Chapter 5
Lucrezia nervously walked up her parents” porch the following Thursday, being trailed somewhat closely by Tony.
”Tony, it may be better if you wait by the car.” She spun to him.
”Miss?” Her bodyguard blinked, now possessing full use of both of his eyes after the fight the week before.
Some purplish-yellow bruising still remained around the socket, and there was a deep gash above his brow. He didn’t complain once.
”It could be suspicious if they see that I have a bodyguard. They don”t know...what Romero does.”
Tony nodded, scanning every end of the house before taking out some cigarettes.
”All right, all right. I”m not even here.” He held up his hands and gave her space, backing up until he leaned against the car.
He even reached in and procured a ratty looking hat and took off his fine coat, as to blend into her parents” working class neighborhood.
”I appreciate it, Tony.”
Lucrezia straightened and made her way to the door, softly knocking.
Seconds later, her mamma answered. The stern look that never left her face told an obvious tale of not being happy to see her daughter.
”Hello, Mamma.”
”Lucrezia, what are you doing here?”
Her mother squinted, annoyed at Lucrezia”s very presence. Instantly, her smile she usually plastered on for her mother threatened to fade.
”Um, well, I was planning on going wedding dress shopping today and-”
”Wedding dress shopping? You have a perfectly good dress barely a few months old from your first marriage,” her mother viciously emphasized. ”Is there something wrong with that one?”
”N-no. It”s fine. It”s just that Romero thought I should have a different gown and-”
”Ah, I see. You”re marrying into wealth, and you”re far too good for the dress that we bought for you the first time.”
Lucrezia winced at her mother”s insinuation.
”Mamma, that”s not what this is, and you know it. Now, I came here because I was wondering if you wanted to come with me!”
”You know full well your father and I cannot afford an entirely new dress, certainly not one that can live up to your fiancé”s standards,” she snapped.
Lucrezia felt Tony cringing behind her as his feet shuffled.
”Romero is paying for it, Mamma.”
”Oh, well, will we be needed for any wedding preparations this time around or will you be mooching off your new fiancé entirely?”
The nauseating feeling that always grew in the presence of her mother festered and turned into rage as she managed to insult Lucrezia several times in the last few seconds.
Why did I even come here at all?
”Mamma, all I wanted to know is if you would come.” Now, she couldn”t even meet her mother’s soulless eyes.
”No. Your father and I have work to do.”
Lucrezia nodded and crossed her arms, but the sunlight caught on her ring, catching her mother”s attention.
”What in Christ”s name is that?”
She snatched Lucrezia”s wrist.
”Are you some kind of streetwalker? One of these flapper girls marching around?”
Lucrezia pulled back with an angered grunt.
”It”s my ring that Romero gave me! It”s his family heirloom,” she lied, hoping it would provide good cover to hide the truth behind Romero”s wealth.
Her mother grumbled in Italian, claiming she was already being spoiled by riches.
Lucrezia squared her shoulders and bit back a sob. She wished she had never asked Tony to drive them here.
”Forget it, Mamma. I”ll go alone. We also don”t need the two of you to contribute anything to the wedding. We”ll get on just fine.”
Lucrezia chose her words carefully, removing any chance of revealing Romero”s profession.
Before Lucrezia even had a chance to say goodbye, her mother slammed the door in her face.
Now that she was alone, her body began the process of coming down from its fight-or-flight after being near her family.
Lucrezia numbly walked back to the car. Tony”s cigarette was barely a stump now.
”Forgive me, miss.” He flicked it on their lawn, a sign of disrespect that Lucrezia didn”t even have it in her to balk at.
”Maybe today isn”t the best day to shop, Tony.”
He opened the door for her, and she slowly sank in the seat, never feeling so lowly in her entire life.
”Oh, miss, I”d hate for the whole day to be ruined because your mother”s a bitch, pardon my French.”
Lucrezia wanted to laugh, but she couldn”t.
”I”m not sure I”m up for it anymore.”
He sighed and prepared to shut the door, but his brow raised.
”What time do you have, miss?”
Lucrezia looked down at her watch.
”Half past noon, why?”
A grin spread on her bodyguard”s face.
”I got something that might cheer you up. But if you”re still not up for it, I promise I”ll take you right home. What do you say?”
After some convincing, Lucrezia agreed, and they were off downtown.
”Where are we going?” Lucrezia inquired around fifteen minutes later.
”Almost there...here we are!”
Tony stopped the car in front of a quaint diner. He stepped out, then opened her car door and led her out by the hand.
Right on cue, a young woman strolled out of the diner in uniform, her apron slung over her shoulder. Her eyes caught Tony.
”Papà!” Her pumps clacked on the street before she flew into her bodyguards arms.
”Hello, my bambina. Miss Sindetti, this is my daughter, Maria. Sweetie, this is Lucrezia Sindetti, Romero”s bride-to-be.”
Tony put her down, and the girl held out her hand, buzzing with excitement.
”You”re marrying cousin Romero? Papà, why didn”t you tell me?”
The girl pouted at her father.
”Well, we”re keeping it hush hush right now, sweetie. But I wanted the two of you to meet.”
Lucrezia held out her hand to shake, but Maria bounced into her arms instead, giving her a warm embrace.
She couldn”t have been more than eighteen, and her honey blonde hair came down in carefully pinned curls just below her ears. Her lipstick complimented her skin tone perfectly, and she oozed confidence.
”I”m so happy Romero finally found himself a lady! How long have I been saying he needed one, Papà?”
After some small talk, Maria tilted her head.
”Wait, what are you doing here? You usually only pick me up on Sundays.”
Lucrezia choked back a sob as the father and daughter exchanged hugs and kisses.
He picked her up from work once a week?
”Well, baby. I thought we may need another woman”s help. Miss Sindetti needs a wedding dress, and I don”t think I”d be very helpful. So, since someone graduated top of her class at the Alexandria Debello School of Fashion, I thought you”d like to come with us, that is if it”s all right with Miss Sindetti.”
It took almost everything Lucrezia had to keep from crying. Something that could seem so trivial meant the world to her. Tony had gone above and beyond for her, even including his daughter.
”Oh, can I, Miss Sindetti? Please? I can even do all of your alterations if need be!”
Lucrezia couldn”t say no to this after Tony went out of his way to make her happy again. Suddenly, everything her mother said didn”t even matter anymore.
”If it wouldn”t take up too much of your time.”
”Are you kidding? Let”s go!”
Maria took her hand, hopped in the car, and away they went in the direction of the nicest boutiques in town.
The girl was filled with never-ending facts and ideas on specific cuts and shades of white that would suit her best.
Maria gazed at Lucrezia”s ring, listing the best appliques that would compliment it. Tony drove with a slight smile on his face, clearly proud of his daughter.
◆◆◆
By three pm, Lucrezia had tried on a handful of beautiful designer gowns with Maria”s help in the dressing room. Occasionally, she poked her head past the ruby red curtains, beckoning Tony to bring them this specific type shoe or a certain head piece.
This went on for ages until Lucrezia and Maria were staring at the one.
It was elegant, lacy, and almost pearl white. Lucrezia beamed at the similarity, knowing it would please Romero.
The headpiece advertised to match with it was also lacy, almost like a crown. The gathered veil cascaded down, well past the hemline of the gown, which hit just above her ankles. The T-strap shoes were probably the flashiest aspects of the look.
Maria plucked a display bouquet from one of the mannequins, much to the humor of the saleswomen.
”I know you said you”ll have lilies, so we”ll just pretend. But overall...this is magnificent!”
She clapped her hands in glee, but Lucrezia could scarcely take her eyes off herself.
A single tear dropped from her eye.
”Oh, miss! Don”t cry! This is a happy time!”
Lucrezia sniffled.
”I know, I know it is. It”s just that...”
She looked down at Maria, who cast her a sympathetic glance.
”You don”t just look beautiful, but you feel beautiful.”
Those words alone sent more sobs wracking her body, and Maria offered her another hug.
It amazed Lucrezia that this girl hardly knew her and had been so kind to her without so much as a second thought.
”Romero is going to adore this! I know it. So, what do you say? Do you think this is the one?”
Lucrezia felt saddened that her mother elected to miss this moment but recognized that if she were to exit the changing room in it, she”d turn her nose up, thus ruining the moment.
She was more than thankful to Tony and Maria for what they were doing for her.
Lucrezia smiled amidst her tears, agreeing that this would be the gown for her.
”You ladies doing all right in there?”
Tony”s voice sounded close outside the curtain.
”Don”t look, Papà! It”s bad luck!”
Maria poked her head out again.
”Tell the ladies that this is her dress! Oh, and I”ll be covering any alterations, be sure you tell them that!”
She shut the curtains up before Tony could see a sliver of the gown.
The next half hour or so was spent peeling the dress from her body, packaging it up in a garment bag and carefully boxing up the rest of her accessories.
Lucrezia still felt awkward pulling Romero”s money from her handbag, but the saleswomen didn”t even give it a second glance as they counted.
”Your fiancé will love it, miss. Good luck on your special day!” One of the women waved as they left with the items in tow.
Maria carefully held the gown above her head, as not to drag the garment bag on the ground.
Once they loaded everything up into the car, Maria hugged Lucrezia and Tony goodbye.
”This is where I leave you, I have to catch the next bus home, but we”ll meet up again to do some last minute measurements next week.”
Lucrezia waved her off as her new friend skipped to the bus stop.
”Well, I don”t think I”ve seen so much lace and white in my life. But thank God for Maria.” Tony settled in the car once he had her safely secured.
”Where to now, miss? Home? I can help you carry everything in.” He placed his hands on the wheel, waiting for Lucrezia”s instruction.
Part of her wanted quiet after the hustle and bustle of the afternoon, but she also wasn”t sure she wanted to be alone.
The sun caught on the diamonds of her ring again, and her heart began to ache.
Romero. She wanted Romero.
”Would it be all right if you took me to Romero”s? Maybe all of this would be safer there.”
”Good idea, I”m sure he”d like to see you.”
The closer they got to Romero”s home, which would soon be her home, the more her nerves rose. She found herself fixing her hair in her small compact mirror, smoothing out her simple dress.
Twenty minutes later, the car was allowed entrance as other guards opened the gate.
Tony pulled right up to the porch and was at Lucrezia”s door to assist her before she could even touch the handle.
”We”ll need to hide all this from the boss. Put it someplace he wouldn”t usually go into.” Tony instructed a maid who hurried away with the garment bag, shoe and veil boxes.
”Boss is right though there, why don”t you go in and say hello. Surprise him.”
Tony pointed her through the study, but Lucrezia suddenly felt uncomfortable.
”Maybe he”s busy. I should just wait-”
”No, no, no. Trust me, whatever he”s doing now, I can guarantee he”ll drop the second he sees you. You”re all he talks about now, you know.”
Tony winked at her, offering again to take it upon herself to see Romero.
Her heart began to flutter again.
Surely, Tony had to be mistaken.
Lucrezia cleared her throat and greeted the men congregating in the study. They greeted her with tips of their hats and several ”miss” ” or ”ma”ams” echoed in the room.
This time, they made a clear path to Romero.
The screen wasn”t pulled down on his side, and his head shot up from what he was writing when she knocked.
He stood up with a grin and motioned for her to enter.
”I”m sorry if you”re busy. I can come back.”
”There”s nothing I could be doing that”s more important than my future wife. Come here.”
Romero rounded the desk, shut the door, pulled down the slide screen, and began devouring her lips in the span of five seconds. Their bodies traveled against the wall until they reached a bookcase that wobbled against their weight.
”Romero, easy!”
Lucrezia pulled away, fighting a giggle as his stubble tickled her face.
”How about you call me what we discussed last week? As much as I love hearing my name on your tongue, there”s something else I”d like to hear.”
Romero trapped her between him and the bookcase, reaching up above her head to block any falling books.
”D-daddy.”
”Mmm, fuck. Sounds even prettier than I remember.”
He kissed her again, and Lucrezia allowed herself to wrap her arms around his torso. He was too large, but she couldn”t help but love how his muscles twitched under her hands, even with his shirt in the way.
What would he look like without it on? What would he look like with nothing on?
Lucrezia involuntarily moaned into his mouth as he pressed her further into the book case.
Finally, they breathlessly separated, and Lucrezia almost forgot why she had come to his office in the first place.
”Did you have a fun time shopping?”
Lucrezia nodded, but a raise of his brow reminded her what he wanted to be called.
”Yes, Daddy. I have the leftover money in my bag. You can have it back.”
Romero frowned.
”I don”t want it back. It”s yours. Just like everything of mine will soon be yours. I”m going to be yours, too. What do you think of that, perla?”
He pulled her from the book case and into the center of the office. Her hands found their way to his sternum, and she counted how many seconds it took to reach his stomach.
She gulped.
”It”s still a lot to process. I”m not really sure what to tell people.”
”What do you mean?”
Lucrezia dreaded revisiting earlier that afternoon, but she felt it only fair that he be aware.
”I had Tony drive me to my parents’ house. I asked my mother if she wanted to come with me to shop. It didn”t go over well.”
She downcast her eyes to his left suspender, watching her ring glimmer as her hand ran down the material.
”What did she say?” Romero”s smile twisted until he was scowling. His hands tightened around her, almost too hard.
”I don”t know if I should say.”
”Why?”
”I”m not sure how you”ll take it. You”ll be angry.”
”What do you mean? I”m a perfectly reasonable man. My feelings won”t be hurt because of two old, miserable people.”
Romero”s head dipped, his forehead touching hers.
”Tell me what she said, piccola perla. So I can straighten both her and your father out myself before this wedding.”
His fingers cupped her jaw, and Lucrezia knew he would not release her until she obeyed.
Her fiancé growled, pulling her protectively against him.
”Now, Lucrezia. I won”t stand for their blatant disrespect.”
Lucrezia squeezed her eyes shut to stop the tears, but it only made her eyes burn.
”She thought it was frivolous to buy a whole new dress and thinks that you”re spoiling me.”
Lucrezia lifted her hand again, mesmerized by the pearl for the fiftieth time that day.
”What else?” Romero didn”t blink.
”Um...she believes that I think I”m too good for them now. She hated the ring, too, then called me a streetwalker-”
The green in Romero”s eyes became swallowed by his inky pupils. The vein in his neck protruded as his nostrils flared.
He cursed in Italian, something Lucrezia couldn”t even repeat. She put her hand to her chest when she translated it in her mind.
”They”re just conservative. Good girls are supposed to live simply. That”s the way I was raised.”
Her attempt at explaining her parents” behavior away proved futile.
”You will not make excuses for them ever again. Do you hear me? Come to think of it, just say the word, and they”ll be barred from the wedding. It”ll go off without a hitch, come hell or high water. I”ll have you dripping in jewels when you come down that aisle just to spite them.”
He turned their bodies so her back faced his desk, and he slowly backed her up into it until her bottom bumped against the glossy wood.
”Then, I”ll throw us a vow renewal every year for the rest of our damn lives. Right in their fucking faces. I’ll give you a weekly allowance. You”re in my world now, Lucrezia. I don”t care where you or your parents came from. I ought to send them a little...warning for insulting my bride.”
His voice lowered until he was snarling from his chest.
Lucrezia whimpered, knowing full well he meant it.
”No, Daddy! Please, don”t...hurt them!”
Her fiancé’s chest swelled when she called him that. It made her belly flip flop.
”Have they hurt you?”
”I-”
”Answer me, Lucrezia. Have they hurt you?”
Her body trembled under his intense gaze.
Her head nodded slowly, and she prayed he wouldn”t make her give details; like how her father would slap her if her school work wasn”t completed by nightfall. Or how her mother chastised her every move, her words hurting worse than her father”s palm.
But, damn her gentle nature, she couldn”t bear having her parents be hurt on Romero”s orders. No matter how much they deserved a taste of their own medicine.
”You can”t hurt them. They”re a lot of things, but they”re still my parents.”
Romero kissed her forehead.
”Your Daddy doesn”t like people who hurt his girl. He doesn”t like bullies, either. But I think there”s something I can do to make you forget about those horrible things said to you.”
He inched his body closer until Lucrezia was forced to sit on the desk.
Even closer, he moved again, and she was forced to lift her legs up and tuck them beneath her body.
”What are you doing!”
Lucrezia carefully contorted herself to make sure she didn”t knock anything expensive-looking over.
Her fiancé removed this variable and swept any and all things from the desk, taking hold of both of her legs behind her knees and spreading them. He was now standing between them, with Lucrezia leaning back on both hands.
”Daddy, what are you doing?!”
”Helping you get more comfortable. You”ll need to be for this.”
Romero planted his hand directly in the center of her chest, applying slight pressure until her body began to submit, and she was flat on her back beneath him.
Instinctively, her legs came together again and folded to hide herself. Romero tutted and parted them again.
”Remember how you were on my lap when I had my fingers between these thighs?”
Through heavy lids, Lucrezia nodded.
”Can you do that for Daddy again? Trust him to make you feel good?”
The cold of the wood made her body shiver, but Romero warmed her by hovering over her and claiming her lips again.
She felt her legs wrap around his waist, her heel catching on to his suspender.
”Can you, perla?”
”Someone could walk in!”
”My men only enter here if I give permission. But if my fiancée doesn”t be a good, quiet girl, then someone may come in. And no other man gets to see what”s mine. So, can you trust me again?”
Lucrezia felt her cami knickers get wet. How was she so easily aroused by him? Even worse, why was she getting wet at the prospect of being pleasured with his men mere feet away on the other side of the door?
Her eyes darted to both him and the door knob, sure that it would turn.
But Lucrezia”s nerves began to ease when his hands found her thighs, squeezing and kneading.
A tiny whimper escaped her mouth, making Romero grin.
”Shhhh.” He put a finger to his lips, reminding her once more to be quiet.
He kneeled before her, catching her garter with his teeth and letting it snap back against her skin, making her gasp instead of yelping like she wanted.
Her fiancé”s massive hands were feeling under her simple blue skirt, squeezing her hips until he found her cami knickers, and ripping them in the crotch.
Lucrezia”s head shot up in protest at the ruin of another one of her under garments.
”I liked this pair!” she whisper-yelled.
”Once again, I”ll buy you more. Now, be a good little wife and lie back.”
”I”m not-ooohhhh...”
She felt his thumb caress her pleasure button, splaying his other four fingers on her mound.
Lucrezia fought to snap her legs shut, but his other hand encircled her ankle, forcing her heel to plant firmly on the desk.
Romero”s stubble kissed her inner thighs, moving closer and closer to her untouched slit.
He moved his thumb away, much to her disappointment, but replaced it with his face between her legs.
What is he-
Lucrezia”s back arched almost violently when his tongue licked up her glistening pussy until reaching her clit. Romero”s lips pursed around it as he sucked.
”Daddy! What are you...uunnhhh.”
Lucrezia had to remind herself to be quiet, biting her fist as her fiancé began delivering pleasure that was surely forbidden!
His hand slapped the back of her thigh, not loud enough to rouse his men in the next room, but hard enough to let her know that she wouldn”t be leaving this room until he had what he wanted from her.
Her fists gripped both edges of the desk as she was unable to stop her hips from bucking against his tongue.
She heard Romero chuckle as her body responded to what was now her taking her own pleasure from him.
”Ohmygodohmygodohmygod,” Lucrezia squealed, biting down on her finger as she leaned up on her arm, wanting to look at him as he licked her pussy.
It was the most erotic sight she had ever seen. Romero Mancini of all men, feared crime boss of New York City, a man who she had seen kill, kneeling before her and fucking her with his tongue.
He sucked her sensitive lower lips until he reached her achy clit again.
Her ruined underwear already forgotten, Lucrezia hiked her skirt up even more to give him better access.
Romero raised his body just slightly to push her skirt up to her hips completely, and she thought for a moment the desk would tip.
”It”s nailed to the ground. Squirm as much as you want. You”ll only get up again when you come.” He commanded with her arousal on his lips.
Lucrezia lost the strength to hold herself up, falling flat again and completely submitting to her fiancé”s ministrations and doing her best to be silent.
She became lost in the sensation, overloaded with the feel of his mouth on her clit, his rough hands holding her legs open, and the otherwise silent room. All that could be heard was her own shameful arousal.
Lucrezia was sure someone would hear but was now certain she would hurl something at whatever man dared to interrupt them and stop Romero”s pleasure.
”I want to be inside you so God damn bad. You have no idea, la mia perla. You”re so ready for me now.” He growled against her womanhood, his fingers curling into her thighs and drawing red lines in the direction of her pussy.
”I can”t wait to fill you up. Watch you come on my cock,” Romero punctuated with the flicking of his tongue on her engorged clit.
”Then, I”ll pump you full of my seed and watch you get big with my babies. My fucking babies.”
Lucrezia felt white hot jolts of pleasure become even more intense the more lusty promises he made.
Her lower belly ached with need. She pressed her hands slightly to relieve the pain, only enhancing the pleasure as his tongue worked over her pink pussy.
In the throes of uncaring desire, Lucrezia threw her head back and arched until only her tailbone and head still touched the desk.
Her mind and body fought for dominance when the true dominating force in the room was Romero, bringing her to the edge and back until she was pinching her face in concentration, trying not to scream.
Damn him, he made it so difficult.
”Daddy...Daddy...it”s too much. I don”t know-”
Her body unable to remain still and thighs uncontrollably shaking, Lucrezia took hold of the backs of her knees, offering herself like a fine feast for him.
The rational voice in the back of her mind, reminding her that he ended two lives in her presence, was growing quieter. Lucrezia didn”t know why she trusted him or why he made her feel so safe. Safer than she had ever felt in the company of any man in her life.
The hand that pulled the trigger the first day she met him was gently caressing her clit.
”You”re doing such a good job, perla. Yes, yes! Keep those legs fucking open, Daddy knows you”re going to come soon.”
He was right. Lucrezia”s breath became shorter and faster. She reached up and squeezed her heaving breasts beneath her dress, doubling her body”s pleasure.
Unable to hold back any longer, she tilted her hips to encourage him, but he nipped her hip.
”Pazienza.”His green eyes flashed at her. “Be patient,” he said.
Lucrezia wanted to scoff. ”Coming from the least patient man I have ever seen. How many times have you told me already that you couldn”t wait until our wedding night?”
The question, asked in a hushed whisper, made him chuckle against her skin.
He didn”t answer, lapping between her legs again.
Their bodies found a perfect rhythm; Romero taking hold of her hips and pulling her body impossibly close to him, and Lucrezia undulating her midsection. His thumbs caressed her jutting hip bones. The same ones she scrutinized in the mirror each day, wishing she was fuller.
But Romero worshiped her body with his hands like a precious treasure, contrasting with what she had seen him do with the gun that was still attached to his holster.
His gentle touch deepened until he was almost painfully squeezing her hips, devouring between her legs.
Lucrezia”s jaw went slack as she allowed her body to give up control once again to him.
Just then, a sharp knock on the door interrupted them.
Before she could react, Romero was on top of her with an aggravated growl. His hand clamped over her mouth, stopping her from making a sound.
”WHAT!”
His booming voice shook the knick knacks on his shelves, making her wince.
Romero pressed his lips against her cheek.
”I”m sorry, baby. Daddy”s here. Hush for me.”
Her fists clenched his sleeves, telling him she understood. He still didn”t release his hand from her mouth.
”Boss, inventory is here.”
Her fiancé rolled his lust-hazed eyes.
”Deal with it!”
Lucrezia whimpered behind his hand, her body tensing in mortal fear as the seemingly oblivious man behind the door kept speaking.
She struggled beneath him, but Romero had her pinned.
Her thighs tightened around his torso. In an effort to completely hide herself, she pressed her front even harder against him, just in case the man let himself into the office.
Then, she felt the cold metal of the gun, and she was reminded that Romero could do far worse than what she had already seen if the man let himself inside.
In frustration, Romero told him where to store the mysterious supplies. A string of curses in Italian followed.
He listened for the footsteps walking away from the door.
He exhaled in relief, burying his face in her throat and latching on with his teeth.
Lucrezia yelped behind his hand.
”God, I love the little sounds you make.”
Romero removed his hand slowly, putting a finger to his lips again as a reminder to be quiet. He slid down her body, dragging his nose down the fabric of her dress until he reached her pussy.
”I know you were close, baby. Don”t worry, Daddy will get you there again.”
He did as promised, pleasuring her with an intensity that she was sure couldn”t be rivaled.
Lucrezia covered her own mouth to keep from screaming out.
The orgasm was even better than the last, and never-ending.
She planted her heels on the desk and lifted her pelvis, announcing, albeit quietly, that she was coming and not to stop.
He wouldn”t allow her to close her legs, resting his heavy hands on her inner thighs until she was obscenely spread for him. When he felt her try, he swatted one of her thighs with a grunt, effectively ending the attempt.
Romero pressed his large hands on her belly, creating pressure as she came down from her high.
He crawled on top of her again, and she immediately opened her arms for him, needing warmth.
Lucrezia tasted herself on his lips when he kissed her. The sheer dirtiness of the act fueling her again, she wrapped her thighs around his body once more.
”That”s Daddy”s good girl. I think you”re starting to like when I make you come.”
”I couldn”t possibly know what you”re talking about,” Lucrezia breathlessly sighed.
Romero helped her up, adjusting her dress himself, and smiled at his handiwork, seeing as he ruined cami knickers.
The holster for his gun brushed up against her as he stood back up to his full height
This time, she didn”t shrink away from it.
”Why do you always wear it?”
Her fingers reached for the leather, but he took hold of her wrist and gently pinned her hand behind her back.
”Is that yours?” Romero asked with a tilt of his head.
She shook her head with a frown, afraid she had made him angry after he seemed so pleased with her.
”That”s Daddy”s gun, which you are not to touch. It”s not safe if you don”t know what you”re doing.”
”You could teach me.”
In response, Romero pinned her other hand behind her back, holding both her wrists now in one hand.
”No. Always being armed and ready isn”t something I”ll put on you. That job rests on my shoulders.”
His eyes flashed again, fixated on her.
”I wear this at all times because, in this line of work, there”s no such thing as being too careful. I have to be capable of defending myself quickly, which ties into my first set of rules I gave you in the gym. Remember?”
Lucrezia nodded. ”If you say, ”Get down”, do that.”
”And?”
”Come if you say so?”
”And?”
Lucrezia huffed. She rolled her eyes, becoming annoyed with his insistence on repeating the rules. She knew what he wanted her to do already.
Romero swatted her on the ass, catching her attention.
”Hey!”
”No rolling your eyes at Daddy. That”s not the way a wife of mine behaves.”
Lucrezia began struggling in his grip, trying to get her wrists free.
She chafed against his body, becoming swiftly more aggravated at him.
”I”m still not your wife yet.”
”Your point?”
”I can roll my eyes if I want to roll my eyes.”
She thrashed in his arms again, but he pinned her to the wall.
”Of course, you can. It”s a free country. But there are consequences for bratty behavior. Like rolling those pretty eyes. So this is your first warning. Roll them, and I”ll put you over my lap again with my men still out there and gag you with your stockings so you don”t make a sound.”
God damn, he made her want to stomp on his foot so hard it broke through the leather. And at the same time, he made her want to fall to her knees and beg for forgiveness.
”So, you think I”m a brat?”
”Think? I know you are. You”re used to doing things on your own, you don”t like being told what to do, and you”re the most stubborn little thing in a small package I”ve ever seen. That would have suited you just fine as Carlo Russo”s wife, since he was never home. You ran the house.”
Romero leaned in, nose to nose.
”But you aren”t his wife anymore. He”s in the ground where he belongs. You”re going to be my wife in less than two weeks. And a wife of mine who wants to roll her eyes and be stubborn will end up with a bright red ass.”
Lucrezia chomped down on her lip to keep from crying out as he punctuated his promise by tightening his hold on her.
She frantically nodded, wanting his warm embrace again.
”Say, ‘Yes, Daddy’.”
”Yes, Daddy.” She obeyed without hesitation.
”Now, what are Daddy”s rules? Can you say them again?”
Lucrezia recited his list again, this time adding that she wouldn”t roll her eyes or touch his gun.
His praise awakened a sense of glee in her that she hadn”t felt in a very long time.
When Romero released her wrists, she wrapped them around his torso, not wanting the moment to end.