Page 77 of The Mafia's Bride

My lungs deflate, shock and surprise warring inside my chest.

“You would willingly give yourself to me? We’ve barely known each other a few weeks.”

He smiles, nipping my lips. “Maria and Nico knew each other two weeks before they married. My mother spent years with my father before they did. Which relationship is still going strong?”

Can’t argue with that logic.

“You said I have your joys and fears,” I begin, turning so my body faces him. “Tell me about your father.”

Next to nothing is known about Alessio De Luca that isn’tfabricated by the De Luca organization. That means nothing personal, other than misdeeds or his body count. Only things that will make Lex look like a capable monster in a fine suit. Nothing real.

Leaning back, Lex scans my body, smirk growing devilish.

“I’ll give you one fear and one joy, menace. Then you’ll do what I want.”

I smile, feeling like I’m finally getting some of my power back. That I truly do have equality with him.

“Deal.”

His hands slip around my waist, pulling me closer. He hisses out a breath, the bare contact more welcomed than the layers of clothing between us. His body is a perfect example of masculine strength that I greedily touch, the scars smooth and almost glass-like.

“A fear is that one day, I’ll be just like my father,” he says against my lips. “After my sister was born, he left us. He never called, never wrote. I think, subconsciously, he truly never wanted to be a father and finally had enough of us.”

My fingers trace his face, enjoying the roughness of his stubble, the sharpness of his cheekbones. “I’m sorry, Lex.”

“I always thought as a child, if he had stayed, maybe he would have saved my mother and sister.” He whispers it like a confession. “But that’s a child’s wish. I know better.”

“Such as?”

“He would have let us all burn if it meant being free of us.” His words hit my heart, pain and sorrow mixing together at his double meaning.

His father fled from him. Just like I tried to do. His very real fear is that he’ll be like his father, disloyal and selfish and that I’ll leave him just the same.

“You’ll never be like him.”

Lex smiles, but it’s tired. “We’ll see, won’t we, wife?”

“And your joy?”

He sucks on his bottom lip, eyes trailing over my face as if to memorize it.

“You in your wedding dress. You were a fucking vision. You almost brought me to my knees when you entered the church.”

My heart practically explodes, words caught. The day that I fought against, raged to be forced to do something so horrible, had been one of his life’s biggest joys.

Numbness is the last thing on my mind. I do the only thing I can to express how much I feel. My lips crash into his, hands hold his face firmly to mine as if he would push me away.

I don’t have to worry. Immediately, he kisses me back, mouth hungry and teasing, tongue plunging and taking from me as greedily as I steal from him. He tastes like tobacco and bourbon, warmth and love. He’s a sinful delight, one that is wholly mine.

I want everything from him. I want all his fears, all his joys, every single piece of him. I want to consume him like a fire to a match and hold him while he burns.

He breaks off the kiss abruptly.

“I need to know something first, Sloane.” His body is shaking, barely restraining the urge to sink into me.

His cock is stiff, and it’d be so easy to lift my hips and feel him again, the way I’ve been dying to since the night at the club.

I don’t bother waiting for his approval.