Cruel Prince: A Dark Mafia Arranged Marriage Romance

by Piper Stone

  My parents had remained devout Catholics, which had always surprised me. While my brothers and I had been raised to believe, all three of us had abandoned the faith soon after joining the family business. It seemed blasphemous on more than one level.

  But I’d listened to man’s words, his sermon highlighting the love Roberto had felt for his family. After the priest had finished, there were few dry eyes in the crowd.

  I held up my drink, swirling back and forth then taking a gulp, holding the liquid in my mouth. Tonight I needed to pull my mind away from the various business transactions that would be required over the next few days. Catherine was that distraction. I licked the rim of the glass as I sensed her approach.

  I’d made certain her closet held dozens of beautiful items. Dresses. Shoes. Coats. I’d spared no expense to ensure that she would have what she needed. I’d ordered the finest perfumes straight from Paris, and jewelry that I thought she might want. However, up to this point she’d chosen to find the most nondescript unflattering clothing that she could pull together. Of course it was on purpose. Another act of defiance.

  The perfume had gone untouched, her silky strands of hair barely brushed. Today had been the only exception, her appearance just as stunning as the woman I’d met the first time. When I gathered a whiff of her perfume, the intoxicating scent immediately forced my cock to throb.

  I slowly turned around, my hunger increasing. She stood in a spectacular cobalt blue dress, the form-fitting design accentuating her hourglass figure. She’d curled her hair and had even chosen to wear stilettos. I couldn’t have been more shocked.

  As she walked in, she kept her eyes on mine, her lovely mouth pursed provocatively. She glanced over at the bar, moving slowly toward it. I watched as she poured a glass of scotch of her own, taking her time to add two cubes of ice before heading in my direction. When she was only inches away, she tilted her head.

  Then she smiled.

  She knew how to try to get to me and in truth, whatever game she was playing on this heated night I wanted to see to its conclusion. She never failed to intrigue me with her actions or words. I had a feeling tonight was going to be some kind of a turning point.

  But by the end of it, she would be ready to beg me for more.

  More pain.

  More pleasure.

  More of everything.

  My heart thudded hard against my chest as she reached out, adjusting the collar on my shirt. When she was satisfied, she patted my chest then raked her nails all the way down before turning away.

  I gripped her wrist, yanking her against me. Her soft mewl was a delicious sound. “You look stunning tonight.”

  “I’m glad you think so. I wanted to please you.”

  Her voice was more of a purr, the sound both frustrating as well as inviting, my hunger becoming explosive. All the vile thoughts I’d had collectively came rushing into my mind, my entire body electrified.

  She tilted her head even more, the heels she wore allowing her lips to brush against mine. A scattered moan slipped up from her throat as she rubbed her lips back and forth, finally darting out her tongue and sliding it across the seam of my mouth. “And you look very handsome.”

  “Mmm… Thank you. If you’d prefer wine, I already have a lovely cabernet open for dinner.”

  “Scotch will do,” she whispered as she captured my mouth lightly, sliding her tongue just inside.

  I was almost drunk from her fragrance alone but the taste of her was so sweet that I wanted nothing more than to rip off her clothes, taking her right here and now. I was determined to wait, to at least allow her to see I had a somewhat decent side. I almost laughed at the thought. Who the hell was I kidding? I was depraved and little else.

  When she backed away a few inches, I let her go, watching with curiosity as she opened the French doors, moving outside. There was something entirely different about the look on her face. She seemed relaxed in the environment, ready to accept her new life.

  Or maybe she was conning me into trusting her in order to allow her a chance to escape. Either way, she would continue to learn who she belonged to. After a few seconds, I followed her outside, the bright moonlight creating a shimmering effect around her body. I moved to one of the chairs on the patio, remaining quiet. The scotch had a profound taste, rich and powerful.

  All because she’d walked into the room.

  “How long have you lived in this house?” she asked quietly, her voice almost singsong in nature.

  “I don’t really remember. Several years. Is that important to you?”

  “No, just curious. Other than your parents’ house, have you lived anywhere else?”

  Her questions were refreshing as well as the kind I wasn’t used to.

  “When I went to the University, yes. I was forced to share a flat with three other classmates. My father insisted. I even had to get a job.” Inhaling, I realized I hadn’t thought about those years in a long time. They’d been some of the best in my life.

  She laughed and turned toward me, taking her time to walk closer. “To make certain you knew what it was like to be a normal person and one with little money.”

  Her comment made me smile. “I guess so.”

  “And what kind of a job did you get?”

  “You won’t believe me if I told you.”

  “Try me,” she cooed.

  I had to chuckle as I thought about my inadequacies as well as my arrogance at the time. “I started in a coffee shop but after burning the owner twice, I was fired after she screamed at me. Then I tried to work in a bakery, but I was completely inept. I finally ran into a very sexy older woman at a party I’d been invited to and she asked me point blank if I would consider walking her dogs on a regular basis. With nothing else on the horizon, I took the job. Little did I know that animals don’t like me very much. I survived, but not without two bites and hundreds of scratches.”

  She seemed to be holding her breath. When she burst into laughter, I realized I felt more lighthearted than I believed I’d be. “Let me guess. You took the job for the, um, perks. Sexy older women, I take it?”

  I fiddled with my glass before rising to my feet and closing the distance. When I brushed the tips of my fingers across her forehead and down her cheek, she shuddered. “You caught me,” I said in a hushed whisper. “But it wasn’t about the perks as much as the tips I was given. For doing a good job walking their dogs, of course.”

  “Oh, of course.” Catherine tipped her head, slightly shaking it. “Just who are you really, Matteo Benedetti?”

  “I already told you. I’m a very bad man.”

  “That’s just something you hide behind in order to protect your family and keep order in your organization.” She pressed the tip of her index finger against my chest, digging it in. “I think somewhere inside of that gorgeous body of yours that you do have a heart. Maybe even a soul. If only you’d let it out on a regular basis.”

  “Emotions bring weakness, my princessa. That is something I can’t afford. That’s what got my father killed.” I lowered my head, inhaling the scent of her perfume. Just being near her brought out the possessive side in me. I not only wanted to wrap her in a blanket, locking her in a room in order to keep her safe, I craved having my body resting on top of hers, slowly driving my cock deep inside.

  She wrapped her hand around my shirt as she rose onto her toes. “I think your father enjoyed living his life on his terms and that included offering gifts to people he trusted. I doubt he would have changed anything.”

  “I think my father wanted to be like every other normal man, not the leader of a dark crime syndicate.” Our lips were now just centimeters apart. “And I think I’m not my father.”

  “And I think the real man inside of you longs to come out. Take a chance, Matteo. Maybe you’ll find not only happiness but the kind of life you’ve always wanted to live.”

  I fisted her hair, forcing the woman I owned to arch her back. Then I devoured her mouth. The taste of scotch wa
s enticing, but the sweet essence of the woman I held in my arms was far more precious and tantalizing. She didn’t fight me this time, instead mewing into the kiss as she molded her body against mine. The touch of her was just as electrifying as the moment of intimacy itself, pushing my mind into another realm of desire.

  My hunger erupted, filling my mind as well as every muscle with an almost desperate need. I wanted to continue the moment all night long, taking my time to ravage every inch of her body, waking up at sunrise to start all over again. I wanted to taste every inch of her skin, dragging my tongue along the insides of her legs, feasting on her delicious pussy. Sweet Lord, my heart was racing, thudding to the point I could no longer focus.

  She wiggled in my hold, undulating her hips until the friction she created was almost too powerful to ignore. As she slid her hand over my shoulder, tangling her fingers in my hair. She had no idea how close I was to ravaging her right there. I dominated her tongue, my intense growls erupting past our solid embrace, pushing me to the point of becoming completely irrational.

  Every cell in my body was alive with fire, the kiss nothing more than gasoline tossed over both of us. When she purposely pushed away, grabbing my hand, I felt lightheaded as hell. “What are you doing, bad girl?”

  “Why don’t we take a walk before dinner? It is a gorgeous, warm night.”

  I debated whether or not it was a good idea, but as I’d taken to doing more so lately, a single weapon had been positioned under my waistband against my back. No one would be able to get to her. “Why not?”

  Her smile was just as tempting as the rest of the luscious woman. When she removed her heels, tossing them onto the patio then intertwining her fingers in mine once again, my pulse ticked higher.

  As surprised as I was that she continued to hold my hand, the quiet that settled in was no longer unsettling, just peaceful. She led me down the path, taking a few seconds to enjoy the twinkling stars as well as the full moon.

  “This is a magical place, Matteo.”

  “I never thought of it that way.”

  “That’s very sad. You grow up in extreme wealth, able to have everything at your fingertips yet you don’t seem to enjoy your surroundings.”

  “You grew up in a wealthy family.”

  She laughed, darting a glance in my direction then taking a sip of her scotch. “Not at first. My father was a lowly police officer when I was born. Even when he made detective, we lived in a little house with very limited cash. My mother tried to make certain I had everything a girl could possibly want, but I knew we were poor. But as the years went on and my father became more successful, everything changed. It all happened quickly, far too much so in my opinion.”

  “I’m not certain what that means.” I realized we were heading in a direction I wasn’t comfortable in going, but I was curious as to how much she knew about her father’s dubious activities.

  Snorting, she tilted her head toward the sky, taking a deep breath. “Don’t goad me, Matteo. You already alluded to my father’s missteps, if you want to call them that. I knew from the time I was fifteen that he had to be involved in certain illegal activities. There was no other way for him to provide the luxurious apartment and all the nice things he brought home every other day. I pretended that he was just a powerful man and nothing else, but in the back of my mind I had no doubt that he’d sold his soul. Granted, I didn’t know how deep he was into the world of criminal activity since he was very good at hiding it, but my gut provided enough details that I couldn’t wait to get away from him and live my own life. That’s why I’m here and that’s why I will hate my father until the day I die.”

  “Why are you telling me this?”

  “Because I don’t want you to hate your father for the choices he made. He was trying to be a better man where my father was doing just the opposite. Respect your father’s memory, Matteo. If you don’t, I think the guilt will eat you alive.”

  Her words were far too cathartic, enough so a lump formed in my throat. As she walked closer to the area that I’d forbidden myself to ever visit again, I bristled. “It’s time for dinner.”

  She pulled away from me, giving me an odd look. “Why, Matteo? What’s down that embankment that you don’t want me to see?”

  When she dared to walk away from me, my anger surfaced. “You will do as I say, Catherine. We are going back to the house.”

  Her glare remained and she shook her head several times. “Just when I thought you were letting your guard down, you continue being an asshole. What the hell happened at this house you can’t face? What?”

  She pushed hard against me, the moonlight highlighting the frustration on her face.

  “It doesn’t concern you.”

  “If I’m living here, I think it does.”

  “We are going back to the house. You will not challenge me. Do you understand what I’m saying?” Every part of my body was tense, the anger I felt unjustified but something I couldn’t erase.

  “What I understand is that you don’t have to be the monster you’ve turned into. But that’s your choice. Mr. Benedetti.”

  After a few seconds, she bolted down the knoll, moving out of sight. Cursing, I raced after her, yanking her arm, the force enough she dropped her glass. The shattering sound did nothing more than push a savage growl out of my mouth.

  “You will not defy my orders.”

  Catherine snarled, taking ragged breaths. “Fuck you, Matteo. This isn’t the way to live. I only wanted to know what happened that keeps you locked inside a black box, suffering in silence. If you don’t want me to get to know you, then fine. I guess we’ll remain enemies and nothing else.”

  As she’d done before, her words stung, hitting me like a truck. I couldn’t react as she rushed around me, racing up the hill toward the house.

  I remained where I was, unable to stop shaking. When I threw my arms back, I released a primal roar.

  Chapter 11

  Catherine

  Stubborn.

  Defensive.

  Asshole.

  I rushed into the house, realizing only after I’d gotten inside that I’d stepped on a piece of broken glass. While I felt the harsh pain with every step I took, my anger kept me from giving a shit. Every time he gave an inch, breaking down his damn walls to any degree, he shifted into the monster I knew him to be.

  As I limped into the kitchen, the fact a tear from each eye had slipped down my cheeks pissed me off. Why was I crying over the bastard? He didn’t deserve any kind of emotion other than hatred.

  Still, I’d seen the sadness in his eyes during his father’s funeral. I’d been happy to see the way he’d reacted to his mother, allowing the tender side of him to shift ahead of the anger that continued to furrow inside of him. He’d actually touched me, managing to grab my heart for just a few precious seconds.

  I turned on the kitchen faucet, watching the water trickle from the nozzle. There was no reason for me to be paralyzed, but I couldn’t seem to move, only able to watch the water as it flowed into the drain. The brief conversation we’d had seemed real and honest, more so than anything he’d ever shared with me before. While there was no way we could trust each other, his pain went deep into his psyche.

  My reaction was ridiculous, my behavior as well. I don’t know what I expected from him, but a sudden change in his actions wasn’t going to happen. I took a deep breath then grabbed a paper towel, realizing blood had already trickled onto the tile floor.

  There was no advance notice of his presence, but he was suddenly there, standing behind me. I could feel his looming form, his heated look as he studied me. And I could hear his scattered breathing. Maybe I should be afraid of him, but I wasn’t. He was nothing more than a tortured man with no understanding of anything but rage. Unfortunately, I couldn’t stop my body’s reactions, the mixture of desire and apprehension creating a haze over my eyes.

  He made no effort to say anything as he inched closer, but when I felt his hands on my waist, a small moan
escaped my lips. The man was so strong, acting as if lifting then placing me onto the counter was simple and easy. However, when he shifted his gaze, his normally intense green eyes were nothing but blackened pools of desire and darkness.

  After glancing down at my injured foot, he walked to one of the cabinets, piquing my curiosity. When he retrieved a first aid box, I couldn’t have been more surprised. I was even more shocked how gentle he was as he lifted my leg, holding my calf as he studied the bottom of my foot, using his fingers to pick out shards of glass.

  The quiet between us was different than it had been before, the monstrous man concentrating to the point his brow was furrowed. He only lifted his gaze when he shifted me to the side, easing my leg into the sink.

  “This might sting,” he whispered, the velvety tone creating the same vibrations that it always did. I adored his deep baritone, the husky sound that managed to send shivers into every molecule of my body.

  “I can handle it. You might be surprised just how much I’m capable of handling.”

  A wry smile crossed his face as he washed the blood away before pulling out a bottle of hydrogen peroxide. The confusing man took just as much time to blot my foot with the cleaner, glancing into my eyes every few seconds. When he was finished, he wrapped my foot in gauze, carefully taping the edges.

  As he lifted my leg from the sink, turning me until I was forced to face him, I noticed his breathing was even more labored. He tossed the bloody towels into the trash, shoving the kit out of his way then planting his hands on either side of me.

  I realized I was trembling all over, the jolt of current keeping me from being able to focus.

  “Thank you,” I said, barely able to recognize my voice.

  “I don’t want anything to happen to you, Catherine. You’re far too precious to me. While there are some issues and memories from my past that I am not ready to explain, I hope you can understand that I’ve never had anyone challenge my entire being like you have. The way I feel about you is troublesome, enough so I’ve done everything to push you away. However, you are my wife and I will respect our vows.”