Chapter 21 #2
“No, I didn’t.”
“You said Ainsley loves Lucca.”
“Yes. She told me that.”
“So you love me.”
“I don’t see how you’re coming to your conclusion. I just said I wouldn’t want to be with someone who I loved and who didn’t love me back.”
“Fine. I stand corrected. But Ainsley didn’t start out loving Lucca.”
“Ok, that’s fair. What does a real marriage mean to you?”
“I think you know, but I’ll spell it out so there is no confusion. We sleep together. We communicate. We make our own family. It’s simple. What do you say?” He leaned back into her space.
“I don’t want to make any decisions today.”
“Ok. I’m going to get ready for bed.”
Madison rolled over on her side. After the day she had, she hoped she passed out and stayed asleep on her side of the bed.
****
Dante slipped into bed next to Madison. He had noticed she changed her sleepwear from what she wore when they would sleep together.
Instead of a scrap of lace she had been wearing, she had on lounge pants and a tank with a shirt on top.
She made it clear there would be no physical contact.
He believed he could handle it, but after having to remove her hand five times from his cock, he had decided that he didn’t need any more sleep.
Tonight, he had put on loose sweats over his boxer briefs.
He didn’t want her hands on his cock again. Not until she was ready to be with him. He lay on his back and waited. It didn’t take long before she came over to his side. He let her rest her head on his chest.
It wasn’t normal for them to sleep like this, but had on occasion after rounds of sex when she was on top. He took in her scent and let her breathing lull him to sleep. It didn’t last for long when her hand slipped down his thigh and found him hard and waiting.
He hadn’t bothered to try a cold shower, because just being around her could get him hard and he didn’t jack off because that wouldn’t help. Nothing would stop him from getting hard for her.
Her hand traveled back up his stomach and before he could catch her hand, it had snuck in under his pants and boxer briefs and grabbed hold of him. She gave him a hand job, while her beaded nipples pressed into his chest.
“Madison, baby.” He stopped her hand.
“Dante.”
The hairs on his body stood up when she said his name. When they were together he would have taken her once she was awake, but now, he hoped he could get her hand off and her back on her side of the bed without waking her.
He had listened to her cry when he left the room last night.
He hoped she didn’t think he didn’t want her anymore.
But he wanted her without reservations. If she couldn’t accept his background, then they would have to divorce.
He couldn’t live like this. Even if they found a place where she had her own room.
What kind of marriage would that be? Not one he wanted to be a part of. Neither of them would be happy. But he was firm on the fact that they wouldn’t sleep together until she was ready to accept him in all ways. That was what he needed and he wouldn’t back down.
Dante had most of her fingers off of him when he knew she had woken up. Her body went from pliant to stiff. He froze. Did she want him to keep removing her hand or did she want to take it back herself? What would be less embarrassing for her?
“Dante.” This time her voice was resigned. She took her hand off of him and out of his hand. “I’m sorry.”
“It’s not a problem.”
“You’re wearing boxers and pants?”
“Yeah.”
“And it still happened.”
“Yeah.”
“There is no way we can go on like this.” She rolled back to her side. “Why can’t I just stay at my apartment until we find a place? It would be better than this.”
She had him there. “After what happened with the Donnettis, I don’t feel comfortable not having you here.”
He could see she wanted to argue. “But that was Sabrina.”
“True, but others might hear and try to do the same. Besides, we don’t know if Sabrina is going to stop.”
The color drained from her face, and her eyes widened.
“Don’t worry. I’ve increased security, and I’ve hand-picked one of the guys to be your bodyguard.”
“Excuse me if I still worry. That didn’t help the last time.”
“I didn’t have as many as I’ve assigned now. I told you I would keep you safe.”
“You also said I was just dating Dante the man and that I wouldn’t get in trouble with the law. So I’m withholding my trust.”
That wasn’t good for Dante. He needed her to trust him. To believe in him. “I’ll do whatever I can to show you that you can trust me.”
“I’m going back to bed. Can we try extra pillows in between us?”
“Sure. You go to sleep, and I’ll be back. I need to check on some things.”
Dante went to his office. The brokerage firm Stanley and Richards had sent a follow-up email.
He hadn’t sent back the completed job-offer package.
He had signed it but not sent it out. He still hadn’t talked to Don Calo yet.
He might have signed his own family away; and then he wouldn’t have the job or Madison, if he ever had her.
He would go through the proper channels to secure a meeting with his uncle.
****
Madison woke up somewhat rested. The pillows had helped. She hadn’t climbed over them. Dante had no problems staying on his side. Had he come back to bed after he left? She got up and went to the bathroom.
The redness from where the guy had backhanded her had faded.
She had been able to get a make-up meeting with Becky.
Dante had said he had something to do, but he would send the guy who would be her bodyguard to come meet her.
Madison wasn’t clear on her feelings of having a bodyguard.
Well, no, that was a lie. She knew and she wasn’t for it.
It would be strange to have someone follow her around.
Especially if they carried weapons, which she guessed they would be.
****
Dante entered his uncle’s compound. It had been quicker to get the appointment than when he was planning it out. It helped that he was actual family. He walked past enforcers and foot shoulders in his uncle’s compound.
He was shown into the office, where he found Don Calo at his desk.
“Don–”
“No need.” He looked at the other men in the room. “Leave.”
Once the men had left and closed the door behind them, his uncle gestured him to come closer and to sit.
“Now what is it that’s so important you needed to see me right away.”
Dante took a breath. He could be sealing his fate. “I have an offer.”
“Is that so? From who?”
“From a brokerage firm.”
“And they want to partner with us?”
“No. They want me to work for them.”
“You want to do both?”
“No.”
“I see. So you want to leave.”
“Yes. I haven’t been happy with my position as accountant. And even though our marriage is legal, she is still nervous with who we are.”
“That’s a part of you. Won’t change if you leave.”
“I know, but it would make her feel more comfortable.”
“And that’s what you want? She’s caused a lot of problems in the family between you and Enzo.”
“Those were Enzo’s problems. Madison has always made it clear she didn’t want Enzo.”
“Right. I remember her words at the engagement party.”
“Yeah.” Before he had fucked it up.
“So you want to leave because of her?”
“No. It’s just this life isn’t me. I got picked for this role because I was good with numbers, but I want to run businesses and invest. Not spend my time keeping two sets of books for everything and looking over my shoulder.”
“I see.”
Don Calo stared at him hard. “I knew this life wasn’t for you. That’s why I let you not only go to college, but overrode your father so you could get your masters. You’re a learning person. I can see why Stanley and Richards want you.”
Dante was shocked. “You knew?”
“Of course. Nothing happens in the town or especially with this family that I don’t know. Take the offer, and I’ll release you from your duties. But you will still always be family. You may go home and tell your wife.”
And just like that a huge weight was lifted off his shoulders. He was free, and he had Don Calo’s blessing to leave and the knowledge that he and Madison would be safe.
“Thank you.”
“No need to thank me. What are uncles for? Come.”
He motioned for Dante to come over and his uncle clapped him on the head and then hugged him. “You can go in peace. But I still expect to see you at family functions.”
“Yes, of course.”
“Now get outta here. I have an empire to run and a new accountant to bring on board.”
Dante left the office and closed the door behind him. He could go home and tell Madison the feelings he had for her. He didn’t want to put pressure on her, so he would wait until after she had fashion week.
****
Madison was glad when the time to walk the runway was here. Her design was ready; her model was prepped. She just had her last-minute changes to do to make sure her creation fit the model to perfection and showed off the design and movement.
She knew she had aced the make-up interview and was still in the top. Her design would either keep her there or not. She crossed her fingers and toes and hoped granny was looking out for her.
Behind the stage everything was chaotic. Models were undressing and being dressed. Hair and makeup were either being done or retouched. Madison was waiting for her model who was in hair and makeup. She had her pin cushion and her trusty butterfly seam ripper with her in her hidden pocket.
Once this was over, she and Dante would look for a bigger place. And she couldn’t wait. Dante had been avoiding her, which she guessed was fine. But it seemed more awkward that he always happened to never be around or always leaving when she was coming in.
She shook her head, now wasn’t the time to be concerned with it. She looked around, her model was done. “Perfect. How do you feel?”
“Good, nervous.” Becky looked at herself in the mirror.
“Me too. Let’s get you dressed.”