42. Rosalie #2
“I want that world with you.” His words made my heart clench. I clung to him tighter, not wanting to pull away because my eyes were burning. Today had been filled with so many tears.
His embrace tightened around me before I had to break away. I turned to see his parents smiling at us, his dad nodding his head.
I gave everyone a sheepish smile.
“Let’s get some food,” Enzo said, grinning brightly at everyone. Everyone grabbed their spots and dug in, the conversation moving to the wedding. I reached out and placed my hand on Fox’s leg as he bounced it. He glanced at me and gave me a tiny smile, his hand resting on mine.
When the evening was over, I was going to make it a point to go to his room and talk to him about everything.
“So. Honeymoon,” Anthony called out. “Lorenzo, have you considered forgoing it and waiting until things calm?”
I looked to Enzo. We hadn’t really discussed a honeymoon. I assumed we’d be holding off on one since things were a little dangerous right now. At least, that seemed like the last plan we had.
“Uh, actually.” Enzo looked to me and smiled. “I booked us time in Italy. Three weeks. Just her and I.”
I blinked at him, shocked.
He reached out and squeezed my free hand.
“Enzo, I-I have classes?—”
“I know, baby. I thought we could discuss this with your professors. I’m sure they won’t mind and will work with you to turn your work in. It’s our wedding. Our honeymoon. I doubt anyone will stop us from celebrating it.”
“Money talks,” Anthony said with a chuckle. “If negotiations fail.”
“Were you going to tell any of us?” Fox asked, his voice soft.
“I planned on it.” Enzo scooped more food onto his fork and put it into his mouth.
I glanced from Fox to Cole and Ethan, who could both obviously feel the tension.
“Did you even ask Rosalie if she wanted to miss classes for a honeymoon? Or us?” Fox pressed.
“With all due respect, Fox, I don’t need to ask you. And Rosalie will be my wife. She’ll go on her honeymoon with me. As husband and wife, we should get that luxury. The two of us by ourselves.”
Ethan shifted and looked nervously between Enzo and Fox. I could feel the tension rising. Fox’s leg bounced, a muscle thrumming along his jaw.
Please don’t fight. Please don’t fight.
“It’s a long way off. We can discuss it later,” Cole said, trying to smooth it over. “We should all probably discuss it.”
“We won’t,” Enzo said, a note of finality in his voice. “It’ll just be her and I. I want to spend that time with my wife. Alone.”
“Excuse me.” Fox pushed away from the table and left the room.
We all sat in silence for a moment before Ethan cleared his throat.
“Uh, this, um, meat is good. What is it? Lamb?”
Enzo sighed and dropped his fork onto his plate. It made a clatter and bounced onto the table.
“Gross. I hope not. I don’t want to eat a baby sheep.” Cole pushed his plate away, genuinely looking ill. “They’re too fucking cute to be eaten.”
“I’m just going to go check on him—” I started, getting to my feet.
“Stay,” Enzo said softly, grasping my wrist. “Sit and finish your dinner.”
I didn’t like the way he was being. I understood he was trying to look in charge for his father, but not at the expense of hurting Fox.
“I’ll be back,” I said firmly, pulling away from him.
I left the room only to run into Fox. His hands met my hips, his blue eyes laser focused on mine.
“I’m sorry,” he said immediately. “I didn’t mean to ruin your dinner?—”
“Shut up.” I pressed my lips to his. He fell into the kiss immediately, his tongue sliding against mine in a deep kiss. “You didn’t ruin anything.”
“Fuck, I love you,” he said between kisses before slowing them to a stop. “I’m still sorry. I was upset. I should have controlled myself better and spoken to Enzo after. He pisses me off sometimes.”
“He wants Anthony to see he’s in charge,” I murmured. “He means no harm. I think.”
Fox shook his head. “I know Enzo. It’s a mixture of both, babe. I’m really frustrated right now.”
“I know. Would it help if I told you that I wanted to sleep with you tonight?”
“Couldn’t hurt.” He gave me a gentle smile, the tension still visible in his stance, but he kissed me again. “Come on. I don’t want there to be issues. I’ll apologize and eat shit for now.”
He led me back to the kitchen, but Anthony and Enzo’s voices filtered out, stopping us just outside the doorway.
“You need to get a better hold on your men,” Anthony said. “Cole. Ethan. You understand Rosalie will be Enzo’s bride, yes? That means he takes priority. He is your leader. Stay in line.”
Fox’s hand tightened around mine. I glanced up at him to see that muscle feathering along his jaw again.
Without another word, he pulled me into the dining room.
“Forgive me,” Fox said, helping me to sit again. “I was out of line. Marissa. Anthony. My apologies.”
Anthony inclined his head at Fox. “Don’t let it happen again… Constantino .”
Fox stiffened in his chair.
God. The evening had started so promising too.
“Father,” Enzo murmured, casting an uneasy look to Fox, who looked like he was doing everything he could to not pounce. On who was debatable.
“Let’s have dessert,” Cole piped up. “We, uh, have some cake. Chocolate lava cake. Fox. Help me get it?”
“Of course.” Fox got up and followed Cole into the kitchen.
I reached for my glass of champagne and downed it.
“Well.” Anthony gave me a smile like he hadn’t just ruffled some feathers. I liked him, but he was pissing me off. Marissa had been quiet the entire time, obviously uncomfortable.
“Rosalie. You understand why you need to spend your honeymoon alone with your husband, right?”
“Explain it to me,” I said softly. “In words I understand, Anthony.”
“Rosalie,” Enzo snarled at me, his hand on my thigh. He gave me a gentle squeeze as a way to warn me.
“It’s quite fine, Lorenzo.” Anthony focused his eyes on me.
“Lorenzo will need an heir. Sooner rather than later. While I understand your unique relationship with Lorenzo and his men, I want to stress to you how important it is to maintain your role as his wife. That includes being his and only his in public. Birthing his heir. Being a mother. You will be a De Luca. You have an image to uphold.”
“Father, we already know this. We don’t need to discuss it right now.” Enzo cast me a quick look, pleading silently with me to not say something that would piss his father off.
“Anthony, I respect you. I love you. We’re going to be family,” I said carefully.
“That is why I’m telling you with all due respect that I will birth Enzo’s children when I want to birth them.
When I’m ready to do it. Not a moment sooner.
I will continue to love my guys in any manner I see fit.
If Enzo doesn’t like that, then he needs to speak up now because I’m not going to back down for that.
Cole and I are planning on having a baby first. Not me and Enzo.
That’s final.” I entered into a silent staring match with Anthony, not backing down in the slightest.
“You will have responsibilities as Lorenzo’s wife.
That includes bringing his children into the world.
First,” he said evenly. “There is no negotiation on it. Your image will be maintained as his wife and only his. He will already be weakened because he’s married for love.
Believe me, I know how this world is. If the world knows you’re with his men as well, it’ll only endanger you and them even more.
I don’t mean to be cruel, Rosalie. It’s an ugly truth. There can be no weakness.”
“Love makes us weak?” I swallowed hard.
“It does.” He nodded sadly.
“Would I not love my children?” I countered. “They would be a target.”
“They would,” he agreed. “Each day will be filled with stress and worry, but Lorenzo must have an heir. A son. And he needs it as soon as possible. Not with Cole. Cole will have to wait. In fact, I’m advising against having children with anyone but Lorenzo.”
“Again, with respect, this is our marriage. We will do what makes us happy?—”
“You will do as you’re told,” Anthony cut in.
“And nothing more. It doesn’t make me happy to say this to you, but Lorenzo would never because he adores you and can’t look past that.
If you cannot comply, I’ve already arranged his nuptials to Celeste Vander Veer.
It would be a more logical union. Lorenzo knows this. ”
“I’m with Rosalie,” Ethan spoke up as I breathed hard, Enzo’s hand tight on my thigh, a desperate look in his dark eyes. “It’s our relationship, not yours, Anthony. We will do what suits us.”
“Ethan, you have no say in this matter—” Anthony started, but Ethan stood abruptly.
“Enzo wouldn’t have shit without me and my drugs,” Ethan said sharply.
“I’m the backbone of this entire fucking enterprise.
Me. The syndicate was crumbling and drowning in a sea of nothing before I added my talent to it.
With all things regarding Rosalie, I will absolutely have a say in it.
And I say that Rosalie will decide marriage and children.
Career. All of it on her own. I stand behind her and her decisions. ”
“These are our traditions. Lorenzo knows and understands this,” Anthony said, his voice not holding anger. Instead, he sounded gentle, almost sad.
“I’ve never been much for traditions.” Ethan walked around the table. “Sweetheart, come on. I think you need some rest. It’s been a long day.”
I took Ethan’s hand, so grateful for him, and let him lead me out of the room amid Anthony’s grumblings to Enzo. We’d all hear about it later, but it needed to be said.
Ethan led me straight upstairs to his bedroom and closed the door behind us.
“I’m sorry, Rosalie. That shit won’t fly with me. No one makes your decisions for you but you?—”
“Fuck me, Ethan,” I said, backing away and losing my dress along the way.
His green eyes darkened, and he followed me to the bed as I walked backward to it, his clothes falling away as we went.
He stalked toward me, and the moment he caught up with me, he swept me into his arms, his lips fusing with mine.
We fell onto his bed, a tangle of arms and soft laughter despite the shitty turn of events for the evening. I was concerned about what was happening downstairs, but I needed to get away. Ethan was the perfect escape.
He thrust into me in one fluid motion, making me claw at his back.
“Imagine Anthony is down there bitching Enzo out from one end of the dining room to the next about marriage while I’m up here fucking his fiancée.” He nipped my bottom lip before kissing his way to my breasts. He sucked against a hardened nipple as I moaned his name softly.
“You’re so dirty,” I choked out.
He let out a soft laugh before picking up his pace, his dick making my eyes roll back as he hit the spot that made me want to scream his name.
I came with a soft cry against his lips, him following right behind me with his low, feral groan and a breathless grunt.
He slowed to a stop and pressed a sweet kiss to my lips.
“Sorry it was so short, sweetheart. The moment you started talking dirty to me and telling me to fuck you, I sort of lost it.”
I smiled up at him.
“I love it however you give it to me.”
He chuckled and rolled off me before he dragged me against his body. I snuggled against him, feeling a little less stressed.
Gently, he twined his fingers with mine.
“It’ll be OK,” he murmured. “I’m worried too, but it’ll be OK.
You won’t have to do all that shit. Enzo won’t make you.
He may make a big show of it in front of his father, but I know him.
He loves you more than anything and will do what you want to do.
He knows what this all means to you and to us. ”
“It’s just really frustrating. I like Anthony, but Enzo always tends to fall to his knees with every demand. It scares me.”
“I know, but it’ll be OK.”
“And if it’s not?”
“It will be.” He pressed a fierce kiss to the top of my head. “I’ll kick his ass if it isn’t.”
I smiled at that and wiggled against him.
“Oh, sweetheart, I love you so much. I can’t wait until we come out on the other side of all this shit.”
“Me either,” I agreed softly, raking my fingers along the defined lines of his abs.
“Faith, OK?” He held his pinky finger up for me.
I hooked mine with his.
“Faith,” I agreed, my voice quiet.
It was really all we had these days. That and love. If Ethan said it was enough, then it was enough for me.
Ethan never lied to me.