Chapter 20
Sienna
While I climb into the backseat of the SUV, Nico loads my overnight bag into the trunk. Just as well I packed some clothes. I knew Christiano would insist we go to his place after the wedding.
I plan to move out of my apartment in stages because I don’t have the energy to do it all in one fell swoop. Besides, I have no idea what the penthouse looks like.
Christiano takes off his jacket before he gets in beside me, and when he lays it over my lap, he says, “Finally.”
“Finally, what?”
“We’re married, and I get to take you home.”
Even though he forced me, there’s a big part of me that can’t deny that today is very special. Things might change in the future, but right now, Christiano loves me, and I’ve never seen him so happy before.
Thank God, Mom had extra Xanax on her, though. I was struggling to keep it together after we said our vows, and I hate that I had a mini meltdown in front of everyone.
When I glance at Christiano, his eyes soften on me as he says, “Thank you for saying you love me. It meant a lot to me.”
My heart squeezes, and I feel terrible for not saying it sooner. Even though I’m scared of what our future will hold, I still whisper, “I have and always will love you.”
“Then why did you put up such a fight?”
“It’s our wedding day.” I give him a pleading look because I can’t handle much more today. “Can we not talk about that, please?”
He nods and leans in to press a kiss to my forehead.
My gaze lowers to the gold band I pushed onto his ring finger mere hours ago.
There’s no such thing as divorce in the Cosa Nostra. What will Christiano do when he finds out I suffer from thanatophobia?
“What are you thinking about?” he asks, pulling me out of my thoughts.
I latch onto the first thing that pops into my mind. “About everything I have to pack.”
“Have you even started?”
Tired from struggling with the extreme emotions and anxiety today, I whisper, “No.”
His eyes flick to me while he unbuttons his cuffs. “Are you going to fight me on where we live?”
“No.” I exhale a heavy sigh. “I’m not stupid.”
“I didn’t say you were.” He places his hand on top of mine while the corner of his mouth lifts. “No arguing. I want to savor every second of today.”
I link my fingers with his, and needing to move the conversation to a safer topic, I ask, “Do you have food at your penthouse?”
“Of course.”
“You didn’t eat anything at the reception. What do you feel like having for dinner?”
He relaxes in the seat and stares at me with so much love, I can almost believe we can survive anything. “Whatever you feel like, baby. We can order in.”
“I want to make you something.”
The smile around his lips is tender as he replies. “I’d like that very much.”
“Enjoy your wedding night,” Nico says as he brings the SUV to a stop, and when I glance around, I notice we’re in an underground parking garage.
As we get out of the vehicle, Christiano tells Nico, “Be here at ten tomorrow so we can move some of Sienna’s belongings.”
“I can handle it on my own,” I say as I wait for Christiano to grab my overnight bag from the trunk.
As we walk to an elevator, he replies, “I know, but now that we’re married, I’ll take care of everything for you.”
We step inside and as the elevator takes us up to the top floor, he mentions, “I’ve ordered a keycard for you. It should be delivered tomorrow.”
“Okay.” I have to admit, I’m actually excited to see his place.
When the doors open, we walk down a short but wide hallway that’s decorated with photos of everyone in the five families, taken at various functions held over the years.
I slow down as memories flood me. “Oh my God,” I whisper. “I did not expect this.”
“The photos remind me of what I’m fighting for,” Christiano says. “And what I will lose if I don’t stay at the top of the food chain.”
“Jesus. The pressure must be insurmountable.” My eyes dart to his face.
He tilts his head, and lifting his hand, he cups my cheek. “That’s why I need you so much.”
My heart.
He leads me into a big open space, the lights coming on automatically and bathing everything in a soft yellow glow. It’s much easier on the eyes than the white lights in my apartment.
As Christiano turns left, I notice a dining room to our right. We walk past an open space which can be used for entertaining guests, and when we reach the living room, I see an open arch leading to the kitchen.
He gestures at a large square coffee table that’s made of white marble. “I’ll show you later how all the remotes work.” Picking up one of the remotes, he presses a button that has all the drapes opening to reveal the most stunning views of the city.
“Why don’t you leave them open?” I ask.
“The morning sun is a bitch,” he says while he walks toward the kitchen. He shows me where everything is, and when he opens the fridge, I look at the ingredients. Seeing mushrooms and ham, I ask, “Do you have any cream?”
“I don’t know.” He checks the pantry. “Yes, there are a couple cartons of heavy cream in here.”
A smile tugs at the corner of his mouth as he shuts the door. “Are you making pasta?”
“Yes. Alfredo.”
“Perfect. I’ll help, but first let’s finish the tour.
” He takes my hand and leads me out of the kitchen toward a grand staircase.
“There are three guestrooms along with the main bedroom on the second floor.” He stops and points over the banister.
“Oh, if you go through the door beneath the stairs, it leads to a gym.”
“Okay.”
We walk down a hallway, but I don’t look inside the guestrooms. When we enter his bedroom, I take in the king-sized bed, the cream bedding, the walk-in closet, and a seating area near the floor-to-ceiling windows.
The heavy drapes are shut, so I can’t see the view.
He sets my overnight bag down on the bed, then gestures to our left.
“The bathroom is through that door. Feel free to change anything in the penthouse. I want you to make it your home.”
The air smells familiar, just like Christiano.
“So you’ll be okay with pink covers on the bed?” I tease him.
With a serious expression on his face, he nods.“If that’s what you want.” Coming closer, he places his hand on my side and gives me a quick kiss. “Change into something comfortable while I start with the food.”
I turn around and gesture at my back. “Will you help me with the buttons, please?”
“Of course.” I feel his fingers brush against my skin as he undoes one button after the other, then he pushes the silk and chiffon over my shoulders, and as the dress hits the floor, I hear him inhale a deep breath.
“You in white lace panties, a bra, and high heels just became my favorite thing.”
“Yeah?” I keep standing with my back to him, and when his warm breath hits my shoulder, goose bumps spread over my skin.
His mouth moves up to my neck, and I shiver from how sensual it feels.
“Christ, I’m addicted to your scent,” he murmurs, his tone low and ravenous. “You have no idea what you do to me.”
He grips hold of my left buttcheek while his other arm comes around my front, and when his palm covers my breast, my head falls back against his chest.
“Tell me you need me as much as I need you,” he orders near my ear.
Placing my hands on his thighs, I rub up and down, and for once, I’m honest as I admit, “I need you more than you can ever need me.”
His palm brushes down my front and slips beneath my panties. When he drags his finger over my clit and opening, a groan rumbles from his chest. “Already so wet for me.”
My eyes drift shut from how good it feels to have him touching me, but suddenly, he pulls away.
When I glance over my shoulder, I see he’s unbuttoning his shirt. I turn around so I can watch as he gets undressed, but he keeps on his boxers, and taking my hand, he pulls me from the bedroom.
“I’m so confused right now.”
Letting out a burst of laughter, he says, “We’re cooking like this. I want to see how far I can push you before you beg me to fuck you.”
“Oh, game on.”
When we walk into the kitchen, I pull my hand free, and opening the fridge, I make a show of bending over as I take out the mushrooms and ham.
“Goddamn, princess,” Christiano groans. “What a fucking sight.”
I straighten up and set the ingredients down on the island before I grab the heavy cream and a pack of fettuccine from the pantry.
Christiano stands dead still, his eyes not leaving me for a second.
“I thought you were going to help,” I tease him.
“Uh-huh,” he mumbles as if he’s stuck in a trance.
When I walk toward the block of knives, he jumps into action and says, “I’ll do all the chopping. I don’t want you accidentally cutting yourself.”
As he pulls a knife out of the wooden block, I lean into him and press a kiss to where my name is tattooed on his chest. “So sweet.”
“Only for you.” He brings the tip of the knife to between my breasts, and with a quick flick, he cuts through the lace, and the cups fall away. “Much better.”
Dropping the knife on the counter, his arm shoots around me, and I’m lifted off my feet. He carries me to the island and sets me down on it while bending to suck one of my nipples into his mouth.
“Fuck, this is a dream come true,” he says against my hardening bud. “Lie back.”
I do as I’m told, but the second my skin touches the cold surface, I shoot back up. “It’s freezing.”
I’m scooped up into his arms and carried to the living room, where he places me on one of the couches. As I lie down, he grabs hold of my panties and rips them down my legs. My high heels fall off in the process, then my legs are pushed wide open, and his head ducks between my thighs.
I’ve never had a man go down on me before, and the sight has my lips parting. When his mouth latches onto my clit, I draw in a sharp breath.
He licks and sucks until my butt lifts off the couch. The pleasure he’s giving me is unlike anything I’ve experienced before.