Chapter 62

62

Luca

"No, you don't," I say with more confidence than I feel.

Of course, I deserve her slap. I deserve that, and a lot more, for everything I've put her through. But she's safe now. As safe as anyone can be in our line of work. For the time being, though, all known enemies have been squashed. For now, I can breathe easily. And once we legalize all of the of businesses of the Cosa Nostra , I hope the threats to her life will fade away completely. I still.

So, I'm going to do it then?

I'm going to walk away from the traditions of my ancestors. From the customs interwoven with that of this land in which I've grown up. The conventions that are in my blood, in my very cells, in every breath I take. I'm going to turn my back on all of it. For her. If I can keep her safe, if I can protect her and cherish her, it will be worth it. She is more important to me than my life, my past, the way of life that once meant everything to me. None of it matters if she isn't by my side. It's for her that I will shed the facade I once wore, the one that put me on a path endangering the lives of my near and dear. It's for her that I will become the kind of man she'd be proud of.

"You don't mean it." I hold her gaze. "You love me."

"I don't," she spits out. "You broke my heart."

"And I'll put it back together."

"It won't be the same," she snarls.

"It will be better."

"You don't know that."

"Don't I?" I squeeze her ass cheeks.

She draws in a breath. "Is that your answer to everything? Sex?"

"It's a start." I brush my lips over hers. "I love you. I can't live without you. I'm sorry for everything I put you through. But if I had to do it again, I wouldn't hesitate, because it was the only way to ensure that you would be safe."

Her forehead creases. "I know you meant well. I know you took a bullet for me. I know that, in your mind, it was the only way forward. But you can't deny that you used the situation to your advantage. You wanted to be the one to put Freddie out of commission."

"You mean, I wanted to be the one to kill him?"

This woman... She can't bring herself to talk about death, and I'm the man who deals with it day and night. Not for much longer. Not if I go down the path of becoming the CEO of a company instead of a Capo.

She tips up her chin. "Do you deny it? You wanted to take the credit for it. You wanted to show your brothers that you could do something that none of them have been able to do."

I peer into her features. So smart. This woman is so astute. So intelligent. "Fuck, when you get all incisive and perceptive, you turn me on even more, you know that?"

She scowls. "Answer the question."

I arch my eyebrows. "You don't get to order me around… but I'll allow it… This time."

"Well?" She huffs. "Am I right?"

"You are." I lift my shoulder. "I saw the opportunity and I took it. I knew there was a good chance Freddie would send someone after you. I also knew he was waiting to take us out. I figured I could not only protect you, but also use the chance to flush him out."

"By faking your death."

"But I didn't die," I point out.

"You allowed me to think you were gone."

"I'm still here." I blow out a breath. "What would you have me do instead?"

"You could have told me." She bursts out. "You could have shared your plan with me. Involved me. That's what husbands and wives do. That's what a marriage is about. You share your secrets with me, you allow me to weigh in with your opinion. Plus, I'm an actress, or did you forget that?"

"And would you have let me go through with this?"

She blinks, then glances away.

"That's what I thought." I pinch her chin so she has no choice but to look at me. "You're right, though. I should have been more transparent with you. I should have involved you from the beginning. I should have, at least, hinted at what was going to happen, given you something more to hold onto, given you a role. I'm sorry for the pain I caused you. What can I do to make it up to you?"

She tilts her head.

"You want to make it up to me?"

I nod. "I'll do anything you want."

"Anything?"

"Anything. So long as you forgive me."

"Hmm." She chews on her lower lip, and goddamn, I feel it all the way down to my cock. My dick lengthens inside her. I know by the widening of her eyes, she's noticed it. "Anything, eh?"

I have a feeling I'm going to regret this, but if it means I can earn her forgiveness, it will be worth it. "Anything."

"Can I tie you up?"

"Yes." I frown.

"And blindfold you?"

"As long as it means you fuck me at the end of it, yes."

"And you'll wear a wedding ring?"

I glower at her.

"Will you?"

I take in her flushed features, her parted lips, that thick, dark hair of hers that spirals about her shoulders. The creamy column of her neck, that delicate curve of her shoulders revealed by her tank top. If I died now, it would be with my dick inside of her, and that's all I could ask for.

"Fine." I nod.

"I didn't hear you?" She smirks. The little firecracker actually smirks. At me . Every part of me resists, but I push back that unwillingness inside of me. If I want to leave my mark on her, doesn't it make sense she'd want to mark me? She's my wife. If anyone can command me, it's her. She's the only one who can order me around, and I'll take it, willingly.

"I'll wear it," I growl.

"Oh, good." She bats her eyelids. "Will you let me down now?"

"Not until I've made you come again."

"First, I need to blindfold you."

"What if I close my eyes?"

"And tie you up."

"I need my arms to hold you up," I point out.

"Not if you're lying on the floor."

My gaze wars with hers, then I nod. I move away from the mirror to the center of the floor, then lower myself to the ground. All the while, I make sure I'm still inside of her.

She brings her knees up and straddles me. The action makes her sink deeper onto my already-engorged dick. I groan; so does she. Then, she pulls off her T-shirt, leans forward and places it over my eyes. "Raise your head," she murmurs.

I comply and she ties it around my eyes. It's effective enough that it cuts out the sight of her. My other senses come into focus at once. The way her thighs grip me, the feel of her cunt wrapped around my cock, her movements as she wriggles her ass across my thighs. I hear the slide of fabric against skin. Is she taking off her bra? My dick thickens further inside her. Then she leans forward, grips my wrist and forces one arm up, then the other.

She winds what feels like elastic around my wrists. I was right; she did take off her bra. Right now, her breasts must be free as she bends over me. Her flesh must jiggle as she unbuttons my shirt and pulls the lapels apart. She runs her palms down my pecs, and goosebumps scatter over my skin. She drags her fingers down to my stomach, to where we're connected. She wraps her fingers around where my cock is embedded inside hear and circles it. Every part of my body goes on alert. All of my attention is focused on where she drags her fingernails across the root of my shaft. Sweat pops on my forehead and I grit my teeth.

" Cazzo! What are you doing?"

"Getting to know my husband's body, of course." She slides down my thighs so I slip out of her, then pulls my pants down. I raise my hips, allowing her to shove them down to my knees. Then I sense her rise to her feet, the rustle of clothes over skin, the slight disturbance in the breeze, followed by the sound of clothes hitting the floor. She took off her clothes? She must be completely naked. My balls tighten. The blood rushes to my groin. My speculation is confirmed when she straddles my thighs again. Her bare skin brushes against the outside of my legs. Then, she leans forward and wraps her lips around my erect shaft.