Accepting His Name: The Sartoris, #1

By Tressie Lockwood

Author’s Note: While there is lots of delicious tension between the hero and heroine, this work is CLEAN.

If you like gentle and sweet heroes who treat their heroines like a princess, Ezio is not for you. Ezio Sartori married Shakarri Watson for one reason—he needed an heir to his fortune. All the terms were laid out in the contract Ezio’s lawyer drew up. Shakarri agreed because she was desperate to get out from under a debt she couldn’t handle, one left to her by her scheming no good father. But the cost for taking on Ezio’s name might be too high for Shakarri to pay.

Ezio is used to everyone obeying his orders, and he expects Shakarri to do the same. The contract she signed specifically states her obligation to please Ezio. Shakarri’s husband wants her pregnant within three to six months, as if a woman can control her body to such a degree.

He’s got a lot of demands, chief being Shakarri’s obedience. She’s beginning to think she made a big mistake in marrying Ezio except for two problems. One, Ezio has taken over the payments for her debt, and he can just as easily give them back. Two, intimacy with her husband is far beyond Shakarri’s wildest imagination. There are even times she suspects there’s a heart beating behind the cold exterior. She’s starting to feel something for him.

Now she has to decide—does she stay and remain at his mercy for the rest of her life or as long as he has need of her? Or should she run while she still has control of her own heart?

• Language: English
• Publisher: Tressie Lockwood
• Release date: Aug 16, 2016
• ISBN: 9781536520682

Book preview

Chapter 1

Shakarri sat on the side of the bed and played with her wedding band. Her heart stuttered as she thought again about what it meant. Not only was she no longer single, she’d married into a family like none other. She had married a man she wouldn’t have chosen if he was the last man on earth.

Okay, you’re being overly dramatic, Sha. Get a grip.

She pulled in a deep breath and blew it out. Her nerves were still jumping about in panic mode, ready to make her run screaming out of the bedroom. To try to come to terms with her decision, she gazed across the room to Ezio. He stood before the mirror above the dresser, removing the rings from his little fingers and set them on the dresser.

New fear gripped Shakarri. How weird was it that her husband wore jewelry? She wondered about it probably to distract herself from snapping. Some men wore jewelry. It so wasn’t a big deal, but Shakarri bet each of Ezio’s rings cost several thousand dollars, just like her wedding dress. Like everything around her in the mansion that was now her home.

Her finger tangled in the lace and satin over her legs, and she struggled to swallow the knot in her throat. Ezio’s gaze met hers in the mirror. Remove your dress, he ordered in simple yet firm tones.

She swallowed. Your mom wanted us to come back downstairs… That was another thing. They lived with his family. Or rather, his mom and two brothers all lived in his mansion. Ezio was the head of the family business, and he had first come over to America and settled there. Then he brought the rest of them. Being a close-knit Italian family, it didn’t occur to them to live in separate homes. Ezio could afford to buy each of them a couple mansions of their own and not break a sweat. That wasn’t his way.

He turned from the mirror and strode over to her. The nearer he drew Shakarri was reminded of just how big he was. Ezio was average in height, being about five foot eleven, but he made up for it in build. His smooth bronze skin stretched taut over bulky muscles. Even in a suit—or a tux as he wore right then—he looked like he’d just finished pumping iron.

A large hand snaked out to grasp her chin and raise it. He wasn’t rough by any means, but she didn’t see how she could resist him if she tried. "You’re taking my orders, not my mother’s."

She gasped. Orders?

Let me rephrase. Our agreement is that you will satisfy me above all else.

Shakarri’s mouth went dry. Agreement. That word had such a sour connotation. It wasn’t as if she’d sold herself to him like a prostitute. She was his wife. They were officially married, and everything was legal. She had taken on his name, although she would have given anything to keep her maiden name. Ezio Sartori sounded great. Shakarri Sartori not so much.

Shakarri, he intoned.

She stood and moved a short distance from him. Reaching up, she undid the buttons at her nape. Ezio stepped over and brushed her fingers aside. He undid the rest for himself, and she shivered feeling his fingertips skim her skin. The dress’s sheer material in the back made it impossible to wear a bra, so when the dress fell, she would be exposed.

This is all a part of the agreement, so get it over with.

At least Ezio wasn’t ugly. His thick wavy hair was coal black, and his enigmatic blue eyes captured her from the first time he approached her in her favorite coffee shop. He wasn’t handsome in the traditional sense, but he had incredible presence.

You are off the pill, he said, more of a statement than a question. This was another part of her responsibility as his wife—get pregnant as soon as possible. Ezio had even arranged for a doctor to give her a complete physical to be sure she could have babies. Talk about cold.

This is what you wanted, Sha. It was the solution to your problems, so suck it up.

I’m not taking anything. Her dress slid off her shoulders, but she caught it to keep from exposing her breasts and spun to face him. What’s the rush? You have a little girl.

Ezio apparently saw no reason to reply to her question. She resisted showing him what she thought of his lack of response.

He hooked a finger in the neckline of her dress, but he didn’t tug. Her heart skittered. You’re not backing out now. I expect an heir to be on the way within the next three months.

Your order coming right up, sir! She rolled her eyes. I can’t command my body to get pregnant.

I’m not a fool. Of course I know that. I’m simply stating my intent and my expectations. His hand slid down to her belly, and he splayed his fingers. I look forward to your belly swelling with my child.

A zing of interest rose in Shakarri from his touch. Ezio never spoke gently to her. He never tried to charm her, although she was sure he could. Someone had said Italian men were womanizers and that they could entice the staunchest woman into bed. She never got to see if that was true, because Ezio was busy slinging around orders from the beginning. No one could deny he lived a life of privilege. He probably thought her problems were so great he didn’t need sappy words to get her to comply. Since she wore his ring, he was right.

You want an heir. So what, Catarina is chopped liver?

He frowned at her use of the old expression. She will always be cared for and live comfortably, but I want a son.

Shakarri couldn’t believe his bias against women. She had seen it before they got married, and he’d even admitted to his personal views on the subject right from the start. At the time, she didn’t care as long as she got what she wanted, and that was an out. She was selfish, and she had to face the consequences. Even with him standing there giving her orders, she didn’t regret her decision. And who knew? Maybe she could find a little satisfaction in the bedroom.

Ezio’s hand went back to her chin, and he gripped it with a firm grasp. For a moment, Shakarri pressed her lips together. By nature she was stubborn. That’s why she refused to land on the street when her own dad had scammed her and left her deep in debt. She had her mother to take care of who was in a hospice. When Shakarri met Ezio, she was working two jobs and exhausted beyond measure. At first she didn’t believe him when he said he wanted to make her his.

Stop that, he said and ran a thumb over her lips. She unwound a bit, and he lowered his lips to hers. The light kiss swept her defenses, and she shook a little. He had kissed her before, and that was the deciding factor. If she was going to exchange her body for a debt paid, she wanted to enjoy it.

Ezio raised his head and looked into her eyes. His gaze dared her to deny she liked his kiss. She smirked and pressed in closer to get another. He held her off. She blinked at him. I thought you said…

He spun her away from him and kissed along the side of her neck. One arm wound around her waist while the other moved to the line of her dress again. She held onto it. He grunted in displeasure.

You’re not planning to deny me? He added a question mark to the sentence, but Shakarri heard a declaration. Let it go.

There was no turning back now. Tonight was their wedding night. She had to give in, to consummate the marriage, but she didn’t know him that well. Their courtship was three weeks long, and then they had gotten married. Just long enough for Ezio to determine she fit his parameters. When Ezio made a decision, he didn’t expect opposition. Everyone must fall in line with his dictates.

M-maybe a drink? she suggested, embarrassed. It wasn’t that she was a novice when it came to intimacy, but all the nerves she’d suffered before today came flooding back. Not to mention how heavy handed he was with the orders. In any other situation, his attitude would have pissed her off so much she would have told him about himself.

He hesitated. I’d be within my rights to put you on the bed and demonstrate what I want from you.

Her nails cut into her palms, and she bit her tongue. Shut up, Shakarri. He hasn’t paid off the debt yet. That was the crux of it. To be sure Shakarri cooperated, Ezio had taken over the monstrous monthly payments for her debt. He would take care of it every month so long as she kept her part of the bargain. He had insisted she leave her job, so even if she ran now, she would have no more than the clothes on her back. She could almost hear the black women

Reviews for Accepting His Name

[Erato1 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

A lil slow at first but once it picked up it was an enjoyable read

[NicoleMyles · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

The reason I loved this book is because it ended up being a happy marriage and a happy ending