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I noticed that the room was exquisitely decorated with masses of fresh flowers. But somehow, I found their scent overwhelming, and the feeling of nausea came creeping back when I heard Marco make his vows in a strong, hard voice.
When it was my turn, I repeated after the officiant. “I do solemnly declare that I know not of any lawful impediment why I, Juliana Bonardi, may not be joined in matrimony to Marco Marchiano.”
Well, I suppose being kidnapped and forced into marriage did not constitute a lawful impediment in the Mafia world.
The officiant then asked me to complete my vows. “I call upon these persons here present to witness that I, Juliana Bonardi, do take Marco Marchiano to be my lawfully wedded husband.”
Marco slipped the wedding ring onto the fourth finger of my left hand to join the diamond engagement ring that was already there. The band was yet another sign of his ownership of me.
The ceremony was over before I knew it, and somehow it did not feel real.
However, at the conclusion of the wedding ceremony, I knew that I was now the wife of Marco Marchiano. Not only under the contract drawn up under Mafia laws, but now also under the laws of the United States of America.
MARCO
Today we finally managed to make our vows and exchange rings without any interruption.
Juliana had made her vows in a quiet voice. I knew she didn’t want to marry me today, but her wants were irrelevant. Inside, I was raging at her earlier refusal to walk down the aisle. Her blatant rejection of me was like a match to the inferno that had been raging within me since the Società’s attack on our estate.
Her actions shouldn't have bothered me as much as they did, but for some reason my feelings toward this woman bordered on the obsessive.
What I'd made her witness in the garage block had been for her own good— so that she would never try to escape again and so that she wouldn't ever think again about returning to a family who didn't value her safety or her life. Because I couldn't let anyone ever harm her. She was too important to me to let that happen.
But her continued defiance today made my lungs tighten and the beast inside me rage.
Once she stopped fighting me and accepted her life with me, things would improve between us. Nothing could make me regret my initial actions of taking her against her will. There was no way that I would have ever left her behind. I would not allow anyone or anything to take this woman away from me.
Although she was strong and stubborn, she was vulnerable too. And while she might at times show indifference or anger toward me, I knew that she was developing feelings for me. I had felt her pussy quiver in ecstasy around my cock, and I had seen the way she looked at me sometimes. Things had got off to a bad start, but she was always going to be mine one way or another. And now she was.
My need for her was intense. It went beyond a physical need or raw lust. And although at times I wanted to punish her while I fucked her, I had so far kept that dark side in its box.
The reality of our situation was crueler than I’d intended, but this was the way of our world. And I would never be sorry for taking her, nor for keeping her.
At the conclusion of the ceremony, the officiant pronounced us to be husband and wife and declared that I could kiss my bride.
Juliana showed surprise on her face and her eyes quickly flicked away from me. She’d obviously forgotten about this part of the ceremony, but I hadn’t.
The side of my mouth lifted in a smile, and I pulled her toward me, giving her no choice in the matter.
Her mouth remained resolutely closed during the kiss. No matter, there would be plenty of time later for me to rectify that.
And I was looking forward to making her submit to me tonight.
CHAPTER 27
JULIANA
A small reception followed at the hotel.
In the banquet hall, I knocked back my glass of champagne and it tasted good. I swiftly picked up a second glass.
When it was time for the first dance, I let Marco lead me onto the dance floor and did not resist when he took me into his arms and held me against his chest. I yielded and rested my head against his hard, muscled torso. At least that way, I didn’t have to look into his eyes and see his smirk as he crowed over his ownership of me.
I was relieved when it was time to go home. It was still early, however, being only mid-afternoon, giving me some respite before I would be expected to perform my wifely duties tonight.
As soon as we reached the mansion, I swiftly headed upstairs, eager to shed myself of this dress. As soon as I was in the bedroom, I tugged off the dress and left it in a heap on the floor. I grabbed a robe and wrapped it around me. Then I scooped up my pooch and held him to me and stroked his fur, more to soothe me than him.
Despite all my earlier coffee, all the champagne must have made me sleepy because the next thing I knew I was waking up. I could tell by the light filtering through the windows that it must be early evening now.
