Total pages in book: 148
Estimated words: 143870 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 719(@200wpm)___ 575(@250wpm)___ 480(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 143870 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 719(@200wpm)___ 575(@250wpm)___ 480(@300wpm)
“I like it when you do what you’re told.” I slide my palm up the curve of her spine and grip her hair, pulling her head back until she meets my gaze.
“Okay, but let’s be real. You also like it when I’m a brat.”
I lean over her and capture her mouth, appreciating that her flexibility allows me to bend and fuck her however I want.
When I let her come up for air, she’s breathless, dazed, and completely unprepared for the sting of my palm against her ass. She lets out a little yelp that goes straight to my cock, and I keep going until she’s covered in my handprints.
I make her come twice before I bury my cock inside her and unload. Now when our guests arrive, she should be too well-fucked to stress about it.
After I clean her up, I give her some space to get ready for the day. While she’s in the bathroom drying her hair, Romeo calls out to me from down the hall.
“You decent?”
I step out and join him at the end of the corridor.
“It’s weird I have to ask you that now,” he says.
“Well, you’re never decent,” I tell him. “So there’s that.”
“And I give zero fucks about it.” He smirks. “In fact, Gabi and I were just—”
“Don’t need to hear it.”
“Like I’d tell you anyway.” He chuckles. “What I do to my wife is my business.”
“Is there a reason for this visit?”
“Yeah, your company just arrived. Abella and Angelo are keeping them busy until you’re ready.”
“Alright.” I sigh. “We’ll be there in a few minutes.”
33
CHANTEL
“Where are we going?” I ask.
Cristian squeezes my hand in his. “We have visitors.”
“Okay,” I draw out the word, a little concerned when I realize we’re heading to the courtyard.
There’s a distinct separation between guests who are greeted in the courtyard versus guests who are welcomed into the Vitale home. That distinction usually boils down to trust.
My mind reels with possibilities, but when we round the corner and I see Kenzie with Andreas beside her, it starts to make sense.
I’m so happy she’s here, I don’t even care that Cristian and Andreas are both casting suspicious glances at each other.
“Oh my god.” Kenzie flings her arms around me. “It feels like forever since I’ve seen you.”
“I know.” I laugh. “This is a nice surprise.”
She pulls back to look at me, some of her excitement dimming. “Are you okay?”
“Yes,” I assure her. “Despite the circumstances, I’m doing really well.”
“I still can’t believe Elias was the stalker,” she says. “It’s so insane I’m having trouble wrapping my head around it.”
“Me too.”
“Ciao, ciao!” Nonna appears, wheeling a serving cart to the table. “I brought you a little something to eat.”
“Thank you, Nonna,” Cristian answers gruffly. “You didn’t need to do that.”
“Nonsense.” She waves him off. “Mangiate!”
Her “little something” turns out to be cornetti, cake, pizzelles, a fruit platter, three different types of salad, and some random meatballs—just in case anyone’s still hungry.
Kenzie watches with wide eyes as Nonna finishes the spread with a variety of tea, coffee, and juice before she pats Cristian on the chest.
“Business is always better with something sweet.”
He thanks her again, and she wheels the cart off just as quickly as she appeared.
“I love her already.” Kenzie laughs. “Where can I adopt one?”
I want to tell her that she’d be more than welcome here, but it’s a conversation I’ve been too afraid to have with Cristian. Kenzie may not be Greek, but Andreas is, so she’s basically one of them.
This divide runs both ways, and it always has.
Growing up, I heard nothing but animosity toward the Italians. And while Ares might be more relaxed about it now, there was a time he wouldn’t even allow the Vitales to set foot on their property. So this may be as good as it ever gets.
After a moment of awkward silence, we all take our seats, and Kenzie doesn’t miss how gingerly I sit down.
“Hard workout?” she asks.
“Something like that.” I smooth an imaginary wrinkle from my skirt.
Cristian smirks, and Andreas takes a sudden interest in the table as Kenzie tries her best not to laugh.
“Well, I guess that’s one way to break the ice,” she says. “Don’t worry, I had a hard workout this morning too.”
Andreas actually blushes, and it dissolves some of the tension.
Nonna mentioned business, so it’s a safe assumption he’s here to talk about Elias. But neither of the men seems to know where to start.
“I think Nonna was onto something about food first.” I grab my plate and dish up.
Everyone else joins in, and since Cristian and Andreas are both quiet, I ask Kenzie about the latest happenings at the club. She tells me all the rampant theories for my absence and the latest drama, and we have a good laugh about it.
“Everyone really misses you,” she says. “But me most of all.”