Total pages in book: 102
Estimated words: 98583 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 493(@200wpm)___ 394(@250wpm)___ 329(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 98583 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 493(@200wpm)___ 394(@250wpm)___ 329(@300wpm)
Chapter 21
Lucy
Donatella wasn’t exaggerating. Salvatore really is doing worse than the first time I saw him.
The doctor comes. He’s an older Spanish man who carries himself like an old-world royal. I hear him speak with Adriano after examining Salvatore, and the news isn’t good. “We’ll make him comfortable. If I’m right, there’s not a lot of time left.”
“It’s just so sudden.”
“This is how it happens. Very, very slowly, and then all at once. I’m sorry, Adriano. I really am.”
Then he leaves. I stay with Donatella and Salvatore for a little while longer, but the old man is agitated. He goes back to bed, and I slip out to make coffee.
I find Adriano in his office. His nose is buried in some kind of dossier, and he barely glances up when I put one of my teacups in front of him.
“Espresso?” he asks, sounding surprised. The little bone china cup looks tiny in his big hands. It’s very old, Victorian-era, with gold flowers. One of my favorite pieces.
“The way you like it.”
He drinks some and puts the papers down. For a second, there’s a brief smile on his face. “How’d you know?”
“I’ve seen you make it a few times now.”
“Didn’t realize you were watching.”
I don’t bother telling him that he’s all I can watch whenever he’s around. “Guess I’m picking up a few things.”
I go to sit in one of the guest chairs, but he pushes back from the desk and gestures at me.
“Come here.”
“I’m not really a lap kind of girl.”
“You are now. Come here, wife.”
My heart stutters. I lick my lips and think about disobeying him, but the look he’s giving me doesn’t leave any room for argument.
I go to him and sink down. The big man pulls me right into his lap, holding my hips as he pulls me against his chest.
I snuggle in close. I understand that he needs me right now. His father is dying, and there’s nothing he can do about it. The agony must be unbearable.
I feel so small as he tightens his grip.
“I haven’t been around much lately,” he says softly. He leans forward, his mouth nuzzling against my neck. “I’m going to change that.”
“I hope not on my account.”
“You don’t want your husband around?”
“My husband is a big scary brute.”
He laughs softly. His lips move up my throat. “You think I’m scary?”
“Terrifying, honestly.”
“Then why don’t you go running whenever I come into a room?”
“Too slow, I guess. You’ll catch me.”
“We both know that’s not true.”
A shiver runs down my spine. I’ve never pulsed like this for another person before. Each soft touch of his sinning mouth sends another thrill right into my core. The anticipation kills me. He’s so close, so big. He can crush me, break me, but he doesn’t.
He’s almost gentle. Until he’s not.
“Maybe I like being caught,” I admit, and he pulls back to look into my eyes.
I adjust myself, slipping around so my legs straddle him. I wrap my arms around his neck, staring into his eyes. Daring him to do more. Wanting him to push me, to find my limits, to break through them.
He smirks, and I nearly hate him for making me want him this badly.
I don’t even care that he’s using me right now.
Let him use me right up, so long as I get what I want in the process.
“You know what happens to good girls who find themselves with bad men,” he whispers, his thumb moving down to my cheek. He presses it against my lips.
“No. What?”
“They get ruined.” He slips his thumb into my mouth. “Suck.”
I lick the tip of his thumb before sucking it. He grunts, eyes shining with pure lust. It’s overwhelming and sticky in all the best ways. I grind down and feel him stiffening between my legs.
“Is that what you’re going to do to me?” I say as he pulls his thumb back and strokes it wetly down my throat. “Ruin me?”
“Yes, I am.” He slowly unbuttons my blouse with one hand while the other curls into my hair again. I love it when he tugs, just hard enough to hurt. “You should’ve gone running the second you saw me.”
“Did you want me to?”
“No, my little wife.” He finishes unbuttoning my blouse and pulls it open. He licks his lips at the sight of my bra-covered breasts and leans forward to kiss me. I gasp as his mouth moves down my chest. He reveals one stiff nipple and licks it. “I would’ve chased you. I would’ve found you and taken you. But this is better.” He sucks and nibbles. I grind down against him, feeling him swell more and more.
“What were you thinking the night we first met?” I ask on a whim.
He kisses up toward my mouth. God, I want that kiss. I want it so much, only growing more the longer he delays.