Bound by Duty

by Cora Reilly

  I had to bite back a smile at the possessiveness in his voice. “So what exactly am I supposed to do?”

  He removed his hands and strode over to the window, hands in his pockets. “I want you to welcome the high rollers. Show them to their table. Introduce them to our complimentary girls.”

  “Complimentary girls, really?”

  Dante turned. “Gambling and prostitution are our main businesses, and both can easily be combined.”

  “Okay. I can do that.” Even if the word complimentary girls made me want to tear my hair out. “That doesn’t sound like a lot though.”

  “Also you organize special events. We have event nights once a month, and I think a female touch might make them more appealing. You also make sure that everything goes smoothly. I want you to be my eyes. I have a feeling I haven’t weeded out all the rotten fruit yet.”

  “You want me to spy on your employees.”

  “Yes. I want you to keep your eyes open.”

  “Is it because you think they’ll be less cautious around me or because you don’t have anyone else you trust with the task?”

  “I have enough men I trust. But you are right, I think many men will underestimate you and be less vigilant around you.” He leaned against the window sill. “I don’t trust anyone unconditionally.”

  “Not even me?” It was said in a teasing voice, but Dante’s eyes became cool. “You haven’t given me reason to. You lied to me about your marriage to Antonio and you refuse to give me the name of an outsider who might be privy to compromising information about the Outfit.”

  The way he worded it made me sound like a notorious liar. “I didn’t lie to you about the marriage. I told you that I’ve never been with Antonio.”

  “Yes, you did, but it was a truth I suspect you gave up only because you feared I’d uncover it eventually.”

  Of course he hit the nail on the head. I couldn’t deny it. He would have known I lied and that wouldn’t really have helped my situation. “Does it matter why I decided to tell you the truth?”

  “It matters greatly, Valentina. Because I don’t know if you’ll be as forthcoming with future truths if you don’t feel cornered. If I counted every coerced truth as redeeming, I would have to spare every traitor who gives away his knowledge under duress.”

  Under duress, what a mild word for what the Outfit did to traitors. “I know what you do to traitors, and that’s exactly why I won’t give you the name of Antonio’s lover.”

  “You realize that by aiding Antonio in his deceit you became his accomplice and thus a traitor to the Outfit, and that you keep betraying the Outfit and me by withholding information.”

  I pushed off the desk, unable to sit still any longer. “I know. But no matter what you think of me, I am loyal to those I care about. I was loyal to Antonio. If he were still alive, I would have taken his secret to the grave with me to protect him.”

  Dante shook his head. “That’s something you can’t say for sure. You’ve never suffered through excruciating pain. Torture is a powerful motivator.”

  “I guess we’ll never know, unless you intend to test the theory on me and try to coerce the name of Antonio’s lover out of me,” I said insolently.

  Dante fixed me with a hard look. “Because you are my wife and because you are a woman, you are safe. You know that very well.”

  Because I was his wife, not because he liked me or even cared for me. “I know,” I said, then because I couldn’t bear the tension between us I added. “If you had a secret you needed to hide, I would keep it for you. I would try to brave torture, pain and death to hide it for you.”

  Dante didn’t say anything, didn’t even bridge the distance between us, only gazed at me with his unreadable eyes. I decided to take my exit before I said something sentimental, or before Dante could send me out. Dante didn’t stop me, but I could feel his eyes on my back.

  CHAPTER ELEVEN

  After a dinner of almost silence, except for the few snippets of conversation about my visit to the casino tomorrow, Dante had returned into his office and I had gone to the library as was becoming habit. Instead of choosing the Russian textbook, I decided to read one of the books on gambling and casinos that crowded the shelves but was distracted by the sound of male voices through the walls. They didn’t sound like Enzo and Taft, so I assumed Dante was having a meeting with other members of the Outfit.

  When I went to bed hours later, the halls were dark and Dante was still in his office. I guessed that meant another late night. Would Dante really make me ask for a second time of sex?

  ***

  Much later, I was woken by a hand on my hip. My eyes shot open but I stared into near blackness. The curtains were drawn and allowed only a sliver of moonlight to penetrate the room. My gaze found the pale glow of the alarm clock on the nightstand. It was almost midnight. I had been asleep for less than one hour. What was wrong?

  I realized Dante was pressed up against my back, his fingers stroking my hip. “Dante?” I whispered, twisting my head to peer over my shoulder, but his face was covered by shadows. He was close though. His breath fanned over my shoulder, raising the little hairs on my arms. “What’s the--”

  He silenced me with a fierce kiss that made me gasp. He didn’t hesitate; his tongue claimed my mouth. I tried to roll over so I was facing his way, but Dante’s firm chest against my back and his tight grip on my hip kept me immobilized. His kiss sent waves of arousal down my center but eventually I pulled back to draw in a deep breath. He pressed his erection against my butt. I exhaled audibly. “Tell me you’re not sore,” he rumbled against my shoulder before he bit down lightly.

  I trembled. “Not sore,” was all I managed, and it wasn’t even the truth, but I’d be damned if I stopped Dante from having his way with me.

  “Good,” Dante growled before licking my throat. “Tell me to stop, or I won’t.”

  I whimpered only in response because Dante had dug his cock into my butt again. I couldn’t wait to get out of my clothes and really feel him against me. I shoved my ass back for additional friction but again Dante’s hand on my hip stopped me. “No.”

  “Dante, I really want to--”

  His lips swallowed my words again and his fingers tightened in warning. “I want you to be silent now unless you want to tell me to stop.” He nibbled my neck. “You do what I tell you, Valentina, or you tell me to stop. There are only these two options.”

  I nodded, and he must have felt it because he couldn’t possibly have seen it in the dark. I was glad Dante didn’t know how turned on I was by his commanding tone.

  “Very good,” he said quietly. “You’re still going to be very tight today; that’s why we’re going to go slow and take our time making you really wet.”

  I couldn’t believe the same restrained and cold Dante I knew by day was saying those things to me. I wanted to ask him why he’d changed his mind. Did one time make such a difference? Maybe he’d accepted that I knew what I wanted. “I want you to undress now.”

  There was only an instant of disappointment that Dante wasn’t going to do it himself but then excitement drowned it out. He released my hip and I quickly sat up and tugged my nightgown over my head, then slid down my panties. I could feel Dante’s eyes on me. I turned to him, wondering if I was supposed to give him some sort of sign and that idea almost made me giggle, but then the bed shifted and I could see Dante getting out of bed and start to undress Everything was in shadows but I could make out his impressive hard-on. “Sit on the edge of the bed.”

  I scooted over to his side of the bed and perched on the edge, nervous and curious and excited, and almost bursting with lust. Dante moved closer until he stood in front of me, his erection on eyelevel with me. I gasped before I could swallow the sound, realizing what he wanted to do. Bibiana’s advice shot through my mind but I wasn’t sure if Dante wanted me to act on my own accord. He cupped my cheek, his palm warm and slightly rough against my skin. “How far have you gone before me?”

&n
bsp; I hesitated a moment, but I supposed he wanted me to answer, so I said, “I kissed Antonio a few times and he touched my breasts a few times, but that’s all I’ve ever done before you.”

  Silence filled the dark room. My heartbeat accelerated, the thud-thud becoming seemingly louder by the second. I could hear Dante’s rhythmic breathing, no sign that he was sexually aroused; except for the proof straining to attention before my face. “I want you to suck my cock, Valentina.”

  His thumb brushed my lips, then slipped between them, parting them slightly. He waited, and I nudged his thumb with my finger before sucking on it lightly, hoping he’d take it as the confirmation that it was. He moved even closer until his tip grazed my lips. Dante’s thumb stroked my chin, his palm still cupping my cheek. “Lick around the tip.” I darted my tongue out and trailed it around his head. Dante’s breathing hitched but that was the only sign that my actions had an effect on him. “Now lick up to the top and dip your tongue into the slit.”

  I followed his orders and was rewarded by the quickening of Dante’s breathing. His thumb on my chin tightened. “Open your mouth.” I parted my lips without hesitation. I was glad for Dante’s orders. That way at least I wasn’t left to fumble around and embarrass myself. He slid the head of his cock into my mouth, so it rested lightly on my tongue. “Close your lips around me and suck lightly.”

  I did as he said and he stroked my chin, then trailed his thumb up until it brushed the spot where his cock disappeared between my lips. “I like my cock in your mouth,” he said in a low voice. “And I love that it’s the only cock you’ve ever sucked.” He slid deeper into my mouth, but still not very far. “Let’s see how much of me you can take.” He eased himself into me inch by inch until he hit the back of my throat and I gagged. I reached out for his erection. There were still a couple of inches of him that I couldn’t fit into my mouth. Dante pulled back slightly, then thrust a few times into me, his palm on my face keeping me steady. “With some practice maybe you can take all of me into your mouth, but for now this is enough.” I quivered with arousal. Could someone come from giving someone else a blowjob?

  Dante withdrew his erection from my mouth and stroked my lips with his thumb again. “Lie back.” I let myself fall back on the mattress. Dante knelt down and wedged his hands between my knees, then pushed my legs as far apart as they would go. “Put your heels on the edge of the bed.”

  God, I knew what he was going to do. I’d read so many things about it, but I couldn’t even imagine how it would feel.

  I was glad for the dark. That way I didn’t feel quite so exposed. He eased his palms under my butt and lifted me slightly. I stopped breathing when I felt his warm breath on my wet folds. Dante licked around my outer lips slowly. I bucked my hips but Dante ignored my silent pleading and kept up his torturous teasing. “Dante,” I said pleadingly.

  He squeezed my butt and pulled back. “No.”

  I pressed my lips together and then finally he trailed his tongue along me slit in one long stroke. I moaned, not caring if that counted as speaking or not. He alternated between quick and light strokes, and firm but slow licks until I was panting and on the verge of climax. My hands shot out and buried in Dante’s hair, wanting to press him tighter against me. Dante resisted. His thumbs trailed up my folds and parted them. With the tip of his tongue he lightly circled my clit until I started shaking, seconds away from tumbling over the edge. He sat back without warning. It took all my self-control to stay silent.

  “Turn around and get on your knees.”

  My eyes grew wide with surprise, but I rolled over and knelt on the bed.

  “Lower yourself to your elbows.”

  I did. Now my butt was raised into the air. The position felt strange, and even more exposing than the one before. Dante nudged my legs apart until I could feel the cold air on my opening from behind, and then his lips were back on my center. I cried out with pleasure as Dante dipped his tongue into me and started fucking me at a leisurely pace. I could feel every move of him in me, the slight roughness of his tongue, the way he curled the tip when he was deep in me. I dropped my face into the sheets to stop more embarrassing noises from escaping my lips, but when Dante slipped a hand around my front and began teasing my clit with his fingers, even the sheets couldn’t stifle my moans and gasps. I jutted out my butt even more, my fingers scratching over the mattress as my orgasm exploded outward from my core, numbing and heightening my senses seemingly at the same time. I sucked in ragged breaths. My skin was damp with perspiration and my heart was beating frantically in my chest. I lifted my head to breathe more easily.

  Dante was gone from behind me but before I could glimpse over my shoulder to see what he was doing, his fingers grasped my hips and pulled me closer to the edge of the bed. Then his erection pushed against my entrance and my body seized up with surprise and nerves.

  I’d read that doggy-style allowed men to go deeper than in other positions. I was still slightly sore, and the lack of intimacy this position allowed, made it even less desirable for me. I wanted Dante’s chest pressed against mine.

  Dante stilled behind me, not trying to enter me. His hands slid to my butt and massaged it gently. I relaxed slightly but was still tight. I could feel how clamped up my inner muscles were. Dante bent over me and wrapped an arm around my waist before he pulled me up against his chest. I was still kneeling but now my upper body was upright and Dante held me in his arms. He snuck one hand between my legs and started teasing me again while the other found my breasts and kneaded them lightly. I hung my head back against his shoulder, my breathing slowing. I was still tense but in Dante’s embrace, I could slowly feel my muscles softening. Dante leaned forward with me a bit and guided his tip to my opening. I still clamped up, but not as badly as before. “What’s the problem?” he murmured against my ear. He didn’t sound impatient or frustrated, merely curious.

  Embarrassment twisted my stomach. My seduction skills were obviously lacking, if I couldn’t even do it doggy-style for my husband. “I don’t know,” I admitted quietly. “Can’t you just push in?”

  “Of course I can, but you’re tight anyway and as tense as you’re now, it’ll be painful.” His voice was calm, neutral even, no hint to what he was thinking about my suggestion. Dante’s fingers were still between my legs, stroking and pinching lightly.

  “Don’t tell me you have a problem with causing other people pain,” I teased in a breathy whisper as tingles of pleasure spread through my core.

  “I don’t,” he said simply. I could feel the tension building as his fingers worked their magic between my legs. He increased the pressure on my opening, the tip of his cock sliding in, and at the same time I came hard, my muscles squeezing Dante’s cock tightly. Dante leaned forward a bit more, pressing me down and my arms shot out to support my body on the bed while I was still recovering from my climax.

  Dante bit my neck. “But I don’t want to cause you pain.” He pinched my nipple, then pushed a couple more inches into me, making me quaver from the sensations of slight pain and pleasure. “At least not more than you enjoy.”

  He sheathed himself completely in me, then paused a couple of heartbeats before he started to thrust into me slowly. His movements became gradually faster until I had no choice but to lower myself to my elbows or my arms would have given in. Dante straightened, robbing me of the warmth of his chest, and grabbed my hips. “Valentina, touch yourself,” he demanded.

  It took me a moment to understand what he meant. I brought an arm under myself and found my clit. I rubbed frantically as Dante’s movements turned more forceful. He pulled out as far as he could go and slammed into me again, making me cry out his name and my fingers press down on my nub even harder. Sometimes my fingertips grazed his cock, slick with my juices, and he moaned every time they did. Encouraged by this, I angled my hand so I could stroke myself and brush his cock at the same time. As my muscles seized up under my release, Dante tumbled over the edge too with a loud groan.

 
He stilled behind me as his cock twitched in me a few more times, and I buried my face in the sheets. My forearms ached from propping myself up. The moment Dante pulled out of me, I rolled onto my back, my chest heaving. I could see Dante move away from the bed like he’d done last time, and then the light in the bathroom came on and he disappeared inside. He didn’t close the door though. I scooted off the bed and quickly followed after him. He stood in front of the shower and turned the water on. “Are you taking a shower?” I asked hesitantly.

  Dante glanced over his shoulder at me. I didn’t bother covering my body. He’d seen it all. Dante didn’t seem to be ashamed of his nakedness. “Yes. You can join me if you want.”

  Relieved, I hurried over to him. He held the glass door of the shower open for me and I slipped under the warm spray of the rain shower. Dante joined me after a moment. I took my time admiring his body. It was the first time I really got a good look at him without clothes on, and he was a sight to behold. His chest and stomach were lightly sculpted and a fine trail of dark blond hair led down to his pelvis. Dante dipped his head under the water, then turned his back to me to reach for the shower gel. There was a tattoo on his shoulder. I was surprised to find him inked at all. Somehow Dante didn’t seem the type. “There is no good on earth; and sin is but a name. Come, devil. For to thee is this world given,” I read the quote written in cursive on his skin aloud. Dante faced me, an unreadable expression on his face.

  “Isn’t that a bit of a bleak outlook on life?” I asked.

  He handed me the shower gel. A barrier had come up between us again now that we were no longer in bed and I wasn’t sure how to tear it down. I could see that Dante wouldn’t allow it. “I’m a man of sin, Valentina. My experience taught me that good seldom wins. If there is a devil, he’s certainly the patron of the Outfit.”