Page 76 of The Mafia's Bride

All I see is something I’ve only dared to hope for in my dreams.Compassion.

“My hands are the worst. They were afraid I wouldn’t have full mobility.”

The leather is dropped into the growing pile of clothes.

Small scars over the thin skin of my joints and knuckles pull taunt, pain radiating up my arms. “They’re called burn contractures. Pretty common. I had to do rounds of physical therapy to keep movement. I wear the gloves for support.”

Without them, my hands cramp and freeze, pain almost debilitating.

Sloane nods, taking my hands into her slender ones. My cock bobs, trying to make its presence known, but when she kisses my left hand, lips softly caressing every digit, my mind scatters.

Only Maria, Nico, and Tony have seen my hands. And nowSloane. And she’s kissing my wounds, like a lioness licking her king’s pain away.

“Get in.”

I follow her without question, submerging behind her, the bubble sloshing over the side onto the white tiles below.

She snuggles into my hold, her hair tickling my bare chest.

“I’m glad you survived, Lex.”

It’s the first time someone’s said that to me. It’s the first time I’ve believed it.

“Me too.”

30

SLOANE

Lex picks up the shampoo, massaging it into my hair as I let the hot water soothe away the day’s events.

I never told anyone about the numbness I feel. I’ve always been too ashamed to admit it out loud. Maeve is always so strong, and Collins is always taking care of everyone else. Giving them one more of my problems to handle, felt like too much.

Lex didn’t judge me for it. He accepted it and kept looking at me like I was the most beautiful woman he ever saw.

Warmth simmers in my gut, heating me and pushing away the cold. Pushing away the images of a gun and blood, thoughts of what could have happened.

“What are you doing?”

“Taking care of you.” He gently cups water, rinsing my locks, adding conditioner next. “I said I would, so I am.”

“Is this part of owning me?” I ask, fingers drifting through the water. Bubbles collect there, body slippery and wet.

I can’t stop thinking about Lex’s burns, and how scared he must have been as a child. A fire took everything from him. His entire family is gone, and he has to see those scars every day as a reminder of his grief, his pain. I would crumple if I had been in his place.

I admire him for his strength to continue on, to build his life back into something instead of letting everything be for nothing. Every day, I admire something new about him.

“This is a benefit,” he says, smiling. “Remember, menace, you own me as entirely as I own you. You always have.”

“How is that?” I turn to look at him as he cleans the last of soap from my strands, fingers pinching the ends. “You want to own me just because I’m your wife. I’m your property, right? As my husband, are you mine?”

Tilting my chin, his free hand grabs my throat in a tight lock. Even with damaged hands, his strength is still apparent.

It’s the first time I’ve felt his skin on my flesh, felt his body heat lash against my own. My skin pebbles, nipples hardening at the sizzling contact. The effect is violent, pulsating.

Much like the ache between my legs. God, I was just held at gunpoint and all I want is the man behind me.

“I am your property to do whatever you wish.” His nose brushes mine, hungry eyes staring at my lips. “In this life, in this world, people are owned. That’s how you gain loyalty. Whether it’s through marriage, or blood, or bargains, ownership is loyalty. For what is this family, this organization without it? That is the only way I know how to have your loyalty. I might have been given you in a contract agreement, but I wanted to own you completely so you’ll always be mine. I want your heart, I want your fears, I want your joys. Because you have mine.”