Page 10 of Depths of Hunger

Nico grins, rising from his chair. “Good luck, brother. You’re going to need it.”

“Don’t keep your bride waiting,” Luca taunts. “She’s in for quite the surprise.” He and Nico leave the room, their laughter echoing in the hallway. My father squeezes my shoulder briefly before following them out.

I climb the stairs, my thoughts churning, when my phone rings. It’s Angelo, my human consigliere.

“Renzo, Colucci wants an update.”

“It’s my fucking wedding night,” I snap. “He was there. I don’t have time for this shit.”

“I know, but he’s panicking. The cartel heard about your marriage, and they want to know how it affects their deal with Colucci.”

Colucci’s nerves are a liability. He’s always been a weak link, too scared to make a move without reassurance. Ignoring him would be easy, but desperate men do stupid things. And stupid things are often hard to fix. “Fine.” I hang up and dial Colucci, barely containing my anger. “What the fuck do you want?”

“Sorry to bother you, Renzo, but I need to know if the ‘Ndrangheta deal is still on. The cartel’s on edge. We didn’t get a chance to speak after…everything.”

“Do you think something has changed in the last hour since my wedding? Are you out of your mind?” I snarl. “I told you this was a bad idea from the start. Now I’m head of the family, and you don’t get to make demands. If this goes south, it’s on you.”

I hang up, the urge to rip Colucci’s throat out flaring hot and vicious. An accident would solve a lot of problems. Something fiery, dramatic. I imagine dragging him into the light, watching the terror in his eyes as I sink my fangs into his neck. The thought makes me smile. I’m going to enjoy being king. My father may control the Valdici seat of power in the vampire realm, but I own the human world. Thismarriage has crowned me the leader. Power surges through me, and I feel the need for release—a violent, primal need. It’s time to fuck my pretty little wife.

My phone buzzes again. Angelo.

“I told Colucci he’s on his own. If it goes sideways, it’s on him,” I say, irritation still simmering. “I want him to feel helpless so that when you save him, he owes me. Then he’s mine. Watch him closely. Call me if he does something stupid.”

“Understood,” Angelo replies. “And congrats on the wedding. You lucked out—Mia’s hot as hell. Nice tits on her.”

Rage explodes inside me, white-hot. My voice is feral as I say, “If you ever speak about my wife like that again, I’ll kill you.” The warning couldn’t be clearer.

“Got it,” Angelo says and hangs up.

I approach the bedroom door, my mind filled with images of Mia. Angelo isn’t wrong—she’s stunning, with curves that have haunted me for years. I remember the first time I saw her, a teenager at her boarding school. My father promised her father I would check in on her since I was in the US. It was a strategic move, and I was all for it.

I quietly entered her room as she was sleeping but her roommate sent her a text demanding she open the window to be let in. Mia has sat up in bed, her sweet round tits straining against the fabric of her tank top, her dark eyes flashing with anger at being woken up. She saw me and her mouth opened in a wide O. I wondered then how good it would feel if I filled that pretty little mouth with my cock. I disappeared as quickly and quietly as I had entered, one of the perks of being a vampire.

Since then, she’s always been a temptation, a dangerous lure. I’ve kept my eye on her and my hands off, but now she’s mine. No more waiting to sample her wares.

Tonight, at the wedding, she was breathtaking. The dress hugged every curve, and the rush of possession hit me hard. She belongs to me now—only me. I won’t let any man touch her. Not ever.

I step into the room, finding her still fully clothed, staring out into the darkness. She hasn’t heard me come in, and her expression is tense, her mind clearly elsewhere.

“Mia, I said get undressed,” I growl, my voice low and commanding. “You’re my wife now. You will obey me. Understand?” It’s important she realizes from the start I will not tolerate any disobedience. I don’t want her to mistake any feelings between us. This is about power and lust. I don’t want to share my day or hear her thoughts on things. This isn’t a real marriage.

She turns slowly, meeting my gaze with her big, dark eyes. There’s a flicker of defiance there, mixed with nerves, and it sends a thrill through me.

“I can’t reach the zipper.” Her tone is flat but her eyes are wary.

I stride over, the scent of her blood filling my senses as I reach for the zipper. I tug it down slowly, savoring the tension that radiates from her. I brush my lips against her shoulder, my hunger flaring as her dress falls in a soft heap at her feet. Her scent, so distinct and intoxicating, coils around me, feeding my desire. She doesn’t know it yet, but Mia Giordano belongs to me. Completely.

My blood rushes to my cock when I see what she’s wearing. A white corset with a tiny white thong and white garter belt. She’s so damn luscious. I squeeze her ass cheeks in my hands. “You have such a fine ass, my gattina.”Kitten. That’s what she is…my kitten. God, I want her. Have since the first night I saw her at the boarding school. Tonight is going to be fucking amazing. I will have her even if I can’thaveher. Yet.

I wrap one arm around her hips and bring her ass back against my hard cock and grab her neck with the other, forcing her head back as I drop my face into the hollow of her throat and breathe in deeply. She smells like sunshine and strawberries with just a hint of fear. The last note hits me like a sledgehammer, and I run my tongue down her satiny skin. So fucking tempting to just take a sip. But I know if I start, I won’t be able to stop. “You smell so fucking good. Do you know that? So fucking good.”

I pull my robe open and rub my cock against her sweet ass. “You like that? You like the feel of me against your ass? I’m going to fuck that pretty little ass. I’m gonna make you come so fucking hard while I’m in there.”

She is silent and it suddenly sinks in that she’s not responding. Her heart is hammering against her ribcage. Fear. She’s afraid.

I stop. “What is it?” I growl. “Are you afraid of me? Afraid of what will happen when I sink into your pussy? Afraid you won’t like it?” Women love me. Love what I do to them. They seem to be able to sense that I’m different, that I am dangerous, and it makes them wet. They want it from me so badly they’ll do anything I say.

My nickname isSatana.Satan. And I’ve earned the title when it comes to the family business, but I’ve never hurt a woman who didn’t ask for it to hurt. Unless I was feeding and that is an altogether different scenario. Mia has nothing to fear from me for a while unless she plots against me. Then she’d better run like hell because if I catch her, she’ll be dead in the most painful way possible.

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