Total pages in book: 122
Estimated words: 115291 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 576(@200wpm)___ 461(@250wpm)___ 384(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 115291 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 576(@200wpm)___ 461(@250wpm)___ 384(@300wpm)
I motioned at Romero to come inside and he did so at once. “I want a word with you.”
Romero nodded, his expression carefully blank. I was fairly sure he knew why I cornered him.
“It’s about what Matteo said this morning. You know me, but some people might not understand that I’ll kill every fucker who takes me for weak.”
Romero shook his head. “I didn’t hear anything.”
I narrowed my eyes. “Cut the bullshit. You’re one of my best men. You know exactly what Matteo meant.”
“I’ve never been a fan of the bloody sheets tradition. A man shouldn’t have the goal to make his wife bleed.”
“But it’s our tradition and you know why.”
Romero inclined his head, then he met my gaze. “I always respected you, Luca, and for treating your wife the way a woman should be treated, I respect you even more. You’ll be the best Capo the Famiglia has ever seen.”
I didn’t say anything. Romero had always been the man I trusted most beside Matteo and Cesare, and one day I’d give him the recognition he deserved and make him Captain. Fuck tradition in that regard.
I waited two days even though it almost killed me not to touch Aria, but I could tell how tender she still felt after her first time, and I didn’t want to make it worse acting like a fucking horny bastard. That evening, we sat outside on the terrace and enjoyed the warm summer air.
I absent-mindedly stroked Aria’s side, my thumb grazing her rib, feeling calm and at peace, and trying to remember if I’d ever felt anything close to it.
“I never thought I would like New York.”
I peered down at her in surprise. “You like it?”
She gave a nod. “It’s almost peaceful up here.”
“If you ignore the honking,” I said.
She laughed. “It’s not that bad. I really love the view, and it’s not like I ever lived in the countryside. Chicago is busy as well.”
“I’m glad you’re coming to terms with my city.”
“Your city,” Aria said, a smile in her voice, looking up at me. “It’s strange to think that you’ll be ruling over the East Coast, that I’ll be the wife of a Capo.”
I found it far stranger that I was sitting on my terrace with my wife as if it were meant to be like this. “With your beauty, you must have known from an early age that you’d be given to a man of power.”
Aria pursed her lips. “I knew. People never stopped telling me so, but I never thought I’d be given to a future Capo. An Underboss, yes.”
“I hear a few Outfit members would have preferred you at Dante’s side,” I said, my voice tense with possessiveness.
Aria laughed. “The Golden Couple rumor.” She shook her head. “You and I were already engaged when he was looking for a new wife.”
“Would you have preferred marrying him?” I couldn’t keep the jealousy from my voice.
Aria blinked and then she burst out laughing in earnest. My own mouth pulled into a smile watching her. “No,” she got out. “He always terrified me with his coldness.”
“Good,” I murmured as I pressed a kiss to Aria’s temple. She lowered her head to my shoulder.
“Did you have anyone in mind for marriage before me?”
“No,” I said without hesitation. “I never cared about marriage. I knew I’d be given someone from a high-ranking family.”
“Not very romantic, is it?” she whispered.
“Mafia isn’t really a place for romantic notions.”
Aria was silent for a moment. “But this feels romantic.”
She was right. I didn’t have any experience with romance, but this moment felt right.
I kept stroking Aria’s side. Her breathing deepened slowly and, for a moment, I thought she’d fallen asleep, but then she shifted and peered up at me. She leaned forward, kissing me gently. I cupped her cheek and sought her mouth, tasting her. Our kiss was slow and deep, our tongues sliding over each other without hurry. Soon Aria began rocking her hips almost imperceptibly, and my cock stood to attention. “Let’s go inside,” I rasped. Aria nodded, biting her lip. I caught the hint of anxiety behind the apparent need.
“No sex,” I promised.
I lifted her into my arms and carried her inside then upstairs into our bedroom, where I lowered her on the mattress and covered her with my body. My lips found hers once more and I kissed her until she rocked her hips up against my leg. Slowly, savoring every second of uncovering inch over inch of her skin, I pulled down her pants then lifted her shirt over her head. The lacy underwear allowed me to see her pink nipples and the enticing golden triangle between her thighs. “Fucking gorgeous,” I groaned before I lowered my head and sucked her breast into my mouth.
Aria gasped, squeezing her legs together. I took my time with her breasts, sucking and nibbling before I helped her out of her bra. Then I bent over her panties and parted her legs. I pressed a kiss to the delicate fabric over her folds. Aria moaned softly. I kissed the same spot then a bit lower. Soon Aria’s panties stuck to her pussy with her arousal. I hooked my index finger in the garment and tugged it aside, revealing her pink lips. They were still slightly red, tender and sore. I sucked one lip into my mouth, earning a delicious gasp.