I lay my hands across the small of her back and drag her closer to me.
“What do you…” her voice grows husky. “What if it’s neither?”
“Liar,” I snap. “You want something, and you think the only way to get it is manipulation. That’s bullshit. If you want a spanking, you ask for one and don’t even think about manipulating me.”
The look of outrage on her face is damn near amusing. “Who in their right mind wouldaskfor a spanking?”
I shake my head. “Now I know you reallyarea virgin.”
“Salvatore!”
I drag her closer to me and reach my hand to the back of her neck. I yank her mouth to mine. Our lips clash, and her hands come flying to my shoulders. At first she pushes, as if to stop me, but when I lick her tongue and her eyes begin to close, she moans. I explore her mouth but keep my grip firm and move one of my hands from the back of her neck to the front. I give her a none-too-gentle squeeze, inhaling her gasp of air.
She tries to yank her head away, but I hold her to me. The sun could rise and set, and the moon could go from waxing to waning and I wouldn’t notice the time pass if only I were kissing her. Someone could set off fireworks, a tornado could sweep the state, she could steal my wallet and empty its contents and I wouldn’t even be aware. It’s an erotic intimacy I wasn’t prepared for, a sudden sexual charge between us that damn near puts my hair on end.
Jesus.
Her hands slide up my body, my sides, my shoulders, before she stabs her fingers into my hair as if to hold herself there. I love the feel of her fingers on my scalp as her tongue presses against mine. I love the sound of her soft, erotic moans as my hands find her ass.
I pull my mouth off hers, and it feels fuckingwrong.Holding her neck against my palm, I whisper in her ear. I’m watching for her signs, waiting for a cue. “You took vows to honor and obey. Those meant something to me.”
She nods, breathless.
“If you ever sass me in public again, I don’t care who’s nearby or where we are, I will take you across my knee, strip you, and spank your naked ass until you beg me to stop. Am I clear?”
She closes her eyes and nods, but it’s the quick way she responds that really gets my attention.
“If you weren’t so new to this, you’d have earned a punishment tonight. But just because we’re new doesn’t mean I’ll take it easy on you. I’m sure your brothers would never deal with you the way I will, but I know you were kept on a tight leash with them. So I know part of this is a test for me. And believe me, I am up for the challenge.”
“Is that what you do?” she breathes. “Someone disobeys you and you punish them?”
“Sweetheart,” I whisper in her ear. “You’re the only one who’ll ever receive this brand of punishment.” I bring my hand to her hip and gently stroke my thumb along her thigh. “I’ll never raise my fist to you or exile you. I would never shoot you or break your bones. But I will spank you, deny you what you want, tie you up, and make sure I have your undivided attention. I will hold you on the edge of orgasm until you feel as if you’ll self-combust. I will force your legs apart and fuck you until the only name on your lips is mine. Until your body tingles at the sound of my name and heats at the sound of my voice.”
“You’re scaring me,” she says, but she doesn’t look scared. She looks… aroused.
“You have nothing to be afraid of, if you remember to do what I say.”
“So many rules,” she whispers.
“Really, only one.”
She sighs and thrusts her chin out. “Obey.” I don’t miss the dripping condescension or the rapid beating of her heart I feel when I gently grasp her wrist. Marialena both loves and hates this.
I nod. The ferry begins to slow, the hum dying down. We’re almost there.
Good. I have work to do that only involves her.
I like that her knowledge of mob life overlaps with mine at least in part. We’re not the same as the Rossis—their family is larger, more tight-knit, and Romeo gives them more freedom than I do mine—but the general principles are close enough there’s none of the sticker shock for her I’d get from another woman. An unexpected perk.
I hold her gaze with mine. “Kiss me.”
She knows I expect compliance, and I know she wants to push her luck with me. Her legs straddling mine, my cock strains for relief as she bites her lip and watches me.
One beat passes. Then two.
The weight of her hands rests on my shoulders as she leans in. The flutter of her breath on my cheek makes my dick ache, straining for release. I relish her lingering scent of wildflowers and lavender. Her fingers tighten around my collar, as if holding me to her.
Her mouth drops to mine. Tentatively, her lips move across mine in exploration. At first, I don’t kiss her back. I want to see how she responds, see how she kisses.