Total pages in book: 105
Estimated words: 103124 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 516(@200wpm)___ 412(@250wpm)___ 344(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 103124 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 516(@200wpm)___ 412(@250wpm)___ 344(@300wpm)
“So you’d rather make love not war? Christ, being married really has gone to your head.”
“I don’t look at it as making love. I look at it as making money.” I fix my brother with a sharp look. “I’d rather be a rich man with a pulse than a dead man in the ground, and this deal improves the odds.”
Massimo lifts his brow. “So that’s it, we’re all just friends now?”
“Not friends. Not even alliances. Just business partners. You know the old saying, keep your friends close but your enemies closer.”
My brother stands. “Just remember, Cian the Violent isn’t just an enemy. He’s a snake in the grass and can’t be trusted.”
“And I have a bullet with his name on it if he tries to strike.” I stand and walk around to face him, leaning against my desk in front of him. “I know what I’m doing, brother.”
“I hope so,” he says. “Because I’m still not convinced all the blood hasn’t left the head on your shoulders to fund the permanent hard-on you have in your pants for your new wife. You can lie to me all you want, Don De Kysa, but she’s having an effect on you whether you like it or not.” He grins, and it’s laced with mischief. “Me personally, I’m kinda digging it. You’re not nearly the asshole you usually are.”
When I finally get my annoying younger brother to leave, I put some focus on our legit business interests and send off a couple of emails that have been pressing me for my attention before I leave the office.
It’s dusk by the time I find myself riding the elevator to our apartment.
The door opens, and I find my wife waiting for me on the edge of the sofa wearing a pair of black Louboutins.
And only a pair of black Louboutins.
She parts her tantalizing thighs a little wider when I step out of the elevator.
“Welcome home, husband.”
I know it’s probably a trap.
Bella should come with a warning.
She probably has plans to distract me with sex so she can plunge a knife into my back.
But damn if I care.
I rip off my tie and discard it as I let the doors close behind me. “Hello, wife.”
32
Bella
I wake up to the sound of Anastacia’s voice in the lounge room. I open my eyes and stretch my limbs and yawn, feeling more relaxed than I ever have in my entire life. Which is surprising, given the lack of sleep I got last night. A thrill runs up the length of my spine when I remember how creative Nico got with his tongue in the early hours of this morning.
The things he did to me might actually be considered depraved, I think as a wicked smile slides across my face. But very, very welcomed.
I sit up and hold the sheet to my naked chest when Anastacia breezes into the bedroom.
She gives me a look that says she’d rather give herself a lobotomy with a spoon than deal with me today.
“Good morning.” I smile brightly, determined to win her over.
“And look, she’s still in bed,” she says, yanking open the curtains.
Outside, the city is covered in whispery gray clouds as rain drops pelt the buildings below. Rainwater falls in shimmery rivulets down the glass, like tears down a cheek.
The perfect day to stay in bed and fuck your man until you can’t walk.
Those were the words I said to Nico this morning as we lay satiated in our bed, our bodies still humming from our early morning lovemaking. But he was needed at the office and very reluctantly climbed out of bed, whispering to me, “Tonight, I will fuck you until you can no longer move.”
I don’t doubt it. The man has stamina.
“So how are you this morning?” I ask Anastacia. I knew she was coming over. Today, some fancy-pants fashion stylist is coming over with some clothes for me to try on.
“Busy,” she drawls as she takes my robe off the wall and hands it to me. “You need to take a shower before the stylist gets here. You have half an hour.”
“You don’t like me very much, do you?” I say lightly as I put the robe on.
“It’s not my job to like or dislike you.”
“I know, but unless you’re a robot you must have feelings.” I tie the robe at my waist. “I think we got off on the wrong foot, and I’m sorry. The day we met—”
“And you went off like a bull in a china shop looking for Nico?”
Ah, there it is.
“I’m sorry about that,” I say truthfully.
“I take my job very seriously, Bella. I work very hard to make sure everything is organized and in its place. What you did that day made me look like a fool in front of Nico.”
I give her a remorseful nod. “It wasn’t my intention, I assure you. I was… emotional about the—”