Page 53 of Consequences
“I will never be okay with him thinking he owns you.”
Cristian’s face softens, though he doesn’t release his grip on Tennant. “I know. I wish I could say I’d talk to him about it, but we both know he’s going to do what he wants… I like his dominance, Ten. The control he has…and the softness he pretends he doesn’t have. I don’t expect you to understand, but please, I need you to respect the choices I’ve made.”
“I want Benjamin.”
“Tennant,” Cristian sighs.
“No, Cris.” His voice is firm. “After this punishment, that’s it. If he feels the need to touch my Topolino, then he can have me.”
“They use sex to stay close?—”
“I’m not talking about that,” Tennant snaps. “I don’t care about sex. You know I never have. I don’t want Benjamin touching Ignacio again—unless he tells me he wants to, that he changed his mind. It’ll be a struggle, but I’ll respect his choice. But…after this fucking punishment, I want all the others. Anything that Il Padrone deems as unacceptable…he can take it out on me.”
Cristian shakes his head and releases Tennant’s throat, sitting back. “I can’t promise that. He runs his Family in a very specific way.”
“Those are my conditions, Cristian. That asshole wants to touch you? He wants to goad me and have menotstick a fucking knife up his ass? That’s what I’m asking for in return.”
Cristian looks down at his ruined shirt, lifting the hem to wipe the blood that spilled on his skin from Tennant’s knife.“I won’t promise anything, Ten. This is between you and Il Padrone.”
“I’m not scared of him.” Tennant smiles—a twisted, vicious thing that promises nothing but pain. “But he should be afraid of me, if he doesn’t give me what I want.”
For the second time in my life,Iamafraid of Tennant, and by the way his eyes glow when he meets my gaze, he knows it.I hope Il Padrone knows what he’s getting himself into…
“Caro?” Cristian’s soft tone has me looking over at him. I smile when he does, some of the tension easing from me as our eyes lock. “How do you feel about what happened?”
Taking a deep breath, I lick my lips, savoring the phantom taste of Il Padrone on them. “I…I want you to be happy, Cris. I didn’t expect him to wantme, too…but, if it’s what you want, then…” I shrug. “He’s a good looking man, smart, ruthless. Everything I admire in you, I can see in him. I don’t know him like you do, but if you don’t have a problem with it, I’d like to spend some time with him.”
Tennant grumbles as he twirls his knife in his hand, but we both ignore him.
“I love you, Carter. I have since the first time your lips touched mine in my office after you bought my son ice cream. Maybe even before that, I don’t know. But, whatever happens between Allesandro and I, or you and him, it has nothing to do with the two of us. You’re my husband, the one I want to raise another child with, my light in the darkness.”
My throat thickens with emotion, and I take a stuttering breath. “I love you, too. I can’t wait to have a baby with you…and to see how your relationship with Il Padrone grows.”
Cristian’s smile is soft, and despite the tension between him and Tennant, and the shitstorm that’s brewing between us and those after our Family, through all the confusion and uncertainty of where the loyalties lie within the two Families, Iknow one thing for certain: My husband loves me, and that will never change. No matter how many people he invites into our bed.
After the Amatos leave, there is a moment where everyone stands still. I cut my eyes toward Ignacio, wondering what happened after Master and I disappeared into the office with Cristian, Carter, and Tennant. From his relaxed—and happy—expression, I’m assuming Roman had a fun time.
Benjamin, however, does not look happy. Part of me wants to go to my best friend and ask how he is, but Master grabs my hand and tugs me to follow him, which I’ll always do.
He gives a curt dismissal before we disappear down the hallway. I’m not surprised when we enter his office again. The memories of what happened assault me. His challenge to Tennant was unexpected, but certainly not surprising. And those kisses? Fuck. Those were hot.
After sitting in his chair, he pats his lap and I scramble up, letting him adjust me to his comfort. My legs spread out over his,and when he grasps my neck lightly, I melt into him, my back touching his strong chest. He’s finally gained back the weight he lost while in captivity, and I almost purr from the pleasure. That may also be from the way his hard cock is pressing against my ass.
“Do you have any questions for me, Little One?” he rumbles against my ear, and I shiver from it. Keening slightly when he lets go of my throat.
“No, Daddy.” I grasp the arm he uses to cage in my waist, squeezing it carefully.
He nuzzles my neck, and goosebumps break out along my skin. “You know that my feelings for Cristian—and Carter—don’t take away from you, right? You are still the one I will be marrying, and I can’t wait for that moment, to pledge in front of everyone how much you mean to me. You are my heart. My soul. My love.”
“Yes, Master. I have no doubt about that. Although, I really would like to get rid of the wedding planners,” I grumble. We only found that one to be an issue, but fuck if I’m not thrilled to have any of them around anymore. “And it was fucking hot as hell seeing you kiss them. I definitely like them more than Luca.”
His laughter rolls through me and I hum in pleasure, knowing I was able to pull that from him. I have no worries about Cristian and Carter. Neither of them can provide him with what we have. Nor can he provide them with what they have. If he finds comfort with them after what he went through… Well, fuck, I understand that completely. Hollis... The mere thought of him makes me blush.
Master chuckles at me, and drops a hand to my inner thigh, lightly stroking it. Even through my pants, it sets off an explosion of fire. I automatically grind my hips against him, moaning at the feel of his cock.
Slap!
Fuck. I whimper at the pain in my thigh, even if it is pushing me higher. “Behave, Caro.”
