Page 35 of Now and Forever

I reached for my courage. “You can move.”

His torso tightened as he moved ever so slightly. “I want to jump ahead, a day or a week…I want to show you how good this can be.”

Would a week be enough time?

Pressing my eyes closed, more tears skirted down my cheeks to the pillow below.

Dario began a slow rhythm, in and out, not only filling me, but he was also back to the kisses and caresses. I tried to concentrate on the good, but the pain was real. I knew how this worked. He wouldn’t stop until he climaxed. “Go faster,” I encouraged, hoping he’d come sooner rather than later.

“Are you sure?”

“Yes.” I grimaced as his movements quickened. Soon I felt him growing impossibly harder and bigger within me and his body stiffened. I almost sighed at my relief as he filled me to overflowing and pulled out.

I reached for him, but he was out of reach.

Staying on my back, I stared up at the ceiling. My hopes of post-sex attention died as the mattress shifted as Dario left the bed without a word, leaving me cold and lonely. I wanted to roll away or reach down and pull up the blankets, but my muscles complained. When I scooted toward the headboard, I noticed the wetness between my legs. Even with only the moon’s illumination, I saw the dark blood on my thighs.

“Here.”

Lost in the horror of my thoughts, I didn’t hear Dario return. With a gasp, I looked up. Dario was at my side with a washcloth in his hand. “Let me help you.”

My emotions were too many to handle. The thought that he’d gotten what he wanted and walked away was replaced by his attention and kindness. More tears flowed as I nodded, too out of control to verbally reply.

“The washcloth is warm.” He wiped away the blood and semen before leaning over me and kissing my lips. “It gets better.”

A laugh bubbled from my throat. “If it got worse, I don’t think anyone would do it.”

Dario lifted the blankets over me and sitting at my side, he cupped my cheek. “I know this isn’t the marriage you would have chosen. And as you said, we’re here. You’ve just given me a gift I never expected and probably don’t deserve. I’ll give you something in return.”

“I have your name.”

“You have my oath, Catalina. You’re mine, and I would lay down my life for you. I agreed to this marriage not because I wanted to be married but because marriage is what is expected of me to be capo.”

He didn’t want to be married.

“Here’s my vow. If another man touches you, with or without your permission, I will cut off his hands. If he fucks you, I’ll cut off his dick. If he kisses you, I’ll cut off his lips. No one touches what is mine. In return, I’ll remain faithful to you.”

I wanted to believe him.

“Dario, there’s never been a man I wanted. I’m yours. Only yours.” I didn’t want to sound too needy, but it had been a long day and night. “Will you” —I tilted my head to the other side of the bed— “hold me?”

As he stood, I realized he was again wearing his boxer shorts. The mattress dipped as he climbed in the other side of the bed. I rolled to my side and Dario’s arm came over my waist. I craned my neck until my lips brushed his. “Good night.”

“Good night.”

* * *

The next morning,I woke to sun streaming through the windows and the warmth of another person at my side. It took a millisecond to remember that I was now married, the wife of Dario Luciano. My body ached in a way I couldn’t have imagined as I rolled toward my husband.

Dario had his head lifted on his fist, his elbow holding it up and his dark orbs on me. “I was about to wake you.” He twisted a lock of my hair between his fingers. “But you looked too peaceful sleeping.”

“Are we headed to Kansas City today?” A place I’d never been.

He nodded. “I wish we could take a honeymoon. The bratva is causing more issues. My father is about to announce his retirement, and this deal” —he motioned between us— “is too new to take time away.”

“Our marriage?”

“The deal with the cartel. Roríguez was an expected guest yesterday. Herrera wasn’t. At least not by our side. It was a power play that didn’t go unnoticed. I’m sure my father and his men had a lot to say about the surprise guest last night.”

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