Page 34 of Ti Amo

He touched her face. She rubbed her cheek into his palm slow and easy. He knew better than to share the truth. She wouldn’t understand how he dealt with his grief. Though he had sex, it was nothing but a body function to slow his descent into madness. And it wasn’t often. In fact it had been months since he’d even seen a woman besides the ones in his family. “Sex was the last thing on my mind then… now… well I feel differently.” So many nights he dreamed of making love to her. Just the other night he had envisioned it so clearly. He couldn’t fathom how wonderful the actual experience would truly be. “You are the only woman to share my heart, now and forever.”

She stepped away from him. Delaying what was to come next. Giovanni didn’t want to seem over anxious, but he was in no mood for the cat and mouse game. Too much time had passed between them. He was grateful that she didn’t begrudge him this reunion, and he wanted to get on with it. Dominic told him to be patient with her, let her take the lead. Damn, if it weren’t hard to do so. He wiped his hand down his face and released a deep breath. Instead of pursuing her he walked over to the wine closet and removed a pair of merlot glasses and a bottle. “You know Italian now? Do you want me to speak it more?” he asked.

“Yes. It will help me learn faster. Oh, and Giovanni, I know other things too.”

Giovanni set the bottle and glasses on the surface of the bar and began his search for a corkscrew opener. “Really? Such as?”

“The Mafia.”

Giovanni glanced up at her. She was watching him by the fireplace. Her gaze intense and her mouth set in a determined line. She even had her hands resting on her hips. Amused, his brow arched. “What do you think you know about the Mafia, Bella?”

“Omertà.It’s the code of silence, isn’t it? The reason you won’t discuss your business with me?I think I read it wasthesacred vow taken when being sworn into your family. Violation of the rules is punishable by death.”

Should he venture down this road with her? Discussing his family legacy would not endear her to him. He might push her further away. “What else do you know?” he asked holding her stare as he uncorked the bottle.

Mira cleared her throat.

She’d read everything she could find, both fiction and fact, about mafia families while pregnant. She was careful to keep it all from Kei. To her surprise, her research from books to every news article she read turned up no references of his family. The entire country rarely reported on gang warfare. Though she saw evidence of the war of Battaglia against Calderone, she never got any specific details.

“I know the difference between an earner and an enforcer. An earner is someone whose expertise is making money for the family and an enforcer is a person who threatens, maims, or kills someone who doesn't cooperate with family rules or deals.” She shifted nervously under his gaze. Mira couldn’t tell if he was pleased or angry by what she shared. Her heart began to race as his dark blue eyes bore through her. He had the most piercing stare she’d ever seen from a man.

“Continue,” he said softly.

“You are theCapofamiglia, the Don. Flavio was yourconsigliereand he was the counselor in the family. He advises the boss and handles disputes within the ranks. I’m sorry he betrayed you.” He poured the wine, and she quickly moved past the subject. “I’m what many would call acomare. A mafia girlfriend.”

“Alright I’ve heard enough,” he said in a sharp tone. He stalked out from behind the bar, leaving the wine and glasses behind. Mira had pushed too hard.Well, too bad.She wanted this conversation, just as much as she wanted their new beginning. She was tired of pretending not to see what was right in front of her eyes.

Trying to remain confident she kept talking, but her voice pitched high with a nervous flutter that revealed her inner turmoil. “Lorenzo. What is he? Is he thesotto capojust the underboss orcapodecina,which is the group underboss? Huh? I know that within theCammorawhat you refer to yourselves isLa Cosa Nostrawhich translates to ‘this thing of ours’ because for you it just simply is, and can never change.” She stepped back from him so she could maintain a reasonable distance but he controlled the space around her and towered over her. “Let me finish,” she hurried her words before his touch or kiss weakened her. “You are the Godfather, and because of this war you’ve waged others now refer to you ascapo di tutti capiwhich means “the Boss of Bosses”. It’s an American title but it has long roots to Sicily. That title is only given to the boss of the strongest of all the mafia families.”

“I said I’ve heard enough, Bella.” He slipped his hands inside his trouser pockets. “You’ve made your point.”

“It’s not enough,” she replied in a firm determined voice. “I know all of this, Giovanni, and I decided I don’t care.”

He continued to stare, silently.

“Do I want you to be part of an illegal crime family? No. But does it make a difference in how I feel about you? No. That’s why I came back with you. Why Eve and I are here with you. We love you, as you are. Do you understand? ”

“Careful,” his gaze swept down her curves then flickered up from her breasts to lock on her eyes. “It turns me on when you speak this way. We go down this road we aren’t coming back.”

She closed the space between them and wrapped her arms around his neck. “Who says I want to go back?”

Her body tightened and her breath caught, maintaining the intensity sparkling in his eyes. He was so beautiful to her. His broad forehead, straight nose, and lips always curled at the left corner as if he wore a permanent cynical smile. But it was those eyes that made her absolutely devoted to him. This evening he wore the ‘I’ll fuck you within an inch of your life’ look that would make any girl behave. She pressed her body against the hard angles of his muscular frame and waited for what was to come next.

He ran his hands, both of them, down her spine to cup and squeeze her butt cheeks. “Can we not talk about what I am? I’d rather focus on just us,” he asked.

“Okay.”

“Do you know what we’re going to do next?”

“Chiavata,” she teased. The word meant sex.

Giovanni nodded. “That’s right,chiavata.But what we do is calledfare l'amoreand that means make love. Because no matter where or how I take this sweet body of yours, it will always be about love.” He tugged on the belt that held her dress tight to her body. She nodded indicating she understood, unable to speak because her heart was now lodged in her throat.

“So you think you understand my world?” he asked amused.

“I know I do.”

“And here you are, in spite of it all.” He unfolded the front of her dress to reveal her black lace panty and bra set.

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