Forbidden Vows: An Accidental Marriage Romance

by Liz K. Lorde

  He tucks his gun slowly back into his holster, turning to look at Cas as he does.

  “Very well,” he says, a touch of finality to his words. “We’ll try it your way.”

  Chapter 39

  Cas

  The fluorescent lights shine blindingly overhead, seeming to reflect off the white linoleum. My head aches from the sight of them, worry overwhelmingly coursing through me.

  Doctors and nurses pass by in waves—my eyes pulling upward at each new approach—and without fail, they aren’t here for us.

  I lower my head, cradling it in my hands to block out the harsh light.

  My irritation and fear grow stronger with each passing moment, my heart beating erratically in my chest.

  It’s been hours since we’ve had word of Nico. The small amount of hope I had upon arrival seems to dwindle within me.

  How long can his surgery possibly take?

  From beside me, Ana’s hand appears on my knee, rubbing gently in small circles. I lift my head towards her, gazing intently into her icy blue eyes.

  “He’s going to be okay,” she says for the hundredth time.

  I know she’s trying her best to be positive, but she can’t seem to help the note of uncertainty in her voice.

  I force a small smile to my lips, needing the assurance even if I don’t believe in it.

  “I’m sure you’re right,” I say, lifting her hand to my lips. I kiss softly at her pale skin, trying to force optimism to come to me.

  Nico was barely hanging on by the time we got to the hospital. Severe blood loss, possible organ damage—the odds seemed unfavorable, to say the least. Still, I cling to my small sliver of hope, knowing full well that I’ve come back from something similar.

  I hold tightly to Ana’s hand, her presence my only comfort as time creeps ever onward.

  Leaning back, I rest my head against the wall, closing my eyes against the intrusive lighting that, for some reason, is always used in hospitals. I listen to the passing footsteps of strangers, trying and failing to block out my horrific thoughts.

  Was it all worth it?

  The question plays repeatedly through my mind, guilt clawing away inside of me. I may have led my own brother to his death. No matter how worthy the cause, how will I live with myself if he doesn’t pull through?

  “Excuse me?” I hear distantly.

  My eyes fly open as I sit up.

  “Mr. Andreas?” A man asks, clearly a surgeon from his outfit.

  “Yes,” I say, standing so quickly my head spins. “Do you have news about Nico? Is he going to be okay?”

  He holds up a hand—the gesture probably intending to be calming—which I personally find infuriating.

  “Is he?” Ana demands from my side, now standing as well.

  “Your brother made it through surgery. It was a close call, but he seems to be pulling through. His vitals are stable, and he should be awake in the next few hours.”

  A weight seems to lift from my shoulders at his words—relief so heavily flooding through me that I feel I might collapse.

  “He’s okay?” I ask again, not believing my ears.

  “Yes, so far, it seems he’ll make a full recovery.” He smiles.

  “When can I see him?”

  “Well, as I said, he won’t be up for a few hours at the earliest, but he’ll be in the recovery room within the hour. If you want to go and see him, you can do it then.”

  “Yes, yes, absolutely.” I say, reaching to shake the man’s hand. “Thank you so much.”

  “My pleasure.”

  He turns away, quickly walking the length of the corridor.

  “He’s okay!” Ana cries, throwing her arms around my neck.

  All I can do is nod like a maniac, words catching in my throat. My relief is ineffable—a powerful force surging through every inch of my body.

  “Oh, Cas, I’m so glad!” She says, kissing me passionately.

  I can hardly think through my joy. When Nico was shot, I thought for sure that I would lose him. I felt doomed—as if one way or another, I was destined for pain and unhappiness.

  I know it’s selfish to think things like that when someone else is hurt, but I can’t deny that the idea flitted through my head.

  Now, though, the whole world seems to have opened up before me. The two controlling families of Vegas have agreed to a truce; I am married to the woman I love; and my brother is going to live to see it.

  Everything I ever wanted has suddenly fallen into my lap. I can’t even begin to process it, yet alone describe it.

  “I love you,” I say simply, pulling Ana harder against me.

  “I love you, too.”

  My lips crash into hers, my tongue sliding immediately into her waiting mouth.

  Now that the threat has passed, I’m finally able to revel in my victory—our victory.

  I run my fingers through Ana’s hair, kissing her with every bit of passion I possess.

  Really, there’s only one way I want to celebrate.

  “Come with me,” I say, pulling Ana quickly down the hall.

  She doesn’t protest or even ask where we’re going and just follows quickly behind. I skim the rooms that we pass, finally spotting an empty one at the end of the hall. Ana’s giggles echo behind me as I pull her into it—my meaning now clear.

  I slam the door in my hurry, quickly pulling Ana against it. Her back meets it with a dull thud, her hands on me in the next instant.

  It’s an odd feeling—to be happy without any worry. Honestly, I don’t think I’ve experienced it before this moment.

  I pull Ana forward, reaching around to unzip her gown. It falls quickly from her gorgeous body, pooling around her feet. Her underwear, I tear from her; her bra following close behind.

  When she’s completely bare before me, I pause, raking my eyes across my beautiful wife.

  How I ever managed to get so lucky, I don’t know.

  “Cas,” she half-moans, reaching now for my clothes.

  They join hers on the floor a minute later, around the time that I lift her from her feet. I carry her to the bed, watching her bounce as I throw her upon it.

  There’s no hesitation as she reaches for me, pulling me hard against her.

  My cock throbs in anticipation, my heart pounding heavily in my chest. I position myself between her legs, feeling immediately that she’s already ready for me.

  “Fuck me, Cas,” she moans.

  What kind of husband would I be to ignore a request like that?

  I shove myself into her, a small groan escaping my lips at the unbelievable tightness of her. She gasps beneath me, her hips immediately rising against me. I thrust deeply into her, feeling her pussy clench firmly around my hardened cock.

  “Cas,” she moans, reaching up to run her fingers through my hair.

  I feel crazed with the depths of my own emotions—overwhelmed as I stare down at the woman who is now my wife.

  I lean in, kissing her deeply even as I continue to thrust into her.

  She moans into my mouth, her tongue sliding out to rub at my own. I feel her muscles tightening around me, her hips thrusting more furiously against my cock. She drives me deeper into her with every movement, dragging my orgasm ever nearer.

  “Fuck, I love you, Ana,” I moan, pulling back from her eager lips.

  “I love you, Cas.”

  Her words ring with an odd finality; the end to our story seeming to coalesce in the sound. After everything we’ve been through, we’re here, together.

  Years of pain and suffering seem to evaporate—no longer important in the scheme of things.

  We’ve made it.

  The thoughts flit quickly through my mind, joy and utter ecstasy building to mingle within me. I feel Ana grind more roughly against me, hear her moans escalate. I’m right there with her, pleasure rushing through every fiber of my being.

  We come together—our cries filtering out into the hall.

  Chapter 40

  Ana
<
br />   “This is it. This is the one.”

  “You sure about that? You’ve only said that about the last four yachts, Cas.”

  “No, it’s this one for sure. We’ll take her,” Cas says, nodding at the man showing us around the Barcelona harbor.

  We’re finally on our honeymoon, and Cas has me shopping for yachts of all things.

  I guess his dream of us sailing out to sea will finally become a reality.

  “Cas, you do know I have no intention of raising our baby on a boat, right?” I murmur as I link arms with him, taking easy strides back to the harbor’s office building to sign the paperwork for our new yacht.

  He kisses the top of my head.

  “I’m well aware of that, cuore mio,” he says, smiling, “but that doesn’t mean we can’t have a yacht. I want to teach baby Andreas how to sail and fish, just like I did as a child, after all.”

  My insides are glowing at the very thought of Cas and our child impatiently watching a line, waiting for a fish to bite, whilst I recline on the top deck in the sun.

  The yacht we’ve just purchased has a top deck. It’s much larger and more expensive than the one Cas had envisioned us buying in his alternate reality, I’m sure.

  “What if baby Andreas doesn’t like sailing or fishing, my love?” I ask teasingly.

  Cas give me a look of mock horror.

  “Don’t say such evil things, Ana!”

  Once Cas signs the paperwork, we stroll hand in hand along the promenade until eventually, we stop to sit close to the sea edge on the seemingly endless stretch of sand that makes up Barcelona beach.

  I remove my sandals; sighing contentedly as I wiggle my toes in the wet sand and feel the waves just tickle my skin.

  “You like it here,” Cas observes.

  He’s right. I adore Barcelona.

  “I never got to travel much, given my circumstances.”

  “We’ll have to rectify that when the baby is born. Our baby will be the most cultured infant, whether the baby likes it or not!”

  We both laugh. The sun is just beginning to dip below the horizon; it paints everything in luscious red and copper tones. It’s gorgeous.

  I notice Cas staring at my stomach after a while; it makes me blush.

  “What are you staring at?” I demand.

  He gives me a fond smile.

  “You’re beginning to show, Ana.”

  “Or maybe I just had a very big lunch.”

  “Well, you are eating for two,” Cas counters. “But you’re definitely starting to show, regardless.”

  “You sure you don’t want to know if it’s a boy or a girl? It would be so much easier to organize everything if we knew…”

  Cas waves a dismissive hand.

  “The not knowing is part of the excitement!”

  “I’m fairly certain I’ve had just about enough excitement these past few years. I’d love nothing more than to settle down and enjoy a nice, quiet life.”

  Cas rolls his eyes at me.

  “You sound like an old woman.”

  I make a face.

  “Well, I will be twenty-two this year.”

  “Ugh, that’s so ancient. At least that makes me an old man, too.”

  We’re both silent for a while, content to watch early-evening swimmers and the last of the sun bathers collect their belongings and leave the beach.

  “Maria for a girl, still?” Cas murmurs eventually.

  I kiss him gently.

  “Always. I’ve been set on it for years, even when I thought you were dead.”

  “And what about for a boy?”

  I look up at the sky as I think about it.

  “Jacob, maybe?”

  “No way. Too biblical for my liking. Pass.”

  “Dean?”

  “Better, but it’s not right.”

  “Samuel?”

  “Pass.”

  “Ralph?”

  Cas lets out a noise of disbelief. “Ralph? Are you serious? Hard pass!”

  I pretend to consider my next answer.

  “You know, the more I think on it, Yuri sounds like a nice—”

  “Don’t you dare.”

  I let out a burst of laughter at the look on his face.

  “Guess we’re stuck with Mario, then.”

  Cas knocks into my shoulder. “Let’s just call it a work in progress.”

  I turn around to face him.

  “Well, what about you? What would you want to name your son?”

  “I suppose it’s sheer nepotism if I say Caspian, isn’t it?”

  I pretend to be horrified.

  “Handling one of you is hard enough—don’t give me two of you!”

  “Okay, okay, you win. Cas is out. Then how about…”

  I’m fairly certain Cas pauses purely for dramatic effect. I honor him by clucking my tongue impatiently.

  “Ben?” he finally suggests.

  I think on his answer. It’s so simple a name, not tied to either the Russian mob or the Italian mafia—it’s perfect.

  I feel a foolish grin creep up my face, which Cas returns.

  “I think I like it. Baby Benji. Yeah, I like it. Let’s go with that.”

  “So, Ben or Maria?”

  “Deal. “I hold out my hand.

  Cas shakes it, then pulls me in to place a kiss on my lips. “Deal.”

  With one final look at the dying sun, Cas stands up and helps me to my feet.

  “You hungry yet?”

  I shake my head. “Big lunch, remember?”

  “Ah, yeah, Ben and/or Maria’s twin. I forgot.”

  I swat his arm. “Let’s just go for a drive for a while?”

  Cas’ eyes light up.

  “I fucking love you, you know.”

  We wander back along the promenade to the sea-facing hotel we’re staying at; Cas ushers the valet over to request his car be brought round.

  “I still can’t believe you managed to find another ’69 Spider in Barcelona. I don’t know how you do it.”

  “I’m just very serious about my cars.”

  “So, who’s more important—me or the car?”

  Cas looks as if he’s been shot.

  “You hurt me, Mrs. Andreas. We all know it’s the car every time.”

  “Careful, or I’m filing for divorce.”

  “Ah, but then, what would the past few years have been for, only for you to unceremoniously divorce me?” Cas asks as the valet brings the car round.

  He opens the door to let me into the passenger side before sitting in the driver’s seat. Ever the gentleman.

  “You’ll have your cars to console you, so I’m sure you’ll be fine.”

  We continue bantering like this as Cas drives out of the city, leaving the bustle and lights behind.

  “Nico found this car for me, actually,” he eventually remarks.

  “He really has nothing else to do while on bed rest, does he?” I laugh.

  “The boredom is killing him more than the bullet to his chest ever could, apparently.”

  I smile, thinking about Cas’ brother and how close to death he had been. All for me and Cas.

  “I’m glad he’s recovering well.”

  Cas gives me a sidelong glance. “It helps that he has the hots for the nurse checking up on him at home.”

  “Of course.”

  There’s a pause.

  “You father genuinely seems to be excited about our baby.”

  I frown slightly. “I’d never have imagined a baby would bring our families together. I thought my dad was incapable of emotion. I guess miracles really do happen.”

  “I think the bravery your mother showed when she called the ceasefire brought him back to his senses.”

  “He’s fucking lucky mama loves him.”

  “I know the feeling.”

  I look at Cas and smile warmly. “I love you so much, Casbear.”

  He chuckles. “Haven’t heard that one in a while, Ana.”

  “It’s a bit c
hildish, to be honest.”

  “Just a little.”

  “And it’s nowhere near as beautiful as cuore mio.”

  “Guess you’ll have to come up with another name for me, then. And I love you, too.”

  Cas pulls the car up to the side of the road, then turns and runs a hand through my hair, kissing me passionately.

  “Don’t ever leave me, Cas,” I whisper. “You’re my heart, after all.”

  He gives me a beautiful smile, his olive eyes gleaming in the night as he looks at me.

  “And you’re mine.”

  Our Crazy Little Thing Called Love

  A Steamy Mafia Romance Novel

  By Liz K. Lorde & Charles McGill

  Copyright 2018 by Liz K. Lorde

  All rights reserved

  This is a work of fiction. All names, characters, places and incidents either are products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events or persons is entirely coincidental. This work intended for adults only.

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  Tabitha

  One spray of blood and that was all it took to change this man’s life forever.

  One look and mine changed right with his. Funny how things intertwine like that, one small stone against the pond leads to ripples that reach out further than one could ever see.

  Guess that’s why hindsight is so important.

  His cock penetrated me hard and deep, and suddenly I was thankful that my hymen had broken all those long years ago. Pain kissed between my legs, but fuck if it wasn’t a delightful kind of hurt. I had to clutch the sheets of the bed just to stay sane. Listening to the sound of his beautiful shaft stirring up my pussy was pure bliss, hearing the way that his balls would slap against me.

  I didn’t know where things were heard, of course I never really did; like was a garden for most – but for me it was a hedgemaze that I couldn’t escape from. Sorrow touched me in ways that I thought they never would, and even though things couldn’t be more messed up right now, I felt bonded to his tragedy. To his tumultuous heart.