Page 13 of His to Wed

He moves back and nods to the older man to begin. He speaks about how everyone has come together to witness our marriage and what a joyous occasion it is. I face Alessandro, devastatingly handsome in a black suit, and try not to succumb to panic as my nerves jangle. My hands shake as the enormity of my situation sinks in. I’m in a foreign country, about to marry a completestranger. My grandfather is dead and someone may want to kill me. It’s a lot to deal with.

“Emilia.” Alessandro’s deliciously deep voice interrupts my thoughts.

I look up at him and he tilts his head toward the wedding officiant. I’ve obviously missed something, but I don’t want everyone to know I tuned out, so I take an educated guess at what I’m supposed to say.

“I do.”

Alessandro’s approving smile tells me I got that right. I try to concentrate on the proceedings, but the rest of the ceremony passes in a blur. More words are spoken. Alessandro slips a ring onto my finger. Then comes the moment that seals the deal. Not knowing what to expect, my stomach flutters with nerves. Will Alessandro simply brush my cheek with his lips, or is he going to make a statement with the kiss?

I hold my breath as he puts a hand on my shoulder and bends to kiss me. To my surprise, he’s gentle, almost reverent, as his lips meet mine. He strokes my cheek, making my insides tingle. It’s not how I thought he would be, but, as his mother squeals in delight, I realize his consideration is probably for her benefit and not mine. He doesn’t want her to see him as a brute, the type of man who would spank a woman he barely knows.

As he pulls back from me, Alessandro’s expression is irritatingly blank. I guess I’m going to have to get used to being unable to read him.

“You need to sign those,” the officiant says, pointing to a sheaf of papers on a table next to him I hadn’t even noticed until now.

There’s more than one document lying there. I don’t think it’s normal to have that much paperwork to make a marriage official. Obviously, there are other contracts for me to sign.

If I was feeling braver, I would ask for time to read through all of this before putting my name to it but, with the Volante family sitting behind me, I don’t want to appear uncooperative. If I discover later that I’ve agreed to something I can’t live with, I can claim I signed under duress. I could even play the Italian card, though my English is impeccable.

When I’ve signed the papers, Alessandro takes the pen from me and works his way through the pages, adding his signature next to mine. His mother comes and pulls me into her arms, hugging me tight. Then, as the men gather around to congratulate Alessandro, she takes my hand and leads me to the other side of the room, out of earshot of her children.

“Are you okay, Emilia? You seemed distant during the ceremony.”

“I was thinking about my family.”

Murmuring sympathetically, she nods. “Of course. I’m sorry you’re being rushed into all of this.”

“It’s okay.” I offer what I hope is a reassuring smile. None of what’s happened is Ava’s fault and I won’t take my frustrations out on an innocent party. I’ll reserve my anger for her son.

“Are you worried about tonight? You’ll have to consummate the marriage, you know?”

“Yes,” I reply, my voice quiet.

Even before Alessandro teased me to the point of orgasm, I assumed that would be the case. He’s obviously not the typeof man who would settle for a sexless marriage. The idea of sleeping with him is scary, especially now that I know he has the power to command my body even when my mind tries to resist him.

Ava pats my arm. She seems genuinely worried about me.

“I’ve spoken to him, given him some advice on how to make it pleasurable for you.”

My eyes widen and it’s only my ingrained good manners that prevent me from laughing out loud. Try as I might, I cannot picture this elegant woman sitting her Mafioso son down to explain how to show his new bride a good time in bed. Does she imagine he needs direction?

“He promised to consider your unworldliness,” Ava continues, her characterization of my relative inexperience making me wince. “But if he’s not good to you, tell me. I’ll speak to Antonio and he’ll soon sort him out.”

That will never happen. It would be embarrassing enough to tell Ava if her son wasn’t treating me right without having the boss of the family involved as well.

“You’re not alone,” Ava assures me.

“What are you saying to my wife, Mamma?” Alessandro appears at my side and slides an arm around my waist, a proprietorial gesture. “Did you advise her to obey her husband?”

His eyes gleam with mischief and his lips turn up at the corners, so I know he’s teasing her.

“Pfft!” Ava scoffs. “Obey? She is not a dog, Alessandro.”

“I’m well aware.” He casts an appreciative glance over me. “My new bride is most definitely a woman.”

My cheeks heat as he brazenly lets his eyes linger on the swell of my breasts. I look up at him and he meets my gaze. The air around us buzzes with a strange electricity. I can almost taste it. My entire body goes rigid as he tightens his grip on my waist.

Seeming to sense the growing tension between us, the thrum of anticipation in the air, Ava discreetly backs away.

Source: www.allfreenovel.com