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“Santino,” I whisper, unable to think straight as my heart is about to beat right out of my chest.

“If we’re nothing, then why do you melt for me when I kiss you? Why did my heart suddenly come alive the first time I sawyou? If we’re nothing, then why have I carried your panties with me everywhere, every day, just so I could have you close these past two weeks when I knew I couldn’t have the real you with me?”

My eyes round in disbelief. “What?”

His smile is small and secretive. “Yes,farfalla, I’m a man obsessed. I’m a man who wants you so fucking badly, I’ve inhaled your scent and beat my cock raw every day. Multiple times a day. I’ve fantasized about every way I want to have you and how beautiful you’ll look under me, on top of me, screaming my name, choking on my cock, and soaking my cock as you squeeze me with your tight pussy.”

My core clenches and my steps falter, but Santino’s don’t. He just tightens his arm around me and keeps us dancing, not missing a beat.

“But I also want inside your brain, Mia. I want to know everything about you and everything you’re thinking. I know it’ll be beautiful when you finally let me see your eyes in full expression and not guarded.”

Staring into his eyes, I’m lost. He’s completely serious in everything he’s saying, and I’m lost in the depth of his brown eyes, warring with wanting what he’s saying and wanting to run out of here. I know my legs won’t carry me at the moment though, so I remain in Santino’s grasp until the song comes to an end.

He bends me backwards in a flourish of a dip and places a soft kiss to my cheek. “Another freebie,” he whispers, pulling me back upright with that sexy little smirk he loves to wear gracing his all too inviting lips. “We’re far from nothing, my beautiful wife.”

Shit.

I’m in trouble.

* * * *

After dinner, Santino goes off to do his rounds of greetings and bullshitting with people around the room while I take a breath and watch everyone enjoying themselves. I’m glad he didn’t try to drag me along, because I don’t think I could pretend to be interested in anything they have to say for too long or know how I should act or what to say if they asked me too many questions.

I’m three glasses of champagne deep and staring at my new husband, wishing he wasn’t so damn good-looking. Like, really good-looking. As in, I could stare at him for hours and hours and never get tired of the view. Plus, I’m starting to wonder how he would look without that perfectly tailored tuxedo on. I’ve already felt how solid his body is through his clothes, and I’d bet everything I own he’s mouth-wateringly sexy with nothing on.

“If you keep staring at him like that, I’m going to start thinking you like your husband,” Aria says, startling me out of my dangerous thoughts of a naked Santino.

I give her a sly, slightly tipsy smile. “We wouldn’t want that, would we?”

She laughs and smiles. “No, we most definitely wouldn’t.”

“But you can’t deny he’s nice to stare at. Especially when he’s not close enough to ruin the view with his arrogant assholeishness that seems to always come out of his mouth.”Except when we were dancing, I add silently. A mix of sweet and dirty was coming from his mouth then.

“He does fill out that suit pretty well,” she admits, and I narrow my eyes at her.

“Don’t check out my husband so closely, Aria.”

Her eyes widen and she laughs again. “You say he’s nice to look at and now you’re possessive? You sure you don’t like him?”

“I’m sure.” I tip my glass back and swallow the rest of the champagne in the flute.

“Are you ready to dance?” she asks.

“I don’t feel like celebrating.”

“You don’t have to be celebrating anything to dance, Mia. I don’t want you to waste the night away sitting here. Make some good memories with us.”

“Fine,” I huff. “But I’ll need another glass of champagne.”

“Whatever the bride wants, she gets.” Aria waves over one of the servers carrying a tray of fresh flutes and plucks off two. “Thank you,” she says to him, and then to me, “Now get your ass moving and make everyone see why Santino chose your sexy ass to marry.”

“Aria!” I whisper yell.

“What?” She shrugs, then laughs, looking down at her champagne flute. “So, maybe I’ve had a few vodka sodas before this and my filter is gone. But you can’t deny what I’m saying, and if you spend the night sitting alone at your table, then people will notice and they’ll assume things. I know you don’t want anyone talking about you or today in any way other than how gorgeous you were and how in love you and Santino seemed. Because, honey, that kiss?” She fans herself. “And the way you two were looking at each other during the ceremony? And your first dance? You’re either a great actress or–”

“Or what?” I choke out after swallowing a sip of champagne, not wanting her to finish that thought. “Don’t even go there. Let’s dance.”

I practically run to the dance floor to escape further scrutiny and shove my way between Elena, Gia, Cassie, and Lexi, who all cheer when I join them.

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