Chapter 15
Catalina
That night after dinner, we returned to our apartment. The lights throughout the apartment were dimmed and everything was quiet. I learned earlier in the day that Contessa’s bedroom suite was on the first floor. There was also a bunk room of sorts where guards could stay if they were required overnight.
Tonight, was one of those nights.
Giovanni and Armando said good night as Dario and I went up the stairs. It wasn’t until we both headed toward the primary bedroom that I realized this would be the first time we were together in the suite since I arrived.
“I need to check a few things in my office,” he said, leaving me in the bedroom as he made his way to the private office within the suite.
It was difficult to fathom that last night had been our wedding night. Only twenty-four hours ago we came together for the first time. The butterflies that sparked my nerves then were back in a gentler form.
Slipping into the bathroom, I readied myself for bed, removing the dress and putting on a silk nightgown with spaghetti straps, the bottom hem falling to just above my knees. It was less scant than the teddy I’d received at my shower, the one I’d worn for only a few minutes yesterday morning.
Opening the door, I expected to find Dario in the bedroom. Sadly, the room was empty and the bed untouched. His office door was closed with a line of light coming from below. I wasn’t exactly expecting sex; however, after our dinner, I was hoping for more of his time.
I settled into the bed on the side with my bedside stand and began reading a book I’d found in the library. I was three chapters in when I heard Dario’s office door open. This was my husband after a long day. His suit coat was gone as was his tie. His holster was still present. The pressed white shirt was wrinkled, and he had the sleeves rolled up to his elbows. Suddenly, I remembered something.
Dario’s eyes opened wide at the sight of me. “I thought you might be asleep.”
Closing the book and placing it on the bedside stand, I shook my head. “I was hoping to stay awake until you came to bed.” I pressed ahead with my recent thought. “Weren’t you wearing jeans when you left this afternoon?”
Dario looked down at himself and back to me. “I changed in my office at the club.”
Questions came to mind.
Why did he change?
The warnings I’d been given came back to me, especially Em’s.‘Don’t fool yourself. He’s not taking a wife to love.’
Was Dario already with another woman at the club? Were there whores there ready to please the boss whenever he demanded?
Dario’s lips pressed together. “I figured you would be sore.”
“I am,” I admitted. “Not too sore to talk.”
Dario inhaled as he ran his hand over his hair, further mussing his mane. A dark shadow of stubble covered his usually clean-shaven jaw. He exuded power and masculinity with his mere presence.
“I’ve had a change of plans. I have to go out.”
“Did something happen?”
He nodded. “There was a shooting in the parking lot of one of the casinos on the river. My man thinks it was self-inflicted. Losing too much money, having a gun, and drinking too much can be a deadly combination. I need to confirm it’s not related to today’s disturbance with the bratva before my father jumps to conclusions.”
Feigning a smile, I nodded. “Will you be safe?”
“If the bratva eliminates me, Dante will take over the famiglia, and your obligation to this marriage will be over.”
My expression sagged. “Don’t say that.”
His features softened. “Then why ask? No one worries about my safety.”
“I do.”
Dario came closer until he was at the side of the bed. “This alliance isn’t going to fail. I’m safe. You are too. Both Giovanni and Armando will stay here.”
My pulse kicked up a notch. “Shouldn’t one of them go with you?”
Dario sat on the edge of the mattress and ran a strand of my hair through his fingers.
The combination of his cologne and masculine scent filled my senses. I had the urge to reach out and run my fingertips over his strong forearms. I’d never had access to a man like this, and my curiosity wasn’t the only thing aroused.
“The famiglia has honor,” Dario said. “We fight with honor. Not all organizations do. The bratva will look to hurt my father and me any way they can. They’re not above killing women and children.” His focus stayed for a moment on my hair before he lifted his large hand, gently cupping my cheek. “Word is spreading to those who didn’t know that we’ve married. Hurting you would do more than hurt me; it would harm the alliance with Roríguez.”
“Are you saying I’m in danger?”
“Not as long as you’re here.” He must have read my expression because he addressed my unspoken question. “You’re not a prisoner in this apartment. You’re free to come and go as long as either Armando or Giovanni is with you. While tensions are high, I’d prefer if you stayed put, but the choice is yours.”
I nodded. “I don’t exactly know anyone in Kansas City. I can stay here as long as you come back to me.”
Dario tipped his forehead to mine and took my hand. “That’s my plan.”
Stretching my neck, I brushed my lips on his. The darkness of his stare intensified as he pressed back, claiming my lips. I struggled to breathe as his tongue slipped into my mouth, sliding against mine. Beneath my silk nightgown, my nipples drew tight, goose bumps scattered over my arms and legs, and energy surged to my core.
When Dario pulled away, his gaze skirted over my breasts, no doubt seeing my physical reaction. “Let me know when you’re no longer sore.”
Warmth filled my cheeks. “A few moments ago, I didn’t care if I was sore or not.”
He lifted my hand to his lips, kissing my knuckles. “Sleep. I should be back in a few hours.”
“I think I’ll read a little more.”
Dario looked at the book beside the bed, furrowing his brow. “Did you bring that book from California?”
“No. I found it in the library.” Was he upset that I was reading Josie’s books? “I was excited to see it,” I added, not ready to embark on that conversation. “It’s been on my to-be-read list for a long time.”
His Adam’s apple bobbed as he stood. “This is your home. Help yourself to whatever you want.” With that, he went back into his office. When he came out a few minutes later, his collar was still open, but his suit coat was in place.
“Stay safe,” I said, thinking about his first reaction to my concern.
Does he think I wanted our marriage to end before it has the chance to begin?
After Dario was gone, I tried to concentrate on the words on the page but soon gave up. It wasn’t easy to read about love when my husband was out possibly risking his life or maybe fucking someone who wasn’t sore. I didn’t want to have those thoughts, but that didn’t stop them from coming to mind.
Turning off the lights, I settled under the blankets.
Em was right—this marriage wasn’t about love. I was better off if I didn’t allow myself to think that way. Love was the thing of fairy tales, not arranged marriages. Even if love was unobtainable, I did want our marriage to work, and I didn’t want Dario hurt or worse. If he didn’t believe I wanted this marriage to work, it was my mission to make him believe.
Those were my thoughts as I slipped off to sleep.
Unaccustomed to sleeping with another person, I woke to the movement of the mattress. Rolling toward my husband, I reached out in the darkness. Warmth materialized under my touch as the scent of fresh bodywash filled my senses. Dario’s arms and chest were bare. I didn’t dare let my touch go lower to learn if he was wearing boxer shorts or maybe nothing at all. He pulled me against him, my cheek settling against his hard shoulder.
“I didn’t mean to wake you.” His deep voice penetrated the dark room, reverberating from his wide chest.
Pushing upward on my elbow, I reached for his hair. Wet. “Did you shower in the middle of the night?”
Changing his clothes.
Showering.
Was there really a problem, or had he left me because I was sore and he had sex with someone else?
“There’s some filth in this world I don’t want you to see.”
Before I could give that more thought, Dario reached for me, pulling my face toward his. The stubble I’d seen earlier was gone. I cupped his smooth cheek as he brought our lips together. What started softly quickly morphed. Warmth like the flicker of a spark ignited within me, low in my stomach. The strength of his kiss fanned the flame, and the friction of my breasts pressed against his solid chest threatened to create a raging forest fire. As his hands skirted over my back, down my sides, and cupped my behind, my body awakened. Each nerve ending was ultrasensitive as if my senses were on overload.
Dario rolled me back onto my pillow as he followed after me. His kisses descended from my lips to my neck, my collarbone, and down to my breasts. He made quick work of my nightgown, teasing the straps and pushing it lower.
The weight of his body held me in place, yet with each kiss, nip, or lick, something inside me tightened. Like an old-fashioned top, I was being wound and wound, tighter and tighter. As he reached for the waistband of my panties, he asked if I was still sore.
“No,” I panted. I wasn’t being completely honest, yet I wasn’t lying. My body was tender, but I was more than willing to feel the closeness that came with sex. After worrying about his safety, the sensation of his body between my legs was comforting.
I didn’t have time to reconsider my answer before Dario’s hard cock pressed against my entrance. Memories of the pain caused me to freeze. Holding my breath and closing my eyes, I waited for it to happen again. Instead of proceeding, Dario slid down my body, teasing and caressing me until his tongue was where his penis had almost been.
Calling out his name, I grasped the sheets as he buried his face between my legs. My mind had difficulty computing that a man I barely knew was so familiar with my body. Those thoughts quickly faded as I gave into the growing tautness within me.
More kisses, nips, and laps had me back to the wound-up top I’d been minutes before. My hips bucked and my back arched as the tension grew. Moans turned to whimpers as my orgasm hit. Detonation after detonation rushed through me. As I tried to catch my breath, Dario’s lips were back on mine, and his cock was again at my entrance. I was too wrung out from my orgasm to tense as he pushed his hardness inside me. There was a twinge as he pressed deeper, but nothing compared to last night.
Better.
Lifting my hands to his wide shoulders, I relished the closeness as he began to move within me. His actions were faster than I recalled and soon, I was moving with him, taking in his rhythm while feeling my own as the tension from before returned. As Dario reached between us and pressed circles over my clit, I called out again, my fingernails threatening his shoulders as another orgasm shuddered through me.
His speed increased as his torso grew rigid. The room filled with his low roar as within me, his cock spasmed and his seed filled me. This time, instead of pulling out and disappearing, Dario relaxed over me, his lips kissing the place between my neck and shoulder. When he lifted his head, his stare bore down on me. Even through the darkened room, I felt its intensity.
“Better,” I said.
“I’m glad.”
“I didn’t think I’d be ready so soon.”
Dario rolled, disconnecting our union. “I was going to let you sleep, but when you were awake…” He kissed my forehead. “It wasn’t supposed to be like this. Having you lie there, knowing you’re mine for the taking.” He inhaled. “I should work on my self-control.”
My head shook from side to side. “Please don’t.”
As he’d done the night before, Dario left our bed, going to the bathroom. When he returned to bed, he was wearing silk boxer shorts and had a warm washcloth. “Not as much blood,” he said, cleaning me.
“There’s blood again?”
“I should have let you heal.”
Once again, he pulled me toward him, resting his arm over my waist. I thought to ask him again about his shower, his change of clothes, or what he meant about it not being supposed to be like this, but before I knew it, his breathing was even and regular. I settled my back against his front, taking in his radiating heat, and closed my eyes.
When I woke, I was alone. I quickly searched for the time. If I hurried, I could make the seven thirty breakfast. I arrived at the dining room with a washed face and brushed teeth, dressed in my nightgown, panties, and long robe. As I stepped through the archway, Dario looked up. His hair was combed back, his cheeks again shaved, and he was dressed for the day in suit pants, a black shirt, and tie.
Heat warmed my cheeks as I gestured toward my attire. “I hope it’s all right that I’m not dressed. I wanted to eat breakfast with you.”
Contessa entered and scanned my attire. Without a word, she carried a coffee pot my direction and poured. “Mrs. Luciano, do you prefer cream, sugar, or both?”
“Cream,” I said as I took the seat beside Dario. It was the location of the place setting I’d tried to catch on fire the night before. I looked at Dario’s plate. “And I’ll have whatever he has.”
After filling my cup, she disappeared beyond the swinging door.
Dario’s dark orbs shone. “You don’t need to ask permission, Catalina. This is your home. Wear what you want or don’t want.” His lips curled. “I suggest for the same reason as at the mansion, that you keep nude to the confines of our suite.”
No worries, I wasn’t planning to walk around as an exhibitionist.
I pulled on the edge of the robe. “I’ll try to wake earlier tomorrow.”
“Maybe I shouldn’t wake you in the middle of the night.”
I left his comment unanswered as Contessa returned with a plate of scrambled eggs, fruit, and rye toast. When I looked up, Dario was reading on his tablet. “Did everything work out last night?”
He nodded. “The incident at the casino was random. It would have been difficult to stop my father if we could have connected it to the bratva.”
“Does the famiglia have whores at their clubs?”
Dario seemed to choke on his coffee.
My eyes widened. “Is that not something I should ask?”
“No, you may ask anything. It’s surprising breakfast conversation, that’s all.”
I plunged my fork into a piece of ripe melon. “We talked about the woman at Wanderlust. You made it sound like the famiglia takes better care of their workers.” I decided to change the description. “Do you oversee them?”
Dario took a deep breath and leaned forward. “Yes, we have workers at our clubs. Some at the casinos also. I don’t as a rule have much to do with them. Rocco is in charge of that aspect of our business.”
“You don’t sleep with them?”
Dario laughed. “I’m only unarmed when I sleep and shower. So no, I don’t sleep with our workers.”
I tried to sound as casual as I could. “I was just wondering about the shower last night.”
Dario lowered his voice. “Your first thought was that I slept with someone?”
“Your mother said?—”
Dario reached for my wrist.
My gaze went to where he was holding me and up to his eyes.
“I promised you faithfulness. Unfortunately, my father doesn’t see his marriage vows the way I do. My mother needs to keep her opinions to herself.”
I nodded.
“Do not question my vow.” He let go of my wrist.
Taking a breath, I reached for my cup of coffee. “Okay.” The next subject on my list to discuss was Josie, but after his reaction, I was pretty sure I’d pushed him far enough for our first breakfast. I’d wait for dinner.
“Do you have plans to leave the house?” Dario asked as he sat back against the chair.
My gaze went to the tall windows, seeing the summer-blue sky. “I don’t have anywhere to go, and you said it might not be safe.”
“Kansas City has many renowned art galleries and museums. Isn’t your degree in art?”
“Art history with a minor in business.”
“Business?”
I nodded. “After graduation, I had some offers for curator apprenticeships.”
“But you didn’t take any?”
“Seemed silly to try just to move away.”
Before we could discuss that or anything any further, Dario’s phone rang. Standing, he walked to my side and kissed my cheek before lifting a finger—universal sign for one minute—and walking away with his phone.
“Dario here,” I heard him say as he walked toward his first-floor office.