“What the hell are you talking about? We... I don’t want to marry you. You’re really going to marry me knowing I’m in love with another man? I won’t do it. I won’t f—I won’t.”
6
Dominic
God damnit, and now it’s back, the reality of what the fuck is happening. Bullshit, this is such fucking bullshit. Forced to marry a girl who can’t even say the word fuck. It’s one thing to fuck her, get lost in her beautiful body for a night or two; it’s something completely different to vow forever.
“I can and I will. Have no doubt we will fuck and seal our vows. This is the last time I will warn you. If you say his name or refer to him one more time, I will kill him. I swear it.”
Her gasp is loud. I gun the engine as I merge onto the freeway, the growl of the engine soothing the anger inside me.
“How can you say that? How the fuck am I supposed to react to being told I’m going to be forced to marry a man I met less than six hours ago? Who then tied me up and threw me in the trunk of his car. I can’t even believe this is real. Any minute now I’m praying I’m going to wake up and this will be nothing more than a horrible nightmare.”
Fuck. She’s crying again. I am an asshole and I have no problem calling myself one. The only women I’ve allowed close and let my guard down around were the wives of my cousins. With them I didn’t have to worry they had ulterior motives.
With the women I was fucking, I never allowed myself to be soft. I didn’t want a woman comfortable with me, didn’t want them getting the idea they were anything more than temporary in my life. Regina isn’t just any woman; whether I like it or not, she will become my wife. With Johnny on a clock, likely within the next few weeks.
Regina has the same right to think this is fucked up as I do. She came into this life two years ago. I grew up knowing the life I would be leading would not entirely be my own. I would have a boss, and his orders were something I would follow without hesitation, question, or whining. Duty and honor were words ingrained into me before I knew exactly what they were. Regina has been living a quiet, pious little life in the north of Italy raised by nuns. Taking my anger out on her will get us absolutely nowhere.
Checking the area, I slow and pull to the side of the road. I hit the button to illuminate the interior. Damn it, her eyes and nose are red, and those honey eyes have darkened to melting chocolate. Undoing my seat belt, I edge toward her. Blinking fast, she tries to hide as I tug out my pocket square. Catching her by her small chin, I bring her face up to me. For a brief second she tries to get away. I tighten my grip, and she gives in with a sigh.
I’ve brought women to tears before; it never bothered me, especially when I was sure it was a negotiating tactic. I tell myself it doesn’t bother me now, but fuck am I lying. The electricity is there again and now I know it’s going to happen every damn time I touch her. She feels it too, thank fuck it’s not just me losing it. Carefully, slowly I wipe her tears away. Her breathing becomes fractured as I finish, her small pink tongue slides out of her mouth to wet her lips.
Stifling a groan, I shift to ease my thickening cock. I’m trying to remind myself she’s not ready for everything I want to do to her. And sure as fuck not on the side of the road. “Look, this isn’t something I thought would happen when I woke up today either. I fought hard and negotiated like hell to keep from ending up in a marriage like this. One for the family and by the family. I don’t have a choice either. It’s my duty, I won’t dishonor my father or my Don.”
Her eyes meet mine. Fuck, would she stop chewing on her bottom lip for one damn second? I press my thumb against her soft, plush bottom lip to stop the torture. Liquid honey eyes widen, I fight the savage hunger pulsing through my veins for her. Focus, Dom.
“This marriage has to happen. The sooner you come to terms with it the better, the easier it will be for the both of us. I didn’t want this but I will not abuse you. I protect what is mine. I keep what is mine. I’ll do what I can to honor our vows. I’ll never ask more from you than I’m willing to give too. I need you to work with me.”
The word vows does something to her. Her pupils dilate and her lips part, undoing my control. I lower my head. She doesn’t move even though she gasps before my lips touch hers. A soft grazing is all I allow myself to gauge her response. My cock jumps at her sigh of loss, at the way her lips tremble against mine. Hunger urges me on, I swipe her lips with my tongue. Her mouth opens, I cannot refuse the invitation.
Sweet, so damn sweet. I have no fucking idea where the growl comes from as I feast on her. Maybe it
’s from the way her tongue tentatively seeks mine. Maybe it’s the taste of her, traces of brandy, of something sweet, vibrant and new I’ve never known before. Her kiss is untutored, her obvious lack of knowledge coupled with her enthusiasm pulls another growl out of me. My hands go into her hair to keep her in place. Her small hands go around my neck. Christ, she presses her breasts against me. And god damn, it hits me, the scent of her wet pussy. My cock jumps to be inside her, my mouth waters to taste her, to have her moaning and writhing under me while I learn every inch of her.
An eighteen-wheeler passes close, the car shakes as the wind rocks it. What the fuck? I haven’t made out in a car in my entire life, but if I don’t stop I’ll fuck her right now. I pull away slowly, her hands tighten in my hair. Good.
She’s breathing fast, her eyes are wide and dazed. I run my thumb over her bottom lip. Unable to stop touching her.
“We can do this the easy way, princess. I can make your life a good life, a happy one. I promise you that. Don’t make me into the fucker I can be.” It isn’t until the words come out of me that I know I mean them. I didn’t want this; however, I will not back down from it. I’m a Sabatini, I keep my promises. Regina will be my wife. I will do the best I can to honor her as such, to ensure the life she has is as good as I can make it. Come what may.
Her throat works. “How?”
“Tell me what you want. Forget Taylor and your father. When you were growing up what did you want your life to be?” Why the fuck does she have to look so young in the soft light? Seventeen damn years younger than me, pure, innocent, she deserves better than a scarred, fucked-up killer like me.
“I wanted a family. I’ve always wanted a big family of at least two boys and a girl and a dog. I know it’s silly and childish not to want more in life. It didn’t matter, I always wanted that. To be a good mom was my only goal, to make sure my children were loved and happy was all I wanted.”
I close my eyes. Of course, she wants the one thing I won’t give her. Refuse to give her. No kids, not now, not ever. Except to tell her that would mean we crash and burn before we ever get off the ground. I do the only thing I can, I lie.
“Kids will come in the future. You have plenty of time. I would like us to wait until we have a few years to us. When we have settled into our marriage. Can we agree on that?”
A small smile. “Why do all of your questions not sound like questions?”
I allow a smile in return. “Maybe because I’m not used to asking. I’m used to telling people things and having them agree whether they want to or not. I will try to work on it. Regina, in this world of ours, my control of everything around me, including my wife, needs to be seen as complete, total. If not I will appear weak. I can’t have that, it’s too dangerous. Between us it will be different, but it’s only between us.”
Her eyes drop from mine. A small nod is her only answer as she pulls away from me. I don’t like letting her go, I allow it, this time.
“I can guarantee you will want for nothing when it comes to sexual pleasure, princess. I can’t wait for you to deliver on the promise of that kiss.”