Page 75 of Forced Union

“Yes, ma’am.” I resist the urge to tug at my collar, suddenly feeling suffocated. “I suppose it was… unusual.”

“Ah, so we’re not going to hear a speech from you defending your decision to drug and force my daughter into marriage? Or how we owed you a debt, and it was your right to take her to get even?”

Fucking Christ, this woman has me by the balls.

“No, ma’am.” I never had a mother, that I can remember. Are they all this intimidating?

“Well then, I guess I have one question for you.” The table has grown awkwardly quiet, all eyes on us. “Are you in love with my daughter?”

Arianna groans. “Mama, you can’t ask such things.”

“This is my house, young lady, I can ask whatever questions I want.” Mrs. Pontrelli pins me with her hazel gaze, obviously waiting for my answer. I’m not getting out of this.

I quickly glance around the table, which was a mistake because fucking everyone is waiting for my reply. Except Roman, who smirks at me as he casually reaches for another slice of pie. Fucker.

“I am.” My answer rings out loud and clear in the silent space. I peek at Arianna who looks mortified. “I’ve been in love with Arianna for longer than she’ll ever know. I was a goner since I first laid eyes on her two years ago.” My confession settles into the silent void.

Her gaze meets mine and her lips part. I can’t tell if she’s surprised or horrified at my admission. Either way, it’s true. This is not the way I envisioned expressing my emotions to her, but now it’s done. She can do whatever she wants with that information. I’m done hiding the depths of my feelings for her, and I’m certainly not going to let her nosey mother rattle me.

I face Mrs. Pontrelli. “I love your daughter.”

Her eyes twinkle with delight. “I know.”

The silent bubble around the table finally bursts when Mr. Pontrelli announces he’s taking his wife to Italy for New Years. Everyone begins discussing their holiday plans.

Arianna leans toward me, keeping her voice low she says, “You didn’t have to say that. I’m sorry, my mother can be such a bully at times. You could have spoken the truth and she wouldn’t have punished you for it, I swear.”

“That is the truth.” I slide my fingers through hers and bring her hand to my lips. “I should have told you from the beginning, no matter how crazy I would’ve sounded.”

Her gaze searches my face, seeking the truth perhaps? I open myself up to her, letting her see the sincerity in my eyes, the love and devotion I’ve carried for her for years that have recently crystalized. Beyond a shadow of a doubt, I adore this woman. This amazing woman who’s always been so far out of reach, a part of my world, yet not.

When Mr. Pontrelli and my uncle originally agreed to an arranged marriage to join our families, I hoped Arianna was finally within my grasp. But then her father insisted that the eldest daughter marry first. I didn’t want Sophia as my wife. When I refused the match, Nik stepped up. Uncle Vadim was fine with that arrangement, figuring he could marry me into an even more powerful family.

Considering how all of that could have turned out, had Roman not fucked it all up and broken Sophia’s engagement to Nikolai, I think having Arianna as practically my sister-in-law would have been torture.

She would have been closer to me, yet so much further out of reach. There’d be no reason for me to also marry into the Pontrelli family.

An expression settles over her face that I can’t quite read. Her face glows pink and drops her gaze.

But she doesn’t say those three little words back to me.

In fact, she doesn’t say anything at all.

CHAPTER 34

Arianna

My pussy clenches around Dimitri’s thick cock—again. My head spins with a rush of endorphins and my breathing is ragged. He pounds into me, relentlessly, while I take him all and beg for more.

His breath is hot against my ear. “That’s a good girl. Now give me another one, kisa, give me number five. It’s Christmas, malyshka, you can do it. Come for me.”

“Dima,” I moan his name as another orgasm tenses my body.

He loves me.

“Fuck, yes. That’s my good girl.” He adjusts his angle and I gasp. “If you can stand up after this then we’re not doing it right.” This new position hits my g-spot just right and I’m right back at the edge.

He loves me.

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