Page 15 of DeLuca: The Devil

“Jesus Christ, baby. You’re killing me.”

I run my hand down the side of her face, gently, careful not to hurt her wounded face, leaning down, I press my lips to hers. I said I wouldn’t fuck her, and I won’t, but I will take everything she gives me. She parts her lips slightly, I slide my tongue into her sensual mouth and allow our tongues to meet. At first, it’s slow and tentative, but when she starts moaning, I deepen the kiss, wanting more than I know she’ll give to me before we’re married. Giada wraps her arms around my neck, pressing her fingers into my skin, as she pushes her tits against my chest.

I pull back from our kiss, needing to stop this since I can’t have all of her, “Let’s eat. Your food is getting cold.”

We both get up from the floor and take our seats at the table.

She takes a bite of prime rib and chews slowly.

After a few bites of my own food, I decide to let her in on the wedding plans, “A designer is coming tomorrow morning with a selection of dresses for you. I want you to choose what you wear.”

Setting her fork down, she nods, “Aren’t you sweet? Hey, I’m forcing you to marry me but I’m generous enough to let you pick out your dream dress.”

Her words, the bite in her tone and the look on her face tell me something is bothering her. More than being a pawn between feuding families.

“Something wrong?”

She gazes at me in quiet contemplation, “I’m wondering why you kissed me.”

I finish chewing a bite of my vegetables, “I wanted to.”

“It’s strange to me to want to kiss a person you aren’t attracted to. Someone who isn’t your type.”

“I-,” she interrupts me, “Never mind, it doesn’t matter. I know I’m dead once you kill the Bianchi’s and the Baretti’s. I’m a Baretti. I’ve tried to convince myself otherwise, but I know how this works, Dom. I’ve been around the mafia my entire life and I know how this ends. Honestly, I’ll just be relieved when it’s over.”

Setting my fork down, I take a quick drink of my whiskey while I consider how to respond.

I don’t plan to kill her. Women die in my business as a last resort. I hope it doesn’t come to that, but it could. I am a man of my word and refuse to lie to her.

“I don’t know what the future holds beyond our wedding date. I’m sorry you heard my conversation with my brother. You are different from my usual type. But you are very beautiful. However, one thing I said to him is the truth. I will never love you, Giada. This is a business arrangement. It won’t ever be more than that.”

“I know,” she whispers so low I barely hear it.

She places her fork and napkin on the plate, “Thank you for dinner. It was delicious.”

Arching an eyebrow, I say, “All two bites of it?”

“That’s all I want to eat.”

Not that’s all I can eat but that’s all I want to eat.

Maybe she’s a vegetarian. I know little about this woman, “Mario will make you something else. What would you like?”

She shakes her head, “Really, I’m fine. Nothing.”

I’m not used to this. I’m not a gentle man. The women I fuck do what I say without question. But they also haven’t been abused like she has been.

“Giada, I’m losing my patience. Why aren’t you eating? Is this a hunger strike?”

She grips the edge of the table with both hands, appearing agitated, “Dom, can you let anything go?”

“No,” I bark, sounding harsher than I intend.

Giada throws her hands in the air and stands, glaring at me, “I’m a little heavy, okay?”

She storms upstairs like a petulant child. I drag my hand down my face in agitation before deciding to call Damian.

He picks up after the second ring, “Talk to me.”

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