I was glad when the dance was finally over, but before I led Aria back to the table, I whispered in her ear, “Once we’re back at the table, you’ll eat. I don’t want you to pass out during our celebration, much less during our wedding night.”
If she was drunk, I definitely wouldn’t fuck her, and that wasn’t going to happen. Under my watchful eyes, Aria ate her main course and drank two glasses of water. When Father stepped up to Aria to ask her for a dance, I almost snarled at him, but I had to hide my feelings and gave him a tight smile.
As was tradition, I had to dance with Nina while my father danced with my wife. Nina was surprisingly quiet as I led her over the dance floor, but my full attention was directed at my father and Aria, anyway. I could tell she was uncomfortable in his hold—not that she’d been relaxed when we’d danced.
“Jealous?” Nina asked.
“No,” I said coldly.
Matteo strode past the other dancers and tapped Father’s shoulder, asking to dance with Aria. He sent me a quick smile the moment he whirled my wife over the dance floor. Nina finally moved on, and I danced with Ludevica and then Liliana. When I noticed Grace heading in my direction, I quickly excused myself and headed off the dance floor and toward the table. No way in hell would I dance with Grace. Her brother grabbed her arm and forced her into a dance with him, to Grace’s obvious dismay.
“They would have made a good-looking couple,” Matteo said as he stepped up beside me. I followed his gaze and tensed.
Dante was dancing with Aria.
“’The golden couple’ is what some people nicknamed them in the Outfit. There were even rumors that Fiore considered cancelling your engagement to Aria so his son could have her.”
“That would have meant war. I would personally have walked straight into Chicago, crushed Dante’s throat and taken Aria home with me.”
Matteo chuckled. “That sounds like more fun than this.”
I left him standing there and headed for Dante and my wife. They’d danced long enough. It was time Aria returned to my arms.
Dante noticed me first. “I think your husband is eager to have you back in his arms,” he drawled in that annoying way. He stepped back with a calculating expression, and I quickly took Aria’s hand and led her away before we began dancing.
“What did Cavallaro want?”
Aria hesitated the briefest moment before her reply. “To congratulate me on the festivities.”
That definitely hadn’t been all they’d talked about, but the music stopped at a sign from Matteo and he silenced our guests with loud clapping.
“Time to throw the garter!”
The crowd circled us immediately. I’d witnessed this tradition so often, I knew what was expected. I got down on my knee and cocked my eyebrows expectantly at Aria. I knew her mother had instructed her on our traditions. I wasn’t sure if it was the same in the Outfit.
Aria lifted her gown, revealing white high heels, slender calves, then gorgeous knees. Fuck. I didn’t even know gorgeous knees were a thing.
I cupped Aria’s calves, stifling a groan at the feel of her warm skin. This was the first time I’d touched her legs, for god’s sake. The first time any man touched those legs. I slid my palms up slowly until I reached her thighs. She froze and goose-bumps rose on her skin. I searched her eyes, trying to figure out the emotion behind her reaction, but she had her public happy bride face in place.
In this moment, I wanted nothing more than to be alone with her. The feel of Aria’s thighs made me want to reach higher, to discover the rest of her curves, but my fingers brushed her garter on her right leg. I used one hand to push her dress up further to reveal the garter, even if I didn’t like the idea of all the men in the room seeing her thighs.
Aria gripped her dress and I crossed my arms behind my back then leaned forward, bringing my face closer to her leg. I was supposed to grab the garter with my teeth, but before I did, I couldn’t stop myself from kissing the skin right below it. Aria sucked in a startled breath and I stifled a groan when her sweet scent drifted into my nose. My eyes darted up, but unfortunately the bunched up fabric barred my view of her panties.
I finally closed my teeth around the garter and dragged it down Aria’s leg until it fell to the floor. Aria lifted her foot and I grabbed the piece of clothing and stood with it clutched in my hand for everyone to see. Our guests applauded wildly.
“Bachelors,” I shouted. “Gather around. Maybe you’ll be the lucky one to marry next!”