Unknown Territory: Mafioso Series Book 3

by Serena Light

  "You know, this used to be our family picnic spot," Salvatore spoke in a quiet whisper as if though he were afraid of ruining the bubble of peace around them.

  "Really?" She asked, just as quiet.

  "Yeah," He nodded, propping himself onto his elbows and pointing to a patch between two vines. "We used to set up a table in the middle of the vines and bring out the food here. And after eating, we would all take these baskets and pick grapes and compete in who picked the most delicious grapes. It was often dad, but it was always fun."

  "When was the last time you guys came out here?"

  "Almost 11 years ago," Salvatore responded after a moment of thought. "Yeah, 11 years ago,"

  Another silence descended between the two before Nicole sat up, pulling her knees to her chest as she looked out at the view before them. Closing her eyes and imagined young versions of the Regnante's all seated at a table, all of them wide-eyed and laughing as they ate contently.

  "Salvatore," Nicole called out to him gently, causing him to look towards her. "What do you think?"

  "About what?" He shook his inhaler and took a shot, the cold always troubling him.

  "Where we're headed," She clarified. "I mean, we've been married for five and a half months now, and we haven't even kissed nor done anything for that matter, so where are we headed?"

  "We're headed where time wants us to go." Salvatore sighed, turning to be leaning on his side as he looked up at her and watched her lay down with her hands folded on her stomach. "And the kissing thing can change anytime," He shrugged as Nicole chuckled.

  "I'm serious, it can even change now," He told her, looking down at her.

  "Right now?" Nicole laughed in disbelief.

  "Yes, why not?"

  "Then change it." She challenged with a raised eyebrow, a sly grin on her face as she watched Salvatore glare down at her, almost certain that he wouldn't do anything.

  But her breath hitched in her throat when he caressed her cheek with the back of his hand and looked down at her. His eyes melted into pools of liquid warmth as he cupped her chin into his hand, parting her lips as she looked at him anticipation, knowing that he was either going to kiss her now, or not anytime soon. Instant relief flooded through her when he leaned down, their lips just mere centimeters away when the sound of music had them pull apart.

  Nicole sat up as Salvatore looked over his shoulder, both of them seeing a pale-faced Matteo and Thomas standing not too far away having connected a phone to portable speakers.

  Groaning, Nicole threw back her head, knowing that he was going to kiss her, but the music ruined it instead of making it more romantic. She watched him pull on his shoes before standing up and holding his hand out to her.

  "May I have this dance?" He asked with a gentle bow.

  A giggle escaped Nicole as she pulled on her shoes, and gave her hand to him. Helping her up, Salvatore led them to a relatively flat area before he wrapped an arm around her waist, pulling her closer before interlacing their free hand and started dancing to the music playing in the background. Their forehead pressed together as they slow danced to the romantic song beneath the starlit night sky.

  Salvatore pulling his head away from hers to place a kiss on her forehead, lingering there for a second before he spun her, causing her to chuckle at his antics. They spent some time dancing before they packed up everything and head back to the estate, their hands intertwined on the center console.

  Getting back, both of them went into their bedroom as Salvatore went and take a shower first, changing into black sweatpants and a long-sleeved shirt. After he stepped out, Nicole went and got changed into grey silk nightgown that reached her mid-thigh with a matching robe.

  Going back into the room, she found it vacant of Salvatore's presence and the curtains billowing. Stepping onto the balcony, she found her husband leaning against the railing, looking up at the stars, and the cold wind blowing against her bare legs had her suppress a shiver before making her way to him. Placing a hand against the small of his back, she leaned her head against his shoulder.

  "I loved today." Nicole murmured, looking out at the Tuscan peaks in the distance. "From start to finish,"

  "The night is still young," Salvatore chuckled, placing a kiss on the top of her head.

  "Then I'll love it from start to finish,"

  "Should we head inside?" Salvatore asked, a cough building in his throat as he rubbed at his chest. "It's getting cold out."

  "You're telling me? I'm standing in a silk nightdress here!" She exclaimed, wrapping her hand around his before pulling him back inside and closed the door behind them, pulling the curtains shut. Turning around, she was surprised to find Salvatore staring at her with an incomprehensible look in his eyes, a look which had cold sensation ooze down her spine. "What?"

  Without saying a word, he moved forward, cupping her face into his hand as she jumped back at the contact, her eyes widening to find his lips on hers.

  It was a gentle peck, a touching of the lips for a few seconds, but a kiss nonetheless.

  Pulling away, Salvatore rubbed his thumb over her cheekbone, looking at her in concentration as if though he were restraining himself from doing it again. But Nicole had no such self-restraint as her husband and wrapped her arms around his neck, pulling him back again and pressing her lips to his.

  They kissed with a feverish need, neither one realizing how much they had wanted this: bodies pressed together, hands roaming and grabbing onto whatever skin they could find, lips connected, the only sound being that of their erratically beating hearts and the blood flowing through their veins, the taste of each other on their tongue.

  With a stuttering breath, they pulled apart, their foreheads pressed together and their eyes closed, both of them reveling in the lingering sensation. Nicole gently pressing her fingertips to her lips as Salvatore heaved a heavy breath, trying to get out of the daze he fell in.

  "God, I had no idea how much I needed this," He groaned, pulling her hands away as he kissed her again, the suddenness having her stumble back and collide with the wall as she moaned into his mouth as his hands roamed over her body. Nicole clutched onto his shoulders when his lips wandered to her neck, placing open mouthed kisses against her skin.

  He moved his lips back up to kiss her but stopped a mere centimeter away. Nicole looking up at him with a dazed expression and watched him place a kiss on her cheek instead.

  "Why'd you do that?" She asked when he pulled away, untangling himself from her. "You don't want to do this?" The hurt seeped through her voice as he raised an eyebrow.

  "It's not that I don't want to," He clarified with a shake of his head. "I don't want to push you, and inadvertently trigger something."

  "Oh," The words slipped out of her lips as a sudden dread filled her, anger and frustration bubbling inside her knowing that she had wanted this for a while now, and now that she had it, she couldn't take it further due to her traumas.

  "I'm sorry." She spoke with a quivering voice as Salvatore was about to walk away but stopped. "I'm sorry,"

  "Hey, you don't have anything to apologize for." He turned to be facing her, cupping her cheeks into his hand and placed a gentle peck on her lips. Smiling down at her. "I'm sorry if I pushing you."

  "No...If, if that hadn't happened I wouldn't be scared-"

  "Hey, it's alright." Salvatore tucked a strand of her hair behind her ear. "Recovery takes time."

  "But it's been two years,"

  "It took me almost four and a half years," He opened up to her, the admittance having Nicole look up at him with wide eyes since he had never told her anything remotely intimate about himself. "Recovery takes time, and it's alright. We'll take things slow, yeah? We don't have an issue with slow, do we?"

  "No,"

  "No, we don't. So it's all okay, we'll take it gently at your pace, alright?"

  "Okay,"

  "There is nothing wrong with slow, and besides, we have all the time in the world." Salvatore intertwined his finge
rs with hers, leading her towards the bed as she nodded and gave his hand a squeeze, unable to wrap her mind around the fact that this man was her husband.

  Chapter XIII: Jayson Leone

  Nicole had been playing fetch with the dogs when the car pulled up into the porch. She didn't need to turn around to know it was her husband, the guards standing to attention around her was evident enough of an indicator.

  Persephone had once more snatched the ball from Hades, who let her take it back to Nicole. The woman watching the husky with amusement as it came trotting up to her and released the ball at her feet.

  "Cheater," She chuckled under her breath before picking up the ball and put it into the call launcher to throw it across the yard with both the dogs standing to a ready before her.

  "Nicole," A voice called from behind her causing her to turn around and find Salvatore standing in a three-piece grey tweed suit with a white undershirt and black tie; a black overcoat on top of his suit and gloves on his finger, his entire ensemble had Nicole lick her lips at how good he looked. "Come here," He beckoned her forward as she handed the stick to the guard beside her before making her way towards her husband.

  "Work got off early today?" She inquired as she approached him, her husband chuckling as he took off his sunglasses, handing them to Matteo behind him.

  "You could say that," He responded while wrapping an arm around her waist and leading her inside. "How are you?"

  "I'm good,"

  "Are you sure, because you didn't sleep last night,"

  "What makes you say that?" Nicole raised an eyebrow as to how he knew and stopped short in her tracks.

  "Because I slept great, and I only sleep great when you don't move, and you don't move when you're awake." Her husband smirked as she stared at him with an open mouth. "Ergo, you haven't slept,"

  "Jackass," She grumbled and hit him on his chest as he shook his head and rolled his eyes in half-hearted exasperation.

  "Everything alright?"

  "Yeah, it's fine," Nicole found herself waving dismissively as she allowed her husband to lead her into the east wing.

  "Tell me,"

  "Mom called," She sighed. "Said something about doing things for my betterment and that I should end this cold shoulder treatment,"

  "How do you feel you should act?" The doors closed behind them as he pulled away from her to take off his coat and gloves.

  "Maybe I am acting childish and petty," Nicole settled down on the couch. "But then she had no right to demand from me to get a divorce without asking me how I felt about it,"

  "So..."

  "So I am going to stick to this until they learn to apologize,"

  "Hmm..." Her husband hummed, looking at something on top of his desk. "If you feel that way, then alright,"

  She watched Salvatore pick up his phone and speak a hushed whisper before listening and then responding, finally putting the phone down and noting something on a piece of paper. Having felt her stare, he looked up to see his wife staring at him, forcing his pen to stop mid-stroke.

  "What?" He looked up at her from below his lashes as she continued to look at him with intense eyes. "Either you're going to kill me or rip my clothes off," He chuckled, finishing the note.

  "The latter," Nicole found herself admitting as she stood from her place and made her way to him.

  She wedged herself between him and the desk, effectively putting an end to his scribbling and reading before tangling her fingers into his hair, relishing the way he closed his eyes to enjoy the sensation. Inhaling his cologne, Nicole couldn't help but lean forward and place gentle kisses against his neck, softly sinking her teeth into the flesh.

  "Nu-uh," Salvatore's voice rumbled through her. "No marks, I have a meeting to go to in ten minutes,"

  "All the more reason for me to leave a mark," His wife murmured, trailing her lips higher up to his jaw. "Let them all know you're mine,"

  "They're greying old men, Nicole," Her husband chuckled. "What would they want from me to have you mark your claim?"

  "Your time," Nicole's lips drew nearer to his lips. "Your energy, and your heart,"

  "They have nothing to do with my heart," Salvatore found himself lowering his voice as their lips hovered mere centimeters away from each other. "I made it into steel to survive this business,"

  "I'll just have to melt it then," She exhaled before fisting the hair at the back of his head and pulling him towards her, effectively pressing their lips together.

  They couldn't help from devouring each other, Salvatore's hands drifting down to her waist as he grabbed her with hard hands and lifted her onto the table, Nicole gasping into his mouth before wrapping her legs around his waist, pulling him closer. Needing him closer. One hand tangled into the back of his blazer with the other harshly tugging his hair before massaging the spot with her fingertips.

  "Stop trying to pull my hair out, Gattino," Salvatore growled before taking her bottom lip between his teeth, gently biting into it as she gasped before he let go. "I can do the same and worse to you, baby,"

  "Then do it," Nicole heaved through her pants. "Show me what you can do,"

  An amused smirk overcame his lips as she felt a jolt pass through her spine, her head reeling as his eyes hardened into ice blue orbs and his hands slipped beneath her dress, caressing the skin of her thigh as she gasped, one hand clutching onto the edge of the table with the other bunching the fabric on his shoulder.

  A knock sounding on the door had Salvatore pull away from Nicole as she groaned at the lack of his warmth, her husband sparing her a fleeting glance before helping her off the table and settling her on the couch, running a hand through her hair to settle it. Before moving away, he leaned down to press a deep kiss to her lips, having his wife cling onto him, silently begging him to stay, but he pulled away and smirked at her.

  Running a hand through his hair, he moved towards the front of his desk, leaning against the edge and started taking off his blazer.

  "Come," He called authoritatively, rolling up his sleeves as Tazio entered in a pinstriped navy blue suit.

  "Sir," The second-in-command began to speak but halted when he saw Nicole seated on the sofa, flipping through a magazine before her. "They're here,"

  "Have you settled them?"

  "Yes, sir,"

  "Alright," He nodded and dismissed him with a wave of his hand.

  Standing straight, he held out his hand to Nicole, his wife taking it before allowing him to lead her out the office.

  "Why don't you go and enjoy the sunlight?" He suggested outside his office doors. "I'll see you in a bit," He placed a kiss on her forehead as she nodded, going down the path to her left while Salvatore went to the right.

  Straightening his appearance, he nodded to the guards on either side of the door as they swung it open. Standing tall, Salvatore walked inside, all the mafia bosses standing from their seats and bowing their heads to him as he made his way to the other end of the table. Settling in the plush high backed velvet seat he gave a nod to the Mafia bosses, allowing them to settle down as well.

  "Welcome," Salvatore's voice rung through the room. "Everyone knows the rules, so I need not repeat them. If you breach them, these men will be very glad to remind you," He gestured to the armed men stationed around the room, all of them holding loaded guns in hand and staring at everyone.

  "Now, let the meeting commence."

  While Salvatore dealt with the men, Nicole decided to enjoy the sunlight, running alongside the dogs and playing tag. Getting sweaty at the end of her little exercise, she decided to head back inside. Nicole couldn't keep the grin off her face as she finally felt happy and content with where she was in life.

  Their relationship has come a long way from awkward eye contact and she had to chuckle at the memory of them together.

  Since the first time, they kissed things had become increasingly easy between the two. He was a lot more open and affectionate towards her, taking her out on dates, giving her chaste kisses, and buying h
er various gifts, he once even made her a card with his nieces which ended with him being covered in glitter.

  Often on his way back from work, he'd buy her a fresh bouquet of flowers, loving the way she smiled at him. Sometimes when the mood took him, Salvatore would have Nicole dance with her, both of them laughing at various things and just overall enjoying the way their relationship was going.

  If she didn't know any better, Nicole could say that she was falling in love with him.

  The realization having her cheeks flush with a shy smile overcoming her face. they were still taking it relatively slowly, but neither had an issue with it.

  However, one issue Nicole had was that Salvatore didn't tell her what was on his mind. He was very good at hiding his feelings, but sometimes when she would see him pacing around the room or he was sitting with his eyebrows furrowed, she would try to get him to talk to her, but he never did.

  As a matter of fact, she did not much of what made him substantially him because he wouldn't let her in. But she knew that she was breaking that hard exterior of his, and Nicole had no doubt that with enough commitment and time, Salvatore would realize that he can trust her.

  Trust.

  An act her husband did not indulge in with anyone. He hadn't told her why he doesn't trust people, nor did Stephan, but she was hoping that just like one day she'll find the strength to tell him about her fears, he'd tell her about what caused him to become distrusting towards everyone.

  The sound of the husky barking had her jump in surprise as she looked up to find their bedroom door before them. Shaking her head, she pushed it open as the dogs ran in before her while she headed towards the bathroom to wash up.

  Once she showered she got changed into dark jeans with a denim button-up under a white sweater. Just as she had stepped out, the sound of music reached her ears, a wide grin splitting across her face, glad that her husband was back.

  Bounding out the walk-in closet, she saw him standing at the foot of the bed, music playing on the T.V. Chuckling at him, she wrapped her arms around his waist, resting her cheek against his shoulder blades and inhaling his perfume.