88. Chapter Eighty-Eight
Chapter Eighty-Eight
Mateo
T his was, beyond a doubt, the most mind-blowing sex of my life.
And the fact that it happened on my wedding night? The perfect fucking cherry on top.
Mari is draped across me, boneless and sated, a satisfied smile curving her lips. Just the way my wife should look.
Letting go of control doesn’t come easy for me. In fact, it goes against every instinct I have, especially in bed.
Lying still while Mari took me in just about killed me. But when we got there?
Fuck. Nothing has ever felt that good. She was so fucking tight, wet, hot, and silken soft. Heaven itself.
But she was right. Letting her take the reins, took the pressure off me and let me focus entirely on her .
It’s what she needed, what she wanted.
Her whole life choices have been made for her. But tonight? She claimed this moment for herself. And giving that to her? No question.
My respect for her only grew.
As much as I hate leaving her warmth, I force myself out of bed and head to the bathroom. She stirs, lifting her head briefly before sinking back into the pillow, too exhausted to fight sleep.
I wet a washcloth under warm water and return to find her curled up, hugging my pillow. My chest tightens at the sight.
My wife.
Mine.
I gently ease her legs open. My cum, thick and glistening, is dripping from her.
“Fuck,” I groan, pure, unfiltered desire surging through me.
I’m mesmerized. Possessed.
Mari’s eyes flutter open, and she props herself up on her elbows, her brows knitting together.
“What?” she murmurs, her voice laced with drowsy curiosity.
I drag my gaze up to meet hers, heat simmering in my veins.
“That,” I say, voice rough, “is the hottest thing I’ve ever seen in my life.”
And it is.
I’ve never done this before, never fucked without a condom. Never had the chance to see my release dripping out of a woman. And not just any woman. My One.
Of course, Mari blushes, instinctively trying to close her legs, but I stop her, pressing a firm hand to her thigh.
My cock twitches, already hardening again at the sight of my seed seeping from her, trailing down the crevice of her ass. A primal urge flickers to life, deep in my gut.
To touch. To claim. To mark.
I don’t suppress it.
Mari gasps as I dip a finger into the mess and push it back inside her.
“That’s where it belongs,” I murmur, watching her every reaction. I massage the rest into her skin, rubbing slow, lazy circles over her inner thigh.
Her breath catches when my fingers tease lower, tracing the tight ring of muscle at her puckered entrance.
“This is mine too,” I tell her, my voice dark with promise.
Mari bites down on her pouty bottom lip, not answering me. I didn’t expect her to.
“I won’t take you there tonight,” I assure her. “There’s no rush. We’ll take our time. Maybe a little massage now and then to get you ready for it.”
Her blush deepens, but she doesn’t protest.
Grabbing the warm washcloth I’d set on my leg, I press it gently against her sensitive flesh.
She flinches. “What are you doing?”
“Shhh, dolcezza ,” I soothe. “It said it helps with soreness.”
“ It said?” she echoes, suspicious.
“Yeah,” I admit, lips twitching. “I googled aftercare for a woman’s first time. It suggested warm compresses.”
Mari blinks. Then blinks again.
“Wow. You do really love me,” she whispers, almost in awe.
“Why do you sound so surprised?” I ask, amused.
She shakes her head, blinking rapidly as if trying to keep her emotions at bay.
“I think everything that’s happened these past few weeks is catching up with me. Ignore me.”
“Ignore you?” I scoff. “Never.” I press a kiss to the soft skin of her inner thigh. It’s light, not meant to be sexual, but her body still shivers beneath my lips.
“Does it help?” I ask, looking up at her.
She nods, unable to speak past the lump in her throat.
I keep the compress there for another few minutes, then set it aside and retrieve a small tube from the nightstand drawer.
Mari lifts a questioning eyebrow, too tired for words.
“Cooling gel,” I explain, squeezing a generous amount onto my fingers before massaging it into her tender flesh.
“Oh,” she sighs, melting into the mattress. “This feels nice.”
“I’m glad.” I smirk, watching her eyes flutter shut. While her comfort is my main priority, this aftercare isn’t entirely selfless. “This should help… so when we wake up, you’ll be ready for more. Now that I know what it’s like to be inside you, I’ll want in all the time.”
Her lips curl into a lazy smile. “I want that too.”
I go to wash my hands, and when I return, I slide into bed beside her, pulling her into my arms.
Mari snuggles into me, pressing a tender kiss to my chest.
“Good night, husband,” she murmurs.
“Good night, wife.”
We’re floating lazily in the heated pool the next day, the warm water protecting us from the wintry chill in the air. After hours of lovemaking, we needed a rest, and the gentle weightlessness soothes our spent muscles.
I should be content. I am content. More than that, I’m happy, blissfully so. And yet, guilt gnaws at the edges of my peace.
Mari’s fingers thread through mine, grounding me.
“What’s troubling you?” she asks, her voice gentle, her eyes searching mine.
I hesitate.
“I was thinking of Tiero. And how I don’t know what he decided in the end. It seems wrong to be this happy when I should be mourning his absence.”
She’s quiet for a moment, considering my words. I appreciate that she doesn’t rush to give me empty reassurances or tell me what she thinks I want to hear. Instead, she shifts closer, her free hand skimming over my chest, a soothing caress that eases some of the tightness inside me.
“I get it,” she murmurs. “It feels like a betrayal, doesn’t it?”
I nod, my throat too tight for words. She understands. Of course she does.
“But it’s not, Teo,” she continues, her tone steady, full of quiet conviction. “It’s life moving forward.”
I swallow hard. The truth in her words is undeniable, but that doesn’t make it any easier to accept.
She squeezes my hand gently. “If Tiero is gone, he wouldn’t want you trapped in grief. He’d be the first to tell you to live life to the fullest. None of us know how long we have, especially in our world.
“And if he’s alive, wherever he is, he’d still tell you to be happy. It’s what he always wanted for you.”
Her thumb strokes over mine, her eyes so open, so full of love, that my chest tightens even more.
“You don’t have to let go of him to hold on to this,” she whispers, pointing between the two of us. “You can grieve for him and still be happy with me. You can honor his memory and still choose your own future. That’s not wrong, Teo. That’s being human.”
I exhale slowly, letting some of the guilt go.
Mari lifts my hand to her lips, pressing a soft kiss against my knuckles. But that’s not enough for me. I cup her face, my thumb brushing against her cheek, and kiss her, pouring every unspoken emotion into it.
She sighs against my lips before pulling back, averting her gaze.
“Speaking of guilt,” she murmurs, “part of me thinks I should mourn my father. Just because he gave me life. But when I remember he’s gone, all I feel is relief that he can’t hurt people anymore.”
I run my fingers through her wet hair. “His body will have been discovered by now. News of his death will have spread. Are you… resenting what I did in any way?”
I hold my breath. Despite what she just told me and the fact that she’s here with me, which should, in theory, tell me everything I need to know, I still want to hear it from her.
She shakes her head. “I wasn’t shocked when you told me you killed him,” she says firmly. “He betrayed la famiglia, you, Tiero.
“It wasn’t a small transgression. He spent years making calculated moves to weaken your family. And he fired those shots at Tiero. When I spoke to him, he had no remorse. He seemed proud of what he’d done. That disturbed me the most.”
A shadow passes over her face, and I squeeze her hand.
“He made me and my sisters aware every single day how much he detested us for not being boys. Antonio Accardi wasn’t a good man. The world is a better place without him.”
A mix of emotions surges through me. Pride, admiration, and sorrow for the pain she’s endured. I lift her hand and press a kiss to her wrist.
“Will your mother feel the same way?” I ask after a moment.
Her lips press together in thought. “For most of their marriage, he wasn’t a good husband. I’m sure he cheated on her.”
The memory of the young woman I saw in his bed flashes through my mind. Yeah, he cheated.
“There was a time when my mother loved him, when he might have even loved her,” she says softly. “But once Mia came along, that love started to change.”
I tighten my grip on her, pulling her closer. She lets out a soft sigh, resting her head against my shoulder.
We’re silent then, just drifting in the warm water, relishing being here together.
“I don’t really want to leave here tomorrow,” I admit, my voice quieter than I intend. “God knows what shitstorm will be waiting for us when we return.”
Mari’s fingers trace idle patterns on my chest, listening.
“Here with you, I can breathe. I can be myself. As soon as I step off that helicopter, I lose that. Everyone will expect me to be the Don, and I need to deliver.”
Her fingers still, and I know she hears the uncertainty beneath my words.
“I was never supposed to lead. I was meant to be a backup. Truly, I never expected to step into my brother’s shoes.” I let out a slow breath.
“He and I were a team. We ran la famiglia together. How am I meant to do this on my own?”
Mari shifts closer, pressing a lingering kiss just above my heart before looking up at me.
“You are Mateo De Marco. You are not a backup,” she says with quiet conviction. “Never forget, you are your own man. You are not your brother, and I’m glad about it.”
She threads her fingers through mine, squeezing gently. “You are not as ruthless, and I hope you never will be. You will rule with other qualities, ones that make you you .”
Her words settle over me, her belief in me making me smile.
“There will be a transition period, and yes, it’ll be tough at times,” she continues. “But you’re not alone. You have Romeo as your second-in-command. He’s loyal to you beyond doubt. And you have me. I’ll be there, waiting for you, reminding you of who you are.”
She brushes her thumb over my knuckles. “Even if it’s only for a few hours at a time.”
I exhale slowly, some of the tension easing from my shoulders.
“Things will get easier with time,” she murmurs.
“Yeah,” I say, though my doubts linger. How long will it take?
She studies me for a moment, then rests her palm against my cheek.
“When we get back, you’ll be the queen of la famiglia , and we’ll need to let everyone know,” I tell her, watching her reaction.
“I want you to organize a wedding reception. We also need to have a memorial service for Tiero, which I’m still praying is a fake one, and the ceremony for me to officially take over as Don.”
“The one where you have to present the three necklaces and put the coin back together?” she asks.
“Yeah, that’s the one.”
Mari sighs, her head resting against my shoulder. “That’s a lot of functions in a short time. I’ll ask mamma and the girls to help me.”
I tighten my arms around her, needing her close.
“I hate the thought of being apart from you.” I press my lips to her hair, inhaling the faint scent of her. “But trust me, dolcezza , we’ll see each other throughout the day. I couldn’t stand it otherwise.”
She tilts her head up, her eyes filled with something I can’t quite name. Understanding, love, and something deeper than words.
“We’ll find our way,” she whispers.
And I believe her.