Chapter 32

32

Olivia

Argh! Why the hell did I say that? Clearly, watching him shoot my brother shocked me so much I can't stop spewing out the first thing that comes into my head. The one thing I haven't been able to forget since the time he fucked me. The feel of his cock inside me as he plowed into me and brought me to orgasm so quickly; I came thrice before he finally emptied himself in me.

He moves toward me, and I refuse to skitter away. I am not some shy virginal scaredy-cat who's not able to hold her own against an alpha male like him.

"Took you long enough to admit it." He smirks.

Asshole levels that gorgeous smirk of his at me and my insides flutter. My ovaries sit up and take notice, and my panties have definitely combusted.

"See?" I stab my finger in his chest. "This is what I mean. You distract me. All you have to do is look at me, and all of my thoughts twist in on themselves. You touch me, and I want to pant. You glance at my body, and my breasts hurt. My nipples become so tight, they feel like they're going to poke out of my shirt. When you glare at me, all of my pores seem to pop, and then you scowl, and my ovaries seem to become egg machines, ready to open shop."

He stares at me, then begins to laugh. Deep rumbling waves that seem to roll up from somewhere low in his belly. It's so sexy, so hot. Goddamn. Is there anything he does that could put me off? Probably not. He's a walking, talking lust machine who'll always strike right to the core of me… And I don't mean only the one between my legs. There's something primal about him that appeals to the baser side of me. Something real about him that strikes a chord in my heart. Something very alluring about him that ties me up in knots and catches my attention and has me riveted and wanting to find out everything about him.

"I'm so fucked." I bury my face in my hands and shake my head. "Fucked, fucked, fucked."

"Hey." He's instantly there, trying to get me to move my hands from my face, but I turn away from him.

"Why did you have to come into my life when you did? Why couldn't you have waited until I was more established as an actress? And why the hell did I have to hurt my face, making it all so much worse for myself?"

"Via, look at me." I hear him walk around to stand in front of me. He grips my wrists and tugs. I lower my arms, but refuse to meet his gaze.

"Via." He pinches my chin so I have no choice but to raise my eyes to his face.

"What?" I huff.

He chuckles. "You're cute when you pout."

"I am not pouting. And I'm not cute."

"You are, too." His lips kick up in a smile. "You're beautiful, Via, and nothing can take away from that. You know that, right?"

"You're sounding less like a scary Mafia guy and more like a Hallmark card."

"Never been called that before, but—" He raises a shoulder. "I've never felt so connected to someone else before, either."

"You can't say things like that. I thought guys found it difficult to share their feelings?"

"Guess I'm the exception to the rule. Besides, you make it easy for me to speak my mind. Life is short, Via." He peers between my eyes. "And I want to ensure I make the most of every second of it."

"That's why you pounced on me as soon as you saw me?"

"It's fair to say it was mutual, don't you think?" His lips quirk, and of course, my core instantly clenches. Clearly, my body didn't get the memo that I'm not ready to be in a relationship.

"Fine, I'll grant you that, but I thought it was a one-night stand. I didn't expect to meet you again on the flight to Jeanne and Luca's wedding. And definitely didn't think you'd turn up as my sister's arranged fiancé. I mean, what are the chances?"

"It's nature trying to send us a sign that we're meant for each other."

"Argh! Please don't say these things. You're making it very difficult for me to resist you."

"So don't resist." He chuckles again. The rich sound shivers over my skin and sinks into my blood, arrowing straight to my traitorous pussy, which laps it up and pants for more.

"Easy for you to say. You don't have to prove yourself to the world. You didn't have to fight off the possibility of an arranged marriage. You—" I shut up. Of course, he did agree to an arranged marriage, didn't he?

I scowl.

He smirks. "Yep, exactly. We aren't that different. You're trying to forge your future as an actress. I'm reorienting myself to take on the role of a COO when the Cosa Nostra 's businesses turn legit."

"What's COO?"

"Chief Operating Officer. Kind of like a CEO, but with more day-to-day responsibilities for the running of a company."

"Oh." I bite the inside of my cheek. "That's going to be a big change."

"It's what we think is right, now that most of us are settling down. It's also why it was important to form a blood alliance with the Camorra . This way, the danger to our families is considerably reduced. It's also why I agreed to an arranged marriage, for the sake of my clan. And also, because you'd made it clear that you had someone else in your life, and never wanted to see me again." He raises one eyebrow and gives me a disapproving look.

"So, you'd have gone through with the marriage if I hadn't turned up that day?"

He tilts his head. "Maybe. Maybe not. But we'll never know now, will we? We were meant to be together, Via. One way or the other, I'd have found my way back to you."

He sounds so certain. So confident of himself. He almost convinces me—almost. But that's his superpower, to screw with my head until it feels like his thoughts are my own.

"No, no, I am not letting you talk me into this."

"Into what?"

"Into whatever it is you're trying to convince me to do."

"How do you know it's not something that you'd want to agree to anyway?" he murmurs.

"Because I know I won't."

"I think it's in your best interest to listen to what I have to say." He tilts his head, and a sly look comes into his eyes.

"Uh-oh, why do I get the feeling I'm not going to like whatever it is you're about to say?"

He merely gestures to the bed. "Take a seat."

I scowl. I'm definitely not going to sit on the bed, not with him next to me. It'd only lead somewhere I don't want to be. Yea, keep telling yourself that. I brush past him to the table with two chairs by the window. I sit down on one.

He follows me without comment, then lowers his bulk into the other chair.

He drums his fingers on the table as he surveys me.

"What?" I growl.

"With your brother dead, the Camorra is under the protection of the Cosa Nostra . That is, if I decide to take on that responsibility."

"Why would you take on that responsibility? With my father and my brother gone, the next person in line for the role of the head of the clan?—"

"Would be your uncle, and then his sons, all of whom have said they are not interested in taking charge."

Of course they aren't. They'll be happy enough to have their needs looked after by the Cosa Nostra and coast through life . "Why am I not surprised?"

"Of course, I could decide not to take on that duty," he adds.

I stiffen. "If you decide not to take on the safeguarding of my clan, then?—"

"You leave your family wide open to threats from other Mafia gangs."

I stare at him in horror.

"Like the Mexicans, the Albanians, the Chinese, all of whom would love to move in and take on the very lucrative routes that your family's business now owns. And then..." He leans forward. "Who knows what could happen to your family? None of these groups are known for their empathy or their capacity to be merciful."

I swallow. "You wouldn't do that."

"Wouldn't I?" He drums his fingers on the table. "You'd be effectively signing the death warrant of your extended family members. Unless..."

My heart begins to pound into my rib cage. My throat goes wrong. Oh, he wouldn't go there with this, would he? "What—" I clear my throat. "What is it you want?"

"For you to marry me."

I cross my arms around my waist. "I've already said I won't do that."

"If you don't, I can't guarantee your family's safety."

"Knew it." I stab my finger in his direction. "I knew, under all that emotional bullshit you threw at me, you're a Mafia asshole at heart."

He tilts his head. "What do you say?"

"If you think I'm going to sleep with you after this stunt you've pulled, you're sadly mistaken."

"Who said anything about fucking you?" His lips curve.

"You mean... You don't want to fuck me?"

"Not unless you ask me to."

"Which is never going to happen." I lean back in my seat. "And isn't that why you want to marry me?"

"I want to marry you to keep my promise to Nonna of getting married within a month of her passing away. It's not necessary for us to consummate the marriage, not unless—" He drags his thumb across his lower lip. "Well, not unless you want it, as well."