by C. M. Steele
“I’m pleased that you could make it, brother.” Domani smiles at his brother who looks like he’s concerned about something. The slight upturn of Domani’s lips seems to settle him. Could he be afraid of his brother? No? Maybe of disappointing him. That’s definitely something I could see. Niccolò hardly speaks unless spoken to throughout the meal as the rest of the family talk about all matters.
As lunch wraps up, the staff come in to clean, and we stand to cut our cake. Our hands touch, slicing through the cake, and my pulse amplifies like lightning has struck, but it’s just his hand on mine. “I can’t wait until my hands are all over you, amore mia.”
“Neither can I.” I kiss his cheek, and suddenly he releases the cake knife and sets it on the table. Cupping my face, he drops his mouth down on mine, returning my innocent kiss with one of pure need. His fingers dig into my hair until he’s gripping the base of my skull. I can’t stop from throwing my arms around his neck, teasing the tips of his hair.
Cheers erupt around the room. “I expect we’ll be having some grandbabies within the year,” his mother says.
“Can we have some cake before you two get started?” my father remarks, causing me to blush and release my hold on Domani. He does the same, but the smile on his face says more than words can. It’s a promise that we’ll finish what we started soon. The staff serves the slices, while Domani hands me mine. We share a piece, feeding each other. I can’t eat another bite, so we make small talk when all I want to do is have my husband work my body out over and over again.
Needing to think of something else, I address Giuseppe who comes to take the cake back to be refrigerated. “Did you make this, Giuseppe?” Giuseppe and his assistants worked miracles on our meal.
“Yes, Mrs. Bianchi. Was it to your liking?” I can see the pride the man has about every meal he prepares. It’s clearly something that makes him smile.
“Thank you, Giuseppe. Everything has been perfectly delicious. And the cake—it’s incredible, and so much more than necessary.”
“Nonsense, you deserve the cake of a queen, but we must settle for this one.” He frowns, as if this cake wasn’t fantastic. Yes, it’s not as intricate or lavish and much smaller than the one I wanted, but he had hours to make it, not two weeks. It’s a miracle I got this beauty, and I’m pleased most thoroughly with the care he took in making it.
“Although I believe no one should disagree with my bride, I have to side with Giuseppe. I’m sorry that you weren’t given the wedding you should have had.” Domani caresses my cheek.
“Yes, we had a larger wedding for my driver and his wife,” Cormack says.
“Still, I’m pleased. Now, enough. I’m happy, and I’d love to change out of this gown because I’m so stuffed,” I say, pushing my chair back and standing up. I’ll take whatever excuse I can to get a moment alone with Domani.
Domani stands with me. “Goodnight everyone. Giuseppe, bring dinner up at nine.”
“Yes, Mr. Bianchi.”
“What? It’s only four,” I mutter as Domani leads me to the door.
“Wife, I’ve been more than generous with sharing you with our families.” He flips me over his shoulder. “We’ll see everyone at breakfast.” My brute of a husband carries me out of the dining room and upstairs.
“Um…I just ate.”
“Oh. Sorry, amore.” He sets me on my feet as we reach the top of the stairs.
“It’s fine, but being upside down, I need a moment.” I press my hand up to calm the tension coming from him.
“Are you well?” He cups my face tenderly, lifting my face to meet his gaze. The simple act heats up my entire body.
Smiling up at him, I nod. “Yes. I’m fine. Just a little full.”
“You’re about to be a lot full, but first, let me get you in our room to relax.” He wags his brows, making me giggle. I’m not as full as I’m playing at and suddenly, my stomach is fluttering for another reason. I’m nervous and excited about becoming his in every way tonight. All throughout lunch, I replayed what he said in my head. We’re on a level playing field.
Taking a deep breath, I enter our bedroom to see red rose petals leading to the bathroom and the bed. “Wow, you still made it so special.”
“It’s just a day early. I’ve been waiting for this moment for far too long.” He pulls me into his arms, gently kisses my lips, and then slides his mouth down to my neck, swiping his tongue along my pulse. Tilting my head, I give him more room as I cling to his biceps. Goodness, I’m in heaven and we’ve only gotten started.
“Come, let me undress you,” he whispers. I spin in his arms and then feel his knuckles lightly graze my bare back before reaching the zipper. He tugs the zipper down, which quickly gives way. With a slight wiggle, my gown cascades to the floor in a pool of gauzy material. Domani takes my hand as I step out of the white puddle, leaving me in just a pair of panties and my kitten heels. As he stands behind me, Domani grips my long hair in one hand, tilting my head to the side before he slowly brushes open-mouthed kisses along my jaw and down to my neck. “My wife, my queen. Mine,” he whispers reverently before nipping on my earlobe.
I lean back, resting on his broad chest, letting him feel his way all over my flesh and lighting up every nerve ending. He makes me feel so delicate, feminine, and safe as his fingers skim over my arms to my breasts. The feel of his hands cupping them, plucking lightly on my nipples, shatters any inhibitions. I moan with each squeeze, caress, and I need more. “Domani.” I don’t even recognize the whimper that crosses my lips. My longing is so real, so intense that I can’t stop the sounds coming from me.
“You’re so beautiful, Aria.” He spins me around and scoops me up in his arms, carrying me to our bed and laying me down with tender care. Tugging his tie loose, he tosses it onto the chair and then methodically he removes his clothes until he’s standing in front of me in just his black silk boxers covering his impressive length.
“Wow,” I murmur, staring at his impressive package.
“Thank you, Aria.” Climbing onto the bed, he straddles my body and brings his mouth to mine as we begin to kiss. No dreams, no fantasies have prepared me for this moment—the way his body presses into mine without squishing me, and the way his tongue slides down my torso.
“Domani.”
“Relax. I want to taste my wife’s pussy before I stretch out her perfectly tight core, filling her with my sons,” he commands and my body responds, gushing between my thighs as I open for him. He slinks down, grabbing the hem of my panties and yanks, tearing them from my body. He wastes no time getting down on his stomach as he swipes his tongue along my slit. My breath catches as pleasure shoots through me. His deft fingers tease my opening, pushing one digit inside me and testing my ability to stay in control. My hands dig into the mattress, clutching the sheets.
“That’s it, baby. Come for me.”
“Domani, don’t stop.”
“Never.” I cry out, gripping his head with my thighs as I come on his tongue and fingers. He pumps into me as I squirt all over his face. Licking me once more, he pulls back and slides his boxers off, freeing that huge cock of his. I want it in me, but I’m not sure it’s gonna fit.
He kisses his way up my body until the tip is at my entrance. I take a deep breath before he pushes into me and then through my innocence. I cry out, feeling the burning stretch until his mouth claims mine. A moan slips out as I adjust. “Sorry, my queen. It will be over soon.”
“It’s getting better. You’re just so big.”
He chuckles and smiles. “Thank you.” We kiss as he moves slowly in and out. Finally the pain passes, and pleasure replaces it. “God, you’re so damn beautiful.”
I marvel at his handsome, muscular build, raking my nails over his biceps as he takes me, owns me. The sensation of being his fills me up as we both come. Domani clings to me, wrapping me up in his arms, and he flips onto his back so I rest on his broad chest where his heart beats out of control.
I thought I loved him b
efore, but now I’m sure I’m in real danger of him destroying my heart.
****
We’ve been married a full week and I find myself always wanting to hunt my husband down and kiss his lips. That’s why I’m now sitting in the library reading a book, or at least trying to. I was supposed to help my mom sort through my things, but I kept getting distracted, so she sent me away and went to have tea with Mrs. Bianchi. I put down the book because it does no good when all I can do is think about Domani. I’m always thinking about him, which makes me pretty pathetic. I’ve been fascinated since the day in the limo, and now I’m his bride. One he’s already killed for. Franco died because he wanted me to the point of attacking the Bianchi Family.
What I don’t understand is why Franco had to do what he did? I hardly knew him, and I never felt any feelings toward anyone but Domani.
I gasp. “Domani broke his arm.” All those years ago, it was Domani who taught him a lesson. One he refused to learn. But why was Domani the one to do that?
Rushing out of the library, needing answers, I nearly collide with my father. “Sweetheart, is something wrong?”
“Yes. Why did Domani break Franco’s arm in the first place?”
“Because he tried to kiss you.”
“No. I mean why would Domani be involved in that incident when we were only promised to each other less than a month ago? And don’t lie to me.”
“He wanted you protected from the day he requested to marry you.”
“Day he requested…that was weeks ago.” Even as I say it, I know it’s not the case. My father can’t hide the truth in his eyes. “He’s the reason I never got to enjoy hanging out with friends and why I had to be homeschooled. He wanted me isolated.”
Angry, I try to storm away, but my dad grabs my arm, stopping me. “Wait. We need to talk, Aria.”
“Two years too late. Excuse me.” He lets go of my arm, and I head in to find my husband. My blood boils with every step closer. I point to my guard and snarl, “Don’t follow me.” She backs up and stays put.
Chapter Eight
Domani
It’s been a week since we married, and I can’t express how happy this woman has made me. I’d planned a honeymoon for us, but with the deaths of my men, Aria demanded we cancel it. She has been a pillar of strength when it comes to handling the arrangements, making sure our men get their proper burials and their families are well taken care of.
I knew she had it in her to be amazing. Everything about Aria makes me fucking happy, and the sex has been incredible and often to the point that I’m sure her pussy has to be sore from how often I’m balls deep in her. What I wouldn’t give to get away just the two of us somewhere secluded where I can spend days worshipping her and spoiling her with no eyes lurking around.
Her parents are supposed to be leaving soon to go back to their home, but the rebuild will take another week. It’s hard to feel guilty when we come out of a room looking thoroughly fucked and her parents are around. If they don’t like it, they need to book a hotel somewhere because I can’t get enough of my bride.
Just sitting here thinking about her makes my balls feel heavy again, like I need to drain them in my queen, but we just went at it for hours early this morning. It’s insane how insatiable we are. I adjust my cock because it’s hard to sit like this, but I have to get my ass together. Not everything is about needing Aria naked.
A knock at my office door takes me by surprise because Aria’s with her mother as they sort through Aria’s things that have been brought from her parents’ estate. “Enter.”
“Domani. I need to speak with you.” That isn’t the tone I like to hear from her. It’s cold, almost indifferent. Nothing like the woman I was just daydreaming about.
“Yes, wife, but you know you never have to knock in this home. It’s yours,” I remind her.
A big mistake. Her eyes flare at me with an untold anger that concerns me, and then she lets me have it. “Don’t tell me what to do, damn it.” She shakes her head, chest heaving as she returns her glare straight at me. “I’ve just learned that you’re the reason that I’ve been locked away for two years. I can’t believe you did that. What—were you afraid I’d find someone else before I reached eighteen? That I’d be spoiled?”
In a flash, I step around the desk to try to calm her down. Just as I close the distance, her hand comes swiftly across my face. I grip it, absorbing the sting for the cheap shot that it was. “Wife. I will never lay a hand on you, but you will treat me with the same decency,” I grit out, pinning her ass to the edge of my desk with my body pressed firmly against hers.
“I don’t owe you any decency. I can’t believe you.” She yanks her hand from my grip, and I let it go because I don’t want her to hurt herself. When she heads for the door, I cuff her waist and lift her off her feet. “Put me down, you monster. I hate you.” I hear the tears in her voice, and I do feel like a fucking monster.
Setting her back on her feet, I hold her and lean in. “I didn’t lock you up. The day I made you mine, you became my weak spot.”
“Let me go. You disgust me.” She tosses her head back, nearly full-on headbutting me, but hits just my cheek. I let her go because for a moment I’m too damn heated to speak rationally to her. She darts out from the room like she’s afraid I’m going to give chase. Right now, I want as much distance as possible between us, and yet no distance at the same time.
I'm not going to chase after her because I don't know how to fix this. She can't leave the house anyway, so I have some time to figure out how to make it right. I slam my office door closed to avoid anyone coming to see what’s wrong. I walk over to my cabinet and pour myself a tumbler full of bourbon and drink the entire thing. I take a look in the mirror, and it looks like my little spitfire of a wife left a nice fucking bruise on my cheek. I sit down on my leather sofa off to the side with a fresh glass of bourbon and close my eyes.
There’s a knock at my door. “Go away.”
"Domani, can I speak to you for a moment?" my father-in-law asks through the door.
"I'm not in the mood to talk, so go away,” I snarl.
“This is about Aria,” he pleads.
I want to bite his head off right fucking now, but I relent. “Come in.”
"I came in to apologize. It's my fault. She learned that all the other families were supposed to stay away from her. I didn't tell her about the abduction attempt."
"What? I don't know how to fix this. She hates me."
"No, she doesn't. She's upset, but she loves you." I doubt it, shaking my head. We’ve only been together a short time, but she made it clear that I haven’t gotten any closer to winning her heart; in fact, I think I’ve done the opposite. Orgasms aren’t the only thing I want from her, and she proved that she doesn’t want anything from me. "She's young, Domani. Hot-headed and hurt. She’s pissed at me as well, but I’m sure she’ll understand when you finally get her to sit down and listen. Aria’s always been the bullheaded one. It’s one of the reasons I made the deal with you and agreed to keep it a secret. If she knew then, she might have done something stupid to get out of it and likely put herself in danger."
I could see that happening only in his head because I’d never have let her sneak away. My men were doing their job incredibly well by averting several attempts on her, and she didn’t even know it. I had my eyes on her nearly all hours of the day, either in person or via surveillance systems. My obsession with Aria was sick and twisted to the point that I learned everything I could about her. "I need to find her and fix this. Even if I have to tie her down to get her to listen.”
“Ties work well, and they’re less likely to leave any markings,” he says. He turns back and adds, “She’s gone into your mother’s garden.” He leaves the door open after he walks out, tempting me to go after my wife.
I really have to make this right between us. The longer it festers, the more damage will be done. I swing around my desk and close down my computer. I’m just about to walk
out the door when my phone rings, and I scoop it off the desk. I find the silent alarm has been tripped by Luigi.
He calls me. “Domani, they’ve taken Aria.”
“Who took her?” I snarl, running out of my office and out to the front of the house.
“Her guards,” Luigi says.
“What? Her guards?” Aria only has one guard around the house that’s actually assigned to her since John disappeared.
“Yeah, her guards. John’s back, and he had her guard, Torres, with them as Aria got into the car.”
“They’re dead. We need to get my wife back now.” I’m seeing red as we watch the surveillance video. I load up her phone tracking, but it shows the phone’s here in the house. “Fuck. She doesn’t have her phone.” Then I remember. “Her ring. Please tell me she didn’t take it off.” I pull up the trace on her ring and get a steady ping of it flying down the expressway. My men and I hop in several vehicles, many with hidden gun compartments. We give chase at a distance because I don’t want to give them any excuse to harm her. My men scope out the vehicle and report that they can’t see Aria, so she must be in the trunk or the back seat, which means they’ve taken her against her will. It’s a bit of a relief that she didn’t voluntarily leave me, but I can’t stop the dread that’s filling me.
“They’re exiting on the ramp that leads to an airfield,” one of my men says through our walkies.
“We need a plan. I don’t want any plane taking off before we find her. There’s no way I’m letting her get in the air. Understood?” I call out to my men on the walkies.
“Got it. I have a friend who works there. We’ll call in an issue.”
“Good. Stall.”
How did John get access to a plane to kidnap my wife? We’ve had no information on the fucker for weeks. His bank and apartment haven’t been touched since the day he disappeared. Torres has had a clean record working with the family for three years and never showed any signs of betrayal. I’m gonna string them up and torture them when I get my hands on them.
