by Marian Tee
Because…he was in love with Misty.
“I’m not in trouble anymore?” Misty asked carefully when she saw Domenico gradually relax.
He sighed, lying on his back and lifting Misty up to have her lie on top of him. “You’ll always be in trouble.”
“Only since I met you,” she pointed out.
“Do you wish you had never met me?”
She looked at him as if he had just said he wanted to kill her, which made Domenico want to take her in his arms and keep her there for a long, long time.
“Don’t say things like that. You might jinx us,” she wailed.
He pulled her back to him with a sigh. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean it. You know I would not let anything keep us apart.”
They fell silent afterwards, both aware of having so many things to say but not knowing where to start. Domenico stroked her hair as he felt Misty’s breathing ease into a steady rhythm in her sleep. He loved her. He was in love with her. Domenico marveled at the knowledge, but he knew it wasn’t the right time to tell Misty about it.
He was hedging his bets again, he knew. If Matteo had been by his side, he would have reprimanded Domenico for it and told him that he was wasting yet another golden opportunity in his life in order to exact revenge on his father.
Two more days passed. On those days, Domenico would leave before she woke up and came home after she was already fast asleep.
On the third day since her visit to the Castellano mansion, Domenico came home in the middle of the day, surprising her in the kitchen by wrapping his arms around her from behind.
She turned around in his arms, and Domenico immediately took her lips with a kiss.
“It smells wonderful here,” he murmured even as he nibbled on her lips.
“I’m preparing some pastries to take with us to the hospital.” The last of her words ended with a whimper when Domenico pushed her apron aside and snuck his hands under her shirt.
Aroused as she was, Misty still noticed the unusually carefree expression on her husband’s face. Trying not to writhe at Domenico’s masterful exploration of her body, she managed to ask, “Why do you seem so happy?”
Her words made Domenico recall why he came home early in the first place and he pulled away ruefully, pulling her shirt back down with a sigh. But his eyes were gleaming when he looked at her face.
“I have a surprise for you, Mrs. Moretti.” He took out a folded document from his blazer’s inner pocket and gave it to her.
She frowned. “What is this?”
“Read it.”
She unfolded the paper, her eyes widening when the full import of the words printed on it finally sank in. “You got it,” she whispered.
It had cost him numerous favors, but it was all worth it to see the joy on his wife’s face. “Kevin will be safe.”
She burst into tears and hugged him. “I love you, Domenico.”
And he heard himself say, “I love you just as much.”
Misty gasped.
He stared at her steadily. Now had been the right time to tell her how he felt, so he did.
Heart bursting with emotion, Misty pushed him to the worktable.
Domenico laughed as Misty kept pushing him until he finally lay on top of the kitchen worktable that had been behind him. “Misty?” But his breath hitched as she slowly undressed in front of him. His cock rose in response when she stood before him, fully naked.
“I love you,” she whispered just before she unzipped his jeans and climbed on top of him.
Domenico groaned when she straddled his lap and slowly impaled herself on his cock. She was already wet, and the knowledge drove him wild.
Misty’s eyes were wet but they were shining brightly, too. She lowered her head to kiss him, sucking on his tongue aggressively. Domenico let his wife take the lead and only gripped her hips in support as she fumbled for a rhythm that would suit them both.
“I love you,” she gasped just as she lowered herself on him again, the position causing Misty to press her clit against him in a way that made her head reel at the pleasure.
Realizing that she was struggling to find her rhythm again, Domenico grabbed her hips roughly. “Let me,” he growled just before he drove his hips up.
She screamed, eyes rolling back, but Domenico wasn’t yet done. Pistoning his cock in and out of her, Domenico simultaneously carried Misty’s body up and down to meet his thrusts.
When he felt himself nearing his orgasm, Domenico pulled her back down, catching one of her nipples with his teeth. “Come for me, Misty. Now.”
She did so with a cry, and he spilled his load inside her, his body convulsing at the strength of it but not letting go of the hold he had on her.
Because Domenico loved her. He loved Misty, his wife, his princess, his woman.
No matter what happened now, no matter if she willed it, Domenico would never let her go.
Chapter Twelve
Dear Diary,
I have a confession.
It’s a good one. Domenico and I are in love. He’s finally told me he loves me, and life has been beyond wonderful – especially with Kevin safely turned and recovering quickly from his injuries.
Yesterday, Domenico took me for a walk around the garden. And when the sun set, we fucked. It was the most thrilling experience, knowing that someone could discover us anytime soon. Domenico had been fully clothed while I was naked waist down, my pants tossed to the ground. He covered my mouth with his hand because I couldn’t stop sobbing with pleasure as he speared me again and again with his cock.
Tomorrow, he says we should take a tour around the brook at the far end of the estate.
I can’t wait.
Today, Misty and Domenico were going to have their first date.
Domenico had said they owed it to themselves after everything that happened. He had even promised they’d have the honeymoon that never was. The search for Matteo’s killer still continued, with promising leads that Domenico did not yet feel fit to share with Misty. But he did tell his wife about how his proposal was being positively reviewed now by the Lyccan Council, all thanks to the support he had consolidated from packs which had never been allied with the Morettis in the entire Lyccan history. Domenico knew that the alliances with the Castellanos, Cavaliers, Buenaventuras, and Fontabellas would never have happened without Misty at his side, and it was one of the hundreds of reasons he knew he should be thankful to his wife.
“Are you going to tell me you love me?” Misty asked him as Domenico helped her out of the car for their first movie date.
When Domenico didn’t answer, she tugged at his shirtsleeve. He looked gorgeous and sexy in his dress shirt and jeans. Even the way he glanced down at her made her heart go crazy and her body heat up. Domenico stared at her with a smile tugging at his lips, his eyes glinting as his gaze skimmed her face and caressed her body, focusing on the way the white knee-length dress molded to her curves faithfully.
The sight of that smile took her breath away.
Around her, other women were just as breathless, staring at Domenico.
She tugged at his shirtsleeve again.
“What is it?” Domenico asked.
“Tell me you love me,” she insisted with a grin.
He colored, as expected. Misty knew he was still unused to the fact that he loved her. “No.”
She pretended to pout. “Why not?”
“Because you’re not senile, so I don’t have to tell you every second,” he retorted.
“If Jayme were my boyfriend ---”
“If I had married the pack princess intended for me---”
“Okay, okay, I take it back,” she said quickly.
He curved an arm around her waist when they reached the ticket booth. “What would you like to watch?”
She viewed the list of movies on the digital screen. “How about the action film?”
He laughed. “It’s okay. Don’t consider my preferences.”
“No, really. I like
action movies, too.” She was surprised to see Domenico hesitate.
“Well, if you’re sure…”
Then she got it and she started to laugh. “You don’t like action movies!”
“I like them!”
“You’re lying,” she said laughingly.
Domenico rolled his eyes. “Okay, I don’t like them, but I don’t hate them either.”
She shook her head in wonder. “You’re the first guy I met who’s not into action movies.”
“You know that many guys?”
She stuck out her tongue. “Ha-ha.”
Domenico grinned. He had missed seeing this childish side of Misty’s. It made him realize just how much life with him had also changed Misty. In a way, it saddened him that because of Lyccan life, Misty had become more mature. But Domenico didn’t regret it either. Misty had become stronger and he wanted her that way. Above all things, he wanted to know that she would be strong enough to protect herself if there ever was a time that he was not by her side when she faced danger.
“I’m just sick of violence. It’s always been a part of a Lyccan’s life so when it comes to movies or books, I prefer to be free of it,” Domenico murmured as he pulled her close and inhaled the scent of her hair. He loved her scent and couldn’t get enough of it. He smiled when his wife did her best not to wriggle, knowing that Misty was still adjusting to his newly discovered fondness for expressing his affection for her in public.
She tiptoed and kissed him on the cheek. “Then we won’t ever watch one. Let’s always watch sappy rom-coms and cartoons ---”
His eyes narrowed. “You’re making fun of me, aren’t you?’
“Yup!”
“You’re not going to take it back?”
“I---” He suddenly caught her mouth in a swift, hard kiss. When he pulled away, her face was beet red, feeling other people’s gazes on them.
Domenico smiled at the embarrassment on his wife’s face. “That should teach you.”
Inside the movie theater, Domenico and Misty followed the usher to their seats, which were one of the ten pairs of La-Z-Boy chairs located at the top two rows and separated from the rest of the theater seats.
When the lights went out and the credits started rolling, Misty realized that no one else was joining them in their section. She found that strange, considering they were about to watch a pretty popular movie and it was a Friday night.
“How much are these seats anyway?” she whispered to Domenico.
Domenico told her and asked, “Why?”
Laying her head on his shoulder, Misty answered, “I’m just wondering why there’s no one else who bought seats here. It’s not that pricey at all.”
Domenico chuckled.
“What’s so --” Misty choked back a gasp when Domenico suddenly and swiftly lifted her up from her seat and placed her on his lap. She quickly tried to struggle away but he wouldn’t let her, nuzzling her neck even as one of his hands snaked under her skirt to pull her panties down.
“Domenico,” she hissed, flushing red even though she was pretty sure no one could see them.
“Misty,” he returned mockingly. Biting her ear, he whispered, “This is why no one is here with us.”
It took her over a second to understand what he was saying. “You bought all the seats?”
He thrust his cock into her in answer.
She collapsed against his chest at that, his unexpected entry making her gushing wet in an instant.
Cupping and squeezing her breasts, Domenico slid in and out of her moist depths, taking her lips in a carnal kiss when she couldn’t stop herself from whimpering.
“Stop making sounds,” he whispered to her even as he pumped his cock into her harder and faster.
“I’m trying,” she gasped.
Domenico bit her lower lip harder than usual as punishment when another gasp escaped. “Shut up, darling, or I’ll stop fucking you.”
Misty gnashed her teeth in silent protest when Domenico pulled out of her completely. Her fingers curled around his arms, nails digging into his skin, urging him to continue. Misty’s mouth parted in a silent gasp when Domenico shoved right back inside her without warning. This time, he didn’t stop thrusting into her until Misty knew it was only a matter of seconds before she would reach an orgasm.
“Come now.” His voice grated against her face.
She came with another silent cry, grinding her buttocks into him as his cock jettisoned his seed into her with a force that made her body shake harder.
The next night was yet another first as Misty was scheduled to make her official debut in Lyccan society as Domenico’s wife. Her knees shook so hard she felt like she was about to fall on her face any second. She was thankful her family was with her. Now that Kevin was Lyccan as well, their family was not just accepted but warmly welcomed by Domenico’s kind. The obvious bias made Matilda mad, but Misty didn’t mind, more than content that everyone she loved was alive and happy.
That night, they stood side by side as they accepted belated congratulations regarding their marriage. Domenico wore yet another beautiful handmade Italian suit while she wore a new gown designed by Mark, one made of purple velvet with a side slit that made Domenico’s eyes narrow when he saw it practically bared her legs more than once.
“I think I need to have a word with Mark about what is appropriate,” he murmured to her dryly.
Misty rolled her eyes. “Come on, Domenico. There are so many girls who are more attractive than I am in here. I doubt anyone actually pays attention to me.”
“Oh, there are,” Domenico said darkly.
She shook her head, still amazed that he could be jealous. That he loved her. It was a truth she hugged herself with every morning that she woke up and saw Domenico at her side. “I’m an old married woman now. I’m totally boring.” And who knew how wonderful boring could be?
Domenico’s side had also attended the ball hosted by the Fiarinos in full force. The Fiarinos were another powerful Lyccan clan, one with a promising heir Domenico said he had his eye on. When she met with Domenico’s father, Dio had given her a cursory greeting but that was it. It was enough for now. Misty remembered her promise and she told herself she would work on that soon enough.
When she and Domenico encountered Aurelius Castellano, she felt her husband stiffen beside her.
“Castellano.” His voice was cold.
Aurelius didn’t seem to mind and even looked to be in the best of spirits. “Hello, Domenico. Did you like the battle I gave you?”
“It was a good fight.” Domenico was stunned when Aurelius winked at his wife.
“I did what you asked, dear.”
Misty reddened.
“You said no special treatment, so I gave him the best fight he could have asked. But he succeeded just like you said he would.” Aurelius clapped a hand on Domenico’s back. “You have a gem of a wife there. Don’t lose her.”
When Aurelius left, Misty quickly tried to escape but Domenico swiftly chained her to his side.
“Misty,” he growled.
“I’m sorry!”
She told him what happened that day, with the exception of Daryl being a faerie. Something told her that it was more than enough for Domenico to accept that someone supposedly dead had spoken to her.
“A ghost,” he said almost dumbly.
She avoided his expression. “Hmm…”
“And you made me suffer for nothing? The old man offered his help and you rejected it?” He didn’t know if he was exasperated or touched.
“I thought you didn’t want any special favors. I did it to prove I trust you,” she said earnestly.
“Misty…” He sounded like he was about to die.
“I’m sorry,” she mumbled.
He shook his head with a wry smile. Not caring about the people looking at them, Domenico bent down and kissed her, easily persuading her lips to part and let his tongue in. He branded her with his kiss, and let her brand him with hers.
; When he lifted his head, his wife looked at him in a daze.
He said softly, “Don’t ever change, Misty.”
After dinner, the dancing began. Domenico excused himself, told Misty to enjoy herself, and got to work. It soon became apparent to him that everyone was fascinated with his wife. They either loved her or were suspicious of her, but they were interested in her.