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“I can’t do that… I’m not ready for marriage, kids. I don’t even know if I want kids.”

Giovanni laughed. “It doesn’t happen tomorrow, Bella.” He took her hands. “But it will be the future I want with you. I am a dangerous man, and I deal with dangerous men. My business remains secret because in that secrecy is your protection. Contrary to the movies and what you think, there is only one way I leave this role. That’s death.”

“Are you telling me that you won’t ever walk away from this lifestyle, no matter what the circumstance? Not even for our love?”

“Yes.”

He dropped his forehead on hers. “That’s my future and yours if you accept me. Tonight, all I want is you.”

“I don’t know what to say.”

“Say nothing.” He captured her mouth with his. Her arms lifted to his neck to hold to him, and he carried her to the bed. Everything about him was gentle and caring, the way he laid her upon the sheets and stroked the side of her face. She stared up into his eyes and the blue dissolved into the sweetest shade of violet. She smiled and knew that was the color of his love. Beyond the heart-pounding pleasure she found when he made love to her, she also felt safe, and protected enough to trust her feelings for him. Was it love? She had no idea, but she knew she cared deeply for him. She knew she could never abandon what was happening between them. His mouth crashed upon hers. A kiss strong and demanding drained her resistance. She clung to him and fought to breathe through their shared passion. When he released her from his kiss, her mouth and heart ached for more. Giovanni untied her robe. His lustful gaze seemed to flame with excitement to find she wore nothing but a thong panty beneath.

It was unfair to confess his heart to her so soon, to claim her from her life and barricade her within his. But he was a selfish man, completely when it came to her. He’d never let another man take her from him. She’d be the mother of his children, the wife he didn’t know he needed, and if it took a year or more to convince her, so be it.

Giovanni stared down at her. Her kiss-bruised lips parted and her eyes gleamed with passion. Her body was flawless. Slowly he eased her thong from her hips and down her smooth brown legs. She lifted her ass from the mattress to aid him, and then sat up to shrug her arms out of the sleeves of the robe. When he made to move on her, she stopped him with a hand to his chest. “I do have feelings for you. I’m not ready for anything more than friendship now. I need time to know you. Okay?”

He stared into her eyes and lied. “Take all the time you need, Bella.”

She relaxed, lying back, and he smiled. The bastard in him didn’t care what she told herself to reason away their bond. He would remove any obstacle that kept her from him, and he already had. He shed his clothing in a hurried manner but took the time to run his tongue from her knee to her decadent center. He found her scent invigorating and buried his face between her thighs. Her hand stroked the top of his head as his tongue gave light swirling licks to her swollen bud. Before long she was bucking her ass off the mattress and pressing down on the back of his head to speed her orgasm along. But he wanted to be inside of her when she came. And again he’d do so without protection.

Giovanni positioned himself and slid his length into her while he held her hips steady.

“Ah!” she exclaimed.

His eyes blinked slowly several times and then closed as he sank into her velvet warmth. “Fuck!” he cried out shuddering and struggling to keep control. Faster and faster he thrust into her until his breath was reduced to ragged gasps for air. Her breasts shook and her bottom half pumped up at him, driving him to madness. He forced his eyes to open, to look upon her face as he moved with more control. Her expression was regal. Her well-shaped nostrils flared slightly and she drew in a deep breath and released it slowly as he gave her another measured thrust.

Caught between rapture and self-loathing hell, he dropped on her and clung to her desperately as he released his seed into her womb. He wanted this. Desperately. He needed this, her, like he needed air to breathe. Fuck her timetable. She was his.

Chapter Thirteen

“Giovanni?”

He opened his eyes. Mira laid close, her arms around him and her face tilted up to stare up at him. How long had he slept? The room was still dark, but the drapes were drawn. “Yes?”

“Catalina’s wedding is soon. She says today you’ll have your family here.”

“Mmhm.”

“I know you have traditions, family traditions that you believe in. I just…”

He sat up a bit and tugged her up into his arms. “What is it?”

“Catalina. Have you ever asked her if she understands marriage? The commitment she is making?”

Giovanni chuckled. “You’re worried about my sister and her wedding? I thought something was wrong.”

Mira drew away from his embrace. “She thinks it’s a big party. Her party. But I don’t think she understands what happens when the party is over. She’s about to be married, and she’s only eighteen. I remember when I left Virginia at seventeen, and how confused I was at eighteen. I think you should talk to her and be sure she knows what she is doing.”

“You talk to her.”

“What?”

“You’re a woman. She needs a mother. Talk to her.”

“That’s not what…”

“Come here.” He brought her down to his chest. He kissed her forehead. “My sister is young and spoiled but she is marrying a boy who will love and cherish her. I made sure of it. This is the life she wants. Trust me.”