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Ah, so that explained it. I hadn’t told Noemi about my newly discovered relations. Not that it was a secret. For all I’d known, her family had already told her the sordid details.
“I brought the girls, too,” Mia added. “They were so excited to meet you.”
“Yes, Giada mentioned getting together sometime.” Noemi looked up at me questioningly. I appreciated her consideration because I wasn’t sure how I felt about the women cozying up to one another.
“I’m sure we’ll have time to sort it out,” I forced. “For now, we really need to greet some more guests.” I nodded to Mia and ushered Noemi away, ignoring her shocked glance at my abruptness. Thankfully, she didn’t push for an explanation.
Mia had reached out several times over the past weeks, but I had no desire for awkward apologies and guilt-ridden explanations that served no purpose. I truly was happy with my life. My adoption resulted in a loving family, wealth, and privilege. She couldn’t care for me at the time, so she did what she thought was best. I wasn’t impressed with her family for not supporting her. That fact had always colored my perception of the Italians in general. Still, I had no particularly hard feelings toward her.
The past was the past. End of story.
Exhausting the last of my reserves, I guided us toward the ballroom entrance. It was time to draw the curtain on the reception portion of our evening. I was ready to be alone with my new wife.
ThankGodfor champagne.I would have been a nervous wreck if I hadn’t had the calming effects of alcohol dulling my senses. As it was, I still swam in a pool of my own chaotic emotions, but at least I hadn’t needed to throw up from the uncertainty of it all.
It took a half hour to get to Conner’s apartment building, and we spent the entire ride in silence. Next to one another but alone. Husband and wife. Total strangers. But that didn’t matter to Conner. He’d made his plans for me clear.
He’d claimed my life, and now my body would be his as well.
Breathe, Noemi.
Conner lived in one of the newest high-rise apartment buildings in the middle of the city. I’d grown up in a periphery neighborhood that boasted single-family homes and a surprising allotment of trees. While I was used to seeing the close quarters of Midtown Manhattan, I’d never lived there. Even that would be an adjustment. Heaven forbid anything about this marriage feel easy and familiar.
I took in every facet of his expansive apartment as I walked inside the dimly lit space. It was modern but not overly cold. Open area living with a wall of solid windows overlooking the river. Sandy-colored cabinets with a light-gray stone countertop and rich camel wood floors. He even had several large house plants that softened the look. I wondered if he kept them alive or had a housekeeper who tended to them. My money was on a housekeeper.
I walked past the large cream leather sectional to the window displaying the city at dusk. The thirty-story view gave my alcohol-soaked stomach a lurch. Turning back around, I found Conner watching me as he rolled up the sleeves of his dress shirt. He’d removed his jacket and vest while I’d looked around and now had every ounce of his attention directed at me.
“Your place is lovely,” I offered, moving to the center of the living area but leaving the sofa strategically between us.
“Your things were delivered earlier today. Some of it was put away, but you’ll have to sort through the rest.” He began to prowl around the sofa toward me, eyes never leaving mine.
Holding his smoldering blue gaze was terrifying yet felt essential at the same time. His unremitting stare commanded and unnerved me. Aroused and bemused me. It was more intimate than anything I’d ever experienced. It felt like giving confession, only darker, more seductive. What I imagined it might be like to confess my sins to the devil himself.
Conner closed in behind me, his confident fingers sliding the straps of my gown over my shoulders. “There’ll be plenty of time to show you around now that the place is yours.”
“Is it, though?” I breathed, trying desperately to keep my wits about me. I could feel myself getting swept up in the desire he elicited.
I tried to turn, but Conner’s hands kept my shoulders in place, then slowly caressed down my exposed spine. “What’s mine is yours now,” he replied distractedly.
My heart jackhammered against the confines of my chest. I would lose this battle if I didn’t get away from him. He’d hardly touched me, and I could feel the resulting slickness of arousal coating my thong. If I gave him any more time, he’d reduce me to a puddle of wanton desire.
“I’m on my period,” I blurted, my eyes widening in shock at my own words.
Adept fingers slid down the zipper of my dress, causing the heavy beaded gown to melt to the floor. I stood motionless in nothing but a thong and white satin heels. A rumble of masculine appreciation teased out an army of goose bumps down my arms and legs. When his hands came to rest at my hips, I closed my eyes, sensing I was fighting a losing battle.
Conner lowered himself to his knees, then used his hands to spin me around so that his face was inches from my belly. Before I could protest, he leaned in and ran the bridge of his nose up my slit, breathing in a long, languid breath as he did. When his eyes lifted again to mine, they shone with wicked triumph.
“I don’t think so, little Emy. Not that it would have stopped me if you were.”
One hand centered on my belly and pressed me backward. When I moved to catch myself, the back of my legs hit the sofa, sending me falling backward onto the cushions. Conner was between my legs instantly, his body keeping my thighs spread.
“I told you I was hungry.” Then his mouth was on me, licking my core through the thin silk of my thong.
My head flung backward, every nerve in my body lighting up at his touch. “Conner,” I gasped, losing all ability to think.
“That’s it, baby. Say my name while I devour this sweet pussy of yours.”
His hands tugged the fabric at my hips, ripping away the thong before his mouth was on me again, this time with nothing between us. If I’d thought his fingers felt good, his tongue on my clit was pure ecstasy. When he pressed my thighs back to give himself better access, I clasped my hands behind my knees to help. I’d completely surrendered myself, a slave to the sensations he produced.
