Chapter Twenty-Two

I followed Aria into the dining room. The table looked pretty set in my eyes, but I had never been the guy for fancy dinners.

Aria opened a cupboard and took out silver cutlery. She handed me the forks and spoons but kept the steak knives to herself. I didn’t doubt she’d use them if I fucked with her little girl, even if she wasn’t as experienced at handling weapons. Women were the more creative sex when it came to weapons.

“Ready to stab me if I mess up?” I asked, smirking.

Aria glanced down at the knife she’d just put down beside a plate then at the ones in her hand. She smiled. “I’m not really the violent type.”

“I would have been surprised if you’d have ever used a knife.”

“Oh, I did. I once stabbed a Bratva soldier who’d attacked our house in the Hamptons,” she said it so lightly that I was sure she was joking but her expression didn’t show any humor.

I shook my head. “I can’t see it, sorry.”

She smiled. “There’s more below the surface you can’t see.”

“What’s below Marcella’s surface?” I asked curiously. I was fairly confident that I knew Marcella as well as one could ever know another person. The way we’d met and the beginning of our relationship just revealed her most vulnerable but also her fiercest sides. Few people ever got to see those.

Aria tilted her head to the side. “I think you can see more than most and what you haven’t seen yet, I’m sure you’ll discover soon enough, if she wants it.”

I nodded. I cleared my throat, not sure how to say what I’d wanted to say for a long time. “I never apologized to you for the pain I caused you.”

Aria put the knives down, fully turning to me, waiting for me to elaborate. I’d hoped she wouldn’t.

“I never meant to cause you pain when I kidnapped Marcella.”

“Any mother would feel pain if her child was kidnapped.”

“I know. I see that now but back then I was so focused on revenge, anything else faded into the background.”

“You wanted to hurt my husband and ultimately kill him.”

I cringed. “Yeah. I’m not earning any early son-in-law bonus points here, am I?”

Aria smiled. “We’ve all made mistakes that hurt others, it comes with the world we live in. We can only make sure that we don’t hurt the people we love.”

“I swear I won’t ever hurt Marcella. For one, she wouldn’t let me, because she’s the fiercest woman I know, and I could never live with myself if I did.”

“Not to mention that the men of my family would kill you in a very unpleasant way.”

“Yeah, that’s certainly another deterrent, but not the main one.”

My eyes registered movement from the corner of my eye. Marcella had just entered the room, as usual taking center stage of my attention. She wore a forest green jumpsuit that accentuated her curves in all the right places and satin high heels of the same color. Her outfit made me want to take her to a secluded spot for a little one on one time.

I met her halfway, impatient for her to reach me. Being separated from her during most nights and even some time during the day felt wrong after having her around pretty much 24/7 during her captivity. If it weren’t for the Famiglia’s old-fashioned traditions, we would have lived under the same roof already. I couldn’t wait to share an apartment with her even if I’d never lived with a woman before and would have to get used to her level of cleanliness.

She met her mother’s gaze. “Thank you for saving him from Amo, Matteo, and Dad.”

“I think your mom only wanted to grill me herself, no saving whatsoever,” I said with a wink.

Aria gave me a secretive smile in turn, but Marcella rolled her eyes. “Not you too, Mom. I’m not a little kid anymore. I survived captivity with a horde of wild bikers. I’ll survive being married to one.”

“Hey,” I said indignantly, wrapping an arm around her waist and pulling her against me for a kiss. “I’m not that wild and if anyone’s in danger of not surviving this marriage, then it’s me.”

“I’ll check if Lora’s done with dinner,” Aria said and glided away in that elegant way that Marcella had undoubtedly inherited from her.

“She wants to give us some privacy,” Marcella said with a naughty smile, standing on her tiptoes and catching my lower lip between her teeth.

I stifled a grin. “Don’t give me any ideas, Snow White. I’m having a hard time not thinking of all the places in this palace where I could have my way with you.”

“I dare you to try them all,” she said, her eyes twinkling in challenge.

“Easy for you to say. Your Dad and brother won’t castrate you if they catch us getting it on.”

“They know we already had sex.”

“Trust me, knowing and seeing are two very different things. Your dad definitely pretends you’re still his innocent daughter, untouched by my sullied paws.”

She rolled her eyes. “Don’t tell me you’re scared.”

I lifted her off the ground by her ass and pressed a kiss to the valley between her breasts. “Fuck, no. If anyone’s worth becoming an eunuch for, then it’s you. I’ll die a happy man, knowing my last moments were with you and your father won’t ever be able to unsee us doing the nasty.”

Marcella looked mildly mollified by my words. Steps rang out, definitely heavier than Aria’s soft footfall.

I could feel Marcella preparing to be set down. Did she really think I wasn’t going to make good on my words? I’d lived my life preparing for a showdown with her father—of course not in the way that would happen now but annoying him in small ways was better than nothing.

I captured her mouth for a searing kiss and after a moment of surprised stiffness, Marcella relaxed against me, her arms tightening around my neck. Kissing her never got boring. I’d lost count of the number of kisses we’d shared so far, but every kiss still felt like our first.

A man cleared his throat. Just from the low warning rumble, I couldn’t say if it was Luca or Amo, and with my back turned to the door I couldn’t see who it was. I tried to set Marcella down but her grip around my neck became stronger. I kissed her once more, then I gently pried her off. She gave me a coy smile then she headed back to the dining table, leaving me to the wolves. I turned to find Matteo and Amo in the doorway.

“You’re lucky it’s just us,” Amo muttered. But he too looked as if he’d love nothing more than to test the sharpness of his knife on me.

“I think he might become lucky later thanks to this act of bravery,” Matteo said with a wink.

I gave him a sly smile. When Marcella had mentioned that her uncle was relaxed and funny in the very beginning, I hadn’t believed it considering I’d only known his threatening, brutal side. But over the last six months, he was the Vitiello who’d been the easiest to get along with apart from Valerio.

“It’s difficult to resist Marcella,” I said simply, neither confirming nor denying his words. I certainly hoped that I’d get lucky later.

I went over to Marcella and touched her waist, loving how happy she looked that I dared to show my affection for her openly. After what had happened with her ex, no wonder. Of course, I was fucking glad that the idiot had been a pussy. That way Marcella was all mine.

Luca and Aria came in followed by Lora and a serving trolley. Luca’s eyes darted to my hand on Marcella’s waist, his expression tightening immediately.

If this already pissed him off, my next move would really set him off. I pulled back Marcella’s chair for her—even a wild biker could have manners—but before she sank down, I kissed her lips. It was a chaste thing, certainly nothing compared to the show Matteo and Amo had witnessed.

When I pulled back, Marcella’s eyes were alight with surprise and love, then she lowered herself into the chair. I risked a glance toward Luca. Aria was holding his hand, though I wasn’t sure if it was to restrain him or because she was amazed by our love. Luca’s expression was tight but he didn’t try to pummel me to death with his bear-like fists, which I also took as a good sign. Making progress on all fronts. Who would have ever thought I’d be accepted—or in Luca’s case, tolerated—in the Vitiello family?

Lora loaded the table with all kinds of Italian delicacies. Since I’d been with Marcella, I’d discovered a whole new world of Italian food. My experiences with Italian dishes had been restricted to Olive Garden in the past, and that was, as I found out, far from traditional Italian cuisine. I still remembered Lora’s appalled expression when I’d asked why her Spaghetti Carbonara didn’t have cream in it. Her lecture about the traditional recipe with only eggs and parmesan had been memorable.

Marcella leaned over to me. “I love that you don’t even hesitate to risk your life for me,” she said, her lips brushing my ear shell, sending a pleasant shiver down my back. It took me a moment to realize she meant kissing her in front of her father. She lowered her voice further. “It’s incredibly sexy.”

She touched my thigh under the table and squeezed it hard once, which could only mean I’d really get lucky later. Unfortunately, it also gave my cock a little jump start I really couldn’t use at the table with the Vitiello clan.

I kept touching Maddox’s thigh under the table, teasing touches to drive him crazy. Maddox and I had never slept together in our house. He had never even been allowed to join me in my room. But I had been longing for his touch all day and wanted to make him as horny as I felt.

When I brushed his crotch, I got proof that he was indeed as hungry for alone time as I was. I had to stifle a smile and Maddox sent me a challenging smile that made me a bit worried.

He reached for my leg under the table, his fingers clutching my thigh close to my pussy and squeezing.

“Have you discussed the matter of your last name yet?” Dad asked. It was a topic I wasn’t looking forward to discussing with Maddox and had no intention of bringing up today. Maddox slanted me a curious look.

“Not yet.”

“Maybe we can do it after dinner,” Maddox suggested. I wasn’t sure if he wanted to get me alone or if he really wanted to discuss the topic as soon as possible.

After dinner, I convinced Dad to allow Maddox up in my room. Maddox looked around curiously. “I can’t believe this is the first time I’m in your room.”

“You’re lucky Dad didn’t insist on Amo as our chaperone.”

Maddox snorted. “He can’t really believe we haven’t had sex in the last few months.”

“Oh, he definitely doesn’t believe it, but he won’t make it easier for you than absolutely necessary.”

Maddox tilted his head. “That sounds about right.”

I smiled seductively. “But now we’re alone…”

Maddox chuckled as he wrapped his arms around my waist. “As much as I want to fuck you right this second, I think we should get the name thing out of the way. Your father suggested that you keep the name Vitiello.”

I could hear that he considered the idea ridiculous and expected me to deny Dad’s suggestion. I sighed and Maddox loosened his hold on me, his brows pulling together. “Don’t tell me you’re really considering keeping your name.”

“I’m not considering it,” I said carefully. “I already made up my mind. I’ll keep my name. I’m sorry, Maddox.”

Maddox pulled away and began pacing the room. “One of the main things about marriage is to adopt the same name to show you and I belong together.”

“I don’t think we need to share the same name to belong together, and everyone will know about our marriage. It’ll be all over the press, so no need to rub it in even more by using the same name.”

He gave me a disbelieving look. “Rub it in even more? I want every single fucker on this planet to know that we’re together.”

“I want that as well,” I said, touching his chest.

“If we don’t use the same name, people will only speculate that you don’t really mean this marriage, that you have doubts.”

“I thought you don’t care what other people think?” I asked teasingly but Maddox only glowered.

“And I don’t have doubts. If I had doubts about you, I wouldn’t have fought Dad for so long to accept you and I definitely wouldn’t have risked the social backlash I’ve been getting. You are my man, a name won’t change that.”

Maddox smiled bitterly. “So we won’t have the same name.”

I bit my lip. “You could—”

Maddox’s eyes flashed with anger. “Don’t say it. Don’t fucking suggest I could adopt the name Vitiello. Do you want me to cut off my balls and hand them to your father on a silver platter as well?”

I rolled my eyes. “Adopting my name doesn’t have anything to do with my father or your manliness. Why would you be less of a man if you adopted your wife’s name, especially if that would make her life in the Famiglia much easier?”

He gripped my shoulders and pressed me against the wall, glaring down at me.

“I want everyone to know that you’re mine, Snow White,” he growled, looking furious but at the same time incredibly sexy. This less controlled side of Maddox turned me on. “I want every fucker to know that those lips are mine.” He nipped my lower lip hard before plunging his tongue into my mouth and kissing me harshly, his grip on my neck almost painful. My core tightened. “That those tits are mine.” He jerked my straps down, revealing my breasts. He squeezed one breast and sucked my nipple into his mouth so hard I winced, only to have wetness pool between my legs.

“Say it,” he ordered, sucking harder. “Say that those tits are mine.”

“My tits are yours,” I murmured.

He tugged at my jumpsuit, ignoring the ripping sounds, until it finally slid down to my knees, leaving me only my thong. He hooked his index finger in the soaked material and jerked it to the side, revealing my swollen pussy lips.

“I want them to know,” he rasped against my lips. “That this pussy is mine.” He shoved his knee between my legs and pressed his palm against me. “…and mine alone.” He pushed two fingers into me and began to thrust into me, the heel of his hand slamming against my clit every time. “Mine alone.”

“My pussy is yours,” I pressed out. I clung to his shoulders, my nails digging into his skin. My entire body was on fire, every muscle tightened to the max, and my lust covered Maddox’s hand.

Maddox’s mouth swallowed my cry of release as I desperately rode his fingers, wanting them even deeper and faster. Maddox suddenly removed his hand. I gripped his wrist, wanting to keep him in place. “I wasn’t done,” I protested.

“I know,” he said with a hard smile. “You always get your will, don’t you? Not today, princess.” I shuddered as a new wave of arousal hit me.

Maddox’s eyes flared with hunger. “Get down on your knees. I’m going to fuck your mouth.”

“Are you?” I challenged, almost going crazy from the friction of my thong against my uber-sensitive clit.

Maddox cupped my chin, his thumb stroking along my lower lip before it plunged into my mouth. His finger tasted of me. “Down on your knees, Snow White. That mouth is mine, remember?”

With a challenging smile, I sank down on my knees before Maddox. He opened his jeans and it sank down to his knees, revealing his swollen, glistening cock. A droplet of precum had gathered on his piercing. My tongue darted out, flicking the metal piece and licking it off. Maddox tangled his fingers in my hair, fixing my head so I couldn’t move.

Maddox looked down at me with pure desire. “Squat on your heels and spread your legs.”

I pushed down my jumpsuit and stepped out of it before I squatted so low my ass cheeks almost touched my heels. Then I opened my knees wide and looked up to Maddox. His cock looked ready to burst. My own need was pulsing madly between my legs.

Maddox guided my head toward his cock and I parted my lips for him as he claimed my mouth inch by inch. I gagged, my eyes tearing up when he was sheathed almost completely in me, his tip pressing to the back of my throat and his shaft pressing down on my tongue. Maddox held me in place, neither moving back nor forth. “Your mouth is mine, Snow White. Only my cock will ever claim it, and my cum is the only one you’re ever going to swallow.”

He slid out slowly only to thrust into me hard and then he slammed into my mouth so fast and hard, I almost lost my balance. I grabbed his ass for balance, clinging desperately to him as he took my mouth. I breathed heavily through my nose as I watched Maddox. His eyes were on me, his lips parted as he panted and groaned. My own arousal was slowly dripping down my thighs.

I’d never been more turned on, which said a lot, considering every sexual encounter with Maddox made me come several times.

Maddox glared. “You are mine Marcella, with or without my name.” He tensed and released into my mouth with a suppressed moan. He kept pumping slowly, still not allowing me to pull back, even if it was difficult to swallow with him inside of me.

When he finally stilled, I was close to release just from giving him pleasure. Maddox stepped back, slowly sliding out of my mouth. I stayed on my heels with spread knees. His gaze dipped down to my dripping center.

“Fuck,” he muttered, his voice raw. “Stand up right this fucking moment.”

I stood on shaking legs. Maddox dropped to his knees, gripped my thigh in a painful grip and swung my leg over his shoulder, parting me wide before he plunged his tongue into me. I bit down on my lower lip to stifle my cry as I came hard, my pussy pulsating around Maddox’s tongue. He didn’t ease his ministrations even when my orgasm waned, instead he made me come with his tongue two more times. My head rested against the wall, my leg hung limply on Maddox’s strong shoulder and I stroked his head as his lips gently took care of me after my third release.

“We’ve been up in my room for too long already,” I said in a rough voice.

“We have a lot to discuss,” Maddox murmured, “And I’m not done.”

“Maddox,” I said but he pushed to his feet and silenced me with a hard kiss.

“Lie down on your bed.”

I did as he asked despite my worry over someone interrupting us. I stretched out naked as Maddox stalked closer. He kneeled on the bed between my legs, and sat up on his heels, admiring my body. He grabbed my ankles and raised my legs as he moved closer until my butt rested on his upper thighs. His cock slid along my slit but didn’t enter me. With his hands on my ankles, he spread my legs in a wide V. Finally, and with a perfect view, he pushed his cock into me slowly. With every inch of him deeper in me, I could feel him claim me more. He kept up the slow movements, and I could feel every inch of him stroking my inner walls and his piercing teasing my G-spot. But the angle didn’t give my clit any friction.

Still, I was getting closer and closer from the deep penetration and from watching Maddox’s cock enter my pussy.

“My clit,” I whispered thickly when I was close again.

“Not yet,” Maddox said.

“Maddox,” I muttered.

“Not yet.”

I was starting to lose my mind, writhing to get some friction but Maddox parted my legs even wider which made him slide deeper but deprived me of any clit action.

I raked my fingernails along his thighs but he only smirked.

A knock sounded. “Marcella, Dad’s getting impatient. You better stop whatever the fuck you’re doing and come downstairs before he comes up and kicks in the door.”

Maddox grinned and I parted my lips to warn him but he pressed his thumb over my clit and slammed deep into me, hitting my G-spot, and I couldn’t hold back. Pleasure raced through me, unstoppable. All I could do was jerk my head to the side and stifle my cry of release in the pillow.

“I’m downstairs,” Amo muttered and his steps faded.

Maddox came soon after, looking way too smug.

He released my ankles and lowered himself on top of me.

“Just because I’m not adopting your name doesn’t mean I’m any less your woman,” I said. “It’s a business decision.”

Maddox smiled strangely. “It’s not just business. I know you, Snow White. This is first of all, a very personal decision.”

He’d caught me. I sighed. “I’m proud of my family. Proud of what the name Vitiello stands for. I’ll always be a Vitiello in my mind even if I changed my name to yours…” I fell silent because the next part was even harder to say. “And to be honest, whenever I hear the name White, I’m reminded of your uncle and I won’t ever give him that power over me.”

Maddox kissed my temple. “It’s okay. But don’t expect me to take your family’s name. The name Vitiello holds the same negative association for me.”

“We are each other’s, no matter what names we choose,” I said firmly. Maddox’s arms around me tightened.