Spreading my thighs to make room for him, he fits his thighs between mine and dips his chin. His mouth touches mine and I let out a sigh at the sensation of his tongue invading me. He tastes like tobacco and mint. He tastes like mine.
His hands slide up the outsides of my legs, moving my dress up with them. One of his hands slips between my thighs and I let out a groan when his knuckle drags up my center. Breaking the kiss, I let my head fall back with a moan. Arlo shifts the center of my panties to the side, his knuckle repeating its path, but this time on my bare wet skin.
“Merda,” he hisses when he comes into contact with me. “Wet,” he breathes.
“Please,” I whisper.
He hums for a moment, his finger swirling my clit gently before he lifts his head and his eyes find mine. “Please, what?” he asks.
“Touch me, play me, fill me,” I unabashedly beg.
“Always.” He nods.
Two fingers instantly slip inside of me, his thumb presses against my clit. I let out a trembling breath as his fingers begin to pump in and out of me, curling inside each and every time.
My eyes find his hardened blue ones. His jaw is clenched, and he looks as though he’s restraining himself. I don’t want that, I want him to come completely undone by me as undone as I am by him.
“More,” I beg, reaching between us and fumbling with his belt and pants.
I reach my hand inside of his pants, wrapping my fingers around his length, stroking him firmly, my eyes stay completely focused on his. He smirks, shifting his hips to the rhythm that he needs.
“I’m not coming in your hand, Lenora,” he grinds out.
He removes his hand from between my legs, I let my own fall from his hard length. Without a word, he tugs my panties to the side a little more before he aligns the head of his cock with my entrance. His gaze is completely focused on mine, as if I’m the only woman in the entire world. My lips part as he slowly sinks inside of me.
His entire body trembles as he seats himself to the root. One of his hands slides up my bare arm, wrapping around the side of my neck. His thumb slides along my bottom lip as his other hand wraps around the back of my knee and he hitches my leg up higher around his hip.
“I love you, tesoro,” he breathes.
My eyes flitter closed as he pulls almost completely out of me, then sinks back inside. He makes love to me, it’s slow and beautiful. It isn’t enough, it isn’t hard enough, but I don’t mind because it feels so amazing.
My hands slide up his arm, wrapping around his biceps. I can feel he’s holding himself back, holding onto his control, something that he’s been doing since he found out about the baby. Squeezing his biceps, I look up as he tips his head down to me.
“Harder, Carlo,” I whisper. “I won’t break, but I need more,” I say, clenching around his cock with my pussy.
His lips twitch, then he nods, and that’s when his control slips. He doesn’t lose it completely, but it slips and that’s all that I need to topple over the edge and come. He slams inside of me, rolling his hips so that his pelvis hits my clit with every single delicious stroke.
My nails dig into his biceps and I hold on tightly, if he were shirtless, I would definitely be leaving marks in his skin. His head dips and as soon as I gasp, his lips touch mine and he swallows my cry as I come all around him.
He grunts, his hips never stopping and on his fourth stroke, he buries himself deep and I feel his cock twitch as he comes inside of me. Slowly, he breaks the kiss, his forehead resting against mine as he catches his breath.
“I hadn’t meant for this to happen before dinner,” he rasps.
I smile as he lifts his head from mine, his cock still buried deep, his blue eyes focused on my own. He grins, his lips touching mine in a chaste kiss. His hand moves from around my knee and I feel his palm lay flat against my belly.
“I just saw you standing there, then you turned to the side and I could see your small bump. Knowing I’m the man who did that to you, made me so fucking hard.”
“Do you have a weird pregnant fetish that I don’t know about?” I ask with a smile.
He shakes his head, his eyes dancing as he watches me. “Just a fetish for you, tesoro. Now, let’s go.”
ARLO
Tapping the steering wheel, I can’t calm my nerves as I drive toward the church. I lied to Lenora. This isn’t just us going to dinner together. This is our wedding, a surprise wedding. Our first stop is the church, then the restaurant, for a small reception.
I’m not Gavino, I don’t need a big wedding with all the heads of the famiglia in attendance. Plus, I already did that once. This time it’s just for us, for me and the woman that I actually love.
Lenora’s parents and brother have been in town since yesterday, staying with my family, and everyone is waiting for us at the church. Chloe has a dress for her, along with someone to do Lenora’s hair and makeup.
“Arlo? What’s going on?” Lenora asks as I pull up in front of the church.
Glancing over to her, I lick my lips, trying to figure out what I’m going to say. “I need to go inside and talk to Father Ferro for a minute, come with me?”
She nods, but she looks slightly confused. I ignore it, jumping out of the car and practically jogging over to her side. Helping her out, I keep my hand around hers, lacing her fingers with my own as we walk up the steps of the church.
Once we’re inside, I grin as Chloe appears. She’s dressed surprisingly modest in a light blue dress, with low heels on her feet.
“Chloe?” Lenora whispers.
Chloe’s lips widen into a huge smile. Her eyes shift to mine and I nod as I stop where I am. Turning my body, I face Lenora, my eyes finding hers. Shoving my hand in my pocket, I take the box out and bend to my knee right there in the church’s entryway.
“Carlo,” she gasps, lifting her hand to cover her mouth.
“Marry me today, Lenora. I knew the moment that I met you that you would change my life, and you have. You make me a better man, but most importantly, you make me want to be a better man. I cannot promise you perfection, I can do nothing but promise to always love you. Be my wife.”
Her hand falls, and she holds it out for me. “Yes, Carlo. I love you more than I ever thought possible. I’ll be your wife.”
Slipping the ring on her finger, I stand, wrapping her up in my arms and tugging her against my chest. Dipping my head down, I brush her lips with my own.
“I swear, tesoro. I swear that I will always do right by you,” I vow.
She smiles, her palms pressing against my chest. She tilts her head back and those eyes that I could get lost in, they search mine as her lips curve up into a gorgeous smile.
“I know that you will, Arlo. Let’s get married.”
Chloe clears her throat and both of us turn our heads to look over at her.
“Okay lovebirds, let’s do this,” she states.
Lenora doesn’t remove herself from my arms, instead she stays plastered against me and I’m thankful for her closeness. She turns her head back to look up at me.
“Let’s do this,” she whispers.
I nod. “I can’t wait for you to be officially mine, in the eyes of God, and legally, for the state.”
Elenora may have started out as just my mistress, a woman that I felt attracted to, a feeling that I couldn’t ignore. I thought that maybe just a taste before my wedding was all that I needed from her, but I was so fucking wrong.
She may have started as my mistress, but in reality, she never was. If anything, Wynter was the mistress. Lenora was always meant to be mine, always meant to be my wife. We’ve been through a tough couple of months, but now, it’s smooth fucking sailing.
Nothing, and I mean nothing, will stop us from finding our happiness—I won’t fucking allow it.
Lenora’s lips touch mine before she takes a step back from me. Her eyes widen, and her lips curve up into a small smile.
“See you at the end of the aisle,” I call out.
<
br /> “I’ll be the one in white.” She grins.
I dip my chin, my lips twitching into a grin. “I’ll be waiting, always.”
Chloe tugs on her hand, I watch as the two women walk away from me. I want to follow them, to keep my eyes on Lenora as she gets ready, to never take my eyes from hers. Fuck, I’ve never felt love before, I’ve never felt this overwhelming sensation to protect like I do with her.
I thought that maybe it was just because of everything that happened, but it hasn’t dissipated. I still need to know that she’s safe. It’s why I installed cameras throughout her entire shop, along with a top of the line security system.
“You’re so fucking gone for her.” Gavino chuckles next to me.
Turning toward him, I grin. “I am,” I agree. “How is Luciana?”
He shakes his head. “Ready to come home,” he murmurs.
“Maybe it’s time to draw the hitman out?”
“Maybe.” He nods noncommittally. “But, today we celebrate.” He grins as he claps his hand against my shoulder.
“Today, we celebrate, but Luciana isn’t here which causes a hole, you know this.”
He chuckles. “I’m going to FaceTime her, she would cut off my balls if she wasn’t able to see this moment, cugino.”
Lifting my hand, I wrap it around the back of his neck and squeeze. “Thank you, Vino. Fucking shit, I can’t believe I’m getting my dream come true.”
“Welcome to the club, Arlo. Life is sweet, cugino.”
I don’t respond, but I agree.
Life is so goddamn sweet.
Becoming her Hero
A Zanetti Famiglia Short Story
Prologue
LUCA
I watch her walk down the aisle behind her girl. Her dark curls perfectly in place, those chocolate brown eyes focused ahead of her. My own eyes travel down her body. It’s covered today, more than I’ve ever seen it covered before. She’s wearing light blue, the color so pale against her dark bronzed skin tone, I’ve never seen a creature more exotically beautiful in my entire fucking life.
“Heard you were fuckin’ her,” Kade announces.
Glancing over at him, I snort. The fucker is lucky to be standing. In fact, if it were up to me, I would have gutted him like a goddamn fish on that Saint Andrew’s cross myself.
“You better stop looking at her, unless you want me to end you right here in this church,” I warn.
Kade dips his chin, his eyes shifting to the ground in front of him in self-preservation. I’ll end him, without hesitation or doubt. Chloe isn’t his to look at, only mine. She belongs to me, no matter how much she hates that I say that, it’s true.
The wedding ceremony ends and I watch as my woman follows her best friend down the aisle. Turning to Kade, I lift my chin toward him before I walk away.
“Tread lightly. I don’t fucking trust you. Nobody does. Don’t think because you have a use right now, that you always will. Your time will come to an end,” I warn.
He nods once. “I know,” he murmurs.
He’s defeated as fuck, if I gave half a shit, I might care. I don’t. Turning away from him, I follow the rest of the small crowd outside of the church’s doors. Chloe is standing on the church stairs, the sun shining on her dark brown hair. Fuck, if I’ve ever seen a more breathtaking sight, I can’t recall.
She turns toward me, and I watch as her lips turn up into a small smile. Closing the distance between us, I slide my hand around her waist and tug her against my chest as I dip my chin. My mouth touches hers in a chaste kiss.
“You hungry?” I mutter against her mouth.
“Starving,” she breathes.
“Me too, but I’ll wait until after dinner.” I smile against her lips.
She giggles, the sound being so goddamn sweet that it makes me ache. Taking a step back, I wrap my hand around hers and together we walk toward my waiting car. She tips her head back, her eyes find mine and they fucking glitter.
“I can’t wait,” she sighs.
Touching my mouth to hers again, I don’t tell her that I can’t wait either. I will never get enough of her, not ever. We leave the church and head straight for the restaurant to celebrate Arlo and Lenora on their big day.
Chapter 1
CHLOE
He’s lying to me.
I know that he is, but I can’t figure out what he’s lying about.
Luca leaves my apartment every single night. I pretend to be asleep, but I can feel the bed dip as he climbs out. I feel his lips touch the side of my temple and then he’s gone.
I remember when Arlo left Lenora’s bed in the same fashion, it was because he was going home to his wife. She took him back.
I’m not the same kind-hearted woman that Lenora is. After I cut off Luca’s dick, I would have left and never looked back—no matter how much it hurt.
That’s why tonight, this shit ends. As soon as my front door closes, I order a cab, throw the sheets back and rush around my room, tugging on jeans, a hoodie, and my white tennis shoes. Pulling the hood over my head, I slip out of my apartment and run to catch up to him.
Luca is just slipping into the driver’s seat of his car when I arrive down in the parking garage. I see the cab out of the corner of my eye and I quickly make my way over to it, sliding into the backseat and shout an order to follow Luca.
He jumps but thankfully does as I ask without question. I watch Luca’s taillights. Leaning over, I narrow my eyes as I focus on where he’s going, and why. We’re headed toward Brooklyn, which isn’t surprising. Once we cross over the bridge, I hold my breath when he takes a residential exit.
I grip my phone in my hand, wishing that I could call Lenora. She would talk me off of this ledge, out of going completely crazy on this man. I can’t call her though, she’s pregnant, a newlywed, tired and about to have the grand opening of her store.
Luca’s car stops right in front of a neat and tidy two-story home that matches all the others on the block. I tell the driver to pull over across the street then throw a little cash at him before climbing out of the car.
Standing across the street, I watch as he climbs a set of stairs. He doesn’t have to knock on the door, because a beautiful woman opens. She has long dark hair, and she’s wearing a robe, that much I can tell.
I watch as the man that I love, bends down and wraps his arms around her before he slips past her and into the house.
I stand in shock, watching and waiting, timing his visit. Two hours, three minutes and forty-five seconds. That’s how long he stays closed up inside of the brownstone. The door opens and I keep my eyes focused on him as he shrugs his jacket back on.
He pauses, looking back behind him. My eyes shift to see who he’s talking to, and it’s that woman. Her hair is now up in a bun and her robe is no longer tied closed, instead it hangs open and my stomach clenches at the sight.
He fucked her.
He went from my bed to hers, he fucked her just like Arlo did to Lenora. Maybe because we’re friends, Luca thought that he could do the same to me, that I would accept that shit. Well, he thought fucking wrong.
I take a step off of the curb, my pussy still aching from him being inside of me less than four hours ago. He must sense my movement toward him, because he turns to me, his gun drawn and pointed directly at me.
“Holy fuckin’ shit, Chloe. What are you doing here?” he snaps.
“I should ask you the same thing,” I grind out.
LUCA
I look over at the front door of the house that I just left, then back to the woman that I love. She’s angry, but past that, I can see the hurt deep inside of her. I have no doubt that she thinks I’ve just finished fucking another woman. That shit pisses me off though. I’ve never given her reason to doubt me, I love her.
“Business is just that, Chloe. I can’t tell you what I was doing, it’s not for you to know.”
Her eyes widen, then the hurt invades them and I feel bad for acting like an asshole, but it’s the tr
uth. I can’t tell her what I was doing, it isn’t safe for the woman I went to visit and it isn’t safe for her.
I’m a Capo for the Zanetti famiglia, sometimes I have to do goddamn shady as fuck shit and she won’t be privy to that information, she never will.
This time, I had to interview a woman who was abused by a John. A Made Man. One of my men. A man that I have to go and deal with, so I don’t have the fucking time to put up with this shit from Chloe right now.
“That didn’t look like business,” she sneers.
Taking a step toward her, I reach out, wrapping my hand around her forearm I watch as she flinches away from my touch. Arching a brow, I wait for her to relax, she does, but it’s only slightly. She’s already made her decision.
“You don’t know what it was, but it doesn’t matter. Get in the car, you can’t stay out here alone,” I bark.
She shakes her head. “No, Luca. Tell me the truth.”
I snort. “The truth is not yours to know, carina.”
She nods once. “Then I’m not yours to have.”
“Excuse me?”
She inhales a deep breath. “Take me home. I’m not yours anymore. If you can’t be honest with me, then we don’t have a relationship. I don’t want to be with a man that I can’t trust.”
“You’ve made a decision without facts, carina.”
She shakes her arm free from my grasp, though I let her easily. “You aren’t denying it,” she grinds out.
Jerking my chin, I take a step back, waving my arm toward my car. “I’m not arguing over your assumptions. You’re too angry about what you perceive to be true to have a dialogue. We’ll talk later in the morning when you’ve cooled down.”
“No. We won’t. I’m done.”
Becoming his Mistress: A Zanetti Famiglia Novel Page 30