Total pages in book: 59
Estimated words: 54160 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 271(@200wpm)___ 217(@250wpm)___ 181(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 54160 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 271(@200wpm)___ 217(@250wpm)___ 181(@300wpm)
And I wanted her fear—just a little thread of it. I wanted her to look up at me with those wide eyes as she knelt before me, trembling because she didn’t know what I would demand of her next. I would earn her respect even if her love was an impossibility, a fantasy that didn’t exist in our world.
She wouldn’t love me, but she would submit. She would surrender her will and her body, and I would ensure that she enjoyed every ecstatic second of her submission.
Someone loudly cleared their throat, breaking through the haze of lust that clouded my mind. I remembered myself, my surroundings. I’d just married Elenora, and there were more formalities to handle before I could carry her upstairs and consummate our union.
I broke our kiss and almost released her entirely until she sagged against me, trembling. My arm firmed around her waist, holding her upright. Her gaze was slightly glassy as she stared up at me, her lips glossy from my savage kiss. An arrogant, slightly cruel smile tugged at the corners of my mouth.
Yes, we would get along just fine.
Chapter 4
Nora
Black ink shone starkly on white paper as I finished signing my name on the marriage certificate. I felt the seal of my signature on my soul: a damning brand.
Married. I was married to Luca Vitale.
This brute of a man who’d spanked me and stolen a ruthless kiss was now my husband. Only an hour ago, I’d been engaged to Dante Torrio, a notoriously sadistic capo who’d strangled a man right in front of me.
Which fate would be worse? Which man was more of a monster?
It didn’t matter now. I no longer had a choice. I never had. I’d always been destined to marry someone who was chosen for me. Love had been a foolish fantasy that I’d allowed myself to indulge, and the loss of that dream knifed through my chest.
The paperwork was signed, the ceremony complete. It was done.
Before I could draw in a shuddering breath, Luca’s strong arms closed around me, lifting me up to cradle me against his chest. I stiffened and squirmed, some of my defiance resurfacing; an instinctive, involuntary reaction to being carried off by a brute.
His arms firmed around me. “Calm down, kitten. I’m not going to hurt you.”
“Where are you taking me?” I hated the way my voice hitched on the question.
His ochre eyes pinned me deeper into his hold. “You know where we’re going, Elenora. Don’t worry,” he said before I could fully process the implications of his words. “I’ll make sure you enjoy it.”
I crossed my arms over my chest, as though that would be enough to shield me from the horror of his plans for me. “You’re going to force yourself on me.” The accusation was sharp, and I hoped it was needles on his soul. I wanted him to hurt for what he was about to do to me.
His jaw ticked. “You will submit, Elenora. And you will love every second of it. You’ll come to crave my touch. You’re my wife, and I’ll make you feel so much pleasure that you’ll never want to leave my bed.”
“You’re delusional,” I hissed, tightening my arms over my chest to protect my heart. It would be impossible for me to enjoy anything he did to me.
The awful memory of my traitorous arousal when he’d spanked me snaked through my mind. My stomach turned, and I swallowed against the sudden burn at the back of my throat. Fear fluttered in my chest as he locked me in his dark, unyielding stare and carried me up the stairs with steady, sure strides.
I wasn’t afraid that he would beat me; I was afraid that I would enjoy it, just as he promised. I didn’t think my pride could bear it. I’d managed to maintain some dignity during the forced wedding ceremony, but I didn’t think my spirit would survive this.
“No, kitten,” he refuted calmly. “I’m not delusional. You can try to fight me if that makes you feel better, but I have no intention of allowing my bride to remain a virgin. We will share a life together now, and that will include sharing a bed. You’ll come to crave my cock.” He brushed his thumb up and down my arm, soothing. “I understand if you’re afraid. But I’ll take care of you. There will be pain the first time, but I’ll make sure you feel pleasure too.”
My cheeks burned at the mention of my virginity. Of course, he would know that as Giuseppe Ricci’s daughter, I’d been sheltered from men. Had he been able to tell that our kiss to seal our union had been my first?
A tremor raced through my bones. Luca would be my first everything. As my husband, he would claim me in every way, and there was nothing I could do to stop him. He was so much stronger than I was, and I knew it would hurt far more if I refused to allow him to claim me as he wished.