Page 27 of His Stolen Bride

She shrugs.

“No,” Leo fills in.

“Use mine.” Cato sits at the table beside Apollonia. “It looks like we’ll be staying for a bit.” He drapes his arm across her shoulders, and she leans into him.

“I love the gold vein in the marble you picked.” She smiles at Bella. “Now I’m going to have to talk Cato into doing the same at our villa.”

“You can convince me with your tongue, my lioness.” He nuzzles her neck.

Gianna giggles, and Bella turns red. She’s beautiful with high color in her cheeks, her olive skin rosy and bright. I take her in, drinking in every bit of her beauty as my blood begins to heat. Beautiful and fierce, she will rule this house and our family by my side. I only hope that we created a new life last night. And if not, I’ll happily try again and again until she’s large with our child in her belly. Fuck if that thought doesn’t send a jolt of heat straight to my cock.

“Oh, lovers.” Bella sighs and rests her chin on her palm at Cato and Apollonia’s canoodling.

Leo reaches out and puts his hand on Gianna’s shoulder.

It’s then I realize. In that single moment. Why didn’t I see it before? Leo isn’t just a friend of the family. He’s in love with Gianna. When he sees me looking at his hand, he draws it back and avoids my gaze.

I turn to Bella. “Excuse me, my love, but might I have a word with you in private?”

All eyes turn to me as Bella stands from her seat at the table.

“Yes. What about?” She glances at Gianna.

“We’ll return soon.” I don’t answer her question, just take her hand in mine and lead her out of the dining room and into the adjoining butler’s pantry.

Once I have her alone and the door shuts behind me, I grip her hips and lift her onto the narrow counter, then wedge myself between her thighs as I fasten my lips to her tender throat.

She gasps, her hands going to my shoulders as I run my teeth along her neck.

“It’s been too long, my bride. I need to be inside you again.”

She makes a high-pitched sound as I cup her breast and knead it through her dress. “They’ll hear.”

“Let them.” I reach down and hike up her skirt, then run my fingers along her panties. When I find her clit, I stop and apply pressure.

“Santino.” She moves her hips.

Sliding her panties to the side, I ease a finger inside her, her body hot and wet for me.

“Keeping it warm for me, Bella? Just the way I like it?”

She bites her lip as I bring my finger to my lips and lick it clean, then press that same finger into her mouth. Her lips come around it and she sucks as I free my cock.

“That’s it, Bella. Suck it for me.”

We need to talk about Leo and Gianna, and she has some explaining to do, but first, I need another taste of my bride.