The library hosts wall upon wall of leather-bound books, plush armchairs, and a fireplace. It’s huge, with ladders that lead to shelves and thick, wall-to-wall lush carpet underfoot.
“I’m told when the Rossis were young they felt like kings and queens living in this place.”
“I think some,” I say softly, fingering the gilded edge of a book, “still do.”
I love the sound of his throaty chuckle as he pulls me to him.
“Tell me how you really feel.”
“Romeo is king of this castle, and he’s invited me to stay here. After we’ve married, he thinks it’s best we reside at The Castle for a while.”
“Mmm,” he says. “We discussed it briefly earlier and I’m in agreement.”
“Oh, are you?” I ask teasingly as he bends and kisses my cheek.
“I am. I think if I were to be anywhere near Sergio I’d kick his ass, apology be damned, and that could make things a little complicated. I’m not the politest around assholes, so I’m not sure how I’d treat your mama. Maybe if I get laid a few dozen times, I’ll soften up.”
I curl my fingers around his warm, sturdy body and smile up at his face. His eyes are so intent they feel like lasers as I trace a finger along the rough stubble at his jaw. “I like to imagine I’m the only one who’ll soften you up. And some day, our child.”
“Our child?” he asks hopefully.
“Soon,” I whisper, as I bend to kiss his cheek. But a part of me hopes it’s a while yet before we have children. Though I know children are the Crown Jewels in our families, after everything we’ve been through, I’d like some time to get myself together before I prepare to be a mama myself.
“Penny for your thoughts?” he whispers as he tugs a lock of my hair.
“I want to be a mother, Dario. And I can’t wait to see you as a daddy. I know that’s the expectation here, that as soon as we get married, which has to happen now… they’ll want babies.” It’s way more than the standard expectation of children with regular families. With our families, it’s almost mandatory. “I’m just not… ready yet. I mean I’ve hardly gotten used to the idea of even being your wife.”
“I understand,” he says, as he holds me. And I think that might be what I love best about him. He really does.
“Romeo wants us apart tonight,” I whisper in his ear. “But that doesn’t mean…”
I crave him so badly I feel like I’m in withdrawal. I want to feel him, touch him, wrap my arms around him and lay beneath him, feel the heavy weight of his body atop mine and the perfect fullness of him inside me.
“Say no more,” he growls. I squeal as he lifts me straight in the air and into his arms, carrying me as if I weigh nothing at all. When we reach the furthest corner of the room, he lays me down on one of the huge sofas. “Stay right there.”
I give him a wicked grin. “Yes, sir.”
That earns me another groan that does wicked, wanton things to every nerve in my body. I shiver.
I watch as he pulls the shade on each window before he goes to the door and flicks the heavy metal lock. He takes out his phone and slides it onto the desk, then stalks over to me. We hold each other’s eyes for a long moment. I arch my back in anticipation, and a crazy grin spreads across my face. There’s a lightness in my chest as my pulse quickens. After everything we’ve been through…
My insides vibrate, my nerves are on fire.
“I love you,” I whisper, surprising myself with the sudden need to make this declaration.
He kneels beside me, then over me, his huge body dwarfing mine and casting it into shadow. “And I love you,” he whispers. “I’ll never forget what you’ve done. I’ll make it my life’s work to make you happy, to give you everything you deserve and more. You’re everything to me, Vivia. Everything.”
I run a hand down his thick, muscled arm and back up again, memorizing the corded muscles while he holds himself over me and slides one giant hand under my ass and lifts me to him. My gaze is drawn to his lips and my breathing grows faster. “Kiss me,” I whisper, my voice trembling in anticipation.
“Is that an order?” he asks in a husky whisper. If he had a tie, I’d grab it, but he’s only wearing a stupid T-shirt. I satisfy my need to drag him closer to me by running my palm over his chest, his pecs, then squeezing his forearms. I love, love, love the feel of him.
“Yes, sir,” I respond. Let him guess who’s the one giving commands here.
His lips meet mine, and he strokes the back of my neck. I taste him eagerly, desperately, and my body thrums with desperate need when he deepens the kiss. With a gentle stroke of my tongue against his, I tell him how badly I want him.
My hands explore more as I run them down the length of his body. They shake when I reach the button of his pants. It takes two hands to unfasten them and to reach inside to stroke him.
He groans into my mouth, his hips jerk at the feel of my touch, and I feel his length harden in response to me when I lick his tongue again. Oooh. He likes some tongue action.