Chapter 9 Silvo
SILVO
The night air is cool against my skin as I step out onto the terrace, a glass of scotch in hand.
My gaze falls upon Carmela, her green eyes sparkling with laughter as she converses with Fed.
The way she handles his antics with grace and wit impresses me.
Despite the rocky start to our union, she carries herself with a confidence that pulls me in like a magnet.
Fed leans in, no doubt cracking another one of his outrageous jokes. Carmela throws her head back, laughing freely. The sound is infectious, and I find myself smiling in response. Her cheeks flush with amusement, and I can’t help but admire her beauty. She’s angelic.
As our eyes meet across the terrace, a charge of electricity passes between us. Carmela’s laughter fades, replaced by a look of curiosity and desire, perhaps? I take a sip of my drink, never breaking our heated gaze.
“Aw, come on, Carmela,” Fed whines, trying to regain her attention. “That one was a classic!”
Carmela tears her eyes away from mine, offering my brother an apologetic smile. “Sorry, Fed. You had me going for a minute there.”
He shakes his head. “You wound me, sister-in-law.”
The term sister-in-law rolls off his tongue so casually, yet it sends a shiver down my spine. The reminder of our newfound bond only serves to heighten the tension between Carmela and me.
I make my way over to them, unable to resist the pull any longer. Federico notices my approach and raises an eyebrow, a mischievous grin playing on his lips.
“Well, well, if it isn’t the elusive groom,” he teases. “Don’t mind me, I was entertaining your lovely wife with some of my finest material.”
Carmela shoots him a playful glare. “More like torturing me with your terrible jokes.”
I chuckle at their playful banter, feeling a strange sense of contentment wash over me. “Now, now, you two. Play nice.”
Fed shoots me a wolfish grin. “I’m always nice, brother. Can’t say the same for you, though.” He winks exaggeratedly at Carmela. “This one’s got her hands full with you.”
Heat rushes to my face at his insinuation. I open my mouth to retort, but Carmela beats me to it.
“Don’t I know it,” she says dryly, rolling her eyes. Despite her nonchalant tone, I catch the way her gaze flicks over me, a hint of that same smoldering desire from earlier.
My brother barks out a laugh. “That’s my girl! Give as good as you get.” He claps her on the shoulder affectionately.
An unexpected flare of jealousy twists in my gut at their easy camaraderie. I want—no, I need that connection with her. More than anything.
Sensing the shift in my mood, Federico’s grin widens infuriatingly. “Well, I’ll leave you two lovebirds to it.” He winks again before strolling into the house.
I turn my full attention to Carmela, my voice low. “Alone at last.”
She meets my intense stare head-on, refusing to be cowed. “So it would seem.”
We stand there in silence, the air crackling with unspoken tension. I take a step closer, unable to resist.
Carmela’s breath hitches almost imperceptibly, but I catch it. My lips quirk up in a satisfied smirk.
“Something on your mind, wife?” I ask silkily, purposely using the term to get a rise out of her.
Her eyes narrow at the bait, but she doesn’t take it. Instead, she closes the remaining distance between us in one fluid motion.
The scent of her perfume—rich and intoxicating—envelops me as she leans in close.
“You tell me, husband,” she purrs. “Seems you can’t take your eyes off me.”
A delicious shiver runs through me at her bold words. This woman is fire personified, and I’m utterly entranced by her flames.
“Can you blame me?” I murmur, allowing my gaze to roam shamelessly over her curves. “You’re a vision.”
She arches an eyebrow, unimpressed by my attempt at flattery. “Is that the best you’ve got? Sweet talk won’t work on me.”
I step even closer, crowding into her personal space until our bodies are a hairsbreadth apart.
“Who said anything about sweet talk?” I growl, letting my eyes blaze with undisguised want.
Carmela’s confident facade slips for just a moment. Good. Let her see that I’m not playing games anymore.
I reach out and trail a finger along the delicate line of her jaw, relishing the way she trembles at my touch.
“You think you’ve got me all figured out, don’t you?” I murmur, leaning in until my lips graze the shell of her ear. “But the truth is you’ve got no idea what you’ve gotten yourself into, piccina.”
I pull back enough to meet her wide, captivated eyes.
“The question is...” I continue. “Are you brave enough to find out?”
Carmela swallows hard, her gaze locked with mine. The air between us thrums with an intensity I’ve never felt before. For a long, heated moment, neither of us moves.
Then, slowly… defiantly… she licks her lips.
“Try me,” she breathes.
White-hot desire lances through me like a lightning bolt. With a low growl, I fist a hand in her hair and pull her against me.
I crush Carmela’s soft curves against me as our kiss ignites every nerve ending in my body. She melts into my embrace, her fingers tangling in my hair with a desperation that matches my own. Months of simmering tension finally boils over between us.
Our mouths move together in a frenzied duel, tongues stroking and teeth nipping. Carmela whimpers into the kiss, the needy sound sending white-hot lust spiking through my veins. I angle her head for deeper access, plundering her mouth with a ravenous hunger.
Desire rages like an inferno, consuming every rational thought. All I can focus on is the intoxicating taste of her, the velvet heat of her body pressed flush against mine. I need more—so much more.
Breaking the kiss, I trail open-mouthed kisses along the column of her throat. Carmela arches into me with a breathy moan, begging for more. The scent of her arousal surrounds me, thick and heady.
“Silvo...” she gasps out my name like a prayer as my teeth graze that sensitive spot below her ear.
Hearing her desperate plea only inflames me further. With a low growl, I lift her against me, pinning her between my body and the cool stone of the terrace wall. Carmela locks her legs around my waist as I grind against her center.
“You want this,” I rasp against the fevered skin of her neck. “Don’t try to deny it.”
She keens in response, rolling her hips in a way that makes us both shudder with need. “Yes...” Carmela breathes. “I want you, Silvo. God help me, I want you so much.”
A feral growl rumbles from deep within my chest at her admission. I capture her lips again in a scorching kiss, reveling in her utter surrender.
One of my hands runs along the silken length of her thigh, bunching the fabric of her dress around her hips. Carmela moans into my mouth as my calloused palm cups the lace-clad heat between her legs. She’s drenched for me, her arousal seeping through the flimsy barrier.
“You’re so wet, piccina,” I growl in approval against her lips. “Is this what you want?” I apply pressure with the heel of my hand, massaging her through the damp lace.
Carmela throws her head back with a cry of pleasure. “Yes! Don’t stop, please don’t stop...”
The sound of her impassioned pleas is like a siren’s call, luring me deeper under her intoxicating spell. I increase the rhythm, drinking in every breathless moan and whimper that spills from her lips.
This is what I’ve craved—to have Carmela at my mercy, uninhibited and writhing in ecstasy.
I’ll never get enough of this… of her. My wife, my Carmela. Mine.
Someone clearing their throat behind us startles us apart.
I turn to see who has interrupted us. Federico stands there, an insufferable grin plastered across his face.
“Don’t mind me,” he says, holding his hands up. “Just came to grab my jacket. Please, continue what you were doing. I’ll wait.”
I scowl, knowing he’s enjoying this far too much. Carmela avoids my gaze, her cheeks burning crimson. She hurriedly smooths her dress back into place.
Fed saunters over to grab his discarded jacket off a chair, whistling cheerfully all the while. I fold my arms across my chest and glare daggers at him.
“You always did have impeccable timing, brother,” I deadpan.
He shrugs, grinning like the cat who caught the canary. “What can I say? It’s a gift.”
I resist the urge to roll my eyes. Barely.
Federico glances between Carmela and me, looking positively tickled by the whole situation. “Don’t worry, I won’t breathe a word of this little tryst to Mama and Papa. Your secret rendezvous is safe with me.” He mimes zipping his lips.
“How gracious of you,” I grumble. I can only imagine how mortified Carmela must feel right now. As much as I want to continue what we started, the mood has been effectively ruined.
Fed seems to sense this as well and, for once, has the decency to wipe the smug look off his face.
“Right, well… I’ll leave you two.” He offers Carmela a conciliatory smile. “My apologies for the interruption. I’ll try to be more careful about walking onto our balcony in future.”
An awkward silence descends in his wake. I sigh and run a hand through my hair. So much for the passionate night I had envisioned with Carmela.
I watch as Carmela pulls away from me, her eyes hardening. The passion that had consumed us mere moments ago dissipates, replaced by an icy chill.
“I’m tired,” she says, refusing to meet my gaze. “It’s been a long day.”
I reach out to touch her arm, but she flinches away as if burned.
“Carmela...” I begin, but she cuts me off with a sharp shake of her head.
“Don’t. Just… don’t.” Her voice is strained. “This doesn’t change anything, Silvo. I didn’t ask for this marriage, and I certainly didn’t ask for you.”
Her words are like a slap to the face. I clench my jaw, trying to rein in my temper.
“You think I had a choice in the matter?” I growl, my frustration getting the better of me. “I’m as trapped in this arrangement as you are.”
Carmela scoffs, finally meeting my gaze with a defiant glare. “Spare me the self-pity. You hardly have to adjust much to our situation. You still live in your home, in your city! And you are enjoying this far more than me.”
I narrow my eyes at her. “And what’s that supposed to mean?”
She throws her hands up in exasperation. “Oh, please! You’ve been all over me since the moment we met. Don’t try to pretend like you’re not enjoying this on some level.”
I take a step closer. “You weren’t protesting a few minutes ago,” I remind her. “In fact, if I recall correctly, you were begging me not to stop.”
Carmela’s cheeks flush with a mixture of anger and embarrassment. She jabs a finger into my chest, her eyes blazing. “That was a mistake. One I won’t be making again.”
I catch her wrist in a firm grip, holding her in place. “Keep telling yourself that, piccina. But we both know the truth.”
She wrenches her arm free, taking a step back. “The truth is that I want nothing to do with you or this sham of a marriage. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I’m going to bed. Alone.”
With that, Carmela turns on her heel and stalks off toward the house, leaving me seething in her wake. I watch her retreating form until she disappears inside, my hands clenched into fists at my sides.
This woman will be the death of me. But even as the thought crosses my mind, I know I’ll never stop chasing her. She’s a flame I’m drawn to like a moth.
One way or another, I’ll make Carmela mine. Body, heart, and soul.