Salvatore #2
We were all there. No one would’ve dared touch us, and with Shadow still at large? That would’ve been a death wish and every man there was, including that little fucker. He was testing you and you took the bait. You lost control, brother.”
My brothers exchange looks, some unspoken conversation happening that I'm not part of.
"Don’t get quiet now. Speak." I finally demand.
"We think you should postpone the wedding," Matteo says like he’s lost his fucking mind.
"Excuse me?"
"Just for a few months," Elio adds quickly. "Give things time to settle. Let the other families see that she's not some impulsive decision. That you're still in control."
"No."
"Sal—"
"I said no." My voice comes out harder than I intended but I want to make myself clear. "The wedding happens as planned. Valentina Marino will become my wife. That's final."
"Clearly you’re not fucking thinking clearly," Raffaele says.
"I'm thinking more clearly than I ever have." I look at each of them in turn. "For years, we've ruled this city by father’s side and it’s always been the same: fear and violence. Through being exactly what Father taught us to be. And it's worked. We're powerful. Wealthy. Untouchable."
I pause.
"But we're also alone—every single one of us. We have money and power and respect, but we don't have what Father had with Mother. We don't have someone who sees past the violence to the man underneath. Someone who makes us want to be better than what this life demands."
"That's weakness talking," Raffaele says.
I look at Matteo. "You think she's my weakness. You're wrong. She’s going to help me be the Don this family actually needs.”
My brothers are silent.
"The wedding happens in month," I repeat. "And anyone, family or otherwise, who has a problem with that needs to deal with it."
I walk into the house without waiting for a response.
* * *
When I get to Valentina’s room, I find the door
She's standing by the window when I enter, still in that royal blue gown, the diamonds at her throat catching the moonlight streaming through the glass.
"Take off your clothes," I command.
She turns to look at me, and I can't quite read her expression. Not fear. Not defiance. Something else entirely.
Slowly, she reaches behind her back and unzips the gown. It pools at her feet in a whisper of silk and fabric, leaving her in nothing but the diamonds and lace.
My breath catches.
She unhooks her bra next, letting it fall. Then slides her underwear down her hips until she's standing there completely bare except for the diamonds I gave her.
"Is this what you want?" she asks softly. "To punish me for making you stop? For challenging you in front of everyone?"
"No." I walk over to her. "I want to worship you. I want to show you exactly how I feel about you."
I pick her up, and she wraps her legs around my waist instinctively. I carry her to the bed, laying her down on the silk sheets like she's something precious.
Because she is.
I strip off my tuxedo jacket, my tie, my shirt. Her eyes follow every movement, dark with want.
"You saved him tonight," I tell her, climbing onto the bed and settling between her thighs. "Lorenzo Calabri doesn't know how lucky he is that you asked me to stop. That I value your request more than I value his blood on my hands."
I lean down, pressing kisses along her collarbone, her sternum, the valley between her breasts.
"You have power over me, Valentina," I continue against her skin. "More than you realize. More than anyone else ever has."
Her hands find my hair, fingers threading through it, holding me to her.
"Then give me more," she whispers.
I look up at her. "More what?"
"More control. More say in our world." Her eyes are fierce. "This mansion, your empire, everything that belongs to you—you keep saying it's mine too. Prove it."
A smile tugs at my lips. "Is that what you want? To rule beside me? To have a voice in how this family operates?"
"Yes."
"Done." I kiss her hard, possessively, claiming. "This mansion is yours. My men answer to you. My brothers will respect you. And any decision that affects this family, you'll have a voice in."
I pull back to look at her.
"But, like I told you before, work has it’s limits.
When we're out there, when we're dealing with the other families, when we're in situations like tonight—I am King.
My word is law. You can challenge me in private.
You can question me behind closed doors.
But in front of them, you stand with me. Not against me. Do you understand?"
She considers this, her expression thoughtful.
"And if I disagree with you? If I think you're wrong?"
"Then you tell me. Before we leave. After. I'll listen. I'll consider. But in the moment, when we're surrounded by enemies, I need to know you're with me."
She's quiet for a long moment.
Then she nods. "Okay."
"Okay?"
"I can work with that. In public, you're the King. In private, we're equals." She pulls me down for a kiss. "Now shut up and show me what it means to be yours."
I don't need to be told twice.
I kiss down her body, taking my time, worshipping every inch of her. When I reach her center, I pause, looking up at her.
"Open for me," I command.
She does, spreading her thighs wider, and I lower my mouth to her, tasting her sweetness, feeling her tremble beneath my tongue.
I take my time, building her up slowly, methodically, until she's writhing beneath me, her hands fisted in my hair, her thighs shaking.
"Salvatore," she gasps. "Please."
"Please what, mia regina?"
"I need you inside me."
I strip off the rest of my clothes and position myself at her entrance. But I don't push in. Not yet.
"Tell me you're mine," I growl.
"I'm yours."
"Tell me you love me."
"I love you, Salvatore. I love you so much it scares me."
I push inside her, slow and deep, watching her face as she takes all of me. Her eyes flutter closed, her mouth falling open on a moan that's the most beautiful sound I've ever heard.
"Look at me," I command.
Her eyes open, and I see everything there—love, desire, trust, and something else. Something that looks like hope.
"I love you, so fucking much, baby. " I tell her, moving inside her with long, rough strokes. "I love you more than I thought I was capable of loving anything. You're my queen, my partner, my everything."
She wraps her legs around my waist, pulling me deeper, and we move together like we were made for this. For each other.
The tension builds between us, our bodies moving in perfect synchronization. When she comes, it's with my name on her lips, her nails raking down my back, her body clenching around me so perfectly I can barely hold on.
I follow her over the edge moments later, burying myself deep as I empty inside her, marking her as mine in the most primal way possible.
We collapse together, tangled in silk sheets and each other, both of us breathing hard.
She traces patterns on my chest, her fingers following the lines of my tattoos.
"What happens now?" she asks quietly.
"Now?" I press a kiss to her forehead. "Now we build our kingdom together. You and me. Side by side."
"Even when I challenge you?"
"Even then." I tilt her chin up so she's looking at me. "I don't want a wife who's afraid to tell me when I'm wrong. I want a partner who'll keep me in check. Who'll remind me that there's more to ruling than fear and violence."
She smiles, soft and genuine. "You really mean that."
"I really do." I pull her closer. "You make me better, Valentina. You make me want to be better."
She's quiet for a moment, then: "I was terrified tonight. Of you killing someone."
"I know."
"But you stopped. When I asked you to. You chose me over your pride, your rage, everything." She looks up at me. "That's when I knew."
"Knew what?"
"That this could work. That we could work. That maybe loving a monster isn't so bad when he's willing to be tamed by the right person."
I laugh softly. "Tamed? Is that what you think you're doing?"
"Isn't it?" She grins. "You just agreed to give me equal say in running this empire. That sounds pretty tame to me."