36. Manuel
THIRTY-SIX
MANUEL
I ’d never seen a more beautiful woman.
As we made our promises to each other in front of our family and the priest, I pushed all thoughts of my run-in with Alexandra out of my mind and focused on my bride. The whole world ceased to exist, and with her hands in mine, we were proclaimed husband and wife.
She bound herself to me wearing a beautiful but simple dress that accentuated her figure. A bouquet of red roses and white lilies rested in her hands, while her dark hair fell loose down her back in waves.
“ Vi dichiaro marito e moglie !” the priest announced, marrying us in the thousand-year-old courtyard.
I took her mouth for a kiss. The cheers barely registered as her soft lips molded to mine, her body pliant. Dio mio , this hunger for her would never ease. Not while there was breath left in my body.
“ Dai, andiamo !” Enzo finally called out. “This bacio will starve us all. End it and let’s go eat.”
I never wanted to forget this. Cazzo , I never wanted to end this kiss. That’s how gone I was for my beautiful wife.
I slowly trailed my tongue over the corner of her mouth and gave her a final peck. I’d never wanted marriage or cared that it wasn’t in the cards for me, and I’d never been happier about being wrong.
I straightened and Athena leaned against me, bringing a hand to her swollen red lips.
“We have to break the glass first,” Enrico said, handing me a crystal wineglass.
“Two Italian weddings in the span of a few months,” Isla said, standing next to my wife as her bridesmaid. “We’ll be experts soon.”
Athena’s cheeks flushed pink and she whispered, “There better be many pieces, because there’s a baby involved now.”
The number of shards would signal the number of years we would be happily married.
We both held the delicate wineglass.
“ Uno, due, tre ,” I said, and we let it fall.
Shards flew everywhere, glittering on the stone courtyard.
Athena winked. “Looks like we’re stuck together.”
I looped my arm around her waist, scooped her up, and made my way over the threshold of our home as I spoke quietly in her ear. “Forever, Athena Marchetti.”
We proceeded through the decorated house to the dining room where we spent the next few hours. Dinner was intimate and the food plentiful, and I made a note to thank my staff for their efforts.
The formal dining room had been transformed with sheer fabric, white candles, and tiny lights, reflecting a soft glow off the walls and crystal chandelier. Fresh flowers decorated every corner of the room and soft music drifted through the air.
Athena sparkled, just like the diamonds and emeralds on her finger. While her mother wasn’t overly enthusiastic, she wasn’t ruining the mood either. I didn’t think anything could.
Enzo and Amadeo flirted shamelessly with Athena and Isla, and despite knowing it was harmless, it took all I had not to send my nephews flying onto the next continent. Then Amadeo had to take it a step too far, extending his hand in invitation to dance.
“ Ragazzi ,” I called out to both boys, their eyes instantly flying to me.
“ Sì ?”
“Want to keep your hands?” They nodded in unison. “Then keep them off my wife.”
Athena rolled her eyes. “Isn’t that going a bit too far?”
I flashed her a grin. “I don’t think so.”
“What if another woman touches you?” she asked, tilting her chin up in challenge.
I scoffed.
“There’ll be no other woman touching me, amorina . You can count on that.” Her mouth parted and her cheeks flushed deep red. “I’ll kill her myself.”
Let that be a message to her mother too.
Another roll of my young wife’s eyes and she shifted her attention back to a beaming Isla.
“Who would have ever thought, huh?” Enrico said, watching his wife as feverishly as I was watching mine.
“We must have done something right, old man,” I retorted wryly.
“Careful who you’re calling old, vecchio .” He chuckled. “Is she happy about the baby?” Enrico asked, suddenly serious.
“It was a shock to us both,” I admitted, my eyes softening on Athena, “but I think she’s coming to terms with it.”
My wife must have sensed we were talking about her because she lifted her head, her sparkling eyes meeting mine.
Madre di Dio , I couldn’t wait to get my wife alone.
Watching the taillights disappear down the long driveway, I pulled my wife into my arms and walked us back inside.
“What are you doing?” she squealed.
I grinned rakishly. “I’m taking you to our bedroom. I’ve been waiting all day to have my way with you.”
She let out a raspy chuckle. “You won’t say that when I’m wobbling around with a massive belly. You’ll hide from me when I’m horny.”
My steps faltered and I lowered my head, giving her an incredulous look. “ Impossibile . I’m always going to want you—old, feeble, on my deathbed.”
No sooner had we stepped into the bedroom than I kicked the door shut with my foot and kissed her hungrily.
Lowering her onto the bed, I let my eyes roam over her body, over her long hair fanned across the pillow. My hand slid down to her waist, the soft material of her dress in my way.
She lifted herself up on her elbows, desire matching my own flickering in her eyes. I reached for the knife in my holster, and in one swift move, I cut through the expensive silk like paper, impatient to have her bare for me.
“Hey,” she protested. “I liked that dress.”
I smiled, my eyes traveling over every inch of her gorgeous body.
“I like it better off,” I said, carefully cutting through her bra and panties before setting the knife down on the nightstand. My hands slid down her waist, her skin smooth and soft under my fingertips as I kneaded her ass, my fingers teasing. “Nothing compares to your naked body, amorina .”
“Ditto,” she whispered. “Can I cut through your suit with a knife too?” I inhaled deeply and reached for the blade, handing it to her. “Wow, you trust me with a knife?”
I chuckled, sliding my jacket off. “If I have to die, it might as well be by your hand.”
She sat up, reaching for the hem of my dress shirt while holding the knife, contemplating the best way to go about it. I stood still as she maneuvered the fabric around.
She exhaled, throwing the knife back on the nightstand.
“Maybe we just do it the old-fashioned way,” she muttered, reaching for the buttons. “I don’t want to murder you before getting off at least once.”
Our movements turned hungry and impatient, and I was finally naked. Athena’s gaze roamed over my body, pausing on my hard cock, leaking with pre-cum. She licked her lips.
“That didn’t take long,” she murmured, her slim fingers wrapping around my shaft.
I pushed my hand into her hair and tightened my grip. “In case it’s escaped you, wife, I’m obsessed with you.”
I took her mouth, my free hand spreading her thighs open, and slipped a finger into her heat. She moaned into my mouth, kissing me harder, and I pressed my thumb against her clit.
“Your pussy is always so wet for me,” I groaned.
I grabbed her by her ass, her legs wrapping around my waist, and switched us around so she was straddling me, my back against the headboard. I rotated my hips, pressing my cock against her heat.
I pulled her closer, my lips brushing against hers.
“Whose pretty mouth is this?” I asked, my voice rough.
She didn’t hesitate. “Yours.”
“And this pussy?”
“Mine,” she teased.
“ Mine ,” I growled. “You’re all mine. My wife. My property. All mine.”
She pulled away slightly, locking eyes with me.
“You’re my property too, then,” she murmured.
“I’m yours,” I vowed before slamming my mouth against hers, kissing her hungrily.
She was circling her hips in my lap, driving me fucking mad. I moved my hand down her body, my fingers finding her wet pussy, and traced her swollen clit.
“Manuel,” she moaned. “I need you inside me.”
She lifted herself up and grabbed my cock between her dainty fingers, my ring staring back at me, and we both watched as she sunk lower.
“ Cazzo .” I clenched my jaw at the sensation, wrapping my hand around the back of her neck as my cock disappeared inside her pussy. “Take what you need, amorina , or I’ll lose all control and fuck you into oblivion.”
Her breasts pressed against my chest as she pushed her fingers into my hair, gripping me as she rode my cock.
“You’re mine now too,” she groaned, riding me harder, making my every fantasy come true.
I grabbed her hair and pulled her closer, my lips brushing against hers. With a growl, I began pounding into her, imprinting on her heart and soul. The way she’d already staked a claim on mine.
“I’m yours, Athena.” My voice came out guttural as I watched her ride me, her long hair a mess and her lips swollen. I thrust into her, her arousal dripping down on my thighs. “You’re a fucking vision.”
Her lips found mine as I fucked her harder, our grunts and moans mixing. She was getting closer, and the sight was taking me right along to my own release.
“Oh… my God,” she moaned, her eyes fluttering shut and her muscles contracting around my cock like a vise. “Manuel… Manuel, I’m coming.”
And she took me right along with her.
“ Cazzo ,” I groaned against her lips, my dick twitching with my release.
For a moment we remained still, her body shuddering against mine as my cock settled inside her hot pussy.
I’d never get enough of her.
“Athena,” I whispered, and she looked at me with those mesmerizing green eyes, a satisfied smile on her lips. “You’re everything I’ve ever wanted.”
She sighed, bringing her forehead to rest against mine. “I’m starting to think you’re everything I needed.”
This was love. And I would hold on to it with all my might.