Chapter 25
MARCO
I planned this entire thing…but what I didn’t account for was how it would actually feel to make Karina my wife.
I arranged for Father Alfredo, reserved the most luxurious suite at a quaint bed-and-breakfast not far away, ordered room service and champagne to be waiting for us when we arrived.
Yet I didn’t plan for how hard my heart would pound when I saw her in the bridal suite dressed in her creamy white slip, or the fierce protectiveness that would pump through me at the fear we’d be caught, the worry that someone would take her away from me before we could exchange our vows.
Never could I have prepared for the wave of emotions that hit me when she said I do and slipped the ring on my finger.
I’d barely given marriage a second thought all these years, and now I have a wife—and I’m happy with it.
Not just happy, but over the moon. I feel lucky, I feel blessed.
I feel like I’ve won some lottery I didn’t even realize I was playing.
And I beat the hell out of Pietro by stealing his fiancée out from under his nose, consequences be damned.
How I would have loved to see the look on his face when he found out she was gone, the look when he realizes who stole his woman.
But I’m sure we’ll beat it out on the racetrack in the near future.
I look forward to it.
Karina squeezes my hand as I drive us to the bed-and-breakfast. She’s quiet but relaxed, and I wonder if she’s thinking about what comes next.
I sure as fuck am. Stripping her bare and getting her in bed is the only thing I’ve been able to think about since we walked out of the chapel as husband and wife.
We’re going to be the only guests at the B he can be reached at the number written on the chalkboard beside the refrigerator. And, of course, please don’t hesitate to call me directly if you need anything else at all. ”
Leading Karina to the staircase, I thank the woman for her help and take the steps.
Karina lags behind a bit, still looking around in awe, but I can’t fight this urgency to get her alone.
This will be the first time since we met that we’ll be truly free together, without fear of interruption or being caught. She’s completely mine.
For now, and for always.
“Marco, look at the carvings on the—”
Holding out my hand to her, I say, “We’ll take a complete tour in the morning. I promise. Right now, I’m starving.”
She catches up to me and takes my hand. “But…we just had lunch with Father Alfredo.”
“I know,” I say, my eyes burning into hers.
Karina looks down shyly, finally understanding what I’m really talking about. “I’m hungry, too,” she says.
Looking down at her, I make the split-second decision to lift her from the steps and into my arms. She yelps gleefully and grabs me around the neck.
I turn left at the top of the stairs, carry her to the end of the hall, and then fumble with the suite door one-handed until I’ve got it open, too stubborn to put my wife down until I’ve officially carried her over the room’s threshold.
“Welcome to your honeymoon, Mrs. Bellanti,” I say, stepping inside.
She pulls my lips down to hers, her mouth taking mine with a passion she hasn’t displayed before. I navigate the dimly lit room as we kiss and set her on the bed. Karina sighs happily as her body sinks into the mattress.
“Stay here. Relax.”
I kiss her again, but she starts to sit up when I pull back. “Wait. Where are you going?”
“To take care of my wife. Don’t move.”
Walking backwards, I wag a finger at her and disappear into the bathroom. Flicking on the light, I glance over my shoulder to see if she listened.
Karina giggles. “Okay, okay! I’m staying put!”
The bathroom is old-fashioned, but has been updated with a large, oval spa tub and a walk-in shower.
I turn on the taps to start filling the tub and rifle through the assortment of bath items on the vanity.
A black foil packet with an embossed floral motif catches my eye.
The writing looks like Japanese but the words bath milk are printed in bold at the bottom.
I make sure the water is hot enough and then stop the drain and pour the milk into the rushing water. When I return to my bride, I find her stretched out on the bed, relaxed and peaceful.
“Are you ready for your bath?” I ask.
Karina just smiles and bites her bottom lip.
Her breathing picks up, her nipples perked beneath the thin fabric of her slip.
The hem has ridden up to the tops of her thighs, showing off her long, shapely legs.
She’s taken off her shoes and her pretty, bare feet have me breathing a little harder myself.
“Time for this to go.” Taking hold of the hem, I tug the slip up, intending to pull it off her quickly.
But I slow down, taking in the view as her body reveals itself to me inch by inch.
Curvy hips, smooth, flat belly, nipped-in waist. Karina holds her breath when I peel her panties off and then lets out a sigh as I take hold of her slip again and pull it up over her breasts—perfect mounds that will fit just right in my hands, with their tight pink peaks to toy with and suck on.
Fuck.
“Marco.” Her voice wavers as she takes my face in her hands. “I’m glad it’s you.”
I’d intended to get her in the tub first, to sit behind her in the water and tease her body until she was too hot to stay in any longer.
I don’t give a damn about that now. She’s looking at me with so much trust, and want, and affection—I want to please her, to make her feel things she’s never felt before, to give her everything she’s never had.
I can’t stop staring at her. She’s so naturally beautiful. Most of her makeup is gone, her curled updo decidedly sagging, one strap of her slip fallen down over her shoulder. But she’s completely perfect. So effortless and so different than the type of woman I’m used to bedding.
“Hold that thought,” I tell her.
Once I’ve gone and turned off the water in the bathroom, I come back to the bed and pull her slip over her head, and then finally begin worshiping her with my hands.
I splay them over her abdomen, grip her hips just to feel their perfect curves, smooth my palms up the sides of her waist and rib cage as I lean closer and closer.
I’m learning her body with my fingertips, committing each inch of skin to memory.
Her breathing turns harsh, anticipatory, as my eyes meet hers and I take her nipple in my mouth.
She gasps, her belly clenching. My fingers rake lightly over her ribs as I move from one breast to the other, then back again.
Working my way slowly down her body, I unbutton my shirt and drop it to the floor.
Her fingers dig into my hair as I kiss around her navel and palm her breasts, kneading them gently and teasing her nipples with soft tweaks and light brushes of my thumbs.
Her silky skin has flushed and heated, her gasps punctuated with quiet moans of pleasure.
She’s making me so fucking hot that I can’t shed my clothes fast enough.
Tossing my pants across the room, I move down her body again, kissing a lusty trail across her skin. Her legs tremble as I brush my fingers over her pubic bone.
“Marco, can you kiss me?” she whispers, her voice trembling.
“I plan to.”
“I mean…up here?”
Her arms loop around my neck as I give her what she wants, kissing her slow and deep until she relaxes again.
Smoothing the hair from her brow, I reposition myself over her, kneeling between her legs.
The sheets rustle as she opens to accommodate me, her hands moving over my back and my sides, fingernails dragging gently along my skin. She’s exploring me now, too.
I want to take this at her pace, to give her what she needs.
My cock is rock hard and throbbing, the hard, needy pulse reminding me how long I’ve waited to do this.
A groan escapes me as her nails lightly rake over my back, drawing goosebumps out of me.
Up, down…up, down…and then her hands cup my ass, her mouth opening wider to take more of my kiss.
Soft pressure on my ass as she pulls me down toward her.
Inch by inch, I lower my pelvis until it’s in line with hers.
Gripping my shaft, I nudge the tip of my cock between her soft, wet lips and trace her up and down, again and again, warming her up, making sure she’s ready, letting her get used to the feeling of me against her.
When I bump into her clit, Karina arches her back with a hard gasp.
“Relax, Karina. Just feel. And if I hurt you, say the word and we’ll take a pause, okay?”
She nods, her eyes searching mine. She’s nervous, I can tell, but she also wants this. There’s no doubt in her open, hungry gaze.
Holding myself to keep steady, I slowly rock my head against her slick little nub.
I want to kiss her again, but I can’t stop watching her face as her expressions change.
Jesus, this is so unlike me—hard and fast is the game, seeing who can feel the best the quickest, and then do it again.
I never have sex like this. Slow. Gentle. Letting her needs guide me.
I’ve never had a woman as innocent as Karina before.
Her wetness soaks me as I increase the pace and pressure, moving my tip back and forth over her most sensitive spot again and again.
Her hips lift to meet me, her nails digging into my shoulders.
Fuck, she’s so slippery and wet… Grinding my lips to hers, I take the kiss from her to tide me over as I struggle for control.
Her breathing turns into a pant that turns into a staccato of my name.
“Marco, Marco, Marco—”
Karina has taken over the pace now, though I don’t think she realizes it, thrusting herself against me, taking the pleasure. I’m not even inside her yet and I feel like I could come any second. Her eyes squeeze shut, her body tensing.
“I think—” but she doesn’t finish the sentence, a cry of sheer pleasure bursting from her as she grinds herself against me.
She’s coming, fast and hard, and I’ve barely even touched her yet, but there’s no holding back now. My hips are already in motion and she’s so swollen, so fucking wet, and now my cock is sliding into her as she rides her orgasm.
“Karina,” I groan.
She’s fucking perfect, so fucking tight, but I only slip in halfway and then I force myself to hold still.
Karina sobs a little, her pussy clenching around me on instinct even as she continues jutting her hips up to meet me.
Her glassy eyes lock onto mine, her lips parted, a combination of ecstasy and surprise etched on her face.
Cupping her cheeks, nodding reassuringly, never breaking eye contact, I thrust fully inside her, balls deep, damn near losing my mind.
She cries out, her hands reaching up to grab my wrists as I move carefully…
so slowly. Karina’s eyes flutter and close tight.
She grips me so hard, her nails dig in until I feel the sweet pain.
Words come out of her, affirmations, curses, my own name.
Her thighs suddenly tense and she cries out again, damn near coming off the bed as she bucks against me.
Pride pumps through me at making her feel like this.
Her orgasm never stopped—I’m flaming it now by fucking her, and I never want it to stop.
Moving faster, deeper, harder, I watch her face carefully to make sure I’m in tune to her, to make sure it’s not too much.
She’s so tight around my cock, so fucking wet that I can’t hold back.
As I rock into her she finally relaxes, the dazed look fading a bit from her eyes as she comes down from the high.
Wrapping her legs around my hips, Karina watches me as I struggle to hold on.
Then she grabs my ass, encouraging my thrusts, one clear command issuing from her lips. “Fuck me.”
She says it again and again, over and over, her voice pitching higher as if a third orgasm is rushing toward her. I lose it, burying my face in her neck as I come so fucking hard I see stars. Everything fades to black as I ride the high, except for one thought that breaks through.
Karina has ruined me. Completely ruined me. There’s no going back to the old Marco after something this damn sweet.