Total pages in book: 84
Estimated words: 82121 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 411(@200wpm)___ 328(@250wpm)___ 274(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 82121 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 411(@200wpm)___ 328(@250wpm)___ 274(@300wpm)
“I’m the burden,” I blurt out, feeling pathetic and useless. “I tried to tell you from the start. You don’t owe me anything, Saul.”
“I love you,” he says, holding me against him and not letting me go. “Damn it, woman.”
“Don’t woman me,” I snap at him.
“There we go. I like you when you’re pissed off. I’m not a fan of the self-pity.”
“Asshole. God, I’m trying to give you an out.”
“I don’t want an out. You’re my wife and you’re carrying my baby. You’re all mine.”
“But Renzo—”
“He’ll get over it. And if he doesn’t then maybe brotherhood means less than I thought it did.” His thumb brushes over my lips and I shiver, closing my eyes. “You’re right. Things are complicated with my family, but I’m working on fixing things. You just have to trust me.”
“How much more are you going to give up of yourself? How much harder am I going to make your life before then?”
“You don’t get it.” He’s all softness now as he leans forward and kisses me gently. I whimper, not wanting to kiss him back. My pregnancy brain is going haywire, a mixture of self-loathing and anger, and none of it really makes sense.
“Then explain.”
“I got what I want. You’re what I want. This, right here, what we’re building, this is what I want. Nana and Jason, all your problems, I want everything of you. I don’t care if it makes my life harder, because what’s the fucking point of having it easy if I’m just alone all the damn time? You make the fight worth it. Stop crying and trust me, please.”
I shake my head. How the hell did I find the one mafia guy who’s actually halfway decent?
“I might be overreacting a little bit,” I admit.
He laughs and kisses my neck. “No, I understand where you’re coming from. You have every right to feel this way.”
“And now he’s validating my emotions. Geez, you’re like a big wet dream.”
“Don’t tease me right now, baby. I’ve been thinking about that picture you sent all day.”
“Have you?” I laugh, slightly hysterical. “Even when your brother was trying to get you to marry someone else?”
“Especially then.” He kisses me again.
“Dinner’s cold.”
“I don’t care.”
“Aren’t you hungry?”
“Starving.” He kisses me deeper, tongue penetrating my lips, and I finally give in to him. I relax into his grip, sink into his kiss, and let myself float along as he pulls me toward the bed.
“I like complicated,” he whispers as he pulls off my tank top. He licks my nipples, sucking them hard, and my back arches. God, it feels good.
“Then we have the perfect relationship.”
“Damn right we do. Now, let me suck on these beautiful tits while I fuck you until you come. Can you do that for me, baby?”
I nod very slowly. “I think I can handle that.”
“Very good girl.”
Chapter 24
Molly
I huff as I carry a box up the front stoop and through the main doors.
“Absolutely not.” Saul’s at my elbow, taking it away. I complain but he’s firm and not listening.
“It’s full of dish towels,” I say, wiping sweat off my brow. Secretly, I’m happy he’s not letting me carry anything. It’s hot as hell outside and I’m having a hard enough time keeping up without lugging stuff from the truck.
“I don’t care if it’s fucking empty. You’re not working.” He gives me a hard look. “Let me and the movers handle it.”
I roll my eyes. The movers are five mafia thugs he needled into helping out. They’re mouthy, obnoxious, lazy, kind of funny, but the stuff’s getting from one place to the next at least. And Nana’s loving it: she’s sitting in the living room on a stool barking orders at the big, tough thugs, and they’re obeying her every command like she’s their own grandmother. Saul must’ve scared them shitless to get that level of compliance.
“Donnie, did you fucking let Molly pick up another box?” Saul barks at one of the thugs. He’s a heavy man, in his early forties, and is easily the most out of shape there.
He wipes a forearm across his face and gives me a sheepish look. “Must’ve snuck one, boss.”
“Don’t blame him,” I say, jabbing a finger at Saul. “I’m fine, okay?”
He grumbles, shaking his head, and Donnie gives me a friendly, thankful wink.
I find Jason with Nana. He’s repositioning the couch and moving end tables around as she tries to explain what she wants. “No, not like that. No, you have to jiggle it a little and get it wedged in—no, damn it, Jason, you’re going to break it!”
“Nana, I love you to death, but I’m about to give myself a fucking seizure just to escape this torture.”
I snort my laughter and tag him out. “Go carry stuff. The boys need help.”
He gives me a thankful look. Nana waves him off, shaking her head. “That damn boy’s going to use his epilepsy as an excuse for the rest of his life.”