Bella #1 (Sagatori Family Saga #1) (12 page)

She was close enough for the scent of her expensive perfume to swirl in the air around me.

She was trying to unlock the door, she fumbled with the keys. After a few seconds I stepped next to her, bringing my hand to hers. Her back was to me with my head over her right shoulder. She turned, the smell of her hair finding me. My heart beat hard and fast. For the first time since a lifetime ago, I was intoxicated by another woman.

“I’
ve got this
.
” I leaned into her neck whispering.

Her hand fell.

When the door opened and the alarm gave a warning. She pressed a few buttons and it quit
.“
Sorry i
t’
s cold, we turn the heat down when w
e’
re not here.
I’
ll turn it up
.
” She left the foyer.

I removed my coat and scarf, hanging them on the wooden coat rack. I loosened my tie as I let my eyes roam the house. I entered the great room and saw that she was standing behind a large bar

“
Drink
?
” She asked looking up from the bar.

I nodded.

I approached the fireplace. As I rolled up my sleeves, I opened the fireplace and placed a few pieces of wood inside. I moved them around lighting it as I watched it come to life.

“
Yo
u’
re good at that
.
” She said as she sat next to me on the brick. She handed over a glass
.“
I love fires. The
y’
re one of my favorite things about winter
.
” She reached up with her free hand to pull her dark hair out of the bun. She shook her head a few times and her hair fell in dark waves around her beautiful face.

My eyes locked on hers. When she looked up from the fire hers locked on mine.

I felt alive, brought on by her scent, smile, full lips, and bright round eyes. I reached my hand to her hair, taking a few strands into my fingers. Her eyes did
n’
t move, did
n’
t blink, she was scared. I tucked the strands of her soft, silky hair behind her diamond pierced ears and dropped my hand.

Her hands fidgeted, her lips parted just enough for her tongue to sweep over them.

“
I could take you home
.
” If I did
n’
t I was going to lose control with her. I needed to separate myself from her before I did something
I’
d regret.

“
Tell me about your wife
.
” She asked with a hushed whisper.

My head fell to the fire. I do
n’
t want to talk about Rebecca. Not because I do
n’
t miss her. In fact tha
t’
s exactly the reason. I
t’
s too painful. Knowing what she did is too much to consider right now.

“I’
m sorry, I did
n’
t mean to pry. You do
n’
t have to talk about her if you do
n’
t want to
.
”

What was I supposed to say about a woman that broke my heart right before she died? What do I say about someone that was lying to my face right up until the end?

Bella stood and walked across the room holding her arms to her chest
.“I’
ve never been in love
.
” She admitted, facing away from me
.“
I do
n’
t know what i
t’
s like to have that connection with someone. Guys are always too scared to approach me
.
”

“
Not Adam
.
” I stood and approached her from behind. I wanted to take her.

“
Adam was an immature boy. I needed a man
.
” She turned, finding me right there, breathing in her intoxicating scent. Her head raised to me surprised.

As I looked down, I saw the pulse in her neck throb quickly. Mine was pounding just as fast.

“
Is it everything that people say it is
?
” Her lips barely parted.

My hands found her hair and sweptit out of her face as I held onto her flushed cheeks
.“
Do you want to find love, Bella? Is that what you want for yourself
?
” My heart raced with every second I touched her. I was fighting it, but that would
n’
t last long.

“
Yes
,
” She breathed
.“
Do
n’
t you
?
” Her eyes slowly fluttered under my touch.

My eyes closed to her question, and I realized
I’
d never
not
wanted something so badly in my life
.“
Love can b
e
… over rated
.
”

“
So
I’
ve heard
.
” She leaned into me.

Pulling her close, my lips found hers. She was warm and soft. Unbelievably decadent. My tongue swept across her lips tasting her sweetness. She kissed me back, pushing her body into mine.

Right then, I wanted her. All of her.

.

Oh God!  I wanted him to kiss me, or did I? This could be very complicated. There was so much going on and adding this could be messy to say the least. But I did want it. I wanted to be touched
and
tasted.

I leaning into him, his scent washed over like it did earlier at the door. Jesus, I thought I was going to pass out. I had
n’
t been touched in a year, at least. Each month got more depressing, so I stopped counting, but I wanted this.

He began pulling me towards him with as body melted into his hold. His lips took mine, devoured me. He tasted just as good as he smelled, with a mixture of cologne and brandy. His breath was hot and his touch smooth.

Suddenly, I felt apprehension in the kiss and he started pulling away. My hands met his face
.“
Do
n’
t
.
” I whispered.

“
I ca
n’
t give you love Bella. I can give you many things, but if its love you want I ca
n’
t offer you that
.
” My heart flipped. H
e’
d offered to marry me and then he kissed me, but love was off the table?

“
Good
,
” I ca
n’
t handle everything tha
t’
s going on right now and love too
.“
What
can
you offer me
?
” I asked.
I’
m lying to myself, if for one second I believed I could
n’
t love him. I could love him. I did
n’
t know him very well, but h
e’
s exactly the kind of man I could love. I would
n’
t admit it though.

What are you about to do Bella?

“
I
t’
s not that easy
.
” He hesitated. His jaw tightened and his eyes went dark.

Sliding my hands to his neck, I could feel his pulse under my touch and him harden against me. My body reacted with a tingle in the place that had
n’
t been touched in a very long time.

“
I
t’
s as easy as we say it is
.
” I stepped up on my tippy toes and rubbed against his body with mine
.“
No strings
.
” I pulled him to me.

A deep breath released from his mouth
.“I’
ll wait until yo
u’
re my wife
.
” He stepped back away from my touch.

“
Yo
u’
ll be waiting a long time then. I wo
n’
t marry you
.
” I hugged my chest tightly with my arms.

His eyes narrowed in on me
.“
Really? You think you have a say Bella? You think that
I’
m giving you a say
?
”

I backed away from his growl without even realizing it and he came at me just as quickly. My lips parted, but I did
n’
t speak. Who did he think he was?

“I’
ve been ver
y
… patient with your mouth.
I’
ve been patient with the way that you speak to me, but I do
n’
t intend on letting you get away with that again
.
” His arm landed on my arm
.“
I ca
n’
t be seen as weak. I wo
n’
t be seen as weak. Do you understand
?
”

“
Oh, I get it. Yo
u’
re using me the same way Sam wants too. You want to be the boss of bosses huh. Well fuck you! Listen to me very carefully Jax Moretti, I will
never
marry you
!
” I took a deep breath and ran to the front entrance to grab my bag. After snatching it up with mad speed, I jutted out of the side door that led into the garage and opened the door to the black Audi. Ja
x’
s hand grabbed mine causing me to jerk backwards.

“
Where do you think yo
u’
re going
?
”

“
Away from you. I barely know you
.
”

“
And yet you were so willing to lay down like a whore
?
” I smacked his cheek with everything I had. My eyes were wide and full of fire as I waited for the reaction I was sure h
e’
d give. His face was red with horror, but he
did
n’
t
react.

“
Yo
u’
ll come to Chicago with me when I leave Detroit. And yo
u’
ll do it as my wife
.
” His reaction dumbfounded me. I had
n’
t been looking at him as a powerful man. I did
n’
t feel threatened by him before because h
e’
d been kind. But I see how mistaken I had truly been.

Jax Moretti was a dangerous man.

***

The satin hugged my hips. My curves begged to be released from the seam of the dress. The full length mirror showed my weakness. It screamed each one of them out loud. My father had decided I would marry Jax. He did
n’
t care what
I’
d thought.
I’
d told him how vile h
e’
d become with me and yet he did
n’
t care. Papa had said that it was final and
I’
d do what I was told.

Emily tucked herself into the bridesmaid dress that sh
e’
d picked off of the rack only this morning. We literally had one day to prepare.
I’
d just assumed
I’
d wear jeans. I was pissed that Papa was making me do this and that was being nice. I was feral.  I wanted to rip Ja
x’
s throat out. I wanted to jab him in the eye with a knife. How dare he speak to me like he had? I had
n’
t seen him since then. He took me to my real house and did
n’
t even look at me when I stepped out of the car. Seriously, the guy had two personalities that he needed to get in check real quick.

“
Are you ready
?
” Emily asked as she leaned on my shoulder. She watched me watch myself in the mirror.

“
I wish it was all different. I wish my momma was here
.
” A tear escaped from the corner of my eye.

“
Stop Bell, seriously
!
” She turned me around to look at her
.“
What are you doing? You want to marry Sam? What if he made you do that? Seems to me like this is a way better option. Or do you want me to call Sam and get him over here.
I’
m sure h
e’
d be a great husband, rubbing his dick all over every chick that walked by him
.
”

I nodded my head
.“
He was horrible. He called me a whore
.
”

“
Pss
t
… Please, he was probably just mad or had his ego burned by your awesomeness
.
” She rubbed my head in a soothing manner.

I laugh cried as I bent over trying to get myself together
.“I’
m not so awesome, Em.
I’
m a joke
.
”

She shook her head while she listened as she also bit her nails
.“
Listen, your dad needs you to be strong right now Bell. He is
n’
t doing well now. I see him all day and I can tell this is tearing him up. Your father loves you very much
.
” Emily had always been the voice of reason when it came down to it. She had a way with words that could take your breath away. This was her way to support both me and my father.

I nodded again
.“
What if he's mean to me? I do
n’
t want to be stuck with a mean husband Em.
I’
m scared
.
” I admitted. Emily was the only person
I’
d admit that too.

She pulled me into her arms for a thoughtful hug. Her dark hair tickled my nose and I laughed
.“
He hot as fuck Bell.
I’
m sure that he fucks like a God
.
” She pulled away with a fake smile planted on her puffy face. Sh
e’
d been crying. She just did
n’
t know that I knew that
.“I’
ll visit all the time okay
?
”

“
Yeah,
I’
ll bet tha
t’
ll go over great Em
.
” I snorted as I patted my face and looked back into the mirror. This was
n’
t a happy occasion for me
.“
He said h
e’
d never love me Em. How can I go into this knowing he wo
n’
t ever feel for me
?
”

She shrugged
.“
So you get a sexy body guard and make him fall in love with you
.
” Her face lit up bright red.

A knock on the door jolted us from our conversation
.“
Bella you ready
?
” Tony asked as if he'd known Emily had just said the words
"sexy body guard".

“
You can come in Tony
.
” I said.

“
Hey, you alright
?
” He asked me.

“
Nope, but it does
n’
t really matter does it
.
” My face was void of all emotion.

He offered a smile
.“
Gotta go
.
” He said with hesitation.

The walk downstairs was long, but I got through it with the help of Emily gripping my hand.

When we arrived in the living room, the pastor was standing next to the window. Papa was sitting in the white chair next to the fireplace; Sal was right next to him staring off into space. Jax and three other men stood in the corner wearing suits. When I cleared my throat everyone turned into my direction.

“
Isabella
.
” Papa stood and approached me
.“
My beautiful princess
.
” He kissed both my cheeks.

I smiled, but I was
n’
t the doting bride he wanted me to be.

Everyone stepped into place and Jax slid beside me. He took my hand and then turned to me. I rolled my saturated eyes and faced forward
.“
Let me have a minute with my bride
.
” He clasped my hand and pulled me into the guest bathroom in the hallway.

He stared at me for a long beat after closing the door.

“
What
?
” I snapped.

“I’
m sorry Bella
.
” He took a long gasp for air as he looked to the ceiling
.“I’
m sorry that I called you a whore
.
” His eyes were
n’
t meeting mine. His cologne surrounded me and I felt nauseous as I stood there with this man that could
n’
t even look at me.

A tear rolled down my cheek and I quickly wiped it away before he could see.
I’
m not weak and I would
n’
t let him think I was
.“
Is this a joke
?
”

“
What
?
” He snapped.

“
You. You bring me in here to look at the fucking ceiling while you give me a joke of an apology
?
” I yanked my hand from his.

His head fell into his hand
.“
Bella you do
n’
t know what yo
u’
re saying
.
” He said as he ran his hand across his smooth face.