by C. M. Steele
“Pity. He’ll have to get used to it,” I hiss under my breath.
Gloria signs the cross over her chest, kissing the cross she wears. “Heaven help him. He’s got his hands full with you.”
“Damn right.” A deep growl comes from my bedroom door that flies open. I gasp and stare. Domani Bianchi is standing there in my doorway in an all-black suit with a deep blood-red tie, as if he knew I’d be wearing the same red tonight.
“Please leave us,” Domani Bianchi orders my sister. His tone is firm, yet not cruel. She doesn’t miss a beat and scurries out of the room. “Careful, you’re with child, Signora Delaney.” She slows down and walks out, closing the door behind her with a smirk on her face, sticking her tongue out at me one more time for good measure.
“Aria.” I jerk my eyes away from my bedroom door to his face. The sound of my name off his lips is smooth and rushes over my skin, making my every nerve tingle.
“Yes, that’s my name,” I inform him with an air of indifference even though my heart’s thumping against my breastbone.
He arches his right brow, rakes his gaze over me from head to toe, and then remarks with an upturned lip, “It looks like you have no intention of coming tonight.” Immediately, I understand he’s not talking about his house, but rather, my body. My already heated flesh reddens with lust, and I need more of his sultry voice.
“Oh, I plan to come,” I hiss, leaving the sexual innuendo in the air like blood in the water for a dangerous predator. He crosses the distance, leaning over me as I sit on the edge of my bed, and shakes his head. “Just not with you.”
“Aria, you won’t be coming at all if you keep this up,” Domani warns me, inching alarmingly close that I can feel the heat of his body across my skin.
Needing to defuse my body’s natural reaction to his magnetism, I clap my hands together excitedly and give him my thousand-watt smile. “Ooh. Does that mean we’re not getting married?”
He slides his strong hand down my cheek, feathering his fingers over my throat, and continues to move them down my body. “Oh, we’re getting married.” Domani’s touch is gentle as he loosens the tie on my robe, revealing my bra and panties to his gaze. His eyes return to me, and there’s nothing but lust and determination in them. Can he tell that between my clenched thighs the material is drenched?
Gripping my thighs, he nudges them open and then cups my pussy. His other hand thrusts into my hair, tugging my head back as he leans over me, staring into my eyes. “It’s not wise to tease a man on edge, cara mia.” His mouth brushes against mine. “Are you going to be a good girl and get dressed?”
“What’s in it for me?” I try to hold on to the fight, but his fingers flex, massaging me through my panties.
“Depending on how good of a girl you are, I’ll either be making you come with my fingers or my tongue… Or, you can be bad and keep me waiting, but the consequences will be unbearable. You’ll be tied up so you can’t even touch yourself to get off, Tesoro.”
“Ruthless,” I moan, flexing my hips forward as I glare at him.
A sinister smile stretches across his handsome face, causing an uptick in my heart rate. “That’s right, Aria. Now, go put on that red dress.” He points to the black garment bag hanging on the closet door.
“How did you know?”
“Our mothers mentioned it to each other.” He presses his lips to my forehead before releasing his grip on my mound. “Remember what I said, Aria. I’m a man of my word.” He walks out of the bedroom without stealing another look my way. My panties need to be changed. Asshole. I almost came from that brief encounter. I debate my choices. He doesn’t know that I slip my hand under my nightgown to thoughts of him or tease myself in the shower.
Maybe it would be nice to have the king on his knees.
Sexually frustrated, I climb off my bed and begin digging out a new pair of panties. The thing is, half my room has already been packed. I have two days until that sexy beast becomes my husband, and I’m a mess about it. Going into my bathroom, I change and check my hair. It’s long with a perfect wave to it. I apply my killer red lipstick—my favorite—and just enough eyeliner and mascara to accentuate my eyes. When I step outside the room, my usual guard is gone and a woman is in his place. “Mrs. Bianchi, I’m your new guard, Torres.”
“What happened to John?”
“The boss has changed your guards. I don’t know why.” We go down the stairs, and Domani is standing there waiting with my parents and my sister. Gloria’s husband pops up a minute later. He’s the head of the Irish mafia, and it brought a truce to the families when they got together two years ago.
“A start in the right direction,” Domani says; he takes my hand, and I feel the metal slide across my finger. It’s heavy but warm, as if he’s been holding it in his hand this whole time. “Come, now. Let’s go. We have a large feast prepared for this special occasion.” I do my best not to stare at the diamond that I had on my Pinterest page. It was the only page I was allowed to have, and I went full out on it. It seems so did Domani.
Domani takes my hand, twining our fingers together as my father and mother head out. We’re the last to go, and that’s when he leans in and whispers, “I’m hoping you’re gonna be a really good girl. I want your taste on my tongue.” His teeth nip at my earlobe, and shivers run down my body.
He straightens up and mutters to himself, “Fuck, this is going to be a long weekend.”
Chapter Three
Domani
She attempts to hide her excitement as she looks down at the killer million-dollar ring on her finger. Her eyes meet mine, and I know that she’s pleased and surprised. It stiffens my cock to the point of needing readjustment. When her mother addresses her, I take a moment to turn and fix myself. When I face her again, I take her hand in mine and lead her out of the house.
It feels so good to touch her. It’s a simple thing that holds so much emotion for me. I bury men for crossing me, but this woman here makes me a marshmallow. She has no idea she has me by the balls. My bride doesn’t want to marry me, but I don’t give two fucks because one day I’ll make her fall in love with me.
Two long years of fighting the urge to claim her as mine. Yes, she was too young for me, but when I saw her, I had no idea that she wasn’t an adult. When I learned, I made her father a promise that I’d keep my distance as long as she was to be my queen. Deals made, men warned, and now time is up.
In two days, she’ll be my wife, even though she’s been my wife in my heart from day one.
It started here on the Grasso estate. Two years later, and I finally get to touch her, taste her, and soon make her mine in every way.
I might have kept her from us actually meeting until today, but I didn’t keep my distance, always watching my queen with my men nearby at all times. Twice she nearly fell prey to other men, and I made quick work of them. Aria believes that her father’s men broke that kid’s arm for daring to touch my queen, but I enjoyed the pleasure myself. His men brought the little fuck to me. If he had kissed her, I’d kill him. Her first kiss belongs to me, so I let him go with a warning to stay away from her or I’d make his subsequent punishment permanent.
I assist her into the vehicle before taking the seat beside her as my driver closes the door behind me. My eyes linger on Aria as she adjusts her dress that rode up as she sat down on the leather. “You look stunning, Aria.”
She whips her head my way and smiles. “Thank you, Mr. Bianchi.”
“It’s Domani, amore mia.” A scowl comes over her face before she softens it and sits closer to me. That’s good, because it’s what I want.
“Domani,” she purrs intentionally against my ear. “Just so you know…I’m not gonna play nice with the devil. If you betray me with another woman, I’ll gladly cut off your dick and serve it to her for dinner.” The deadly warning off her lips is an aphrodisiac. Fuck, I love this woman more and more with every passing day.
Cupping her head and turning it so we’re face to face,
I lean in less than an inch from her red lips and answer her, “I know, cara mia. That’s why you’re the one I want for my queen.” I let go before I take this to a place that will have her impaled on my cock.
She doesn’t sit back but stares at me with her brow arched. “Just letting you know that’s the only warning you’ll get. Now, do they plan to drive, or are they waiting for us to start fucking in the back seat,” she finishes with a huff, sitting properly in her seat with her back firmly against the leather with her arms folded under her breasts.
“You have a mouth on you.” One I plan to do a lot with. There have been many nights, days, and showers where I’ve pictured her on her knees servicing me, begging me to fuck that pretty mouth.
She tilts her head slightly with a saccharinely sweet smirk. “I’m glad you noticed.”
I want to wipe that attitude off her face. “I’ve noticed so much more, Aria. I promise I’ve noticed every single thing.” Licking my lips, I rake my eyes over her entire body. She becomes flustered, so I tap on the divider and my driver pulls out of their driveway. The rest of the family follows behind with their own security. I wanted time alone with her, but it’s a fucking mistake. My cock weeps with the urge to be deep inside her, and now she fucking knows what she’s doing to me.
Stealing glances at her, I watch as she shifts uncomfortably in her seat, playing with the hem of her dress, which draws my eyes to the spot right between her legs.
“So, is your whole family going to be there?” She breaks the heated silence, causing my head to jolt up to look at her face.
“My parents, brother, and cousin will be there with the guards, but not the entire Bianchi family.”
“Isn’t that dangerous?”
“Our estate is well secured. I wouldn’t risk your safety like that.” I take her hands and bring them to my lips for a kiss.
“Okay.” She’s nervous, but I’m not sure it’s all because of me.
“I want you to relax, Aria.” I sweep her hair behind her ear, seeing the diamond earrings that she got for her eighteenth birthday—a gift from my mother to her future daughter-in-law.
“Sorry, I haven’t been outside in a long time.”
“I know. I’m sorry. I’ll make it up to you.” I brush my hand down her soft cheek. Her gorgeous caramel eyes look at me with a bit of hope. She doesn’t understand the depths of my obsession, and it’s wise that she doesn’t know until we’re married. Maybe a long time after that. My fidelity is guaranteed.
“How far is your estate?” She plays with her ring, trying to look at it without looking shocked. I hope she loves it; then again, I knew she would.
“Twenty minutes. And it’s your estate as well,” I remind her. Everything I have is hers.
“We’re not married yet.” The attitude is back in a heartbeat, as if talking about the wedding sets her teeth on edge.
I love her too much to think straight sometimes. I try to hold back the anger, but I snip out, “It’s a forgone conclusion, Aria. Get used to it.”
She looks out the window, avoiding my gaze, and I see that she’s upset. Fuck, I can’t let her cry.
“You’ll like it there. I promise.”
“Who lives there?”
“Just my parents and me. We have our own wing.”
“So you still live with your parents?” she teases, knowing it’s customary for many families to be close.
“Yes. I do. I haven’t moved out of the family home. I’m such a disgrace, but at least they haven’t relegated me to the basement,” I answer playfully.
“It’s a shame. I don’t know if this is going to work between us.” I don’t know if she’s playing anymore, and I don’t care. Any mention of us not being together is unacceptable.
I growl and flip her onto my lap with her legs straddling my thighs, her breasts firmly against my chest and her face inches from mine. “Aria Grasso, in two days, you’ll be my wife. Enough talk about it not happening, because it is. Do you understand me? I don’t like to repeat myself.” I tug on her hair at the base of her skull, tilting her head. Dragging my tongue along the column of her throat, I suck lightly on her pulse, feeling it thumping against my lips.
“So tell me, Aria. What is happening in two days?”
“We’re getting married.”
“Good answer.” I drag her head down to mine and kiss her parted lips, slipping my tongue inside possessively, dominating her mouth. Pulling her away gently, I growl, “Perfect answer.” The car hits a pothole and our bodies grind hard, adding to the growing need to be inside of her.
“Sorry, sir.”
“It’s okay,” I grunt.
“Yes, it is,” she moans, rolling her hips on my length and looking like a goddess as she does.
“Fuck, I’m doing my best not to take you. Be a good girl.”
“I thought you said if I was a good girl, you’d make me come.”
“Okay. You’ve been a good girl so far. One for now.” I grip her hips and rock her pussy onto my bulge, allowing her dress to ride up and reveal a pair of white panties—not the pretty pink ones she had on earlier. “You changed your panties.”
“You got them all dirty.”
“I’m about to dirty these ones as well.” I free my cock from my slacks and pull her panties to the side, slipping my cock between the material, skimming along her lips. “Ride my length. Work your orgasm out, my queen.” We move faster and faster until she cries out my name. I snatch her lips in a deep kiss as I shoot my load all over her mound.
“Aria, amore mia.”
“We’re pulling up to the gate, sir.” The car slows down. I lift her off me, fixing her panties and pulling her dress down back in place.
“Thank you, Luigi.” It takes a minute to get from the gate to the front of the house, so I have time to tuck myself away, sticky and wet, smiling like a king. I steal a glance at my bride, who’s flushed and running her hands through her hair to look a little more presentable. I take one hand and kiss it. “And thank you, Aria.”
“Thank you. I guess being a good girl has its benefits.”
“I’m glad you see it my way.” I kiss her lips once more before the vehicle comes to a complete stop, and she reaches for the door, but I stop her. “Wait.” I get out first and take her hand. As she steps out, I drag her to my side. “Come, Aria.”
“I did,” she whispers as her body slams into mine. She pushes away just enough to look like a respectable couple.
“Don Grasso, Signora Grasso, welcome to our home.”
“Thank you, Dom.”
We head into the house to be greeted by my eager parents. They’ve kept their distance from my bride as well. “It’s a pleasure to finally meet you, Aria. You are lovely.”
“Thank you.” There are a bunch of questions going through Aria’s head because, as far she knows, the plans for our marriage have only been in the works for two weeks. My mother has been planning for the past six months with Aria’s mother. My sweet wife has only been legal for two weeks.
“Mama, please let her breathe. Remember, in two days, she’ll be here with us every day.” Aria stiffens a bit, and I pull her tighter to my side, massaging her arm in slow circles.
“Sorry. I’m excited.” I love my mother, and I can’t blame her for the excitement. I’m ready to have her here forever.
“Ignacia, come—let me show you my latest designs,” my mother says to hers. They have been acquainted for a long time.
“Girls, do you want to come with us?” Mrs. Grasso asks Aria and her sister, Gloria. I hold back my need to cling to Aria and release my hold when Gloria grabs her hand.
“Sure. Let’s give the guys time to bullshit,” Gloria says, winking at her husband.
Chapter Four
Domani
“Who needs a drink?” my father asks as soon as all the ladies leave the room.
“I sure as hell can use one,” Don Grasso says. We walk to the living room where my father has a wet bar. Just as we circle it,
the Don leans in and adds, “Just so you know—if you do anything to hurt her, our families will go to war.”
“I’ll never give her a reason to be upset,” I admit. I’m too damned in love to see her hurting.
“Please. We’re men with prices put on our heads by our competitors. She will be upset every time you leave,” Cormack Delaney adds in his thick Irish accent. Gloria and Cormack met in Ireland and have been attached ever since.
“Well, I will do my best to make her happy and take out all my enemies before they can get me.”
“What can I get you, gentlemen?” my father asks to break up the conversation. Every one of us knows the dark side of our lives and that risk comes with rewards.
“Do you have Maker’s?” Don Grasso asks.
“Sure do.” Steps behind the bar, pulling out the glasses and setting them on the bar top. My father is proud of his collection, making sure to have plenty of the common ones for his guests.
“I’ll have the same, Pops.”
“Same for me,” Delaney calls out, checking his phone again. This is the second time I saw him on it in a matter of minutes.
“Everything okay?” I ask Delaney.
He lifts his head and with a smile, says, “Yes, just checking the monitor on the little ones.” He shows me the screen of his little boys sleeping.
“Damn. Paranoid,” I remark, knowing damned well that I’ll be worse.
He laughs, taking a drink before saying, “I never had a soft spot until I met Gloria. Now, I’ll do anything to protect them.”
Grasso clasps his hand on Delaney’s shoulder, smiling at his son-in-law. “Good. My grandbabies are well protected, but I worry as well.”
“I’m still worried about my boys, and they’re grown men,” my father adds. I know it’s true because he’s been on me about my obsession.
“Where is your other son?” Don Grasso asks.
“He’ll be coming soon. The boy lives with his head in the books.” Niccolò’s one hell of an accountant. He works to keep us out of prison, making sure nothing ties us to illegal activity.