Total pages in book: 126
Estimated words: 115400 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 577(@200wpm)___ 462(@250wpm)___ 385(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 115400 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 577(@200wpm)___ 462(@250wpm)___ 385(@300wpm)
“So fucking perfect, Angel,” I murmur, dropping my lips to her shoulder.
Chiara goes limp in my arms, a satisfied sigh slipping from her lips. “If that’s the punishment I get, maybe I should lie to you more often.”
I lift my head, my fiery gaze locking onto hers, finding nothing but an intrigued challenge staring back at me. “Don’t try me, Chiara,” I warn, my cock still buried deep inside of her. “You won’t enjoy the consequences.”
“I don’t know,” she teases, a playful smirk stretching across her lips and making a rush of . . . something pound in my chest. “I certainly enjoyed those consequences.”
I shake my head, unsure how to respond. Nobody challenges me like this. I don’t let them close enough to even try, and yet here she is, giving it her all, and what’s more? I fucking love it.
“Come now,” I say, pulling out of her and stepping back before helping to settle her on her feet. “If I’m gone for too long, people will come looking, and when they see you with those flushed cheeks and hard peaks of your nipples straining through your dress, they’re going to want a taste of what’s mine, but let me make this clear—I don’t intend on sharing you.”
A nervousness flashes in her eyes. “And if someone were to put their hands on me?”
“I would cut their hands off and deliver them right to your door.”
Chiara grins and inches toward me as she fixes her dress back into place, though I have no doubt she’s currently feeling the way my warm cum leaks out of her and spreads between those juicy thighs. She’ll be excusing herself to go to the bathroom in no time. She lifts her chin, her lips barely a breath away. “I don’t know whether to panic because that was the most messed-up thing you’ve said yet, or to start blushing at your misguided attempt at romance.”
Taking her chin, I capture her gaze, and she becomes still. “Understand me, Chiara, that was not a misguided attempt to sweep you off your feet. It was honest. If someone were to put their hands on you, I would end them. Nobody steals from me.”
She visibly swallows, and I wave my hand toward the door, a subtle demand to get her ass moving. She does as she’s asked, and I follow behind her before reaching around her to open the door, only as she goes to step out of the supply closet, the deep rumble of my tone stops her.
“For what it’s worth, my sweet angel. When I do decide to romance you, it won’t be a misguided attempt, and you’ll do a shitload more than just blush.”
She sucks in a gasp, her cheeks flushing under my heated stare. “Go now,” I prompt to get her moving again.
Chiara walks out before me, and as the door closes and my hand falls to her lower back, I can’t help but notice a shift in the atmosphere within the room. The dancing has stopped, replaced by the wives gossiping between themselves and glancing around the room as though searching for something . . . or someone. And there’s no doubt this is the result of my new marriage becoming public knowledge.
As I lead Chiara through the room and toward our table, those gazes land on her. Full of judgment, jealousy, and spite. Every single one of these women has shamelessly thrown themselves at me over the years in hopes of standing by my side at the head of this family, their husbands be damned.
I see the questions in their eyes, wondering why her? What’s so special about this girl who appeared out of thin air? What does she have that they don’t? And the answer to it all—everything. She is everything that they aren’t, and that’s exactly why I’m so drawn to her.
“Everyone is looking at us,” Chiara says under her breath, clearly not comfortable with the speculation.
“Let them look, Angel,” I tell her. “They’re curious and confused why after all these years I’ve finally decided to take a wife, and on top of that, they’re questioning why the usual steps weren’t taken. Any wedding of mine should have been a grand event, a show of money, and tradition, and the fact that there wasn’t is causing a stir. I’m sure you can understand that. But mostly, they’re looking at you, and to that? I say let them feast on your beauty. Their jealousy and hatred will be their undoing.”
“Jealousy?” she questions, her gaze lifting to mine. “Why would they be jealous?”
“Look at you, Angel. Look at the life that’s been thrust upon you. The luxurious lifestyle and highest level of protection. Nobody can touch you, and as long as you are standing at my side, you stand at the top with me. These women have clawed the eyes out of weaker women just to take their place. They’ve each had to fight their way to where they are, but not you. This life was handed to you without question. They have a right to be jealous, but what they do with that is up to them, and how you respond will determine the kind of strength you possess.”