Page 32 of My Solemn Vow (The Mafia Arrangement #1)

VALOR

THE MORNING AFTER

My phone buzzes on the nightstand, and I roll over to ignore it. Then I’m enveloped in Antonella’s sweet, fruity scent. Mmmm. I could do with more of that.

I drag her to me, thoughts of sleepy sex rolling through my mind, and then my phone begins to ring again. What could possibly be so urge — Kerrianne. I bolt upright and turn toward the nightstand, pulling my phone off the charging cord.

Guilt turns in my stomach and floods throughout my body as I answer. “Hello?”

My heart hammers in my chest. How the fuck did I forget she wasn’t home with me? Yesterday’s memories are far more vivid now.

“Good morning, sweet boy.” My mother is singsongy and cheery, and my tension eases.

My shoulders fall, and I pull the phone away from my ear to steal a glance at the time. Nine? It’s fucking nine? I scrub my hand down my face but can’t think of the last time I slept this late. “Good morning.”

“Your father told me that you’re home today.

Odd, I thought the hotel for a few days would be a better adjustment period but.

.. nonetheless. Kerrianne needs to come home for at least a little bit today because Dad and Royal are doing something loud.

We don’t want to hurt her sensitive ears. You know how it is at that age.”

Meaning, Royal and Dad have work to do, and Kerrianne would want nothing more than to be helpful, but whatever they’re working on isn’t age appropriate. Mom would normally come here under the guise of playing with Captain, but I’m here with Antonella.

Fuck. Shit. Damn.

“I thought I’d give you a call and let you know we’ll be there in about an hour or so.” Mom keeps chatting as if my silent panic isn’t a problem for her. “You know, Kerrianne is so excited to go back to school.”

“I’m sure. We’ll get it sorted. I’ll be ready to take the package in an hour, but ninety minutes would be much better for me.” I look over at Antonella.

She’s awake, eyes still heavy with sleep and her gorgeous brown hair draped across the pillow.

“Sure, I think maybe we’ll take a trip to the market on the way there. That’ll give us some extra girl time. We’ll pick up some treats for Captain.” My mother hums. “Well, I’ll let you go, then.”

“I’ll see you in ninety minutes.” I fight the groan out of my voice and hang up before flopping back down next to Antonella. That gives us plenty of time for one more round since she fell asleep on the way home last night.

When I drag her into my arms, she releases a soft, breathy moan. I kiss her deeply.

But she pushes me away. “Ew, I have morning breath.”

I kiss the tip of her nose instead. “It doesn’t bother me. In lust, remember?”

“Yes, lust. Got it.” Antonella puffs out her cheeks. “But I’m pretty sure that was your mother calling and the package is Kerrianne.”

Perceptive. I nod, my forehead pressed against hers. “Yes. But that doesn’t mean we don’t have time for ourselves for a bit first.”

“Mmmm.” Antonella’s coy smile is a knowing one. She’s already lying as close to me as possible, so I know she can feel my length pressed up against her. “Is that so?”

“I know so.”

I nudge her head and inch closer, bringing my lips to her skin and kissing down her neck. Kissing past the point where someday, soon, I’ll bite her and mark her as mine. The possibility of it makes my cock throb.

I’ve known her barely twenty-four hours, but I’m already attached. I’m thinking about marking her, keeping her... Acknowledging that hurts because, at the end of the day, I know very little about her. And truce or not, the unknown can get you killed.

I push myself back from Antonella, my thoughts sobering me. “No, you’re right. We should get up.”

My cock is quick to take the hint with the change in my mood.

I climb out of bed, headed toward the bathroom to shower and get dressed.

Antonella may be my wife, but it doesn’t make her good for Kerrianne.

I shouldn’t have brought her home so soon.

I should have dated her. Given her an apartment in the city and around-the-clock guards.

We could have taken it slow and introduced the idea to Kerrianne at a more reasonable pace. What was I thinking?

But I know what I was thinking. I was thinking of the drop-dead gorgeous woman thrust into my life, into my bed, and how good it would be to not be lonely. Not in that way.

The solid sleep from the time we got home until my phone rang... I don’t remember the last time I slept without waking at least once during the night .

I’ve gone through all the motions — starting the shower to warm it up, brushing my teeth, taking a piss, and then stepping into the spray. The water wakes me up and drags me into the present.

There’s a knock on my bathroom door before Antonella steps in, her figure obscured by the fogged-up glass.

“Valor, is there another bathroom you want me to use?” Antonella is quiet, soft spoken. She’s the softer, reserved woman from during the funerals again.

Why would she ask that? I wipe the steam off the glass and look at her hovering near the open door. “Is there a problem with this one?”

She shakes her head. “I noticed that you seem tense with Kerrianne being on her way home. Maybe the distance between us isn’t a bad thing.”

“Come in here.” I try not to demand, but I can’t talk to her when she’s so far away.

I can hear her just fine, but she might not be able to hear me between the running water and the wall of glass.

Antonella heads to the toilet first, gracefully covering herself while she does her business.

I turn away from her, giving her a bit of privacy since humans expect it.

I take the opportunity to quickly wash my hair, and about the time I’m ready to wash my body, the shower door opens, and she steps in.

Expectantly, Antonella stands naked before me, and my dick twitches because how could it fucking not with a stunning woman bare before me.

She pulled her rumpled hair over one shoulder and crosses her arms in front of her gorgeous tits. I want to rip them down so I can savor the view.

“Valor.” She scolds, a bit of the fire I like coming back.

“Yes, I’m hesitant about Kerrianne coming home,” I admit and offer her my hand, inviting her closer. “I don’t know you or how Kerrianne will handle this. You’re not her mother. ”

Antonella declines my hand and remains where she is. “I’m not trying to be Kerrianne’s mother. That’s the furthest thing from my mind.”

It’s what I wanted to hear, the reassurance that Antonella knows her place, but the fact that I feel satisfied with her answer frustrates me. Fuck, I’m an asshole.

“Before you get to be this overprotective, domineering father, just hear me out.” Antonella is firm.

She tilts her head slightly before squaring back up.

“I’m not trying to be anything more than your new wife.

It’s my duty to you. Last night was...

I had a great time getting to know you, Valor.

However, that doesn’t change our reality. We’re practically strangers.”

“Arguably, strangers don’t know how the other tastes when they’re aroused.”

I regret those words instantly despite how true they may be. Apparently I’m really leaning into being an asshole.

“Regardless.” Antonella dismisses me without so much as a rueful glance. “This doesn’t have to be a big change in your lives. If you don’t want to tell Kerrianne we’re married, you don’t have to. I can simply be a —”

“Absolutely not,” I snap and then shake my head. My shoulders tighten. “I don’t lie to her any more than I have to. I’m not telling her the woman sleeping in my bed means nothing beyond a roommate. But you’re not her mother.”

“Fair enough. Then we tell Kerrianne exactly that.” She solidifies her statement with a firm nod. “We tell Kerrianne the truth. I’m here as your new wife. It’s new and unexpected. But that doesn’t change the fact I’m her teacher, you’re her father, and the same rules apply.”

The backbone she shows me, not backing down with my aggression toward her, has me fully hard.

“No, there isn’t another bathroom you should be using.” I circle back to the question that started this all. “You’re my wife. You sleep in my bed. You use the en suite bathroom. There’s plenty of space for your stuff in the closet. I’ll take care of you now that you’re mine.”

Antonella leans backward in shock.

I hadn’t meant to say that out loud. She is mine, but saying it that way isn’t ‘normal,’ and I’m sure there was a better phrase.

But she is mine. She is my wife. She’s —

I cut that thought off and resolve to keep the facts in place. She’s my wife.