by L A Cotton
“I want to kill him... I should have killed him.”
“So why didn’t you?”
It was the last thing I expected her to say, but I knew this wasn’t about her, it was about me.
“It’s not that simple,” I released a heavy sigh. “If I’d have killed him... it would start something we might not be able to finish. I can’t do that to the Family, to you.”
She nodded, dropping one of her hands to mine and lacing them together. “I hate Scott for what he did to me. I hate him so much that sometimes I wish you had done it.” Arianne took a shuddering breath. “But I want a life with you. I want a future. I can’t have that if you’re behind bars... or worse.”
“If he hurts you again, I can’t promise I won’t do it.”
Something flashed in her eyes, but before I could decipher it, Arianne kissed me. “I don’t want to talk any more, Nicco. I want you to love me. I want you to make me forget about the monsters.”
“Bambolina... You deserve—”
“Don’t tell me what I deserve. I can choose my own path, Nicco. And it’s you. Don’t you see that? It’s—”
My mouth crashed down on hers, swallowing her words. She was right. I didn’t want to be another man in her life taking away her right to choose. I wanted her by my side, as my equal. As the better half of me.
“I’m not sure I can be gentle,” I murmured against her lips.
I was too wound up to go slow.
Arianne gripped my jaw and eased back slightly, staring at me with nothing but love and lust. “Then don’t.”
Chapter 12
Arianne
Nicco looked ready to devour me.
Hunger simmered in his hooded eyes as they lingered on my lips. “Do you have any idea of how beautiful you are?” His words wrapped around me like a warm blanket.
When it was just the two of us, it was easy to forget everything else.
To get lost in him.
My hands went to the hem of his sweater, and I felt him shudder as I pulled the material up his body. Nicco took control, yanking it over his head. Reaching for him, I ghosted my fingers over the faded scars. There were so many. So many stories, so much pain. But every mark was a part of him. It made Nicco who he was. Fiercely protective and doggedly loyal. Nicco might have been mafioso but he loved with everything that he was, and I still couldn’t believe I got to call him mine.
No words passed between us as he pushed the jacket from my shoulders. He worked on the buttons of my blouse next, popping each one with measured precision. His fingers traced the curve of my breasts, toying over the lace shell of my bra. “Sei bellissima.”
My breath caught when his fingers found the waistband of my pants. Nicco only had eyes for me as he gently pushed the soft material off my hips, letting it pool at my feet in a silky puddle. He ran his hands down my spine, smoothing them over the swell of my hips. “I will never tire of this.” It came out a rough whisper.
Without warning, Nicco picked me up, my startled shrieks filling the room. “Wrap your legs around me,” he commanded, moving us in the direction of the bed.
His skin felt incredible against mine and I pressed myself closer, needing this moment with him.
Nicco stopped at the edge of the bed. I was curled around him, unwilling to ever let go. He nudged his nose against mine, inhaling a deep breath. A beat passed, delicious anticipation crackling around us. We’d only had one night together. This time felt different, like so much more. When our lips met it felt like a silent promise to everything that we were.
Everything that we wanted.
The world fell away around me as Nicco lowered me to the bed. He stood before me, strong and handsome; a dark angel put on the Earth to love me, and me alone. But there was a glint in his eye. A flash of something that had me sucking in a shaky breath.
Nicco popped the button on his jeans before dropping to his knees. His hair fell over his eyes so I couldn’t see him, but I could feel him. Feel every kiss as he explored my skin, touching and tasting. He branded me with his tongue, swirling it in my navel before dragging down, down, down.
“Oh God,” I breathed as he nibbled at the lace covering me.
“These need to go.” He eased back and worked them off my hips and down my legs. Nicco gave me no warning as he dived for me, licking and sucking me into complete submission. It felt incredible, the warmth of his breath against the coolness of his tongue.
“You taste like heaven,” he murmured against my damp skin. “I want to watch you fall, Bambolina. Eyes on me.”
I pushed up on my elbows, gazing at him through lust-drunk eyes. “It feels so good,” I breathed, my body shuddering.
Nicco watched me as he slowly worked two fingers inside me and curled them upwards.
“Oh my...” The words got stuck in my throat as he lowered his head and worked me with tongue and fingers in perfect synchrony.
“Come for me, Bambolina.”
His words sent me flying off the edge. My head fell back as I screamed his name, intense waves of pleasure crashing over me. Nicco stood, pushing his jeans and boxers down his legs. I watched with rapt fascination as he stroked himself. He was long and hard and so perfect it hurt to look at him.
“See what you do to me, amore mio.” His words were rough with need as he stalked toward me, kneeling on the edge of the bed. “You’re mine, Arianne Carmen Lina Capizola. Nothing will ever change that.” He crawled up my body until we were one.
“Yours,” I whispered against his lips, hitching my legs around his waist.
Nicco thrust inside me in one smooth stroke, filling me so completely I couldn’t breathe. I knew he was holding back; knew he was walking a fine line between being in control and losing it. But I didn’t want him to be gentle with me. I wanted all of him. The good, the bad, and all the broken pieces. I wanted the mafia prince, the knight-in-shining-armor, the fighter, and the lover.
Simply put, I just wanted him.
Every last piece.
Tangling our hands together, Nicco pressed them at the side of my head while the other slipped to my thigh, hooking my leg higher, letting him go deeper. Harder. He kissed me like it was our first and last time together, like he wouldn’t ever get enough. Our tongues danced a slow erotic dance as he rocked into me with breathtaking restraint.
“Nicco, I’m not glass. I won’t break.” I nipped his jaw, arching my back to meet his measured strokes.
“I don’t want to hurt you.”
“You won’t,” I breathed. “I want you. All of you.” My hand slipped down his body, pressing him against me. He groaned into the crook of my neck, his pace quickening.
“You feel so good, Bambolina.”
“But you need more,” I said, raking my fingers over his skull.
He stilled, gazing down at me in awe. “Are you sure?”
Dragging my bottom lip between my teeth, I bit down gently, nodding.
“Hold on.” Nicco moved my hands to his shoulders and rolled us without warning. My cheeks flamed at our new position. But I didn’t need to worry, not with the way he was looking at me. Like I was the most precious thing on Earth.
Nicco sat up, crushing my breasts against his chest. “It’ll be deep like this.”
“It’s okay.”
His hands went to my hair as he kissed me. My body tingled with sensation, my stomach coiling tight as he moved one of my hands to his erection. I lifted myself a little, letting him guide himself beneath me and then I sank down. Slowly. Completely. Our breathy moans filled the space between us, but then he was kissing me, rocking into me. It was different. Deeper. More intense. It was like I could feel him everywhere. He curved his hand around the back of my neck and tugged gently, dropping his mouth to my collarbone, sucking the skin there.
“It feels... God...” I swallowed a moan. Everything was heightened like this, pure pleasure coursing through my veins. Nicco licked and sucked a path down to the curve of my breasts, teasing one of my nipples. I crie
d out, but his tongue replaced his teeth, soothing the sting.
“Perfection,” he murmured against my damp skin, kissing a trail back up to my mouth.
Our bodies rocked faster... harder... deeper. Until our moans were a song. A rising cacophony of little sighs and breathy gasps. Nicco held me tighter, fitting our bodies so closely I didn’t know where I ended, and he began. It was like he wanted to crawl inside and become a part of me.
He already was though.
His soul already entwined with mine.
“Fuck, Bambolina. Nothing,” he gathered the hair off my face and pressed a kiss to the underside of my jaw, “will ever feel as good as this.”
“I’m close,” I panted, my body trembling.
“Together,” he murmured, kissing me so intensely I felt myself begin to fall. But Nicco was there to catch me as we came together, the rise and fall of our chests quick, the beat of our hearts hard.
“I can’t promise that things won’t get worse before they get better...” Nicco met my heavy-lidded gaze. “But I promise I’ll be waiting at the end.”
I nodded, too choked up to reply. In our bubble, I felt safe. I felt safe and loved and cherished. But out there, without him by my side, I felt lost. Adrift without an anchor.
Nicco pulled us down onto the bed and pulled the sheet over our bodies. He held me, his fingers dancing along the curve of my waist as the silence crashed down around us.
“What are you thinking?” I leaned up to look at him. He looked so good. His hair was ruffled and damp, while his eyes glowed with possessiveness and love.
“Everything... and nothing.”
“Sounds complicated.” I shrieked as he rolled me underneath him.
“I’m wondering how I'm supposed to leave you tomorrow. How the fuck am I supposed to let you go back there, to him? Tell me, Bambolina, tell me how?” Pain edged into his words, making my heart ache.
I lifted a hand to his cheek and gave him a sad smile. “You just do, Nicco. This is bigger than us, you said so yourself.”
He grabbed my hand and kissed my palm. “I know, Bambolina. Are you tired? Hungry? I could order something...”
“Nicco, stop.” My arm looped around his neck, drawing his face to mine. “I have everything I need right here.” I kissed him, running my tongue along the seam of his mouth and teasing him. Nicco took control, deepening the kiss and stealing my breath. Heat pooled low in my stomach and I felt Nicco hard and ready against my thigh.
“Again?” His intense gaze pinned me to the spot.
Suppressing a coy smile, I nodded.
“Jesus, Arianne.” He dropped his hand between us, finding my center. I gasped as he pushed a finger inside me. “You’ll be the death of me.”
I pulled him closer, until we were nose to nose. “I can think of worse ways to go.” My lips curved against his.
“I love you, Arianne. With everything that I am.”
“Show me,” I moaned already feeling the waves of ecstasy rise inside me.
He gazed at me, his eyes looking right into my soul as he whispered, “Senza di te la mia vita non vale niente.”
I LIFTED MY FACE INTO the stream of sunlight. It warmed my skin, coaxing my spent muscles from their slumber.
“Good morning.” My lips curved as I reached out for Nicco, only to be met by cold empty sheets. “Nicco?” I sat up, pushing wild curls from my face.
The room was quiet. Still. I pushed back the covers and found a clean t-shirt and panties from my overnight bag. Pulling back the curtains, I scanned the parking lot, but it was as empty and still as our room. Dejection swarmed my chest. Nicco wouldn’t just leave me, he wouldn’t. Not again.
Not after everything.
Panic flooded me. What if something had happened...? What if—
The door handle rattled, and I froze, my heart beating wildly in my chest. I clutched my cell phone ready to call Luis.
“Morning. I have coffee.”
“Nicco,” I cried.
“What’s wrong?” Nicco paled. “Oh, you thought I’d left, didn’t you?” His head hung low, guilt swirling in his dark eyes.
“I... I didn’t...”
“Hey, come here.” He placed the coffee and brown paper bag down on the table and stalked toward me. “I’m sorry, I didn’t think.” Nicco pulled me into his arms and I went willingly, falling against his solid chest.
“I don’t know what I thought.” I buried my face in the crook of his neck.
“Bambolina, look at me.” His fingers slid under my jaw and tilted my face up to meet his. “I won’t ever do that to you again.” Nicco seared me with his gaze.
“I know.”
I did know.
But the deep sense of dread I’d felt when I woke up to an empty bed had been real. A natural reaction to everything I’d been through over the last few weeks.
“I was awake early, and you looked so peaceful. I didn’t want to wake you.” His arm looped around me, as he swayed us gently. “I have coffee and donuts.”
“A man after my own heart.” I smiled. “When do we have to leave?”
“We have time,” he said, pulling me over to the bed. But I didn’t let go and we tumbled in a tangle of limbs and laughter. Nicco gazed down at me, brushing the hair from my face. “I wish we had more time.”
“Me too.” The pit in my stomach was back. “Is Luis okay?”
“He’s fine. Although I don’t think he got much sleep.”
“He stayed up all night?” My brows furrowed.
“He just wants to make sure you’re safe.” Nicco brushed his nose over mine, stealing a kiss.
“I need to brush my teeth.” I pressed my palms into his chest, giggling when he began to pepper tiny kisses down the slope of my neck.
His soft laughter washed over me. “You think I care?”
Nudging him off me, I sat up. Nicco stood and fetched the coffee and donuts. “Breakfast, amore mio?”
“And after breakfast?” My heart sank at the thought of leaving Nicco. I was grateful for our night together, but it wasn’t enough.
Not when I wanted forever.
“After breakfast, I’m going to carry you into the ridiculously small bathroom, strip the clothes from your body, and wash every inch of your skin, just so I can dirty you up again.”
Oh my.
My stomach clenched. “Suddenly, I’m not feeling very hungry for coffee and donuts,” I admitted.
“Eat, Bambolina. You need your strength.” He gave me a pointed look, offering me the paper bag.
“Fine, but you know my mom always says a moment on the lips is a lifetime on the hips.”
“Hush,” Nicco said. “You’re perfect just the way you are.”
“Which is why eating donuts for breakfast isn’t a good idea.” I fought a smile. This was so nice. So normal.
“Hey,” he leaned in, brushing my cheek, “don’t do that.” He must have noticed my expression fall. “We have time.”
But it wasn’t enough.
It would never be enough.
AFTER BREAKFAST, NICCO had made good on his promise to dirty me up. He’d loved me in the shower and again on the bed before finally succumbing to Luis’ insistence that we had to leave.
Our time had run out.
“Everything good?” Nicco asked Luis as we stepped outside. He took my bag, offering us both a reassuring nod.
“We need to get back though before anyone suspects anything. I’ll give the two of you a minute.” Luis headed for the SUV.
“Don’t cry, Bambolina.” Nicco swiped the tears rolling down my cheeks.
“I’m trying to be strong,” I replied. “I just hate this.”
“I know.” He cupped the back of my head, drawing me close. “I do too. But hopefully, it won’t be for much longer. Now we know who Mike Fascini really is, we can make plans.”
“What does that mean though?” My voice cracked, my heart already in tatters.
“It means we do whatever is necessary
to find a way out of this.”
“Okay,” I conceded because what else could I do? Nicco didn’t have a magic answer.
There was no answer.
“You can do this, Arianne. I know you can.”
“It’s easy for you to say, you’re not the one—” I swallowed the words. I didn’t want to argue. Not after such a perfect night. “You’ll go back to Boston?”
“I will.” Nicco looked gutted, guilt etched into the lines of his face. But it was more than his expression. It swirled around us, thick and heavy and suffocating.
“So I guess this is goodbye.” A fresh wave of tears threatened to fall, but I swallowed them down.
“I love you, amore mio. Remember that.” Nicco held me tighter. “You have to remember that.”
“Arianne,” Luis called from the car.
“I should go,” I whispered, pain flooding my chest.
“This isn’t goodbye, Bambolina.”
It sure felt like it.
Nicco kissed me. Hard and bruising, not caring we had an audience of one. By the time he brushed a final kiss over my lips, I was breathless and nowhere near satisfied.
“Go,” he barked roughly. “Before I ask you to come with me.”
I walked away, forcing myself to put one foot in front of the other, until I reached Luis.
“Ready?” he asked.
I nodded, unable to speak. Glancing over my shoulder, I mouthed, “I love you,” before climbing into the car, hoping he wouldn’t hear the sound of my heart breaking or my tears falling.
Chapter 13
Nicco
Watching Arianne climb into the SUV was one of the hardest things I’d ever done. After their car disappeared, I didn’t stick around. I grabbed my bag and hopped on my bike, the familiar rumble of the engine beneath me settling my soul.
Arianne was going back to that monster.
It wasn’t right.
But it was the only choice we had right now.
Mike Fascini wasn’t just some guy—he was a man out for vengeance. Arianne was right, we needed to know his endgame.
The wedding—not that I ever planned on letting her actually marry that fucker—wasn’t for another four months. It would make Arianne a Fascini, and the business merger would give Mike access to Roberto’s empire. But what then?