'Mai!'
Tomas uttered that single word.

Alina stared at him fiercely. 'What do you mean, "never?" She questioned frustratedly.

'I told you before I married you that there will be no divorce!'

'Well___things change,' Alina could sense herself losing the battle here. All she wanted to do was scream at him or cry her heart out.

'You can't force me to stay married to you,' she challenged. 'In my country there are laws against that,' she said a silent prayer that their marriage had occurred in Britain.

'We have a contract that binds us together,' he reminded her. 'You could lose your precious restaurant,' he warned.

'I don't care about it anymore!' she yelled. 'In fact___ I was going to sell it. Three companies have offered for The Emily. But you can have it! Keep all the bloody money that I have ever paid you, every cent of it!' She stabbed her index finger into the air. 'Take everything,' she angrily removed her wedding band and slammed it on his desk. Tomas was beginning to feel some palpitations himself.

'Just answer me this Tomas, why did you marry me? Why? You could have any woman in the world!' She leaned against the office door, her palms pressing against it, needing its support.

Tomas remained silent, playing for time, hoping to diffuse the surge of anger that was mounting inside her. As his wife, Alina had never before visited his offices. The last time she'd been here was the very first time he'd laid eyes on her and for some inexplicable reason, he had sensed then, that their destinies were somehow eternally knitted together.

Why did she come here? Couldn't she wait until we got home, to have this discussion?
Surely the office was the most inappropriate place, to discuss what he construed clearly as a personal matter, judging from the furious expression on his wife's face. Yet he knew he had to say something.

'Alina ...'

'Don't take another step,' she held out her palm protectively in front of her body. 'Don't even think of ... touching me.'

She knew how dangerous his touch was. It stole all her control. She was like putty, yielding to his every whim whenever he touched her.

Tomas stopped where he was. It had been his intention to take her into his arms. Nothing gave him more joy than having his wife in his arms. Something about this remarkable lady made his senses race in different directions. She had him crawling about a labyrinth; hopeless in protecting his own heart from her, but the maze just kept becoming more intricate, that it asphyxiated him.

'What is wrong cara mia? I know that you enjoy me touching you,' he boasted.

'Don't call me ... infact just shut up,' she screamed, totally unfazed that his secretary just outside the door, could hear Alina screaming at her husband. He still had not answered her question.

Tomas had never seen his wife this angry. First she came here demanding answers. Then she instructs him to shut up. For the life of him, he could not understand her fury.
Women!

But, he was not a man, who fell on his sword, or gave up at the first hurdle. He did not become a billionaire by throwing in the towel when defeat stared him in the eye.

'We are good together, cara. I see it in your eyes when we make love,' Tomas' eyes dared her to deny it. 'And you enjoy making love to me cara, I know it. You have reached out for me often. If you did not enjoy my body ...'

'I told you to shut up,' she measured the floor space in Tomas' office in her rather familiar manner.

'I thought perhaps you came here to talk?' Tomas ventured dangerously.

'Just tell me why you married me Tomas, for I sure as hell can't fathom the reason,' she searched his face for any clues, but as usual got nothing from that poker face.

His eye shuttered, silence became his temporary weapon, but it did not mean nothing was going on behind those intelligent charcoal eyes. He was always planning three steps ahead. That is how he managed to remain a successful billionaire!

'Tomas!' Her tone was impatient.

'What's to fathom cara? Do I not see to your every need?'

Every need except love!

'You think materialism is an adequate substitute for your cold, insensitive, lack of interest in our farce of a marriage?'

'Cold?'

Trust him to pick on selected words. Okay in bed you are hot as hell.

'Insensitive?'

Okay, you've been good to Emily and Caroline  ... and me.

'Lack of interest?'

Alina decided this was the moment to resume her attack.
'Well since you hooked up with your French lover, you've hardly paid any attention to me, have you?' She accused, her face turning scarlet.

'Scusi!'
He observed how her face coloured profusely, but he dare not attempt to assume any advantage.

'Don't play dumb Tomas,' a pained expression covered her face. 'I know you've been having an affair with that woman you were with in Frankfurt.'

Tomas' eyes literally bulged like saucers. 'You are crazy cara!'

'Am I!'
Alina dug into her handbag and removed the incriminating newspaper article that she had been carrying around in her bag and torturing herself with in the recent weeks.

'Do you remember now Tomas?' Tears streamed down her face, as she slammed the crinkled page on his table. 'Surely you have not replaced her already!' She spat out.

Tomas could not believe what he was hearing. He searched his wife's teary-eyed face in astonishment. Was she serious! He stared at the tattered article she seemed to have angrily torn out of the paper. How many times had she been tormenting herself looking at that?

'Where are the rest of the attendees at that dinner?' He asked softly.

'Excuse me?'

'The rest of the people that were at that dinner table cara! I was not dining alone there. There were five other business people at that table!'

Alina looked away, scanning her memory. She recalled three other newspapers ran that exact same picture of only Tomas and that woman. How could they be so irresponsible!

Tomas' voice broke into her thoughts. 'I have not been intimate with her, nor had any kind of relationship with her,' Tomas stared Alina square in the eyes.

Alina released her breath in small measures. She believed him. He might be many things but a liar, he was not. She just knew that explicitly.

'What about Gabriella?' Alina sneered angrily, fighting like a wounded animal to the death.

'What about her?' He turned away from Alina.

'Don't hide your face from me, damn it! I want to see your eyes!'

Slowly Tomas turned to face her again. 'What would you like to know about Gabriella?'
He sounded angry. Did Alina want to know that his mother had been hell bent on having Gabriella as her daughter-in-law, irrespective of her only son's feelings on who he wanted as a life partner?

'Is it true Gabriella can't have children?'

Tomas raised an eyebrow in confusion. He thought they were discussing their marriage. 'Gabriella?' He laughed. 'Oh she can have children, I'm pretty sure. Not that I ever put it to the test or ever desire to. Gabriella chooses not to mar her body by subjecting it to a pregnancy.'

Never put it to the test?...No desire?
But---she was your first love...surely you made love with her.

'But you ... wanted to marry Gabriella?'

'Scusi! Why would I want to marry somebody I don't love?'

'What!'

You married me, does that mean...?

'Tomas ... !'
The dam wall burst, tears flowed unchecked. 'Please ... explain ... yourself,' she hiccupped through her over flowing tears.

'What should I explain cara mia?' He murmured, taking his time to reach her? Alina stared at him drawing closer to her. She bit on her lower lip, hating how weak she felt. How much she wanted the heat of his body against hers, his protective arms wrapped around her and the comfort she knew, only he could give her.

'Why the tears?' He drew her into his arms, like a soldier, giving a life line to a wounded compatriot in a war torn battlefield. Using his thumb, Tomas gently wiped her tears away, but they continued to flow.

'I can take it when you're angry and fighting me tesoro, but your tears breaks my heart, makes me weak,' his hold around her waist tightened.

'You just asked, "Why should you marry somebody you don't love?" She sobbed.

'Si.'

'But you married me!'

'Si.'

'Tomas ... please.'

He laughed ever so softly. 'Don't you know it tesoro?'

Her head moved form side to side. More tears rained down. Her fingers gripped his shirt tightly.

'Have I not shown you, with my lips, my body, my hands, my eyes ... my heart?'

'Just say it Tomas!'

His eyes locked with hers, tenderly reflecting the words she wanted to hear, but she could not be sure...until he spoke them.

'Ti amo.'

Alina stared, dumbstruck, speechless. She wanted to throw her arms around him and make wild passionate love to him right there on his office carpet, until her brain kicked in. She escaped from his arms. She could not think rationally, imprisoned in his arms. Tomas' eyes shuttered, noting she did not reciprocate his confession.

'When ... when did you get this revelation Tomas? You've been cold and calculating since the first night you threw me out of your bed!'

Tomas closed his eyes for a millisecond. She saw the self recrimination etched on his face. He lowered his head, hiding his eyes.

'You have been dominating and manipulative. I had to hop, skip and jump every time you cracked your whip' Alina threw at him.

'I am sorry cara,' his tone was apologetic, his face remorseful. He offered no excuses for his repulsive behaviour. Alina stared at him, torn between conflicting emotions, edging her in different directions.

Tomas spoke softly, a distant look in his eyes. There was a slight smile on his face, but he was not looking at her. 'I fell in love with you in the Chianti Village when you made ribollita polenta for me.'

The way to a man's heart...is through his stomach. Alina remembered hearing that often during her university years.

He brought his eyes to her, 'Instead of impressing your TV host, with your culinary skills, you served me first,' he reached out for her, clasping his hands to hers.

'Why didn't you tell me that you love me?' She removed her hands, and felt a tad guilty at her unfair question.

He looked away, his response a soft murmur. 'I thought you would laugh at me,' a pained expression crossed his face. 'The way Gabriella laughs at all her unsuspecting lovers. I grew up with her. She toyed with men,' he spat. 'She used her beauty to bring men to their knees. Whenever one of her victims would stupidly confess his love for her, she would laugh at him and dump him. 'I would not know how to deal with that rejection, if you did it to me cara mia.'

'You hurt me ... so many times, Tomas. Starting with the very first night, we made love,' she whispered. 'I had no ulterior motive, other than for us to enjoy the pleasure of being in each other's arms.'

'Si, I know that now,' he swallowed painfully.

'You are ashamed of who I am,' Alina accused. 'You practically ignored me the first night I met Gabriella. Like you wished I was not there.'

Tomas shook his head. 'No cara,' he denied vehemently. 'It was my mother I was furious with.' Tomas omitted to tell Alina of his mother's obsession to get him married to Gabriella. 'It was just too much of an effort for me to pretend to be happy that night, forgive me,' he murmured, 'and for the record, I am very proud of who you are cara.'

'So why did you make me marry you?' She demanded for the third time. 'I know it has absolutely nothing to do with the restaurant.'

He shifted uncomfortably. For a moment, there was that anguished look in his eyes. He shrugged, threw his hands up helplessly.

'Answer me,' her command was but a whisper.

His shoulders rose as he inhaled deeply. He took his time before he responded.  'I was attracted to you from the first second I laid eyes on you, before you saw me.  That first night ... you took me by surprise cara,' he confessed awkwardly. The way you made love with me ... I've never felt that with another woman.
Ever.' His eyes held hers sincerely. Alina looked away silently pleased he had felt the same intensity she had.

He continued when she did not intervene, 'the intensity of your response, especially since you were untouched, it frightened me. I could not understand  this power you had over me.  I wanted to fight it ... to fight you.' he lowered his head. 'When I wrongly suspected you slept with me just to benefit a contract, I felt ... used.'

He hung his head. 'You made me feel things no other woman ever did and when I thought you only used me... I wanted to hurt you, because deep down in my heart, I knew you were special, like no other, but I refused to yield to what my body wanted and so ... like a wounded animal I decided to hurt you, make you hate me,' he looked remorseful, ashamed of himself now. He swallowed convulsively; his face contorting.

'So you threw me out of your bed, said those hateful things, just because your pride could not deal with the attraction between us?' She stepped away. He could feel the tension in her body. Could feel he was losing her, but his pride and integrity demanded he answer truthfully.

'Yes,' he mumbled contritely.

He could have made excuses, offered justifications, tried to weasel his way out, but he was too proud to tell a lie. He had already confessed his initial intention was to hurt her; to make her hate him. In that way, he hoped, she would ensure there would never be a repeat of their lovemaking. But who could have predicted that the raging insatiable inferno between then could never be quenched, not then, not now and not before eternity was over.

'No woman ever touched me previously, the way you did that night cara,' his voice interrupted her thoughts.

'And yet instead of nurturing what we had, you chose to behave so despicably!' She vented.

Tomas inhaled heavily. 'I would ask your forgiveness, but I don't deserve it,' his eyes were glassy, 'that night, after you walked out with so much dignity ...'

Dignity...hah. If only you know I just barely crawled out.

Tomas continued, 'that night ...your innocence, your enthusiasm to please me; your passion; your response to my every touch, stayed with me after you left ... it kept me up all night. I could feel your gentle hands all over my body, your sweet voice everytime, I did something that had pleased you.
You had done many things to please me that night! I couldn't stop thinking about you, every day and every night.'
He looked at her in agony. 'I wanted you again, ... I knew then what I felt for you was deeper that what I'd ever felt for any previous lover, but I knew there was no way you would come back to me, not when I had insulted you and thrown you out of my bed,' he gave her a pleading look.

'Hence your arrogant caveman tactics in forcing me to marry you,' she finished.

He had the grace to squirm at her accurate analysis. 'I made enquiries ... I knew you were the only breadwinner, that your family depended on you, that you would do anything for your sister and niece...'

'So you thought extortion and bullying was the way to go?'

His shame and self disgust was evident on his embarrassed face. He dragged his eyes away from her.

'Clearly you'd done your homework rather thoroughly,' she narrowed her eyes.

'What I did was despicable,' he admitted without any attempt at mitigation.

'Such big words for such an arrogant Italian,' it was tearing her heart to shreds to see this proud man standing there, allowing her to fire at him from all cylinders, but she needed to get everything off her chest.

'I know you cannot forgive me cara. I am ashamed of the disgraceful thing I did. I will pack my clothes and leave ...'

'Leave ... but that is your house!'

'I will transfer it to your name cara ...' his eyes moistened. He lowered his eyelids so she would not see, 'for you and Caroline and Emelia. I have started a trust fund for Emelia, you must ...'

'What happened to, "there will be no divorce."

'I cannot bear to look in your eyes anymore,' he turned away. 'You hate me. I will give you your freedom.'

'I don't hate you.'

Tomas swung around. 'Scusi!' He stared uncomprehendingly. Alina rushed forward into his arms.

'Oh Tomas,' she sighed. 'I love you.' Her hands clung to his face, as she kissed him passionately.

'Tu parli Italiano?'

Alina smiled shyly. He wanted her confession in his language.

'Ti amo caro.' ...I love you darling.

She draped her arms around his neck. 'I didn't want to fall in love with you, not after the way you bullied me into marrying you,' she exhaled, as if clearing a seemingly impossible hurdle 'but, you're so gorgeous, ... with such a sexy body,' she laughed softly, 'and you've been so caring that I could not help myself,' finally her emerald eyes shone with her love for him.

'The accusations I heard earlier was "cold...insensitive...lack of interest?' I think,' he reminded her, with a smile.

'I lied. I'm sorry,' she stood on tiptoe and captured his lips in a reconciliatory kiss. She moaned protestingly until Tomas expertly took over.

Alina pulled Tomas' head lower and whispered in his ear. A broad grin spread across his face as he submissively gathered his wife in his arms and headed for the door.

     Panting for breath and totally spent, Alina collapsed on Tomas. He pressed a kiss on her sweat glistened shoulder and raked his fingers through her silky curtain of hair, whispering sweet endearments in his mother tongue of how much he loved her.

'I can't believe I was stupid enough to believe Keres' lies,' Alina breathed with difficulty.

Tomas' body tensed angrily. 'What did she say to you?'

'It doesn't matter anymore,' Alina murmured, as she lay comfortably in Tomas' arms. Her husband loved her. That was all that was important. She smiled into his eyes. Her fingers trailed caressingly over the taut muscles on his chest.

'I demand you tell me,' Tomas lifted her hand, taking one finger into his mouth. His tongue circled erotically around her finger.

'Don't ... do that,' she groaned pleadingly.

'I'm waiting,' his eyes teased mercilessly.

Perhaps he needed to know just how vindictive Keres and Gabriella had been. Alina inhaled deeply and quoted Keres, "That you are in love with Gabriella. That she was your first love.'

Tomas swore angrily. Alina pressed her fingers to his lips.

'She said you will never love another, that you only married me because Gabriella can't have children due to some childhood sickness that made her infertile.'

'I bet Gabriella fed her that rubbish,' Tomas hissed angrily.

'She's strikingly beautiful,' Alina admitted.

'Yes she is cara, but I have never felt any attraction for Gabriella.'

Alina lifted her head and looked Tomas squarely in the eye. 'You sound like a man scorned.'

Tomas rolled with Alina, so she was on her back, facing him. 'I may sound that way cara, because I watched her first hand. She treats men like pawns in a chess game.

She has tried many times to get me into her bed, but all I see is a cold, vindictive woman, who only loves herself. She is beautiful yes, but only on the outside,' Tomas' eyes blazed angrily. 'I could never love her,' his declaration was emphatic.

Alina could not believe how tolerant Tomas always was around Gabriella. His character and good manners commanded he treat her with polite courtesy, and as Alina searched the archives of her memory that was all she had ever witnessed Tomas display around Gabriella. How stupid she had been to be jealous, mistrusting and gullible!

'I'm never allowing Keres in our home again,' Tomas vowed.

'Don't be silly Tomas. She is your mother. Families need each other.'

He was so furious with his wife; he reverted to his mother tongue. 'You can say that after the way she treated you, after the way she tried to destroy our marriage!'

'I'd give anything to have my parents back,' Alina choked on her breath.

Tomas held her tightly. 'Your parents were good people,' he justified. 'They raised you and Caroline well.'

'You are a good man too, Tomas Casiraghi.'

'The stunning lady I coerced into marrying me would not say that.'

'You are a good man,' she repeated.

'Well ... neither of my parents should take any credit,' he pouted adorably.

'I think Papa Casiraghi is endearing,' Alina commented.

'You shall have eyes only for me. Is that understood?' Signs of the dominating King Casiraghi were beginning to manifest again. Alina laughed. She did not care anymore. The king loved his queen.

'Yes Your Majesty,' she grinned, wrapping her arms around his body possessively. 'Enough of doom and gloom,' Alina smiled, cupping her husband's face lovingly. 'I think we deserve a proper honeymoon.'

His face brightened enthusiastically. 'You can get away?'

'You will not assault my staff ever again, Tomas,' she warned.

He looked away sheepishly. Only now was his jealousy understandable. Tomas should have known, she believed in fidelity, like she knew with absolute certainty, it was a virtue her husband held in good stead as well.

'Tell me where you would like to go tesoro. Your wish is my command,' he urged.

Actually I don't want to leave our bed. 'But surprise me,' she smiled. 'Take me somewhere, where I can fall in love with you all over again.'

'I know the perfect place,' Tomas laughed happily, throwing off the bedding.

'What ... are you doing?'

'Get up and pack cara. Lots of bikinis,' he strutted around in all his naked glory.

'We're going to leave right now!'

'On second thoughts, don't pack. I am getting you a brand new wardrobe,' he lifted his wife off the bed and carried her to the shower.

'But I have more than one brand new wardrobe as it is,' she protested, her arm clinging tightly around his neck.

'None of it is appropriate for where we're going,' he grinned.

Alina smiled. It was probably a romantic island somewhere, if "lots of bikinis" was the dress code. Where ever it was, Alina looked forward to a proper well deserved honeymoon.

     'Alina! You are home early,' Caroline wheeled herself into the living room, looking tired. Alina knew she'd had a gruelling two hour physio session earlier. She was making such good progress.

'Hi,' Alina beamed, her eyes met Tomas' briefly. She smiled at her husband adoringly and focused her eyes on her sister again.

'Don't tell me ... ' Caroline stalled in mid-sentence.

'What shouldn't I tell you?' Alina laughed softly, her free hand reached out for Tomas.

'You're pregnant!' Caroline laughed, observing the celebratory champagne in Tomas' and Alina's hands.

'I'm not pregnant!' Alina laughed.

Alina was very pleased that she was not. She would not have wanted a pregnancy compounding her dubious marriage. She knew if she had been pregnant, Tomas would never have annulled their marriage and quite frankly, she would not have the heart to take their child away from Tomas, not when he adored children as much as he did.

'Oh,' Caroline sounded disappointed.

She smiled at Tomas. He was such an amazing support system for Alina. Caroline loved how Tomas' eyes always followed Alina wherever she was. He was always in the kitchen with her helping to set the table at meal times and Caroline could not help notice how Tomas always found an excuse to touch his wife. She was so happy that Alina found a husband who adored her...just as her own late husband had worshipped the ground she walked on, and she was thrilled that very soon, thanks to Tomas, she would be walking again. Caroline could not wait, hence her accelerated efforts for that day to draw closer.

'Actually,' Tomas leaned over, and brushed Alina's lips caressingly, 'my wife wants another honeymoon.'

'Again!' Caroline laughed. 'I'm so envious.'

Alina laughed. Her tongue traced over her lips, tasting Tomas' champagne kiss on her own lips. 'Our honeymoon was so ... rushed,' she smiled shyly.

'This time, my wife is promising me two weeks,' Tomas grinned, 'and I'm glad she's not pregnant yet,' his eyes met hers meaningfully. 'I want to re-discover my wife's ...'

'Tomas!' Alina nudged him in the ribs none too gently with her elbow. Caroline laughed heartily, enjoying the banter between her sister and brother-in-law.

'I was going to say, adventurous spirit cara,' he laughed, as he stood up to hand Caroline a glass of chilled champagne. His wife had had an animated look about her in Sicily. Alina took her own glass to her lips in the hope of hiding her flaming red cheeks.

'Are you sure, you're not pregnant? You're glowing!' Caroline laughed.

'It's this ... conversation!' Alina stood up and fanned her face. She turned away from Tomas and Caroline... and the newly discovered knowledge that my gorgeous husband loves me.

He. loves. me.

Or could it be the most amazing make-up sex we just had?

'Why does the conversation make you blush cara?' Tomas' arms circled her waist possessively. His head dipped to nibble at the soft flesh at her throat.

'I am not blushing,' she laughed, trying in vain to escape out of Tomas' arms. She loved his hands and lips caressing her body, but not in front of Caroline.

'Oh yes you are,' Caroline teased. 'So tell me more about this honeymoon,' Caroline changed the topic. She knew her sister was feeling uncomfortable.

'Well ...' Alina started.

'The location is a secret for now,' Tomas finished, reluctantly releasing his wife, to refill their glasses.

'He won't tell me where he's taking me,' Alina's eyes hungrily raked over Tomas, even though she'd just enjoyed a marathon love making session with him.

'Somewhere you won't need to have any clothes on,' Tomas whispered in her ear, as he handed her, her glass. It just made her blush more profusely and the desire darkened her already moss green eyes. Alina dragged her eyes away before she embarrassed herself in front of her sister.

'Caroline, I have a proposition for you,' Tomas stated.

'Oh!'
Caroline and Alina's heads swung to Tomas curiously.

'I want you and Emelia to go on holiday as well.'

Oh darling, you are just too good to be true!

'Tomas no!' Caroline politely refused. 'You have done so much for us already.'

'I can afford to Caroline. You know that,' Tomas smiled politely.

'Still, we cannot take advantage of your good nature,' Caroline refuted.

'It pleases me Caroline,' Tomas snaked his arm around Alina's waist, 'and I know it will please my wife as well.' Their eyes locked. Alina nodded ever so slightly. She knew Caroline was uncomfortable to accept charity, she would be too, but Alina knew without a shadow of a doubt that her husband's motive was purely benevolent. 'Imagine how excited Emelia would be,' Tomas dangled the carrot to get Caroline's compliance.

'I guess my daughter would greatly appreciate your kind gesture Tomas,' moisture filled Caroline's eyes.

'Alina and I would not be happy, to go away and leave the two of you here by yourselves,' Tomas affirmed. 'So there you go,' he removed something from his pocket. 'Just take your pick,' he smiled, handing an envelope to Caroline. 'Disneyland, New York, Australia, anywhere that you and Emelia would like to visit,' he smiled. 'I have already briefed my secretary, when you make your decision, she will attend to everything for you.'

'Thank you Tomas. I don't know what else to say.'

'Thank you Tomas,' Alina echoed. She stood up on her tip toes and kissed his cheek.

'You'll have to do better than that, if you really want to show me your appreciation,' he murmured for her ears only.

'Be quiet!' she elbowed him again.

'So you never told me why you're home so early?' Caroline questioned her sister.

'I ... just needed to get away from the restaurant,' Alina avoided her sister's eyes.

'I don't know what's your plans for this afternoon,' Caroline smiled. 'I would love a nap right now. Thanks for the champagne,' she raised her glass to Tomas and wheeled herself out.

'Only a pleasure,' Tomas answered Caroline's retreating wheelchair.

'So are you going to give me a hint about where we are going?' Alina pleaded, wrapping her arms around Tomas' neck.

'I told you already,' his hands around her waist rocked her gently. 'No clothes ...'

Alina sighed,' I need more than that darling ...'

'As you request,' Tomas scooped her into his arms, and marched with her upstairs.

'Tomas!' She exclaimed with only half hearted resistance. 'We just .. '

'That was more than two hours ago tesoro. I am hungry again,' he lips captured hers whilst his feet did not miss a step.

-       end chapter thirty one-