Page 36 of Mafia’s Fake Bride

“It’s my job to panic.” He ran his hands down her arms as he leaned over her and made sure she was still all in one piece. “What was that about?”

“I’m just tired, really, that’s all. I didn’t sleep well last night and I was busy today. I had a paper to research and write, and then I was out with Trina for dinner. Which doesn’t sound like a lot, but going anywhere here is an adventure, isn’t it?” She sat up slowly and put her palm against his cheek. “See, I’m fine?”

She didn’t fall back again or wobble so he let her up. “Fine, but I’m coming into the kitchen with you.”

“Good, you can tell me about the rest of your meeting.”

He watched her as they walked into the kitchen and saw her gait was fine and she didn’t stumble at all. Maybe it was as she said, and she was just tired. It unnerved him though, the thought that she might be ill. The power of that worry unnerved him too. Maybe he really was in love, in real love. That shook him even harder, but he hid it behind a can of whipped cream he took out of the fridge and sprayed directly into his mouth. That made her laugh and that was the best medicine in the world, for anything, he decided. The sound of her laughter made everything better.

20

Matteo’s finger hovered over the mousepad, what used to be his stomach now a hard lump that ached in his abdomen. Celeste had emailed him and he didn’t want to open it. He reminded himself he wasn’t a coward and clicked the button to open the message.

“You can have your little mouse, Matteo. I’ve thought about it and maybe marriage is a good idea. The woman is beautiful, after all, just like her mother used to be. Marriage gives you an image of wholesome respectability, a family man. It also seems to have given you the backbone to stand up to me, at last. I take that as a sign that you are ready. I’m going to Italy for 6 months. During that time, you will rarely hear from me. The family business is yours to run as you see fit. But, remember, this is only a trial. If there are problems I will come back and take control. I wish you the best of luck. Until next time… Celeste.”

He stared at the email, speechless, really speechless, for the first time in his life. She was leaving him in charge?

Two days had passed since he’d gone to see his aunt. Now, here she was, with her subtle dig that Marie’s mother had ruined her marriage and a little hint that she thought Marie would age as badly as her mother had. Matteo knew her mother had lived a hard life, though, and that she’d had a disease that ravaged her body and her mind. Besides, Marie’s looks weren’t the only thing that attracted him to her.

He closed the email, poured himself a glass of whiskey, and left it on a side table by the couch. It was time to be a king. And the first thing this king needed was his wife.

One final swallow and the glass was empty. He left it on his desk as he walked out of the room, his arms swinging to take off the blue suit jacket he still wore. He threw it on a chair as he walked by. He removed his cufflinks and pulled the white shirt away as he walked in bare feet to the bedroom. She was in bed reading one of her textbooks. The moment she looked up and saw his bare chest in the doorway she let the book fall to the floor and slid down into the covers over her legs, a broad smile on her face.

“Hello darling, ready for bed, are you?” she asked him and stretched out in a way that subtly pushed her breasts up high in the air. He couldn’t wait to get those in his hands or to run his palms down the long length of her torso.

“Hmm, yes. But tonight, I think we should do things a little different…” He drawled the words as he went to his dresser. He put the cufflinks down before his hand moved down to a drawer to pull out several long silk scarves. Each one was black and long enough to be used for several purposes. From the look of delighted curiosity on her face, he knew she knew what he had in mind.

“Oh? And will I get a say in this?” She answered her own question by staying right where she was, stretched out, with her wrists over her head.

“You always have a say, baby. But if you want to play, then I suggest you take off that nightgown and roll over.” He noted it was one of the nightgowns he’d specifically bought for her - a thin, white cotton gown that bared her shoulders and only came down to her knees. It was meant to look virginal, but on her, it became a mixture of virginal and sultry.

Even now, her eyes glowed with a heat that told him she was more than ready to play his games. Those eyes took on an air of defiance as she pulled the gown over her head, threw it away, and then rolled over onto her stomach, the covers pushed to the other side of the bed. She turned her face to watch him as he walked over to her.

His vision narrowed down until all he saw was the long length of her body stretched out on the bed. He gazed at her long, slim legs that filled out to form her hips, then up to the lush mounds of her ass that narrowed to form her waist, then, the length of her back, her spine a path that led him up to her face. A step forward and the focus became her face. His heart rate picked up, but he controlled his breathing, determined to make this last.

Her dark eyes were shuttered as he tied her hands together then looped the silk around one of the posts on the bed. Not so much that her arms would be up in an awkward position, but enough that she wouldn’t be able to move too far away. When he moved back he saw the shutters had gone and now there was a burning need in their place.

He leaned over, close enough to kiss her full hot lips, but he spoke instead. “Ready for this, baby?”

“I’m always ready for you, Matteo.” The words came out as a sigh of bliss.

“Good.” He climbed onto the bed, over her hips, and settled down to massage her neck. His fingers pushed deep into her muscles to help her relax. She gave a moan of pain that calmed into a groan as he worked at the knot he’d found. His fingers moved slowly down her back, exploring her one inch at a time. He was hard, the zipper of his trousers caused him a tremendous amount of discomfort, but he ignored the pain. For now.

His fingers began to stroke lower, along her sides, where they brushed against the firm outline of her breasts. She sighed then and that nearly undid him. The feel of her silky skin against his fingertips was distracting, but he stayed on course. He moved down her body, working out a dozen knots of tense muscles before he reached her ass. There, his fingers delved down, to find her already wet and ready for him.

All he’d done was massage her, but she responded as she always did to him. He didn’t even have to touch her sometimes, just being near him made her wet and that was more intoxicating than any drug he might have experimented with back in his younger days. The fact that Marie wanted him that much made his head spin because it matched his need for her.

His right hand traveled up her spine and slid into her hair, while his left stayed in her cleft, exploring the slick heat there. With his left hand, he slid two fingers into her sultry depths while his right gripped at her hair to pull her head back.

“Tell me what you want, Marie.” It was a demand, not a question.

“I want you to get me off, Matteo.” She knew better than to deflect now, she knew to state what she wanted clearly.

His fingers moved inside of her, into her, deeper, before he pulled out. He pulled at her hair just a little tighter, just enough to make her his with excitement. She knew all she had to do was tell him to stop and he would, but she didn’t.

“And how do you want me to do that, Marie? Do you want me to finger you until you break? Is that what you want? Or do you want me to fuck you, baby? Tell me how you want me to get you off.”

“I want it all, Matteo. I want everything you can give me.” Her eyes were open as she spoke, but he didn’t think they saw anything. She was too attuned to the sound of his breathing, to what she could hear behind her.