Page 56 of Born into Mayhem
“He’ll be okay,” I tell him. “He’s seen Dad enough times to recognizehim, and you left the kind of detailed instructions that Nat leaves when someone babysits her kids.”
Sasha lifts his eyes from his phone to say, “Chort doesn’t like change. I don’t want him to be scared.”
I smile and give my brother a side hug. “And people say you’re a psychopath.”
“You and I both know I’ve never been officially diagnosed with anything.” He turns his attention back to his phone. “I don’t like labels.”
I don’t bother stating the obvious. Getting a diagnosis for my brother was never on the table. The kind of honesty that would require would see everyone in our family in prison and Sasha locked away for the rest of his life. Our way is better.
“Come on, sweetheart,” Dario says, leading me back up a stone path to the veranda along the back of the house. His fingers lace with mine, and I’m noticing that more and more these little intimate moments are starting to feel natural instead of the forced pretense they’re supposed to be.
I try not to act stunned by the house when we walk in, but it’s impossible not to. The arched doors and vaulted ceilings make me feel even smaller than usual, and the dark wood furniture is just as imposing. This is a home that’s designed to stun and immediately put you in your place as soon as you cross the threshold. It’s gorgeous, there’s no denying that, but it’s not a place I’d ever walk into and feel completely at ease in either. I’m more of a comfy sort of person, and I highly doubt I’m going to be plopping down onto their couch and putting my feet up anytime soon.
As Dario leads me down a long hallway, his expensive shoes marking the cadence of his steps on the terracotta floors, we pass a few people, some of them look to be maids, and some are armed guards, but none of them do anything more than give us a quick glance and an obligatory nod of respect.
After we’ve gone up two flights of stairs and I’m completely turned around and lost, we stop in front of a large set of wooden doors with ornate wrought iron handles. Pushing them open, he places his hand onmy lower back, leading me into the large bedroom. I immediately recognize this as Dario’s space. It’s just as beautiful and ornate as the rest of the house, but it doesn’t have the same museum feel to it. My shoulders relax as I walk over to a sitting area and sink into a chair by the set of French doors. The leather is warm from the sun, and I rest my head back and close my eyes, needing a few seconds to wrap my head around everything that’s happened.
“This is your room,” I say, keeping my eyes closed.
“It is.”
I hear his footsteps as he crosses the room, and then the sound of the French doors being opened before a warm breeze hits me. The sweet smell of the flowers mixes with the salty air, creating a scent that makes me wish I could sit in a hammock and stay here for the rest of my life.
Opening my eyes, I look out at the sea view in front me and then turn to the man who’s staring at me with an unreadable expression on his face.
“It’s beautiful here, and your room is my favorite part of the house,” I tell him.
My words earn me a small smile before his eyes flick to the large bed that I’d purposefully avoided giving any attention to.
“I’m glad you like it,streghetta mia,because I’m planning on taking your virginity on that bed.”
I look past him at the four-poster bed. It’s all dark wood and crimson bedding, and when I turn my eyes back to Dario, I say, “I don’t want you to fuck me in the same place you’ve fucked someone else.”
The corner of his mouth lifts up, and I see the amusement in his dark eyes before he says, “Have I told you how much I love your jealous side,piccola vipera?”
“I’m being serious.”
“And that’s what makes it so goddamn adorable.”
I huff out a breath and turn back to look at the sea, preferring that Italian view instead of the cocky, infuriating one beside me.
I hear the deep, seductive sound of his laugh before he steps closer,kneeling down by my legs and filling my personal space with his body. I imagine Dario doesn’t get on his knees for just anyone, but I don’t allow myself to be flattered by it. He’s already going to my head and my heart way too quickly, but when he lowers his head and kisses my thigh, I’m unable to resist him. My fingers run through his thick, dark hair as he kisses a line up my jeans.
In between his seductive nips and kisses, he says, “You still have no idea what you mean to me,mia vipera.” He stops when he hits my inner thigh, and grabs my hips before burying his head between my legs with a ravenous groan. Even though I’m fully clothed, he makes me feel naked and completely exposed.
“What would you be doing right now if someone else had been chosen to pose as your wife?” The question is out before I can stop it, before I can think better of asking something that I may not want to know the answer to.
He looks up at me through his dark lashes, and the raw hunger in his eyes has desire racing through me faster than I ever thought possible.
“I would never have agreed to it if it hadn’t been you,streghetta mia.”
I can’t keep the disbelief from my tone when I ask, “You would’ve disobeyed Dominic?”
“No,” he corrects. “I would’ve told him there was no way I could make it believable and that Sandro would have to do it. My brother is a much better actor than me.”
He lowers his gaze and grips my hips tighter before pulling me down so I’m lying more on the deep cushion and he’s towering over me. Fisting my shirt, he drags it up, exposing my stomach to him.
“I like it better when you’re covered in my cum.” He drags his fingers over my skin, scalding me with his touch until it feels like liquid fire is running through me and I’m about to combust. Lowering his head, he slowly sucks on the skin right above my navel.
