Angelica (The Family Book 1)

by Jones, Angelique

  Her whispered admission brought a stillness to him, then a release of breath, as if he had not been sure of her answer. The next soft kiss he placed on her shoulder was the end of any softness. With hard hands at her breasts, he squeezed, raising her up high before slamming her down. Blinding pleasure soared through her as he did it twice more before pushing her back to all fours. Gripping her hips so tight she was sure the marks of his hands would stay with her for days to come, he rode her. He rode her hard and fast. He rode her long and deep. He rode her through the orgasm that ripped through her and the next that followed. He rode her as she begged for mercy, not giving an inch. He rode her for so long and so deep that she felt as if not a finger’s width of her had been spared. He branded her, ruining her for any other. As another orgasm ripped through her, she hoarsely yelled, “You; I belong to you.” As if he had been waiting for that all along, he finally yelled his release, shooting it deep within her. The power of her final release caused a roaring sound to echo through her ears before black spots danced in front of her eyes and darkness took her.

  When she came to, she was on the bed, lying on Lucca as he gently stroked her back. A delicious soreness filled her body as she enjoyed the quiet moment. “Why haven’t you touched me since we married?” she whispered. Shifting as the silence stretched.

  “Because I wanted you to come to me. I wanted you to admit you were wrong. I was angry at you for that day in the bathroom, when you chose your vengeance over me. Angry because you had the power to scare me, and a person in my position cannot know fear. I had been ready to blow the whole plan, damn my sister’s justice, and come for you. You made me lose control,” he finished in an even voice, the tension in his body telling her that he was keeping himself under tight control.

  “It wasn’t my vengeance I chose over you. It was you I chose over my vengeance. If you had killed Enzo, it would have started a war.” Sitting up, she held the sheet to her chest, pulling her knees to her chest, staring out the balcony, keeping her back to him. “I took my beating so that what happened to my family wouldn’t happen to yours. I knew when my informants told me that you were going ahead with the wedding what your plan was. You were angry and too close to see the backlash it could cause, especially with so many of Enzo’s allies in play.” Squeezing her legs tight, she knew it was time to lay all her cards on the table. “I never planned to survive killing Enzo. I planned to let the curse that seemed to course through my blood die with us, but you changed everything. You made me feel. You made me want something I never thought I could feel or want. It nearly killed me to leave you, but I did, thinking that you were better off without me. When I realized I was pregnant, it was the most amazing day for me. It was like the universe had finally looked down on me with kindness, giving me something I thought lost forever: a piece of you.” Laying her cheek on her knees, she turned to look to Lucca. “I could have taken Michael and run, leaving the others to take the backlash of your anger.”

  “I wondered why you didn’t. I’ve seen what you can do; you could have easily killed a few of my men and disappeared. You owed those people nothing, especially after what the women had done.” Angie gave Lucca a small smile. “I could have, but I told myself that I was doing it for my family honor instead of accepting the fact that I was doing it because I couldn’t leave you again. I left you the first time because I didn’t want to be a burden to you, but I couldn’t find the strength to do it again. I wanted you, needed you to feel alive, and I selfishly grabbed it. I could have gotten your whole family killed. I could have killed our daughter in my selfish need to have you. Even if the bastard had done ten times worse to me, I still wouldn’t have let you go, but that’s not the worst part. The worst part is, even if you no longer want me, even if you only kept me because honor demanded it, I still won’t leave. I’ll still stay and take any scrap I can get from you. Pride has no meaning where you are concerned. I’ve become Enzo, wanting someone that doesn’t want me. I finally understand why he couldn’t let me go. I understand how his obsession became madness. I feel it each time you come home stinking of perfume. It takes everything in me not to hurt you and kill the women who touched what is mine,” She finished softly, not breaking eye contact. Letting him see the naked truth of her obsession for him.

  “Do you think that scares me?” he asked softly. “Do you think I don’t feel the same way? I was willing to forsake my honor for you. The thought of another man touching you sends me into insanity.” He chuckled harshly. “I can’t even stand for my brothers to touch you. When you sat next to Nico and gave him attention, no matter how innocent, it took everything in me not to throw him out of his seat and force you to notice me. I could have slaughtered your uncle when I realized he’d tried to keep you from me. If you hadn’t come with me, I would have killed everyone at that wedding. So I know obsession.” Lunging, he pulled her under him. Gently pushing her hair from her face, he gazed down at her. “I haven’t had anyone else since I met you.” He saw the disbelief in my eyes. “I won’t lie to you, I tried, but I couldn’t. They weren’t you, and that angered me even more. I’ve purposely been coming home stinking of perfume trying to get a reaction out of you. At first it was because I wanted to punish you, but later it was because I wanted you to be obsessed with me. As obsessed as I was with you. I wanted a reaction from you. I wanted you to need me as much as I needed you.” A wicked glint entered his eyes as he grabbed her hand and touched her wedding ring on her finger. “I will never let you go. You are stuck with me forever. I have every intention of keeping you pregnant every chance I get. Joan was good enough to suggest it, telling me that you’re quite docile when you’re pregnant. I’m kind of looking forward to a house full of children and a round wife; there’ll be more to love.” He laughed. This of course earned him a smack and a smile that she couldn’t stop. Joy rushed through her at his words. He gently rubbed his thumb over a stray tear that slid down her face. He leaned down and captured her lips in a slow kiss that left her breathless when he finally broke it and raised her hands to cup his face. “I love the thought of bearing your children. I love the thought of spending my life with you.” She willed him to hear the truth of what she was saying. “More than honor. More than vengeance. I love you. Only you.” And it was true. He meant more to her than any of that. With him, she found what she had lost so long ago. With him and only him lay her heart and soul. As he gathered her into his arms and began his gentle assault upon her body, she knew she was loved. She knew she was wanted. She knew she was home.

  The End

  Epilogue

  As Dominic walked into his father’s study, he knew he wasn’t going to like what his father said. Life had been too good lately, and Dominic knew the bad had to be coming. Stopping at the door, he put his mask on and knocked. At the sharp “Enter,” he walked in, taking in the room in a glance. His father sat behind his desk. Vincent, his father’s consigliere, sat to his right, and his older brother, Lucca, stood off to the left. Moving to the chair in front of the desk, Dominic sat, waiting to learn the reason for the summons. His father stared at him for a long moment. “I have a job for you, Dominic,” his father began, causing Dominic to sit a little straighter. Fuck me; this was what he’d been waiting for: a way to prove his worth to the family. “Caterina Genovese, the sister of Enzo Genovese, will be attending college here, and I want you to befriend her.” his father said, causing him to blink.

  He knew damn well who Enzo Genovese was. If Lucca’s wife hadn’t killed him, Dominic would have ripped the fucker to shreds. Not only for what he had done to his sister Maria, but for what he had done to Lucca’s wife, Angie. Why the fuck would they want him to have anything to do with that family? “Why?” he asked, needing to know.

  Instead of his father answering, Lucca did. “Some of our informants seem to believe that Enzo might have left her some tapes and damning information about Angie. Things that, if they are found out, will have a lot of families coming after her for revenge.” Looking at Dominic ha
rd, Lucca’s voice turned to frost. “I won’t have my wife upset or worried about this. I don’t give a fuck what you have to do to the bitch or with her; find out what she knows and get the evidence.”

  Dominic nodded his head, not at all put off by Lucca’s tone because he knew how protective Lucca was of his wife. Especially now that she was expecting their second child. The truth was, Dominic was just as protective; she was another sister and mother to him wrapped up in one. There was nothing he wouldn’t do for the woman of his family, to make sure they were safe. So if this girl thought she was going to hurt his family, whatever happened to her she deserved….