Total pages in book: 82
Estimated words: 77998 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 390(@200wpm)___ 312(@250wpm)___ 260(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 77998 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 390(@200wpm)___ 312(@250wpm)___ 260(@300wpm)
My wife draws back and kisses my mother’s cheek. My mother’s eyes grow wide and she looks at me helplessly, but Marialena’s heading my way now.
“He’s making me wear this towel because apparently my bikini isn’t appropriate,” she says with a little pout. “What a shame to live on the Gulf of Mexico and have to wear a housecoat.”
Next, she tosses her arms around me and gives me a loud kiss straight on the lips. “I’m going to get ready, honey bun. You need anything?”
“I’m good,” I say, coughing to hide my laughter from my mother.
“Toodles!” She wags her fingers at me and saunters past my mother.
Mother looks at me, her mouth gaping. I grin at her and shove my hands in my pockets. “Lovely, isn’t she?” I don’t think I’ve ever, in recent history anyway, grinned at my mother.
She opens her mouth, then closes it. Her eyes follow the retreating figure of Marialena before she looks back at me. “She’s—”
I lean in and give her a calculating stare. “If you say anything—literally anything—that’s less than respectful and kind about my wife, I will toss you into that pool behind me. Got it?”
I stalk past her, ignoring her protests and sputtering. I kind of enjoy the thought of her looking like a drowned rat when our guests begin to arrive.
Kiss. My. Ass.
I join Marialena up in our bedroom to get ready, but instead end up predictably distracted. She finally manages to persuade me to get ready for the party after assuaging my need to have her in the shower. She said it would kill two birds with one stone—shower and sex—and she wasn’t wrong.
“I’ll leave you to it,” I tell her, stepping out of the shower and reaching for a towel.
“To what?”
“Beautifying or whatever the fuck.”
She grins. “Happy to beautify for you.” I watch as she pulls out one dress after another, lying them out on the bed while I step into my usual pants and suit coat. First, a pretty white sheath dress, followed by a maxi dress in a sunny gold, the color of fall marigolds. A modest pink dress with an empire waist follows a silvery-white floral thing that hugs her waist and flares dramatically.
“They all look good. Why so nervous?”
“My family’s coming,” she says, as if that explains everything.
“I’m aware. You grew up with them. Why would it make you nervous to see them now?” I finish fastening my cuff links and turn to face her. She stands in nude-colored panties and a bra, her hands on her hips.
“I’ve… never seen them before as Mrs. Salvatore Capo,” she says, her eyes suddenly watery. I give her a curious look, still trying to understand.
“You’re an adorable Mrs. Salvatore Capo, and you fill your role well, Marialena.” When she still looks uncertain and bites her lip, I call her to me with a crook of my finger. “Come here.”
I watch her look at the dresses, her closet full of shoes, then back at me.
“You just fucked me in the shower,” she says warily. “Are you already—”
“Come here.”
I snap my fingers and point to the floor in front of me. She knows better than to delay obedience. If we weren’t crunched for time…
When she reaches me, I drag her closer, my hands around her waist. “Listen up, sweetheart.” I slide my finger under her chin, holding her gaze.
“What?” Her chin wobbles a little. Downstairs, the sound of doors opening and staff calling to one another echoes in the large rooms. I can see it in her eyes how nervous she is, how eager she is to please her family.
“When you took vows to me, you became a Capo,” I begin, gentling my voice because the message I’m delivering is none too gentle and won’t be easy for her to take. “You’re no longer Marialena Rossi. What your family thinks about you is no longer relevant. The only person you should care about pleasing is me.”
Her large, luminous eyes go even wider. “I know,” she whispers. “I know, Salvatore.” Gentle, warm fingers meet mine. “Yes, it’s true, I want to prove I’m not just some silly girl who does whatever the hell she wants on a whim. I’m the youngest Rossi, and I haven’t proven myself. So I won’t deny there’s a part of me that does want to show that I’m capable of filling this role that’s been forced on me. You know I didn’t choose this. I won’t pretend otherwise. But now that I’ve vowed myself to you, I’ll do everything in my power to make sure I uphold my vows.”
My heart warms, expanding. I bend to kiss her and brush my lips across hers.
“But this is the first meeting of our families formally. It’s the first time your mother will meet my family. And I want to make very, very sure that I make the right impression.”