14. Alessia
Finn and I were at the casino for another hour after he met me in his office, and I nearly tore his pants from his body to get to his cock. Seeing him handle that asshole flipped some sort of switch in me, and I showed him my appreciation on my knees. It was as though some baser instinct completely took over my actions and the need to own him somehow consumed every thought in my head.
Being with him is so different than I’d imagined. All the men I’ve known who are a part of this life would’ve seen what was going on with that Rick guy and gotten angry that someone was disrespecting their property. They wouldn’t have given two shits about making them apologize to me. Sure, they would have demanded an apology, but it would’ve been to them, not me. Finn was obviously angry that someone caused a scene in his casino and disrespected his wife, but he was also angry for me. He doesn’t tolerate anyone having a cross word to say about me, not because I’m his, and it’s a personal insult to him, but because he demands people respect me for my sake. Because that’s what I deserve as my own person.
Typing on his phone on the way home from the casino, Finn looks at me with an I know something you don’t know smile.
“I’m taking you somewhere tomorrow,” he informs me.
“Oh, you are? What if I already have plans?” I don’t, but I also don’t appreciate him demanding instead of asking. “Just because we’re married doesn’t mean you have control over my time, Finn.” My lips are set in a thin line as I shoot him a glare.
“Let me rephrase then, wife.” His smile turns up a couple notches, and I can tell he’s proud of whatever plans he has in store. “I’d like to take you on a date tomorrow. We’ll be leaving around noon and won’t be back until the next day. If that’s alright with you, of course.”
“Are you sure this is the best time for us to be leaving town? Carlo is still missing. I have the casino to think about—”
Finn cuts me off with a kiss. I let out a little growl of frustration, which, of course, makes him laugh. “Alessia, there’s always going to be something. You and I both know that. If we don’t steal time for ourselves where we can, we’ll never do anything except work and plot and scheme. That’s the way this life is. Let me do something for you.”
I look into my husband’s pleading eyes and can’t find it within myself to deny what he’s saying is true.
“Are we the type of couple who goes on dates now?”
“We’re whatever we want to be. Since we didn’t have a chance to do that before we were married, I figured, why not try it out?” He shrugs like it’s no big deal, but one thing I know about Finn is he wouldn’t put something together unless it was important to him. Unless I was important to him.
Exhaling a long sigh, I shrug and face forward in my seat. “I suppose I can spare the time, then.”
“Gee, thank you so much. Your enthusiasm astounds me.”
I glance in his direction and catch the hard eye roll. It’s too easy to rile him up sometimes.
Leaning over, I place a small kiss on his cheek. “Thank you, Finn. I’m excited to see what you have up your sleeve. I’m sorry if I came across as ungrateful.”
He grunts and turns to face me. “You can make it up to me by wearing that little red dress you had on the night we met.”
A surprised chuckle escapes me before I place a lingering kiss on his lips. “Deal.”
“He’s taking me away for the night and I have no idea what to pack,” I huff into the phone, talking with Gemma.
“My guess would be not much of anything. He didn’t give you any clues?”
“None. Just told me to bring the red dress he likes.”
“So somewhere fancy, then.”
“Maybe. At least he’s not trying to take me somewhere like the Caribbean or something. Though that would be a lot more than an overnight trip.” Not that I don’t think beaches are beautiful, but I’m not one for lying around all day staring at the ocean. I like to actually do things. Plus, sand irritates the living hell out of me. The grainy feeling that takes forever to get rid of is just gross.
“Things are going well between you two, I take it.”
“Define ‘well.’ I mean, the sex is unreal. I swear that man is fucking insatiable.” My body heats remembering last night when we got back from the casino.
“Do you get along? I mean, other than between the sheets?”
I think about that for a moment. “I don’t know. We’ve been spending a lot of time together but not a lot of time talking. Honestly, we don’t know each other very well.” I know how to piss him off, and he knows how to give me countless orgasms, but beyond that, we haven’t taken the time to find out what makes the other person tick.
“That makes sense. You guys skipped several important steps in the beginning.”
“Is it weird I’m nervous about going on a date with my husband?”
Gemma laughs. “If it was anyone else, I would say yes, that’s weird. But you and Finn didn’t exactly start off your relationship in a typical fashion.”
That’s the fucking truth.
Finn walks into the bedroom as I’m zipping up my suitcase. He moved my things in here the night after we slept together for the first time. I may have thrown a small fit over it, but I never bothered moving my things back to my room.
“We need to get to the airport,” he says, tapping his watch.
“We’re flying? What if I’m afraid of planes?” I ask and hear Gemma laughing on the line.
Finn gives me a flat look and swirls his finger in the air, signaling for me to wrap it up. “Tell Gemma goodbye and get your sexy ass in the car, Alessia.”
Damn bossy asshole.
“You’re not afraid of flying,” Gemma reminds me as Finn grabs my suitcase from the bed and exits the room.
“I know that, but he didn’t,” I grumble.
“Think of all the things you two get to learn about each other on your little trip.”
I let out a calming breath and remind myself it’s a good thing my husband wants to take me away. And Gemma was spot on, we did skip the get-to-know-you phase.
“You’re right. God, I feel so dumb for being this nervous.”
“It’s been a while since you’ve done anything like this. Nerves are normal.”
“Alessia!” Finn calls from downstairs.
“Alright, I have to go. I’ll call you when we get back.”
We hang up, and I toss my phone in my purse before making my way out of our bedroom.
“Jesus, hold your horses,” I gripe, walking down the staircase.
Finn looks like a kid in a damn candy store waiting for me at the bottom.
“You look pleased with yourself,” I say when I reach him.
Finn wraps me in his strong arms and places a kiss on the tip of my nose.
I guess we’re the type to do cutesy shit like that now, too.
“Excited for tonight,” is all he says before turning and ushering me out of the house.
“I still don’t get a hint?”
“Patience is a virtue, wife.” He opens the car door, and I slide inside.
“And what about me screams virtuous, husband?”
“You’ll love it, I promise.” Finn shuts the door and walks to the driver’s side, wearing a grin the entire way to the airport.
I guess we’ll see.
I’ll admit the private jet is a nice touch. This isn’t the first time I’ve flown private, but it’s the first time I’ve had a man bring me to orgasm on a plane. As soon as we’re in the air, Finn throws a blanket over us and leans in close, his hot breath tickling my neck when he whispers, “It’s been nearly eight hours since I gave you an orgasm, wife. I think that should be rectified, don’t you?”
I look around for the flight attendant who was pouring our drinks just before takeoff but don’t see her.
“Right now?” I ask in a hushed tone.
Finn lets that damn smirk answer for him as he glides his fingers under my knee-length skirt and trails them up to my panties.
“Can you keep quiet while I slide my fingers inside of you? You don’t want the attendant to know I’m fucking your hot cunt with my fingers,” he whispers.
Nodding, I spread my thighs, allowing him access to my center. His index finger slides my panties to the side before he plunges his long middle finger into my already wet core. He pulls it out and circles my clit a few times before entering me again, pumping in and out. The wet noises coming from his ministrations are decadent and I have to turn my head into his neck, biting down on the collar of his suit jacket to keep myself from crying out.
“Your pussy is so wet for me. I can’t wait to get to the hotel so I can fuck this tight little cunt and make you scream my name over and over. Fuck, you come so pretty for me, Alessia.”
A contained whimper escapes when Finn curls his finger and finds that bundle of nerves that sets me off every single time.
“Give me your eyes,” he commands.
I lift my head and his heated gaze locks with mine, imploring me to let go.
The second he feels my walls tighten, he slams his mouth to mine, swallowing my muted moans as my entire body quakes with intense pleasure as wave after wave of bliss rushes through me.
When I come down, he slides his fingers from me and swirls them in his glass of whiskey, sucking them into his mouth before draining the glass. I stare at him in disbelief, not quite able to form words just yet. This man plays my body like his own personal fiddle, and I’m too addicted to him to care. He rights my skirt and adjusts the blanket, then lifts his arm so I can lean into him. Something I’ve learned about Finn is that hes extremely tactile. Even in the small moments, like driving to the casino, he always has to be touching me in some way.
A limo picks us up from the private airstrip and we’re whisked away to our resort. Naturally, Finn booked the penthouse suite, which overlooks all of Atlantic City. It reminds me of the hotel in Boston the night of our wedding—the giant window overlooking the skyline, the white leather couches with white carpet throughout the living room. There’re two bedrooms as well, but unlike our wedding night, we won’t be sleeping in separate rooms.
“When we get back tonight, I’m going to hold you against this window and fuck you like I wanted to do the night of our wedding.”
“You say the most romantic things,” I let out a dreamy sigh before laughing.
Finn smirks. “You love it,” he says, then kisses me breathless.
He’s right, I do love it. And I would be lying if the idea of love and my husband in the same sentence didn’t scare me a little.
“I have a massage therapist coming up in a couple minutes.”
“There you go, planning stuff without my input. What if I don’t want a stranger touching me?”
“I’ll be here too. I thought a couples massage would be a nice way to start our date.”
I quirk my brow. “So, you wanted a massage?”
“Well, yes. But you’ve been working hard, and we’ve been at the casino late every night this week. I want to pamper you a little, Alessia. Lord knows you won’t think to do it for yourself.”
He has a point. I’ve never been the pampering type. Or the type comfortable with people doing things for me out of care for my stress level.
“It would be nice if you were marginally excited with some pampering and a surprise date,” he says with a small pout.
And doesn’t that just make me feel like a huge asshole.
I wrap my arms around his middle, and he reluctantly allows me to pull him into my body.
“Hug me,” I growl at him.
He does, and I smile at him, holding his dark-blue stare. “I’m sorry. I’m not used to having someone look out for me like this or wanting to do nice things for me just because.”
“I’m not used to wanting to do this stuff, so I guess we’re even.”
“You’re just a big marshmallow, aren’t you?” I ask, my mouth turning up in a wide smile.
“Not with anyone other than you.”
Finn leans down and places a sweet kiss on my shoulder before the shrill sound of the hotel phone ringing breaks us apart.
“Yes?” he answers, silent for a beat. “Yes, allow them up.” He turns to me. “Time to get in one of those robes. Your pampering is about to begin.”
An hour and a half later, I’m lying in a bath, wondering why the hell I’ve never scheduled massages into my weekly planner. Finn is sitting opposite me in the large marble Jacuzzi tub that’s big enough for at least five more people.
“Well?” he starts, and I open my eyes. “Did you like it?” A smile plays on the corner of his lips. There’s no way he thinks I wasn’t in absolute heaven when I was having every knot and tense muscle worked out of my body.
“I’ll give you this one. It was absolute magic.”
The self-satisfied smirk he’s wearing makes me want to kiss his lips or smack him. It can always go either way with us.
“We have about an hour before our dinner reservation,” he tells me, gliding his fingers up and down my calf. The touch isn’t meant to lead to more, which is usually the case with us. It’s a simple caress, a way to connect us with no reason other than because he likes to.
I reluctantly raise myself from the bath, and Finn stares at my naked form with a heated look in his devastating gaze.
“Oh no, Mr. Monaghan. I only have an hour to get ready. Keep those thoughts in your filthy mind.”
In reality, every time he looks at me like that, it takes a ridiculous amount of willpower not to lose myself in him.
“Don’t worry, Mrs. Monaghan. I can control myself.” He bites his lip as his eyes trail up and down my body. “But when we get back tonight., it’s going to be an entirely different story.”
The restaurant Finn takes me to is exquisite. The space is bathed in dim light with dark-blue walls and rich oak furniture. Giant beams run across the ceiling, and white gauzy fabric is draped from them, giving the room a Mediterranean feel. The rich Spanish cuisine melts in my mouth as I sip the expensive wine. Everything is perfect, from the menu to the private booth, right down to the company.
“You sure know how to wine and dine a lady. Have a lot of practice?”
“Ah, is this the part where we talk about our pasts?” Finn smirks and takes a bite of his paella. “I’ve had exactly one serious girlfriend. She wasn’t fond of the late nights or the focus I had building our business from where we were when I took over. Eventually, she wanted me to choose, so I did. Since you’re the only woman wearing my ring, you can guess what my decision was. She was a nice enough girl but not right for me.”
“Yes, a marriage of convenience is much more advantageous for you.”
“It served your family as well. And our marriage has been anything but convenient.” He sends me a challenging stare as he sips his red wine.
“If you wanted a little house mouse, then sorry to tell you, you picked the wrong girl.”
Finn smiles, ignoring the ire in my tone. “I’d say I picked exactly the right woman.”
My attempt to hide the smile fails miserably.
“How about you? Any hearts you left broken on our wedding day?” he asks, taking another bite of the delicious cuisine.
“I dated a few men here and there. There was only one serious relationship, but that ended badly.”
Finn’s gaze darkens. “Define ‘badly.’”
This isn’t exactly what I’d consider polite dinner conversation, but Gemma said we need to get to know each other. Maybe if Finn knows a bit about my past with Orlando, he’ll understand my reaction to certain situations at the beginning of our marriage.
“He was part of this life. It was the typical story of a rich mobster’s son thinking he could do anything he wanted, so he did. Late nights with his friends, though I have a strong suspicion he was with other women long before he admitted it. A lot of drinking and erratic behavior.”
“Did he hit you?”
I swallow hard and nod. “He did.”
Finn clenches his fork and takes a breath. “Give me his name, Alessia.”
I quickly shake my head. “Absolutely not. It was years ago, and my brother took care of it.”
“If he’s still breathing, then he didn’t finish the job. I want his name.”
This could go one of two ways. Either I tell him he’s being absolutely ridiculous and he can’t possibly avenge something that happened before he knew I existed, or I can try to calm him down.
“Finn,” I say, covering his tight fist with my hand. “Please. Let’s drop this. Gio handled it the only way he could at the time. It’s best for everyone if you let it go.”
Finn stares into my pleading gaze for a few moments and takes several breaths while I hold mine in my lungs.
“It goes against every part of who I am to not get revenge for a man putting his hands on you. So when I say this, I hope you understand what it means—I will drop it for you. I trust you have your reasons for not wanting me to react and leaving this in the past. But that means you have to leave it all in the past. No more not trusting me, no more closing yourself off to me, and no more comparing me and our relationship to whatever you had with that piece of shit. You are my wife, and that means more to me than a signed piece of paper and a couple of rings.”
Tears threaten to erupt with his sweet and slightly violent declaration. I hold them back, but just barely. “Thank you.”
It’s not that what happened with Orlando still makes me want to sob my eyes out, though that was the case for a long time. It’s that every time Finn says things like this to me, the fact that he’s so different from what I was prepared for smacks me over the head. I don’t know how to process all of it. Unfortunately for me, the emotions come out as tears. It’s so damn annoying.
Finn smiles and lifts our hands to his mouth, kissing the back of mine. “Anything for you.”
We move onto lighter topics, him telling me about the antics he and his brother got up to as kids and me telling him all the ways I used to love annoying my older brother.
“Gio would get so frustrated with me. There was one time when he was in high school and had a girl over. They were in the theater room watching some scary movie. Now that I think about it, it was probably so she would hide her face in his arm when something would jump out.” I laugh at that realization. “Anyways, I had just been to a sleepover, and we snuck out of my friends room and watched that movie with the girl crawling out of the well or something with her hair in front of her face. You know the one?”
“I do,” he replies with a shudder.
“I thought it would be hilarious to sneak into the room and reenact that scene. I didn’t have a well, obviously, but I wore a long nightgown and did this ridiculous crab walk from around the back of the couch.” I’m in near hysterics as I remember the girl’s terrified scream and my brother hollering at me at the top of his lungs. “I ended up falling over in a fit of giggles, and his date laughed a little, too. I never did see her again, though.”
Finn’s laughter is booming, and his face is as relaxed as I’ve ever seen it as he leans back, those dimples of his on full display.
“It must have been a younger sibling thing. I swear my brother came out of the womb with the singular purpose of tormenting me.”
Finn finishes his wine, the bill taken care of and sets his napkin on the table.
“We should get going,” he says, checking his watch. “The main event is about to begin.”
That piques my interest, and an excited smile spreads across my face.
He points at my smile. “That’s the look I’ve wanted to see from you since I told you about our date last night.”
“You’ve been doing such a good job so far, I have every confidence I’m going to love what comes next.”
He lifts both of his hands and looks toward the ceiling. “Finally, she gets it,” he says as though he’s thanking the heavens.
The restaurant is busier now than when we walked in. The way he guides me through the tables with his hand on my hip feels so natural it catches me off guard for a moment. There’s something so innate in the small action I’ve never felt before, and that scares me less than it would have twenty-four hours ago.
Finn and I chat in the limo ride to our next destination, so I hardly notice where we’ve pulled up. The doorman opens Finn’s door first, and he holds his hand out, helping me from the car. We’re at a brightly lit casino and my eyes turn to my husband with a questioning stare. “Are we checking out how the other half runs a casino?”
Finn smiles but doesn’t answer. He leads me through the busy floor, then down a long hallway connected to what looks like some sort of arena at the resort. We take a turn into a smaller hallway and Finn shows the man in front of two nondescript doors the tickets he pulls from his pockets. He opens the door, and we’re let into a giant private lounge with servers walking around carrying trays filled with flutes of champagne and hors d’oeuvres. Several well-dressed people are milling about with drinks in their hands and excitement on their faces. When I look at one of the televisions hanging from the wall, I spot a familiar logo.
“You brought me to a sold-out heavyweight championship MMA match?”
Finn smiles widely down at me. “You like?”
“Are you kidding? I’ve never been to a live event before. This is perfect.”
“Did I mention we’re front row?” His cocky grin is back in full force as he holds the tickets in front of me.
It could be the wine, the thrill of being here, or the lightness in my chest, but I throw my arms around my husband’s neck and place a kiss soundly on his mouth. Finn’s hand tangles in the back of my hair, not caring that we’re in public and thrusts his tongue in my mouth.
When we pull apart, he leans his forehead against mine. “I’m glad you’re happy with it.”
“I’m more than happy with my surprise. And just so there’s no confusion, seeing as this is our first date and all, you’re totally getting laid.”
He throws his head back, and a loud laugh explodes from him.
“You are something else, Alessia Monaghan.” His smile is shining so bright it’s nearly blinding.
That’s the first time I’ve heard anyone say my full married name, and I think that might just be my favorite part of this night.