Ruthless Monarch

Her eyes are still glistening with unshed tears. I lift my hand again, and this time, I cradle her jaw.

Tilting her head up.

She watches me intently, her chest heaving as I swipe my thumb across her skin. Trailing it up to her lips. And when she parts her mouth on an exhale, I take it as an invitation and close the distance.

My mouth finds her. As my tongue seeks entry, she moans into my mouth.

My arms pull her tighter to me and then grip her close.

Out of nowhere, her hands press against my chest.

“Stop.” She pulls away. “I can’t do this.”

I stare down at her, confused, not really understanding what just happened. I thought I read the situation. I thought she wanted me. I lift my hand, attempting to back away from her, but she grabs me by my wrist. “Stop,” she says again.

“That’s what I'm doing.”

“That’s not what I meant . . .”

“You do want to do this?” It might be dark in here, but I can still see her cheeks are red.

“Yes. Yes, Matteo. I want you, but I can’t do this without talking to you first.”

Talking to me about what? We’re already married. It makes no sense.

“I need to tell you something first.”

I narrow my eyes confused.

“Okay.”

“You have to promise to hear me out and listen to everything I say before you do anything.”

Now I'm really confused. I nod my head.

“Matteo . . .” she starts, but then she shakes her head, taking a deep breath. “Saying this is so much harder than I thought it would be.”

“Just go on with it. I find that works best.”

“My father wants me to be his spy.” And although I know this already, I’m still shocked she just said it.

“When we went to his house, remember how he asked me to be in the room alone with him to talk?”

Of course, I did. I had her bugged, but I don’t say any of it. Instead, I just nod again.

“He wanted me to find out information about you. And-and then to tell him,” she stutters.

“And did you?”

“No.”

Not a lie.

“But then he called again.”

“Why are you telling me this? You do know that by telling me this—”

“You’ll probably kill me. I know that, and it’s worth the risk. I never wanted to betray you. I was always looking for a way out, but I can’t kiss you, I can’t be with you unless I tell you.”

“Because—”

“Because, Matteo, no matter how much I tried, you’ve gotten under my skin, and I don’t want to hurt you.”

“If you don’t tell your father, what will he do?”

I know he has something on her. I just don't know what.

“He’ll hurt me.”

“And still you tell me.”

She nibbles her lip.

“Yes,” she whispers, and I do the only thing I can think of. I grab her by her face, pull her to me, and seal my mouth over hers. This time, she kisses me with reckless abandon. She’s pliable in my arms, desperate for my touch, and as the kiss deepens, she claws at my back.

It’s as if she wants to fuse herself to me, and at this moment, under the weight of her confession, I want her to.

I don’t know what that means for us. I don’t know what that means for her father or what it means in my war with Salvatore. All I know is that right now, my wife just passed a test. A test I didn't even know I was giving.

I need her.

I need her like I need air to breathe. I need to feel her warmth, be inside her. I need to ingrain myself in her until I don't know where she ends, and I begin.

Tomorrow, the future will probably look different.

Tomorrow, we will both have to deal with the consequences of our actions.

But tonight, I’ll have my wife.

22

Viviana

* * *

“Here, or in the bedroom?” he asks. “Pick fast, or I’ll pick for you.” The way he speaks is husky. Desire laced in each word.

But the look in his eyes has me coming undone.

I thought when I told him the truth that he would throw me out, but this . . .

He looks at me like I have given him the most precious gift. He looks at me like I’m everything, like he needs to consume me.

It’s primal, and it ignites an ember inside me, making me want to allow him to.

With need coursing through my body, I answer his question by reaching out my arms and pulling him toward me again.

“Here,” I say against his lips.

“Good, because I can’t wait another second to be inside you.” He then shuts me up by placing his mouth on mine and kissing me again. With each swipe of the tongue, the kiss becomes more heated.

“Right here. Right now,” he says. “Undress,” he demands, and I follow his order.