Chapter 36
CHAPTER THIRTY-SIX
Nicolò
The door to Bambalina’s room opens and my jaw unhinges. She glances up at me nervously.
“Do you like it?”
I try to swallow but I can’t, so I clear my throat instead.
“Like it?” My voice cracks. “You look… sensational.”
She glances over my shoulder at the dayshift guy then lowers her voice. “I’ve been instructed to wear something sexy, but this is for you, Nicolò. For tonight.”
My eyes raze over her, not an inch overlooked.
White satin starts at the tips of her shoulders and drops to her toes, shimmering over her perfect breasts and rounded hips. The neckline dives in a v shape to her breast bone, a small, delicate pendant nestled in the crevice of her cleavage.
On the surface, it’s the kind of dress a debutante might wear—all clean lines and careful hems. But beneath the liquid shards of light thrown off when she breathes, the close embrace of the fabric is both filled with promise and downright rude.
It shows off what is hers and hides what is mine.
My breaths grow ragged as I coast my gaze back to hers. Those treacherous lips are parted and puffing air like my assault has left her short of breath.
I’m going to fuck her in this clean white dress.
We’re going to paint it as red as the world we live in.
Something gritty and impatient bites into my voice and I offer an arm. “Come. Let’s get this over with.”
The room falls silent when we enter, making the solid metal of my gun burn into my back.
I know their eyes are glued to Lina. I’ve never seen her look more mouthwatering, and knowing it is all for me keeps me on a dangerous edge.
If anyone’s gaze lingers a little too long on what’s mine, I’ll have to fight the urge to kill them.
I take my place at the bottom of the table, my knees braced, ready to snap necks if I have to. But once seated, she drifts a soft but insistent gaze toward me. It tells me I need to calm the fuck down and count the minutes—in my head.
Halfway through dinner, I make an excuse that I need to use the bathroom, taking a detour through the kitchens. The staff are too preoccupied with putting the finishing touches to the desserts to notice me. Then I make my way upstairs.
As I’d suspected, the dayshift guy on duty at Lina’s door has been replaced, and a new one is standing outside waiting to guard her the second she’s inside.
He looks up warily as I approach, so I disarm him with a smile.
“Hey, I saw you outside earlier with the pick-up. Looked like you’d been crabbing.”
His brow arches in surprise and I notice how much younger he is than most of Alessio’s men. He’s clearly got the lacky job of guarding the new fiancée’s door while the real men talk business over whisky and cigars. Every family has one—or several.
I almost feel sorry for him. There’s a lot of pressure on these young men to earn their stripes, demonstrate their loyalty, show how far they’ll go for the family. But he’s about to be royally screwed over.
Well, never mind.
“Yeah. We got a good haul today.”
I walk up beside him and lean my back against the wall. “Where d’you go? The Marina?”
He shakes his head, his eyes dropping briefly to the bottle of beer in my hand. “Red Bank. Full of blue crab down there.”
“Man,” I say wistfully, lifting my gaze to the ceiling. “I haven’t been crabbing for so long.”
I feel his wide eyes heat my cheek. “Don’t take this the wrong way but you don’t look the type to go crabbing.”
Looking down at my suit, I chuckle. “I wasn’t born dressed like this. I used to go with my father,” I lie. “Caught some huge ones up at Mascot Dock. We’d take them home, throw them on the grill then cover them in melted butter. God, I would kill for some crab right now.”
In the corner of my eye, the guy shrugs. “There’s a ton of them still in the truck. Help yourself.”
I turn to him, elated. “Really? You sure?”
“Yeah.” He jerks his head toward the stairs. “If you’re anything like me, you probably don’t care for the fancy stuff they serve down there. Give me some freshly caught crab and a bowl of fries any day. You’re welcome to them.”
I let my head fall back against the wall. “That is music to my ears.” I sigh, heavily. “Will the offer still stand tomorrow? I’m expected down there with all the fancy food tonight, but I’d love to cook some up in the morning.”
“Yeah, sure. The truck’s parked round the back. Just tell the guys I sent you.”
I stand up straight and face him head on. “I’m so sorry, I don’t know your name.”
“It’s Domenico,” he says, holding out his hand.
“I’m Nic—” I start.
“Nicolò Di Santo. Yeah I know.”
I wipe my palm on my jacket before reaching out. “Cold hand sorry. I’ve been carrying this beer everywhere but I don’t drink the stuff and I don’t want to offend anyone by not accepting it, you know?”
His gaze drops to the bottle and he licks his lips.
“Actually…” I lower my voice and throw a brief look over my shoulder. “You couldn’t take it off my hands could you? I’d rather someone drink it than I carry it around all evening.”
He looks at it again then starts stammering. “I-I’m supposed to be watching out for your sister.”
“She won’t be upstairs for hours yet,” I say, casually. “And it’s…” I lift the bottle and peer at the label, “not a strong one. It won’t impair your judgement. Trust me.”
He wavers, and I feel my insides tighten. He either does this the easy way, or I have to knock him out cold and lock him in a closet for a few hours.
“It’s you or an unsuspecting planter,” I say, then make a show of searching for an expensive-looking plant I can hypothetically drown in weak, spiked beer. “Any suggestions?”
He takes the beer out of my hand. “Don’t waste that shit on a plant. Consider it a straight swap—a beer for a crab.”
I grin. “You have a deal, my friend.”
When I return to the table, coffees are being served and a small flush has risen into Lina’s cheeks. She can barely look at me, and I know why. It’s close. In mere moments, we’ll be together, alone, and she’s going to give me something of herself. Her purity.
I’m physically struggling to wait. I’ve imagined embedding my cock inside her tight pussy so many times now, and I know the reality is going to blow my dreams out of the water.
But more than the sating of my own needs, is the desire to make it good for her.
I’ve never taken a virgin before, but reports I’ve heard in passing hold that it’s not the most pleasurable experience for a woman.
But Lina’s first time is going to be different.
I’m going to take her with so much care, she’s going to melt around me.
She declines coffee, so I do too.
When she makes her excuses and stands, I mirror her completely. My body feels magnetized, controlled not by my own mind but by her.
When she walks toward me, her eyes are a rich, dark brown, swollen with forbidden desire. I let her pass in a slight breeze filled with the scent of peonies and promises, then follow her out of the room.
My fingers brush against hers as we take the stairs and electricity crackles across my skin.
I permit myself a small smile when we reach her room. Domenico is sitting on the floor, his back against the wall, his head lolled to one side. Soft snores work their way out of his mouth so I step forward, lift a finger to his chin and close his jaw.
Lina’s eyes dance when I turn back to her. “What did you give him?”
“A few sleeping pills. He’ll be out for the night.”
“What if someone sees him?”
I shrug. “They do overwork these youngsters.”
She smirks and opens the door. As soon as we’re inside, her face falls. “Seriously, what if someone comes along and finds us in here?”
I smooth her hair back, tucking it behind one perfect ear. “They won’t find me, I promise. You have nothing to worry about Bambalina.” I brush my lips over her forehead. “I won’t ever let you get hurt. I’m going to get you out of this arrangement if it’s the last thing I do on this earth.”
She pulls back, shock etched in her features, and I nod.
“You’re mine, Bambalina. Not his.”
Her lips part and small breaths fan my skin, making me tameless.
“Once I’ve had you, little fawn, no one touches you, and no one else has the right to protect you. That right is all mine. And for as long as I’m alive, you’ll be safe.”
My center of gravity curls around hers as I make the one vow I won’t ever take back.
“Your life before mine. Always.”