eyes blazing with a fire that makes my chest tighten.

"Except you, and the stallion waiting to bang the sht out of me for the sake of promoting peace between our families."

A stallion I have never even met, his face familiar only from pictures. My future happiness reduced to a business transaction.

"Antonio Calafiori," Cooper says quietly. "Your father told me about him."

"What did you think?" I ask, hating how desperate I sound for his opinion.

"He seems adequate," Cooper replies, his jaw tight.

"That is all you have to say about the man I am supposed to marry?"

"What do you want me to say, Vittoria? That he is a lucky bastard?" The words come out sharp, almost bitter.

"Maybe that would be nice to hear for once," I mutter, looking away.

Another hostess approaches with the bottles of water. "Your drinks sir," she says, her eyes lingering on Cooper and his muscles.

"Thank you." He glances at her name tag. "Jesse," he says, smiling politely.

She tucks a strand of hair behind her ear before walking away, her hips swaying more than necessary. Is he seriously flirting with her right now?

"What if I am craving a big fat dick to stretch me, just like our slutty Jesse?" I say after she disappears into the cockpit.

I know I am being petty, but watching him charm her while treating me like a burden twists something dark in my chest.

"I didn't do that to get into her pants," he says, opening his water bottle. "I was reading her body language. Someone with military training won't relax in combat mode."

Yeah right. If I weren't here, this 'gay man' and that btch would have joined the Mile High Club.

"You still haven't told me what I am supposed to do when I am horny."

"Use a vibrator. Don't pretend you don't have one," he replies without missing a beat.

Heat floods my face. He isn't wrong. There really are three in my luggage.

"Jerk," I mutter to cover my embarrassment.

"Number seven, in the event something happens to me, don't involve the cops. Take the cash and go straight to the United States embassy."

"Why not the Italian embassy?"

"We don't know how connected this person is or how far they will go to end your life." he explains.

"And if both embassies are compromised?" I ask, genuine fear creeping into my voice.

"Then you use those language skills and disappear," Cooper says, his expression softening slightly. "Obey these rules, and we will have a better fighting chance. Any more questions?"

"No Daddy. I will be a good little girl," I murmur, my tone more teasing than I intend.

Cooper's eyes darken, and his jaw tightens before his mask slips back into place. "Don't ever call me that," he says, his voice low and strained.

"Does it bother you, Cooper?" I press, leaning forward slightly.

"It is inappropriate," he says, looking away.

"That isn't what I asked." I tilt my head, studying the tension in his shoulders. "I asked if it bothers you."

"No," he admits through gritted teeth.

"Liar." I smile, feeling bold. "Your jaw does this thing when you are lying, it twitches."

"You are imagining things."

"Am I?" I lean closer, close enough to smell his cologne. "Then why are you gripping that armrest like you want to strangle it?"

Jesse returns with a bright smile. "Can I get you anything else before we begin our descent?"

"No thank you," Cooper says, his voice perfectly controlled again, as if the last few minutes never happened. She nods and walks away, leaving us in charged silence.

But I saw the crack in his armor. And now that I know it is there, I can't help but wonder how far I can push before it shatters completely.