Total pages in book: 88
Estimated words: 82332 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 412(@200wpm)___ 329(@250wpm)___ 274(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 82332 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 412(@200wpm)___ 329(@250wpm)___ 274(@300wpm)
“Will you keep your voice down,” I hiss.
“Why? I was the first and only man to have my dick inside you. I don’t give a damn who knows that. Hell, I’d prefer everyone knows it.”
“Well, I wouldn’t. Who I sleep with should be my own business.”
“We didn’t exactly sleep.”
“You know what I mean. That stuff is private. I don’t want other people to know.”
“Ask me if I give a fuck.”
“Regardless, there are other virgins. You can’t marry us all. There are laws. So, really, you’re just being stupid.”
“I’m not marrying all the virgins. I’m marrying a former virgin whose pussy is now formed to fit my cock and mine alone.”
“Why would you want to marry me? You barely know me. I may have been a virgin, but I have a lot of brothers. I know how guys are. I doubt very seriously I was your first or even last hook-up.”
He wraps his hand around the side of my neck, pulling my face close to his. My breath lodges in my chest as my heart stutters. “How we began and what we are now are two different things, il mio tesoro. Tell me you didn’t miss me while we were apart. Tell me you didn’t wake up in the middle of the night wishing I was buried inside that sweet, little cunt of yours. If you can say that and convince me it’s the truth, then I’ll walk away.”
“I didn’t miss you and I never woke up like that,” I deny.
“You’re lying. I’ll punish you for that later. For now, I will accept a kiss for an apology.”
“You’re insane.”
I try to pull away from his hold, but he doesn’t let me. Instead, he brings my lips to his and kisses me. I try to resist, but it’s impossible. I’ve wanted to be back in Antonio’s arms for way too long. I give myself over to him, to the thrill of his touch and the joy of being right where I’ve wanted to be from the moment that I left his bed.
Nothing else matters—at least not now.
antonio
“What did you do to her?” Niko asks as I enter my house.
He’s leaning against the wall by a window, looking way too pleased with himself. I shake my head. The truth is I’m glad to see the asshole. After Maxwell died, I didn’t think I’d feel completely at ease with another—definitely not to let them in with my business and what I’m thinking. Niko and I have somehow managed to forge a friendship that is easy, though. He’s proven himself in the organization over the years and Maxwell was always right about him. He’s driven and the kind of man you can trust at your back.
“She fell asleep while I was kissing her,” I admit.
Niko starts laughing and doesn’t stop despite me shooting him a hateful look. That just makes him laugh harder. Melina stirs in my arms but doesn’t awaken.
“See to your woman, I’ll be down here waiting.”
“I don’t need your permission,” I grumble and the bastard laughs harder.
I take the stairs two at a time. I don’t stop until I take Melina into my bedroom. Victorio follows us up the stairs. He immediately opens the door for me, and I step inside, slamming it shut in his way-too-pretty face with a kick of my foot. The noise wakes up the sleeping beauty in my arms. I stop moving just so I can watch her eyes flutter and slowly open. She looks at me and I can tell it’s taking her a moment to focus. I think maybe sleep still has a hold on her because she doesn’t yell or try to jump out of my arms, instead she smiles at me.
“Antonio, you’re here,” she whispers. “I thought it was a dream.”
The sweetness in her voice hits me. I never expected to have a woman like her in my life. I’m not exactly sure what to do with her, but I’m not giving her up either.
“I must talk to Niko about what happened today. You stay here and rest. When I get back, we’ll talk about things.”
“I don’t need to rest—”
“You fell asleep while we were kissing. I’m trying not to let that offend me. The least you could do is sleep so that it doesn’t happen again.”
Color washes over her face as embarrassment hits her. “I haven’t slept really well since my father found me,” she confesses.
“And why is that?” I push, wanting to hear her admit it.
“I didn’t feel safe.”
“You’re safe with me and you know it. Your body knows it. Think on that, Melina. It knows you belong to me, even if you insist on fighting it.”
“I…I would like a bath and to get out of this dress. The thought that I could be married to that monster right now is more than I care to deal with.”