“I still get the money, though, right?” I attempt a joke to lighten the mood.
His smile is devastatingly warm and I bask in its glow. “Of course you do.”
“You’re awfully sweet for a mob boss,” I tell him.
Something in his face shutters—the self-loathing part, I would have to guess. “You’re the only person in the entire universe who thinks that.”
And I remember how edgy he is with his brothers and sister. How they all act like he’s an alligator about to bite them.
I changed him.
It’s a stupid and dangerous thought, but I love the feeling that accompanies it.
He’s a different man with me.
I think it must be true. Either that, or no one’s ever given him credit for his hidden softness. No one’s bothered to look at him and see it.
Either way, it makes me even more loyal. Ready to defend him. On his side.
In love.
Crap. I cannot be in love with a mafia kingpin.
I cannot.
But I am.
* * *
Junior
Gio continued to improve over the afternoon. While Desiree feeds him some of the salty soup, I order food in for the two of us.
When it arrives, we eat in my living room while we watch The Bourne Ultimatum on TV. It’s so normal, so comfortable, I have to keep reminding myself not to get used to this.
Later, I catch Desiree after she finishes with her check-in on Gio. I sneak up behind her and wrap one hand around her mouth, the other around her waist.
She screams into my palm.
“Time for your punishment, doll,” I growl in her ear as I drag her backward, out of the room.
Her feet scramble to keep up with my lead and I fill my nostrils with her scent. Her silky hair smells fresh and clean like apples, the ponytail slides across my neck as we move.
Once we’re in my room I stop and untie the drawstring on her scrub pants, letting them drop to the floor. The top comes off next and then I spin her around to face me. She’s wearing a burgundy satin and lace bra and panty set today. I growl my approval, reaching around to grab her ass and squeeze.
“You always matchy-matchy with your bra and panties?”
“Well, I packed my best,” she admits.
Heady satisfaction shoots through me at that. “For me?” I rumble.
“I guess. Yeah.” She reaches for the buttons on my shirt but I catch her hands in one of mine.
“Uh uh. I’m in charge.” I snag her panties in the back and pull up, flossing them between her ass crack. She goes up on her toes, falling into me. With my free hand, I slap one of her ass cheeks. “You broke the rules again, baby.” I gently tug and release the panties, rubbing the taut fabric against her anus and over her clit. “You know what that means?”
“What?” Her breathy voice goes straight to my dick.
“It means you’re going to get your beautiful ass fucked.”
Her thighs snap together, ass cheeks squeeze up tight at the same time her breath hitches.
I nip her ear as I grip her ass with both hands, kneading the tightened muscles. “You’d better practice relaxing all this, baby. The more your resist me, the harder it will go for you.”
Her cheeks relax, first one, then the other.
“That’s good,” I murmur as I unhook the back of her bra. “Do what you’re told and I just might let you come when I’m finished.”
Her head snaps up, eyes blazing with her customary defiance. I smile and touch her nose. “I’m gonna start by painting your ass red.”
Her pupils are already dilated, breath short. I sit on the bed and tug her over my lap.
“And I thought I’d do it the old fashioned way.” I slap her ass.
She makes a surprised little shriek.
I rub the spot I slapped, then tug her panties down and off her legs. “Your ass looks so good with my handprints, baby.”
Desiree makes an unintelligible sound. Good, she’s already starting on her sexy little noises. I intend to make tonight good for her even if it does push her boundaries. I already tossed a tube of lube on the bed and intend to use plenty. I may call it punishment, but I want it to be the best possible kind.
I give her a spanking. It’s more satisfying than I might have guessed—having her bent over my knee like this is real punishment and not just searing sex play. Maybe there is a thread of real discipline in there. Paying her back for making me sweat this morning, for believing she’d betrayed my trust before she turned my world on end by swearing loyalty.
I love this woman.
Fuck, that’s crazy to admit, but like my youngest brothers, I’m suddenly a changed man.
Because of a woman.
And her surrender to me—the way she squirms over my lap while I turn her ass pink—is a level of intimacy I never had with anyone—including my...wife. Fuck, I have to tie up that loose end. I can’t have a wife when I feel this way about Desiree. Even if I haven’t touched Marne in years.