Total pages in book: 43
Estimated words: 39756 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 199(@200wpm)___ 159(@250wpm)___ 133(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 39756 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 199(@200wpm)___ 159(@250wpm)___ 133(@300wpm)
“Then that’s what we’ll do. We may get a hotel for the night or come back home. We’ll see how things go.” I sink further into his body, seeking his warmth. There’s one thing I’ll have to get used to staying at Nico’s house: his air conditioning is always humming, which means I’ll be freezing to death or wearing sweatpants and socks, looking like it’s snowing inside the house instead of the high nineties it is outside right now.
“Okay.” I shiver, feeling the cool temperature drop yet again. “I’m going to go grab a jacket before we head out. Between you and Wylder, I’m bound to freeze to death.”
“It’s already by the garage door, vita mia,” Nico replies, taking care of me in a way that has my heart melting in a different way.
“Oh, thank you.” Enzo appears, keys in hand, and nods at Nico, letting him know he’s ready whenever we are.
“Suburban is ready. Let’s get some food.” Nico helps me from my barstool. I pull my dress down, feeling the heat of his gaze on my thighs as he watches me do so, knowing he’s counting down the hours until he is able to rip the fabric off my body. The six of us—Nico, Wylder, Celeste, Delaney, Enzo, and myself—shuffle out towards the garage. Enzo is up front with Delaney, Celeste and Wylder take the back row, and Nico and I are sitting in the middle row. He pulls me towards him me until I’m the middle, with his arm around my shoulders, my fingers playing with his that are hanging freely. Today has been a wild ride, something out of an amusement park, my emotions soaring up and then plummeting. Truth be told, I thought Nico and I would have the evening to ourselves, but that’s not how it’s turning out to be as Enzo drives. Light chatter is happening up front, and there are noises in the background that I refuse to turn my head to see what’s happening. Dear God, my brother could cause me to toss my cookies.
“Hey, Nico.” I use my other hand to block my view of whatever the hell is going on in the back seat. I love my brother, but I’ve almost walked in on them before, and I don’t want to see or visualize what they’re doing now.
“Yeah, Journey.” There’s amusement in his voice. My face is probably giving the impression that I’m unimpressed.
“If you don’t tell your best friend to stop making sexual noises, tonight isn’t going to go the way we planned.” That’s when I hear Wylder’s snickering, Celeste slapping him and realize that little fucker did that to make me squirm.
“I think the coast is clear.” Nico’s lips press against mine, soft and sweet. The kiss is over before it could even begin.
“Assholes, all of you. The next time we all go out to dinner, I’m going to demand it happens in separate vehicles.” I turn around, moving my body until my legs are situated on the seat, nestled in the crook of Nico’s body. The laughter leaving his chest makes me huff in annoyance. It’s a good thing he can’t see the smile on my face, or he’d really have a good chuckle at my expense. I close my eyes, relaxing and soaking in those moments from earlier today, when we said our vows. I believe Nico and I can make this work, where we’ll have a few kids and grow old together.
SEVENTEEN
Nico
I watch Journey walk around the Vegas Strip, carefree and happy after a meal shared between us all, after which our group left shortly after. It was just us, with Journey’s hand in mine, after I asked Enzo to drive to a jewelry store, where she picked a ring out for me to wear—a thick band, platinum in color. She slid it on me the minute the receipt was signed. The fact that she refused to let me buy it showed me another side of her, one I know I’ll see more times to come, the independent businesswoman who takes no shit. Yeah, Journey’s going to fit right in as a boss’ wife.
“Have a good day, vita mia?” I ask her as we walk back into the house. I had big plans for making this a wedding night she wouldn’t forget. A night at a hotel on The Strip in a penthouse with a view of the city lights. Those plans were foiled rapidly after Enzo spotted a few of Petrov’s men following behind us. If it were me on my own, I’d have gone after them instead of my men having to do the dirty work without me being there right alongside them.
“I did. Can you untie my dress for me?” She turns around, showing off her bare back with two strings holding the dress together. Feeling her smooth skin all afternoon and well into the evening was pure fucking torture. Knowing she was bare beneath it only made it more unbearable. How do I know there’s no bra or panties beneath? The bra was an easy target—no strap. And her pebbled nipples when we walked by an air vent had me wanting to take off my suit jacket and drape it over her shoulders. I did it a few times, especially at a blackjack table when we stayed longer than a few minutes.