Page 22 of The One Night Match (Mafia Matchmaker #1)
TWENTY-TWO
CRUZ
I t’s not until we’re back in the town car that my body finally releases some of the tension it’s been holding.
Riley held her own throughout dinner, through every snide remark, every suggestion that I’ll move on, every thinly veiled insult. None of it seemed to affect her, but as soon as we pull away from the house, I watch as all the emotions, all the insecurities come rushing back.
Without thinking, I tug her across the seat and into my lap, holding her tightly against my chest where I can finally pull in a full breath.
I’ve been trying to give her space to process everything that’s happening between us, and that means not touching her anywhere near as much as I would like to.
Except at night when I climb into her bed.
Every morning, she grumbles about waking up against a furnace, and every morning, I tell her that I must have cuddled her in my sleep.
A lie. But only a small one. The reality is, the second the bed dips with my weight, I reach for her, and she rolls right into my arms, her subconscious finding me even as she tries to push me away at every opportunity while she’s awake.
“Your employees are real pieces of work, you know that, right?” she murmurs into my chest, making no move to pull away from me.
“Believe me, I’m aware.”
“Why do you keep them around? They have no respect for you. No respect for your authority. I’ve seen Sergio banish people from the family for fractions of the disrespect I watched tonight.”
I tighten my hold on her as I consider my options.
Mom never wanted to know what was happening in the business when Dad was alive.
She said it was better she not know. But I don’t want to keep any secrets from Riley.
I find myself desperate to share every piece of my life with her, because then maybe she’ll realize I’m not in this because I just need a wife.
I’m in it because I genuinely want to be with her.
“We have a rat in the organization. A few of them, more than likely. Colten and I have been weeding them out for a while, but in order to cut the cancer out, we need to make sure we get all of it. We’re still identifying who is a part of it, and who isn’t.”
“And Monica?” she asks, flinching slightly.
“She’s a problem I’ve been telling Dennis to deal with since the first time she showed up at my office in nothing but a trench coat.” I shiver dramatically.
“She did not,” Riley gasps, blinking up at me with amusement.
“Oh, she did, many times. Usually right after whatever plastic surgery she’s had most recently.”
Riley laughs, the sound falling straight to my dick, which promptly realizes it’s pressed against her ass and stirs. “She is too much. She cornered me in the hallway as well. I’ve met a lot of delusional women in my life, but god, I don’t even think she and reality live on the same planet.”
“She cornered you?” I frown. “Are you okay?”
She rolls her eyes. “I’m fine, Cruz. I’ve been dealing with catty women all my life. It comes part and parcel with growing up the way we did.”
“I still don’t like it,” I mutter.
She shifts in my lap, trying to climb out of it to take her seat again, but I hold her tighter against me. “Stay where you are. I need to remind myself that you’re all mine after having all those fucks staring at you all night.”
Riley opens her mouth to argue, but instead allows herself to relax in my arms.
It’s not long before her breathing evens out, and she lets out a soft snore that makes my lips tip up in amusement.
I press the call button beside me, careful not to jostle her. “Drive around for a while, Ben. Mrs. De Luca fell asleep.” And I don’t want her to wake up and realize she feels safe enough to let herself be vulnerable with me.
I t’s another hour before Ben finally pulls into the driveway and quietly opens the door for me.
I lift her higher in my arms and climb out as smoothly as I can manage before making my way into the house through the garage so I don’t have to pull my keys out.
Asshole, or Mr. Whiskers as Riley has coined him, lets out a soft meow, apparently realizing the human he likes is resting, before running up the stairs toward her room.
The little fluffy dick and I have come to a reluctant ceasefire the last week, because apparently we’re both obsessed with our new housemate. He even let me pat him earlier without any claws involved, so we’ve certainly made some progress.
I take my time climbing the stairs, and when I reach the door to her bedroom, I hesitate.
There’s not a single part of me that wants to put her anywhere other than my bed. Our bed.
It’s crazy to think about the measures I took to ensure I would have my own space once this arranged marriage took place, and now I’m the one who doesn’t want to give her any distance.
Before I can talk myself out of it, I turn down the hallway and straight into my bedroom, where I carefully lay her on the side of the bed furthest from the door.
Is that the side of the bed I’ve always slept on?
Yep.
But am I going to risk my wife being the first one an intruder could reach?
Absolutely the fuck not.
Mr. Whiskers follows us in, quickly jumping on the bed and proceeding to knead the comforter.
I sigh. “Okay, fine, you can stay, but only if you promise not to pee on any of my suits while you’re in here.”
He glares up at me before going back to whatever it is he’s doing.
I pluck one of my T-shirts from the drawer before moving back to where Riley is sleeping soundly and carefully dressing her in my shirt.
Seeing her in my clothes has quickly become one of my favorite things about married life, and I try not to think about all the lines I’m crossing right now.
Once I’m satisfied she’s comfortable, I lift her back into my arms and slip her under the sheets, tugging them up around her neck to make sure she’s warm enough.
I quickly strip out of my suit, dumping it into the hamper without separating it. Magda is going to throw a fit, but it’s worth being on the receiving end of her anger if it means getting into bed with my girl quicker.
Sliding into the middle of the bed, I carefully gather Riley against me and allow the tension to bleed from my body.
Tonight was too much, and if it were possible, I’d keep her far away from all the toxic members of the organization.
Unfortunately for us both, we have another event to attend next weekend, and this one is going to be a whole lot more painful than tonight was.
Mr. Whiskers huffs as I slip my legs between him and Riley, getting as close to her as I can manage without waking her.
I never thought I’d have to fight a cat for the affection of the woman I’m obsessed with, and yet here we are.