Page 128 of The Viper's Wife

“I’m going to tell you something,” she says carefully. “But I want you to be normal about it.”

My heart pounds against my chest. “I can be normal.”

She quirks an eyebrow. “I’m not sure you know what that word means.”

“It’s taxes and stuff. Nine-to-fives. Friday movie nights. Hiking on the weekends. I know all about normal.”

She still looks skeptical, but she takes a breath and exhales. My chest swells. She traces a line down my neck with a single fingernail.

It’s selfish, but I just need to hear it from her once—those three words that promise I mean as much to her as she does to me, that mean if I came back into her life ten years from now—just for a glimpse of her—she’d look at me then the way she is now.

I need it more than my next breath.

She swallows. “I think you’rereallyhandsome.”

I blow out a laugh—fuck—my ribs stab into my side, and I roll onto my back, wincing and trying not to breathe too hard while my fractured bones shank me from the inside.

Valeria’s face pops into my vision as she braces herself on one hand. Her perfect tits flash me from beneath her robe. “That was very convincing. Very normal.”

“I thought you were going to say ‘I love you.’”

Her eyes sparkle. “I thought you figured that out already.”

“You’re killing me.”

“Okay, fine.” She scoops my face into her hands. For a moment, her eyes glimmer like she’s holding back tears. “Nico, I love you.”

I’m on top of her in an instant. Pain shoots through my body with the sharp movement, but after my vision clears and I can breathe again, I concentrate on her. Her breasts spilling out of her robe, her ink-black hair pooling onto the daybed.

Her unguarded expression, trusting and awestruck.

My heart wrenches like a bolt breaking free from centuries of rust. “Say it again.”

“You’re really handsome,” she breathes. “Like,modelhandsome.”

I thrust my hips forward, the head of my cock kissing against her entrance, already slick and hot for me.

“One more chance,” I warn.

The battle for mischief wars across her face, and then I see the moment when she gives in. Her lips part. “Nico, I am hopelessly, irresistibly,infuriatinglyin love with you.”

I plunge into her.

She gasps as I fill her, clenching around me, squeezing me as I bury my cock inside. Pleasure zips down my spine. I grip her jaw and tilt her face toward mine.

“I love you, Valeria. You’ve had your claws in me since the moment I first saw you.” I rock inside her, slowly, imperceptibly. “I am going to love you until the day I die.”

She hangs on my every word, fingers tracing the tattoos on my chest. Then she whispers my name, and I crush my mouth to hers, stealing kisses and moans from her, before settling my mouth on her collarbone and licking there, butnot sucking against her skin. I won’t mark her, not like that if she doesn’t want it, so I drive deep inside her instead, reaching all the places inside her no other man will be able to reach. I’ll mark her from the inside, and then she’ll be mine. Forever. No matter what.

Fire settles at the base of my cock. I won’t last much longer, but judging by the way she’s tightening like a coil, neither will she.

“Tell me again,” I grit out against her neck. I bite into her shoulder—fighting not to leave an imprint there. I’d mark every inch of her body if I could—I’d mark her soul.

“Nico—god—Nico, I’m coming,” she cries out.

I fight against my own impending orgasm with every ounce of my willpower and lift my head. “I’m going to come. Tell me you want every drop,” I rave. I’m losing my mind. “Tell me you want me to breed your tight cunt. Tell me how much you want me to give you a baby.” I grit my teeth, the heat in my body from holding back becoming unbearable, a Herculean effort.

Her pussy clenches in waves, and she throws her head back into the pillow. “Fill me up, Nico. Give me a baby. I want you so badly, please, please. I promise I won’t waste a single drop.”