Page 73 of King of the Cage

“Ah, yes, Elio. We’ll need to get his congratulations.”

“More like you need to get his bullet to the brain. He’ll kill you for this,” she said with such confidence, I knew it was true.

I simply nodded. “I suppose I’ll have to rely on the only card I have to play to prevent that.” I walked forward, approaching my skittish new wife.

Giada held her ground and raised her chin at me, regal as a queen. “Which is?”

“You. I’ll have to rely on the fact that you don’t want me dead. I think I’ve grown on you somewhat, fuck knows how.” I reached out and cupped her face.

She stared up at me with those dark eyes. “Is that really what you think?” Her tone was dryly amused.

I nodded, sliding my thumb over the apple of her cheek. Christ, she was lovely.

She laughed. It was low and dirty, and I wanted to hear it again and again. “Then in that case, I suppose I really am going to earn my praying mantis nickname… I’ll be a widow this time tomorrow.”

I shook my head slowly and took a step closer to Giada. She mirrored me, stepping backward.

“No, I don’t think you will. Like I said… I think you’ve got a soft spot for me.” I continued to walk, and Giada continued to back up until her knees hit the edge of the bed.

“You’re mistaken. I’d laugh about it if it wasn’t so sad.” She wet her lips, getting suddenly nervous.

It was telling how a woman with a reputation like Giada’s could get so jumpy around me. I had intentions toward her, and she felt it with every word we exchanged. Every look, every smile, every single roll of her eyes was foreplay, and I was beyond ready for the main event.

I reached between us and pinched her skirt with my fingers.

“What the hell are you doing?” she asked dryly.

“Helping clean up the mess I made… I didn’t get to before.” I brought the warm towel up and wiped a long line up her thigh.

She tensed and then let out a breathy laugh. “I know we’ve been joking about it, but mental illness isn’t a joke. I hope you get the help you need.”

“The only help I need is right here.” I eased the towel across the front of her panties. “This cunt is my therapy of choice.”

I cleaned her belly, and she watched me.

“He will kill you, Bran. As you’re someone who saved my skin tonight, I feel like I should warn you of that.”

I tossed the towel aside and let her skirt slip back down her legs.

“Consider me warned. Will you cry at my grave? You’ll make a beautiful widow,” I murmured, leaning over her so she had no choice but to sit on the bed.

She plopped down, and I continued after her, bracing both hands on the mattress on either side of her head.

She shook it. “I’ll wear pink and take a confetti cannon,” she warned.

I chuckled. “That’ll liven up the wake. Fucking boring things at the best of times.”

“Can you be serious for a second?” she asked, exasperated.

I advanced across her, forcing her to lie back on the bed.

“I’ve been serious today. I did something really fucking serious today. I married you. I married youseriously.”

“Why did you do it?” she asked, shaking her head again slightly. “Just to get into The Enclave?”

I lowered my lips to her cheek, trailing kisses to her ear.Because I’ve wanted to since the moment I saw you. She wasn’t ready to hear those words.

She shivered beneath me. “What are you doing?”

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