Page 26 of Reign of Commotion

Fausto comes to find me to let me know that they are talking shit about Milana and her family.They can talk all they want about her parents, but they’re wrong when it comes to Milana.Alessio overhears Fausto’s angry recounting of some of the things they were saying and rests a hand on his shoulder.

“Calm down, my friend,” Alessio replies with a crocodile smile.“Milana is a topic.The insult belongs to me, and I shall handle it.”We both watch as Alessio moves to the podium, where he taps the mic to get everyone’s attention.He waits until the room goes silent.“I’m not one for long speeches, but weddings are a time when we celebrate two people coming together and making their bond stronger.In turn, this makes the entire family stronger.In the old days, we spoke of bloodlines, social status, and position.Il Destino,as far back as my great-grandfather, was built on the grit, tenacity, blood, sweat, and tears of my ancestors and the men who followed them.In one untimely moment, our lives can change.Of this, we are well aware.Most of you have experienced this in your own families.There are circumstances we can control and those we cannot.Milana has complied with all that I have asked of her, and she has done this with grace and tact.I sanctioned this marriage and did not make this decision lightly.”Here’s where it gets good; Alessio looks directly at Angelo and the men and women around him, then says, “Just as I decide and reign overallof this family.Times will change, andIl Destinowill grow alongside the other families that have graced us with their presence this evening.Many marriage bonds have proven fruitful, and it is my desire that Julian and Milana have a full and prosperous life together.Raise your glasses, and let’s toast to the happy couple.”

Never once does Alessio’s gaze waver from Angelo and his crew.He waits it out until Angelo has no choice but to lift the glass to his lips and swallow both the champagne and his pride as he’s reminded of his place in the family.

You can hear a pin drop until Sebastian begins to clap his hands, and Dante, Reno, and their wives join in.Raffaele rises to his feet and does the same, as do Nero and his wife, and last is Marco Moretti.Soon, the entire room is on its feet.

The DJ starts the music and asks Milana and me to move to the center of the dance floor.The song “What a Wonderful World,”by Louis Armstrong,begins to play, and I gather Milana in my arms and sway to the melody.I hold her close as she lays her cheek on my chest and closes her eyes, softly singing the words of the song I chose for our first dance.

A parade of obligatory dances comes next, and soon, we’re nearing midnight.I’ve kept Milana close to me, except for the few times when either Valentina or Josie accompanied her to the ladies’ room.

The young girls gather around for the bouquet toss, and Milana doesn’t delay to throw it behind her and turns to watch as hands grapple for the flowers.I also don’t hesitate to remove the garter that was chastely placed above Milana’s knee under her dress.I just want to get this done and get us the hell out of this stuffy room and back to my place.I throw it back and see that Jack catches the garter.He chuckles when it partially lands right in his hand.

“Ready to go?”I ask Milana.

“Yes.”She sighs with a smile.

ELEVEN

Wedding Night

MILANA

This is the first time I’ve been to Julian’s condo.It’s vastly different from the house we bought.This place is modern, with chrome fixtures and industrial-looking ceilings.Julian puts my overnight bag in the bedroom.Lilliana had it in the trunk of their car, and Julian fetched it as we left.

He comes back and shrugs out of his suit jacket and tosses it on the back of the black leather sofa, then loosens his tie and throws it on the counter.I’m still carrying my small round clutch, looking around, unsure of what to do next.

“I’m not going to pounce on you.I do have some restraint,” he teases.

I know he’s trying to make me feel at ease, but I feel totally out of my element.“I don’t know what to do,” I tell him.

“That dress must be uncomfortable.Do you want to go and change into something else?”he asks.

I nod.“I need help with the buttons in the back,” I say, biting my lip.

He sits on the edge of the sofa.“Come here.”He holds out his hand and guides me to sit next to him.He shifts me so my back is to him, and I feel his finger skimming along the edge of the dress, then I feel the first button come undone.Another button comes undone, then another.Suddenly, I’m clutching the dress to my chest to keep it from falling.The last one comes loose, but before I can move, Julian presses his lips to my shoulder.They graze up my neck, and he nips at my lobe.My breathing hitches, and my chest heaves.Julian makes me feel too much.

“Miele mia, go take down your hair, and I’ll come to you in a few minutes.”His words are like honey in my ear.I clutch my dress tighter to my chest, fully aware of how it gapes open, exposing my back.I shuffle to the bedroom, my dress slowing me down, and go to where I saw Julian put my bag earlier.The bedside light is lit, allowing a soft glow to envelop the room.The heavy, deep gray curtains are closed with only a slit open in the middle, where the moonlight beams through.

I let the gown fall to the soft plush rug and step out of it.I lift it onto the chair in the corner of the room, let it drape, and glide my fingers over the skirt.This day has been better than I ever imagined.I move to the en suite bathroom with my bag in hand and carefully remove my makeup, then take the pins out of my hair, letting it hang loose.I run my fingers through my hair and over my scalp.

I reach for the nightgown in my bag.A silky, white, knee-length nightie with lace trim on the hem, it seems very chaste, but once it’s on, the slits on the side of my legs rise all the way to my thighs.I walk barefoot back to the bedroom and find Julian sitting in the middle of the bed with the sheet pulled up to his waist.His chiseled bare chest on display and his hair in slight disarray only makes him hotter, and the expression of hunger on his face makes me feel sexy and wanted.

“Vieni qui.”He orders me to go to him.I step closer until I’m at the edge of the mattress.“Come up and crawl to me.”His voice is low and deep.I put a knee on the bed and do as he says.As I get closer, he extends a hand and guides me to straddle his lap with my thighs firmly braced against the outside of his, facing him.A hand snakes around my nape, and he draws our faces closer, our foreheads touching.“I’ve dreamt of having you in my arms just like this, kissing every inch of your body, claiming you as mine.I thought you were an angel taking me to heaven when I first met you.Only to find out that you’re my destiny.I’ll go slow, but I won’t be able to stop the pain of the first time.”

I place my fingers over his lips to stop him from speaking.“I trust you.”

Our lips meet for a slow, sensual kiss, and his hand drops to cup my breast, sliding over the flimsy material of my nightie, causing my nipple to tingle and pebble at his touch.Julian runs his other hand down my back, then he smooths both hands over my waist, then lower.His fingers slip under the hem of my nightie and glide it upward, the warmth of his touch running along my skin until he slips the nightie off completely.

Julian gazes at my naked breasts, gently cupping them.“Beautiful,” he says.His mouth closes over my nipple, the heat of his mouth sending a sensation down to my core, wetness pooling between my thighs.He lavishes it with attention, then moves on to its twin, while all I can do is hold on to his massive shoulders, throwing my head back and closing my eyes tightly and feeling the desire building within me.

Suddenly, I’m spun around, and I’m on my back, pressed into the mattress as Julian hovers over me.His mouth covers mine; our kiss is desperate, needy.Our tongues tangling together, his hand comes between us, moving over my belly to cup over my panties.I emit a needy mewl as he wrenches his mouth from mine and glides his lips over my neck and collarbone.His thumb presses against a sensitive part of my pussy, moving in circles.My mewl turns into a desperate moan.

His lips disappear.My eyes flutter open, and I see him on his haunches.He hooks his fingers into my panties and moves them over my hips, down my legs, and off.Julian’s fingers start at my ankles, teasingly making their way up to my knees; then, with one bold move, he cocks my knees and spreads me open.

“Julian…” I cry.Before I can say anything more, he runs a finger through my wetness.My cheeks burn with heat, and I twist my head this way and that.My wanton body shudders, begging for more.

“Shh.Let me make you feel good,” Julian whispers.His tongue explores my pussy.I jolt to move away.No one has ever touched me this way.My fists clutch the sheets as he licks and twirls over my clit.My hips shift beneath him until a finger slowly pushes inside me, his mouth never ceasing to explore each part of me.It feels odd, tight.

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