Page 33 of Marko

“Yes, are you a reader?” she asked shyly.

“I like romance,” I said.

“Hell yeah! Join the club,” Eilidh said, grinning across the table at me.

“Gracie writes some of the best and smuttiest dark contemporary romance books I’ve ever read. Her book boyfriends are amazing,” Sonia replied, wiggling her eyebrows at me.

“Hey!” several disgruntled male voices shouted in unison, and I laughed as Gracie practically choked on her bacon, Sonia’s eyebrows rose almost into her hairline, and Eilidh’s grin froze in place as they all remembered that we weren’t alone.

“Of course, we each have our own men who’d rival any book boyfriend,” Sonia said pointedly, winking at me.

“Good save,” Romi said from beside her as he leaned down to kiss her soundly.

“Just reminding you of that fact,” he said when he broke off, leaving her gasping for air and swooning.

Miki followed suit, kissing Eilidh in a way that made me blush. Oh, my, that man was intense! And so handsome. If I wasn’t falling fast and hard for Marko, and if Miki wasn’t already attached, I might just be crushing over him big time. I mean, wow!

“I don’t need to remind Gracie of anything. I’m her inspiration,” Ash said, grinning widely and waggling his eyebrows.

Everyone laughed as Gracie simply shook her head and chuckled at his antics.

Some good-hearted ribbing followed and by the time breakfast was over, my cheeks ached from all the laughing we’d done. Marko’s family were funny and full of life and laughter. Not at all like I expected a Bratva family to be. My concerns about staying with a family of criminals had all been for nothing it seemed, and I quickly felt relaxed with them.

It was great that all of us women, even Nonna apparently, shared a love of reading and especially romance. I was genuinely excited to hear that Gracie was a romance author herself and couldn’t wait to read her books.

After breakfast, the ladies headed off to work, and the men headed to Miki’s office.

“We’ll be there in a minute,” Marko told them as they left.

Pulling me aside, he wrapped his arms around me.

“What about me? Do I rival your book boyfriends?” he asked, grinning.

“Oh, you are way better than any of them,” I reassured him with a chuckle.

“Right answer,” he said, before kissing me so thoroughly my toes curled.

When he eventually let me up for air, I was panting hard and my whole body felt like a live wire. But he wasn’t finished. Not by a long shot. Pressing me hard against the wall, his hand loosely around my throat, he kissed me once more.

While his tongue assaulted my mouth, his hands slipped into my leggings and rubbed my sweet spot. Lord, the things this man could do to me. Within minutes, I was bucking against his hand and crying into his mouth, and I swear I saw stars when my release came hard. My knees wobbled and if it wasn’t for his body pressing so close to mine, I would have crumbled to the floor.

“That was so good!” I panted against his neck.

“Just making sure you have a comparison for future reference,” he chuckled, sounding very proud of himself.

“Whenever you’re reading, honey, let me know if there is any scene you want to try out and I’ll be only too happy to oblige and show you just how much better I am to any fictional male,” he said with a wicked grin and a wink.

My cheeks were on fire with all the delicious possibilities those words conjured up, and I was still giggling at my thoughts as we entered Miki’s office.

Miki turned towards me, and his raised eyebrows and smirk told me he knew what we’d been up to. I cleared my throat and squirmed under his scrutiny until Marko stepped in to save me from further embarrassment.

“Melissa, meet Luca, one of our men and a close family friend,” Marko said, introducing me to the new guy standing beside Miki.

“Pleased to meet you, Melissa,” Luca said with a wink.

Marko huffed loudly and stepped between us.

“Enough of that. Keep your charms to yourself,” he snapped at Luca.

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