Total pages in book: 114
Estimated words: 110771 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 554(@200wpm)___ 443(@250wpm)___ 369(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 110771 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 554(@200wpm)___ 443(@250wpm)___ 369(@300wpm)
“Morning,” I whisper.
“Morning, Princess. Did you sleep well?”
“Oh yeah. Daddy wore me out.”
He laughs, pulling back to shake his head. “I think you might enjoy our bedroom activities even more than I do, baby.”
I shrug, because I’m not sure I like it more, but I definitely like it as much as he does.
“Okay, Ena, we need to start planning our wedding. I want you under my protection and my ring on your finger, declaring that you belong to me and are not to be fucked with.”
“Marco—”
“Speaking of which,” he continues not letting me speak. I give him a mean look, but he’s steadfastly ignoring that and instead, reaching into the pocket of his slacks. I mostly ignore that, taking in how dapper my man looks in his black pinstripe suit. All at once he gets my complete attention. I gasp as he shows me a large velvet ring box by depositing it in my right hand. Then, he takes my left hand and grabs hold of my engagement ring, pulling it off.
“Hey!” I cry. For a second, my heart squeezes in my chest. Is he breaking up with me?
I wasn’t in love with that ring. It was rather small, and though I wouldn’t have cared, because it meant I was marrying Marco. I watch as he carelessly tosses it over the veranda to fall three floors down. My body jerks. “What are you doing?” I cry.
Marco gives me a quick kiss, closed mouth but intense. “That was the ring I purchased because of my father. I couldn’t buy the kind of ring I wanted my wife to wear. If I had, it would have let him know that you were important to me.”
“Oh,” I murmur. “Still, that’s kind of wasteful. I was more than satisfied with that ring.”
“I wasn’t. Anything my father touched is poison. It needs to be gone.”
I don’t really know how to respond to that, so I say nothing. My gaze drops down as he opens the box he placed in my hand. Which, with hindsight, should have clued me in that he wasn’t breaking up with me. Inside the dark green velvet padded box is a princess cut diamond and not just any diamond it’s a large, crystal-clear diamond with ten smaller diamonds surrounding it. I watch, stunned, as he slides the ring on my finger.
“When I did this years ago, I had no idea of the gift that was being given to me, Ena.”
“Marco…” I whimper, feeling so much that I have no idea how to put it into words.
“I do now, baby. I won’t allow your father or anyone to hurt you ever again.”
I feel tears stinging my eyes and he leans down to touch my lips. I immediately open to him and his tongue slides into my mouth with a languidness about him that he’s never had before. This kiss isn’t about passion—although that’s present. This kiss is a promise, and it rocks me to my core.
“Really you two, are you seriously at it again?” Sebastian gripes, ending our perfect moment. I look up into Marco’s eyes when we break apart. He uses the pad of his thumb to wipe away a tear that has escaped. I bite my lip as he sucks it into his mouth.
“Shut up, Sebastian.”
“No, seriously, I need to know. Is there some kind of new fad where couples can’t sit apart at the table when eating breakfast?”
“Couple,” I whisper to Marco almost gleefully.
Marco smiles, and bends down for another kiss, this one quicker, but I love it just the same. He pulls me around so that I’m facing Sebastian and my back is pressed against his front. His arm goes around my waist.
“If you’re done busting my balls, would you like to tell me if you’re ready for the meeting with Antonio’s men today?” Marco asks.
“Antonio is coming? Is Melina here?”
“Sorry, Princess. It’s just a meeting with Victorio and Lodi.”
“Oh. Still, while they’re here, we should take them to dinner. I’d love to thank them once more in person.”
“No,” Marco grumbles.
“No?” I frown at him. “Why not?”
“Victorio is too damn pretty. Women fall over him like he’s some rockstar god. You aren’t getting around him.”
“Um…Marco, you cannot be serious.”
“I am. You are only around him in emergencies and only after I’ve repeatedly fucked you so you remember who you belong to. Not to mention you’ll be too worn out to worry about the likes of Victorio.”
“Oh my God! Sebastian can hear you,” I hiss. For his part, Sebastian is busy laughing his ass off.
“So? If he had a woman, he’d do the same damn thing,” Marco responds.
“He’s not wrong. Someone should really mess that man’s face up. He’s too pretty,” Gio says, joining us.
Elias is walking beside him and is nodding too. “Victorio is a nice enough guy but part of me wants to kick him in the balls every time I see him, and I have no idea why.”