The Serpent’s Bride (Villains & Brides #1)

Prologue LEO

“You may kiss the bride.”

Chiara flinched before I even touched her, and it amused me. My wife was intimidated by me from the moment we met. The fear still clung to her.

“Oh, I fucking will,” I murmured.

Pulling the veil back over her long blonde hair, I revealed her perfect face to the pews of our guests, mostly members of the Five Families. My wife’s father, the man who sold her to me, was sitting in the front row, red with fury.

I looked back at my wife, satisfied with his apparent anger, but even more delighted by the sight of her stunning face. She was a pleasing new addition to my life. Even when she fought me… which so far, was most of the time.

Pink lips opened in a gasp as my fingers brushed her now unveiled cheek. She looked up at me, like she expected someone to stop this.

I loved that she still had some fight left in her… but she hesitated.

I didn’t tolerate hesitation.

I didn’t get humiliated, especially not by my wife.

I shifted just enough for her to see the gun at my waist. Now she knew she had no choice. She leaned in, trembling like she was walking to her execution.

“Until death do us part,” I said.

“Or I run away,” she bit back.

“I’ll have fun watching you try,” I smirked.

She hissed a warning in my face, but I took it from her, stealing the kiss she wouldn’t let me have. My wife still tasted so pure, like sugar flowers. All syrupy sweetness. I wondered how much sweeter her fear would be on our first night as husband and wife.

Chiara was already letting the pleasure take her away. Her knees gave. Her mouth parted to let me in more. Her tongue brushed mine, her teeth catching my lip.

I deepened the kiss, ignoring the shocked gasps from the front pew. Then, I tightened my grip around her tiny waist, wanting more than her petite body was willing to give in public.

The delicate corset buttons on her bridal gown felt so tempting. I wanted to rip them off one by one and unwrap what was now mine right there at the altar. Let her father watch.

But she was still unwilling, and I still had some respect for her left. When she submitted, it would be worth it.

I’d take my time with this one. Poisoning her slowly.

When I pulled back, her eyes were dazed, pupils shot wide. Her freshly kissed lips parted, probably to insult me, but I pressed my pointer finger against them. Every single time, my touch shut her up.

A mix of fear and lust clouded her vision, and I saw the conflicting emotions play out on her beautiful face.

“That’s better,” I murmured, ignoring her scathing glare. “Good girl."

I grabbed her delicate hand, my ring locked around her finger. Then I addressed the crowd.

“To my beautiful wife,” I said, raising our joint hands. “May she fuck harder than she hates.”