Chapter 15 Oil and Water #2
“Take that as a yes,” I say.
“We’re going home,” he states, turning and heading towards one of the vehicles.
“Leo, the elevator—”
“Our home, my dear wife.” I blink at him, something squeezing my chest as he kisses my cheek. I lay my head against his shoulder, body becoming lax.
Leo may be the first mafia boss to declare a weekend off that doesn’t involve the aftermath of a potential kidnapping. Hopefully, it doesn’t turn into Weekend at Bernie’s: Luciano edition.
It’s the next morning, and I’m staring at my omelet wondering if I’m hallucinating that Leo said we’re staying here this weekend. I poke my thigh with my fork. Nope real.
He finishes with the sizzling bacon, placing it on a plate as he continues explaining the past week in a collected tone. “One of Rossi’s captains is taking over as boss, Angelo Impastato. He’s worked through the ranks.”
“What happened to Petrinolli?” He flicks his gaze up. I nod slowly. “Barely two weeks, already sleeping with the fishes? Damn.” I try to joke.
“Some aren’t cut out for it,” he says, turning the stove off. “Impastato will be easy enough to oversee. He’s got some sense, which is why he’s survived and thrived. He’ll do what I suggest, along with Finstrum, to keep his foothold. He’s ambitious, but also cautious.”
I nod as he comes around the counter, sitting beside me as he pulls over his coffee mug.
“So…surprisingly, not much worry from crime bosses then?”
“Not here in New York.”
I hum, distracting myself as I munch on some bacon. Well, at least there’s that. We’re quiet as we eat, until I look up and meet his gaze. He puts his fork down, grabbing his mug with a knowing smirk.
“Us and our breakfast talks,” I say.
“We can change the subject to something else. Mafia politics will still be there.”
“Such as?”
“Leanne and Isaac dating for one.” He’s so monotone when he brings it up, a sputtering giggle comes out of me. “I’m surprised you caved so quickly to it.”
“Not my place to tell anyone who to date, even my head of security,” I answer. “Besides, you didn’t watch them flirt, make googly eyes at the other for months. Glad they did something before Trix and I intervened.”
Leo raises his brows, and then hums under his breath. “Hadn’t realized he liked her at all.”
I chew on some egg, slowing as his brows pinch together. “I’m with Isaac every day, you’re not. It makes sense.”
“Well, the Crew doesn’t bring up much on whether they want to pursue relationships or not. Not regular conversations for us. Never has been.”
“Do you want them to? I mean, to find relationships?”
“I want them satisfied with life,” he answers.
“Much like you, I’m not going to say who they should date or not.
Although, I guess times could change where they’ll choose their person over work.
I’d be quite the asshole if I forbid that while I have a reputation of ignoring work to spend time with my wife.
” He pauses, raising a cheeky brow. “Whom I married in secret.”
“And declaring a weekend off,” I muse.
“Yes.” He sips his coffee, placing it back down. “The only time I may say something will be in regards to their own safety.”
I smile softly, reaching over to grab his left hand and kiss his knuckles. He’s wearing his wedding ring, like myself. I’m certain whenever we’re home, we’ll wear them until we can outside of here.
“Time may come for each of them to find someone or perhaps not,” Leo continues, before going back to his breakfast. “So, I’ll hope for the best between Leanne and Isaac.”
“Thank you,” I murmur. He smiles softly, both of us quiet a moment.
“Although, there’s one relationship I may give more words to,” Leo says grumpily.
“Who?” I ask around a mouthful of bacon.
“Jameson and Carrie.” My fork clatters to the counter in surprise. “As colleagues, I mean. Their professionalism is waning more often than I’d like. Causing more issues than there actually are.”
I purse my lips, and wonder if there’s another reason they fight so often. “Maybe they need to fuck it out,” I state.
Leo sputters next, almost coughing up his coffee as he wipes his mouth. He shakes his head, and I give him a grin. “Just saying.”
“I highly doubt that,” he responds. I shrug. “If that was the case, they’d have done it four years ago, not while putting another hotel up.”
“How is the Boston hotel going?”
“Well enough. Carrie has been busy staving off reporters about the potential ‘break-in’ of the Italian Lily. The hotel has also been delayed in opening due to contractor issues. She’s becoming more tenacious, and Jameson…rarely agrees with her approach.”
From the one time I’ve met her, I believe it.
“She’s vying for a big event to promote the hotel,” he continues. “Such as a big wedding or some other happy announcement.”
I stare down at my plate. Yup, I know what that means. Never have I thought more about being unable to get pregnant than the last three months. “She’s insatiable, huh?”
“Autumn, I’d never agree to anything like that.
Our marriage, our privacy, and life won’t ever be used like that.
” His hands grasp mine, caressing his thumb over my skin.
“Her job is PR, and she’s good at it, but she doesn’t call the shots.
Jameson and I do regarding the hotel franchise.
If she wants promotional events, then they can be galas or banquets like every other damn hotel opening. ”
I feel weird at the idea of being used as promotional material for a hotel in another state. A concept I would’ve never imagined or approached. Damn, Leanne’s analogy works wonders in several areas.
Leo reaches over, touching my chin to look at him. I stare at his face, reaching to stroke his jaw. There’s a tiredness there. Hazel eyes flick over me, silently reassuring me.
“What happens when people learn the truth?” I ask quietly, and his face becomes stony. “That I can’t get pregnant? Especially…your brothers or Renato? That’s what they want, isn’t it? Heirs.”
“Autumn.”
“Probably why Renato continues trying to control you…got the potential to make heirs, more than Gabriel. What happens—”
“It won’t change anything.” Leo grasps my face, making me look into his eyes before panic sets in again. Panic seems to come far too easy of late, crawling over my skin with every thought and worry. Subjects I haven’t truly worried about it, jumbling around in a mess.
“You’re worth more than that,” he continues. “You are my wife. I told you that I will gladly burn it all to the ground if you asked it of me. All I need is you. Nothing more.” He leans in, lips brushing over mine. “You are a Luciano now. They will not ever take that from you.”
His mouth presses against mine, kissing me lovingly.
My hands reach for him as he grabs my waist, tugging me out of my chair to straddle his lap.
My legs squeeze around him, while his hands roam down my torso.
The kiss becomes deeper as I feel him slip his hands under my shirt to trail across my skin.
His lips move to my jawline, and then against my neck as I grip his shoulders.
I lean into him, laying my head against his shoulder as he wraps his arms around me.
“Thank you,” I whisper. “Deep down, I know it doesn’t…thank you.”
“I love you, my dear wife. You’ll always have me. I promise.”
“I promise, too.”
He kisses my temple, humming while stroking his hand down my back. My head against his chest, I listen to his heartbeat allowing the soft thumping to lull me into calm. No matter what happens, I had him. I had this man’s heart that beats for me. At the end of the day, I just needed him.
I pull back, inhaling deeply before I grab his face and kiss him again. His breath hitches as I kiss him fervently, wanting to show how much I love him. Leo then grabs my wrists delicately, stopping me as he says, “There’s another reason I wanted a weekend to ourselves.”
I blink at him, unsure where he’s going with this.
“I want a play session,” he continues. “Just you and me. No interruptions.”
“Okay, but I don’t think I can Top, I mean…”
“Me as the Dom, my dear Watson.” He strokes his thumb over my wrists. “I enjoyed you taking charge, trying it, but I think we could both use a session with you being the Sub.”
I nod and he kisses me softly.
Suddenly, I break away and raise a brow. “Did you really take a weekend off to be in the playroom?”
He slowly starts to smile. “Perhaps, Tesoro…although, I think when I tell you what I have planned, you’ll be relieved to have a recovery day before facing society again.”
Shivers run over my skin, and I almost can’t help a small giggle. “Oh, really?”
“Just you…” he kisses my head, “…me…”, he kisses my cheek, “…and our galaxy of solace.”
I sigh with relief, body melting against him as tension evaporates. Whatever conversation we just had before, vanishes as his hand caresses my back. The very thought of just him and me in our violet room giving me quiet joy.
“Yes, Sir.”