CHAPTER Twenty Eight
“She is driving me crazy,” Luca groans into his hands as we sit in my study having a drink. “Have you seen her? She was a knock out with the blonde hair but the darker she dyes it the harder my dick gets.”
I throw my head back and laugh. When I first talked to Luca briefly I thought I was going to have to run an intervention between him and Pamela. Hearing him now I think my cousin has actually fallen in love for real this time.
“So what is the problem? You two are engaged, just shag her or set a fucking wedding date already,” I shrug and take a sip of brandy.
“Shag her? She’s a virgin you British Prick,” Luca grumbles.
“Ah, there is the cousin I know and love. And here I thought you went and grew a pussy and disappeared,” I tease. “You do still know I have more Italian blood in me than you and I have been to Italy more times than you have even thought about,” I lift a brow at him. He shakes his head at me with a rueful smile. “I still don’t see the problem she is going to be your wife.”
“I don’t know. It just doesn’t seem right after the shit I pulled on Pam. I feel like I shouldn’t touch Shannon until it official. I don’t know,” he huffs and gulps down the remainder of his drink.
“Maybe you need some closure with Pamela,” I say out loud before I fully think it through.
Luca’s head shoots up and his eyes glow with hope. I know I have said the wrong thing. “You’ve always been able to get her to listen. Do you think you can get her to see me?” He asks with too much excitement for my liking.
“That was not what I meant Luca,” I sigh. It is time I tell him the truth about Pamela. I still can’t believe that he has been so self-centered that he has missed the fact that she has been right under his nose this whole time. “She will be giving birth to her twin girls soon, starting a new family.”
Luca stands to his feet vibrating with rage. I take another sip of my drink because I know he knows better than to aim that rage at me. He runs a hand through his hair as if reeling in his temper.
“She’s pregnant? What the fuck, Uri? She’s having my baby?” Luca snarls.
I snort and glare at him. “You really are an arrogant schmuck aren’t you?” I snarl back at him. “You think you are the only man in the world? She has moved on you prick and she is happy. They are not your babies.”
Luca staggers back into his seat. He drops his head into his hands. “Just like that,” Luca chokes out a humorless laugh.
“When will you be honest with yourself about how you really treated her? Maybe that is the guilt that is keeping you from your fiancée now. Admit that letting Pamela go was the right thing to do and move on. She has,” I say truthfully.
He lets out another bark of laughter. “Shannon is the one that has asked her father to hold off on the wedding not me,” Luca says grudgingly.
“Stop talking about Pamela in your sleep and she may just go along with the wedding,” I say dryly causing Luca’s head to snap up.
“You’re fucking… are you serious? Fuck,” Luca stammers in stunned exasperation. “That explains so much.”
“I bet it does. Let’s see where the women have gotten off to. I’m sure Valentina should be ready by now,” I reply and stand from the chair in my study.
CHAPTER Twenty Nine
I look in the mirror one last time. I feel confident that my sister has given me the advice I need to change things with Luca. I spent the day in the spa with Valentina, having every inch waxed and treated. I dyed my hair once again coming closer to my natural jet black color.
I noticed Luca staring at a pretty brunette once when we first met. Since then I have noticed that he tends to notice dark haired women more than others. I have been testing the theory a shade at a time. I smooth my hands down my cream colored dress.
I have medium sized breasts so I can pull this dress off with no bra, which is necessary. The back of the dress has the back cut out and the front plunges down just below the breasts. I’m showing off more cleavage than I ever have in my life. I sigh and turn to exit the bathroom as Luca calls out for me.
I step out to see Luca in the mirror in the bedroom fixing his tie. He is so gorgeous. Over six feet tall with a lean build, but still well defined under his suits. Luca has the face of a God with his blue eyes and full lips. He and Uri look alike but were Uri has dark blonde hair Luca’s is jet black like my natural hair. His dark thick brows and lashes highlight his amazing eyes and straight nose. Where Uri wears a beard, Luca is usually clean shaven or has a little day’s worth of stubble. He took my breath away the first time I met him.
“What the hell are you wearing?” Luca demands as he turns from the mirror. I can see the desire in his eyes as they slide over my body. The dress stops mid-thigh, showing off my long toned legs in the six inch red heels Valentina insisted upon. My matching red lips lift into a smile. I mentally give my sister a high five.
Luca’s eyes take a second trip over my body and I can see the hunger that ignites in them. It is the same look I see Uri give Valentina. I don’t care what my sister says she and Uri are in love. I hate that she shuts down about her feelings. I know more is going on between them than just sex, but that is Valentina.
I shrug my shoulders at Luca. “Since we are going to the club tonight I thought I should dress club appropriate,” I say as innocently as I can.
He takes me in yet again, his eyes scanning my hair, crossing my face to linger on my lips a few beats before dropping to my breasts and then lingering again on my hips and legs. I swear he just growled in the back of his throat. He looks at his watch and curses. Uri has a car arriving to take the four of us to dinner and a club that the two of them own. My sister had me purposely get dressed at the last minute. When his eyes flicker up at me again I see his lips press and I know we have him just where we want him.
He runs a hand through his hair in frustration and turns from me cursing some more. I can swear from looking at his back he reaches to adjust himself in his pants. I have to fight to keep from doing a little wiggle to celebrate how well this is working.
When he turns around to face me once again he glares at my dress. “You stick with me tonight. I don’t want you out of my sight,” he rumbles and turns to storm out of the room.
This time I do a little dance and fist pump the air, my big sister rocks. Taking one last look in the mirror at my long locks to make sure my waves are nice and neat as the curls tumble down my back I wink at myself. I then take off after Luca as he growls my name.
~B~
“What are these two playing at,” I grumble into my drink to my cousin. I almost swallowed my own tongue when Shannon stepped out in that dress and those red fuck me heels.
Uri snorts. “I don’t know but Valentina knows I’m going to whip her ass when we get home,” he replies as he narrows his eyes at his wife but the words are softened by the small smile in the corners of his lips. Something tells me they are both going to enjoy that ass whipping. Uri had to rush off to the club ahead of us so he did not see his wife slide into the limo in that too short plum dress that halters at the neck and plunges to just above her navel.
Her back is completely bare and if I thought Shannon’s shoes were outrageously high Valentina’s are borderline illegal. Once arriving at the club both Uri and I decided that we would be spending the evening in a VIP private booth.
The VIP booths are private rooms that look out on the dance floor. They’re equipped with everything for a private party including a private bar, bartender and waitress. This club is one of the more exclusive ones that Uri and I own together.
“Are you still trying to keep your hands off,” Uri nodded his head toward Shannon who has been gyrating her hips to the music with Valentina for the last past fifteen minutes.
“I had to fight with everything I have not to pin her to a wall and fuck her brains out when she appeared in that dress. Yes, I am still keeping my hands off,” I grumble.
As if over hearing our conversation Valentina looks over at us then leans in to whisper something in Shannon’s ear. Shannon turns her back fully to us and drops down then shimmies, shakes and wiggles back up in a way I never thought my little Shannon knew how. That’s right, I said my Shannon. A month ago she still had a chance to get away, now there is no way I am letting her go.
Uri throws his head back and gives a rare laugh. I’m still getting used to this Uri. I’m usually the carefree one, but I like this change. Valentina has brought something out in him I’ve only seen him share with the woman I once wanted to be my wife, Pamela.
The thought of her causes me to shift in my seat. Uri’s news of her being pregnant by another man rocked me to my core. The possessive part of me wanted to go after her but Uri’s words from a few months ago still shook something inside me. Not the part where he warned me off because he would have to put a bullet in me.
It was when he said that I never loved Pamela and that I had left him to take care of her. He was right. I had been too much of a coward to handle when she told me she was pregnant. I knew there was nothing I could do about it, nothing I could promise her or give her.
I never meant for things to last as long as they did with Pamela. It’s just once I got my hands on her I couldn’t let go. She didn’t demand much from me and I liked that. I had thought of giving everything up for her more than once. I’m just no Uri. It would eat at me to be away from everything I have grown to know and be accustomed to.
Sure I have a few investments with Uri but we are talking the difference between million and billionaire status here. Uri has been much wiser with his money and could walk away from the family at any time, not me.
Uri’s voice pulls me from my thoughts as my eyes remain locked on Shannon who is still moving her body in ways I would never imagine my sweet girl doing. Even as her bottom lip is pulled between her teeth she still looks so innocent.
“That mate, looks like a woman who wants to be fucked,” Uri chuckles. “You may have a bigger problem on your hands than you thought if you intend to keep your hands to yourself.”
I groan inwardly because as always my cousin is right. My mind is made up. I think it has been since Uri dropped the Pam bomb on me. But I have to make things right in my head. I tear my eyes away from Shannon and narrow them at Uri before I speak.
“I have a favor to ask of you,” I say.
All traces of humor leave Uri’s face. He nods his head to let me know he is listening. I lick my suddenly dry lips. “I need you to get her to see me,” I lift my hands defensively when his face hardens. “Listen, it is not for what you think. I need to know that she understands. If she is happy like you say that is all I want but I need to know that I have said my peace. It just doesn’t feel right for me to touch Shannon’s innocence until I make it right.”
Uri searches my face as he gives me a hard glare for what seems like forever. He then nods. “I make you know promises,” he replies.
“I know she is with Nathanial Briggs. All this time she has been right under my nose Uri. I have known how to find her since you told me she is expecting and I have not gone to disrupt her life. I just need this to move on,” I plead with him not convinced that he will try too hard to get her to see me.
He studies me again and this time with a heavy sigh he says. “I will not stress her at this time. Give her family time to enjoy this moment in their lives and to get settled after the children arrive. Then and only then will I bring this up to her,” he says firmly.
I smirk and turn back to Shannon. No sooner than my eyes land on her do I groan. I grab my aching balls and pray that Pam and her family settle in quickly. I think Shannon is on a mission to kill me and her sister is in on it. Not a good sign.
CHAPTER Thirty
“Oh God, Uri,” Valentina cries out as we ride in the back of the car I hired for the night. “Ah, oh yes.”
I have my fingers wrapped around her throat squeezing lightly as I pump the fingers of my other hand in and out of her tight pussy. I’ve wanted to get my hands on her from the moment she stepped out in a Marilyn Monroe style dress, but in a rich purple instead of white. The way her skin glowed, while it clung to and hugged her body is pure perfection.
I was instantly hard at the sight of her. I don’t know how I managed to keep my hands off her as long as I did. As soon as we settled into the back of the car I buried my face into her neck. When I could resist her no longer I pulled her into my lap to devour her soft lips. It didn’t take long for me to shove her panties aside and plunge my fingers into her softness.
This will be her third orgasm just from my touch alone. “That’s it, give it to me, Love,” I growl in her ear.
I feel her legs shake as her insides tremble and suck tightly at my fingers. My cock is weeping and straining to be inside her but this is not for me. It is for her pleasure. I will have my fill this evening.
There is nothing more beautiful than Valentina coming apart for me. Looking down into her face I am in awe that I have come to care so much for this young woman. She ties me in knots that no one else can. I have watched her blossom and bloom in the last nine months.
My little one deserves the world and I have made my best attempt to give her just that. It is our one year anniversary. I have been married for a whole year. Valentina still drives me nuts like only she can, but it has been a solid year between the two of us.
We have spent more time in New York than Chicago over the last nine months. We’ve only taken one trip back to both London and Italy. My mum has found her way to the States and into our home as well, which has made Valentina very happy. The two of them just want to make me crazy together.
My relationship has improved with my mama as I have allowed her into my life more. After her revelation to Valentina I have made a conscious effort to try harder with her and things have been much better in our tumultuous relationship.
I have spoiled them both rotten so I am the one to blame but I would have it no other way. This is why on one of my club’s busiest nights I have closed the place down to give my wife the night of her dreams.
Rebecca had a hundred dozen blue and lavender roses brought into the club. In addition, white rose petals have been rigged up to the ceiling to drop on a timer. Throughout the night it will be like rose petals are raining from the ceiling. I have my mama to thank for suggesting I do something special for Valentina.
I have been distracted with news from Chicago. It seems that the Giordano’s are tired of being quiet. I have known it would only be a matter of time. The families didn’t back their demand for justice as they thought they would but that would only deter them for but so long.
What they don’t get and what some will never understand is that I have eyes and ears everywhere. There is nothing that stays hidden from me. I have known their every move since I have brought my wife back on US soil.
I blame my attention on those dead men for the fact that I have missed that something is off with Valentina. Although I noticed it right away once my mum made subtle mention of it. So tonight I intend to get to the bottom of what has my Bella Donna upset.
Just as she is coming down from bliss the car pulls up in front of the club. I pull my fingers from her body and pop them in my mouth licking my fingers clean before moving her knickers back into place and smoothing her dress down.
I place a kiss to her temple, and squeeze her breast one last time. “Are you ready,” I murmur against her damp skin.
“Just give me a sec,” she says breathlessly.
I lift her and place her back in her seat as I straighten my own clothing. I don’t take my eyes off her as she fidgets with her hair and smooths lip gloss across her lush lips. When she turns to me and gives me a broad smile I lean in to peck her jewel colored lips.
Valentina smiles and reaches to rub her gloss from my lips. Seeing that she is collected I tap the window to alert the driver that we are ready. The door opens and I step out before holding my hand out for Valentina’s. She steps out of the car looking like a goddess. I smirk when she looks at the club entrance and her brows furrow. There is usually a line wrapped around the block with patrons trying to get into the club.
I place a hand on the small of her back before she can voice the question in her eyes and lead her into the club. My focus is on her as we step inside and she takes in her surroundings. It is my job to keep her happy and I’m not pleased with myself for botching that job up. I watch her face as we enter the club. Her expression goes from confused, to stunned, to surprised finally settling on a beaming happiness that has been absent for a few weeks.
“Uri, it’s beautiful,” she gasps as she turns to me wrapping her arms around my neck. Rose petals are floating down around us making the moment one to truly remember.
“Happy anniversary, Love,” I murmur into her hair.
She pulls away and looks up at me. “I can’t believe you shut down your club for me. Isn’t this one of your busiest nights?”
“This is not important in comparison to you. I would stop the world from spinning to see a smile on your face,” I tell her as I run my thumb across her full bottom lip.
I am thrown when her eyes become sad. That is not the reaction I expected from my words. As soon as the sadness appears it disappears. I almost question whether I have seen it or not.
“Thank you,” she says softly.
“Is everything alright, Love?” I ask wanting to finally get to the bottom of what is going on with her.
I know that her company is doing well and she is planning a show in London within a few months. She speaks to her father almost daily and there hasn’t been any strain there. Shannon and Luca are their own story altogether and I have asked Valentina to stay out of it for the time being.
She wasn’t too happy with that request but she seemed to have gotten over it. Her uncle Valentine called her once to have her advise on a family job but I happened to be in the room and I put a stop to that bullshit.
I informed Valentine that if he couldn’t find a replacement for Valentina then he could call me from now on. I will handle their family business along with mine, but my wife will not be taking another life if I can help it. She hasn’t had a nightmare in months.
So I have come to my own conclusion as to what is going on with her. She gives me a weak smile and kisses my lips. “Perfect Baby, this is amazing.”
I’m not buying it but I am not going to push right now. I kiss her forehead and lead her to the table set in the middle of the dance floor for a romantic dinner for two. I can feel that Valentina is retreating into her thoughts. I sigh to myself. Things had been so good for so long. I had thought we were in a place where she would always open up to me.
I will give her sometime tonight but not much. As soon as we are seated our server arrives and we start with the wine I had chosen for tonight. I watch her every move taking in what I have been overlooking the last few weeks. My little vixen is holding something back. Time is up bella mia.
~B~
I won’t look up at Uri, although I can feel his eyes on me. It is like he can see through me. I don’t want to bring this night down. I may have married him to avoid an arranged marriage to a prick but I have fallen in love with Uri harder than I thought I ever could.
I can feel that he loves me as well but I can’t help that I feel like this marriage isn’t what he really wants. I mean we have been married for a year and he still hasn’t bought me a ring. I mean he took care of everything for our wedding but not the rings.
Uri is so calculated and takes care of all the details so I have a hard time understanding why he overlooked that one detail. The day he gave me the custom made earrings in the gym I had thought a ring was in the box. I hadn’t meant for him to see my disappointment and I was so grateful Shannon and Luca showed up when they did. Uri can be relentless and he would have drilled me until I told him what he wanted to know.
Just like right now. I know he is not going to let this go. I made the mistake of letting my feelings show and now his eyes are all over me. He does know that it irks me every time he introduces me as his wife and some woman that is eye fucking him looks down to check his ring finger and mine. I have almost put a bullet between more than one woman’s eyes over this man. Eyes are always on him and him not having a wedding ring on his finger doesn’t say man in love to me.
I can’t even blame the women and even some men that can’t take their eyes off him. He looks amazing tonight, the grey suit fits him like a second skin and the blue tie is setting off his blue eyes under those thick dark blonde lashes. His crisp white shirt is only enhancing his tanned skin. This man should come with a caution sign. I wish I would have heeded the warning my heart tried to give me.
I can’t believe we have been married for a year. I have been happy for the most part of the year we have been together. It’s just…I goofed up and now I don’t know how he is going to react to it, which is the reason that the ring has become an issue for me. What if the ring is a sign that this is just not going to work out? I have now created a problem that can’t be easily fixed.
I blink to fight back the tears. For three weeks I have been avoiding him. It was easier when his mind was occupied by other things. Just my luck he started to notice something is wrong and has been watching me more closely since.
Now that this is a real reality I’m not sure if I’m ready to be a mother. When Uri speaks of our future he has never mentioned children, so I don’t know if this is something he wants. He always deflects the subject when his mother brings it up.
“Tina, what are you so deep in thought about?” My heart goes to mush hearing my childhood nickname coming from his lips. After hearing my father and uncle call me the nickname a few times he started to use it too in our more tender moments.
I don’t know why but it does something to me to hear him call me that. Just one more reason I am so in love with him. I feel like the worst wife in the world. I should tell him what I suspect but I don’t have the strength to lose him. Uri has done something to me. The part of me that I knew was broken but never knew how to fix has been healed in his arms.
Uri makes it okay for me not to have to be the strong one and that is something that I have needed. I know that now but I didn’t before I met him. I should just tell him and let him take care of everything the way he always does, but what if this time he doesn’t want to fix it?
“Love, tell me,” he pushes.
I plaster on a smile and shake my head. “I just can’t believe we have been married for a year already. You are nothing like what I expected you to be,” I say teasingly hoping to deter him.
He cracks a small smile. “And what is it you expected?”
I shrug my shoulders. “For an old man you are more interesting than I thought for one,” I smile.
He throws his head back and lets out a deep hearty laugh. My heart leaps at the sound. “This is what goes on in that pretty head? You think I am old,” he lifts a brow and lets his eyes roam over my face and then my body with a heated stare. “I thought by now I have put this notion to bed. No? I guess I have some work to do.”
He smirks at me licking his lips. I look away and train my eyes on the soup that has been placed before me. This would lead me to my other issue. Uri is amazing in bed. He has done things to my body that make me weep in joy. He never disappoints but there is something I want from him and he hasn’t asked or tried since I told him of my aversion to being beneath a man.
Uri is not just any man. I trust him and I want to take this final step. I know I sound confused, trusting him on one hand, being reluctant on another. I blame my silly hormones for now. I’m surprised Donatella hasn’t figured it out by now. I have been a mess.
Uri calls my name sharply and this time there is a scowl on his face. “Explain this,” he says in Italian waving a hand at me.
“There is nothing to explain. Please Baby, we will talk but I just want to enjoy tonight,” I plead.
His eyes soften as the endearment flows from my lips. He looks at me for a beat longer and then nods and turns his attention to the soup before him. We make it through the first few entrees with light conversation. As the strawberry and chocolate dessert is placed in front of us Uri’s eyes move over my face.
I beam at him before devouring the treat. “Would you like some of mine,” he chuckles as I lick the remains of my finished dessert from my spoon.
I blush and place my fork down. “Everything was so delicious,” I say biting my lip.
“This pleases me. I want you to have nothing but the best,” his full lips tug into a smile beneath his trim beard.
“Why is that?” I ask because I can’t help myself.
He lifts a brow at me. “This is something you need to ask?”
“Yes, it is,” I say softly still not able to look him in the eyes.