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“I was already ready to go, so I thought I’d make things easier by waiting.”
She leans over and kisses me, and my hand slides across the side of her neck, holding her in place when she tries to pull away.
As soon as our lips met for the first time, I knew I wouldn’t ever have enough. They’re pillowy soft and full, always in a pout.
“You? Making things easy?” I ask, continuing to touch her neck even though I’ve managed to break our kiss.
She rolls her eyes. “I’m not as difficult as you think.”
“Oh, you are, but you’re also so manageable in…certain situations,” I say with a grin.
Her cheeks redden as she tucks a lock of hair behind her ear, eyes briefly flickering to the driver who’s merging into traffic.
We settle into our seats but I keep my hand on her thigh, and she holds it with her own. “What’re the plans?” she asks.
“We gotta talk to Donati about a few things. You have to understand that our families have never gotten along. You being in the middle of it may or may not affect things, but we aren’t sure how yet. We need to iron out a few details.
“Okay,” she says with a nod.
“Are you wanting a relationship with him?” I ask.
She’s quiet for a while. “I’m not sure. I did for so long. I wanted to know who my father was and why he left. Now that I know…” She trails off and looks out the window. I leave it at that. She has a lot of thinking to do.
We fill the rest of the drive with easy conversation, but when we pull up to Donati’s I know we need some privacy.
“Kade, give us a minute, will you?”
He nods. “Yes, sir.”
I wait until he gets out, watching as he walks to the front of the car, standing guard.
“Come here,” I say, garnering an arched brow look of confusion.
She slowly undoes her seat belt, watching as I pat my thigh. With a grin she slides over and sits in my lap.
“Yes?”
I wrap my arms around her waist. “I’m not good with words and declarations. I’m not known for any emotion other than anger. I’ve tried explaining to you how I feel, but I’m aware it comes out like threats. I’ve really only ever known violence. My mom passed away, and with her, the whisperedI love yous, comforting hugs, and wisdom only a mother can give died as well. She didn’t have enough time to teach me a lot of things young men learn when they’re starting to date and deal with emotions. My father did the best he could, but he was a hard man, raised by another hard man.
“What I did to find you was showing emotion I don’t know how to express, you understand?”
She nods, completely focused on me.
“I can’t lose you, Mariella. I mean the things I say, even if it’s not the way you want to hear them. I won’t let another man live if he hurts you in any way. That’s how deeply I feel about you. It may be possessiveness, but you’re mine, plain and simple, and I will do any and everything to keep you safe. Your father thought what he was doing would work, but I know now that only I can protect you. I’ll never forgive myself for letting you go just for you to be taken and hurt. You will always be safe with me, because I’m a selfish man, and I refuse to live in a world without you.”
She sniffles, her eyes wet. “Vicente.” She cups my face in her small hands. “I know who you are. I knew from the beginning that you were different from any other guy I’ve ever met or will meet. I’m not asking you to become someone you’re not for me. I want you exactly as you are because that’s who I fell for. Darkness and all.”
I rest my forehead on her chest. “I just needed you to know that I’ve never felt like this before. This all-consuming, feverish desire. The overwhelming need for more.”
Mariella lifts my head and stares into my eyes. “I feel the same way.”
My lips draw up before I plant a kiss on her lips. “Good. Let’s get this talk over with so we can be alone again.”
“Yes, please.”
I bring my hand down hard on her thigh, making her squeal. “Just a taste of what’s to come.”
She gives me an adorable pout. “Not nice of you to tease me.”
