“Whoa.”
I knew I shocked her. Normal people didn’t do that.
“When I found out you had something to do with Kyle’s disappearance, I wanted to protect you and Emma. I’d be a liar if I said I wouldn’t have used that information to force you to marry me. But you agreed. The problem was it wasn’t enough for me. I still wanted, craved your love.”
“Oh, Mateo. You already had it.” Her cool palm came to my cheek gently and I leaned into it. “I was falling for you almost instantly, but when you sat next to me in the bathroom, the day that Emma was sick, it was sealed. My heart was yours. I couldn’t stop myself from falling for you.”
“You should have told me,” I muttered, shifting my face and kissing her palm. “The jealousy, possessiveness I feel over you. I don’t know if it’ll ease. With you, all my reason and cool head goes out the window.”
“I love you just the way you are,” she confessed in a low voice. “I’ll never be unfaithful and you’ll always have my love. We’ll deal with your possessiveness and jealousy together.”
“I don’t deserve you,” I confessed. “You deserve so much better than me. Not that I will let you have anyone better.”
“Funny, because I thought maybe I didn’t deserve you.” Her soft chuckle warmed me. “So maybe we are perfect for each other.”
“You are the best thing that happened to me,” I admitted. “Everything I need but didn’t know it till you came into my life.”
“Coffee and all,” she teased, a tired smile playing around her beautiful lips. “I still owe you coffee, you know?”
“How about you make me a cup of coffee tomorrow morning and we have it together?”
“You don’t have to go to work early?”
“It can wait,” I assured her. “I want to spend time with you and Emma.”
Her face lit up despite her exhaustion. Any other woman beamed when gifted diamonds or monetary items. My wife was the happiest with the simple thing that cannot be bought.
“I hope things calm down,” she said, snuggling deeper into my arms. “And you don’t have to work all these long hours.” She raised her head from my chest and locked her eyes with mine.
“You know, having an arrangement with the Irish might not be a bad deal. You’d probably have more power.”
I looked at her in surprise.
“You don’t mind being married to a mobster?” I asked her. “I would think you’d want me to get out of this line of business.”
She took a deep breath in and then exhaled. “By some odd luck, Emma connected their organization to yours. If you want to get out of this world, I am all for it and will follow you anywhere. But if you are staying in this world, make us stronger and safer. And you will accomplish that by reaching an accord with them. I think you are headed that way already.”
I cupped her head and kissed her on her lips. “My young, smart, and beautiful wife. How did I get so lucky?”
“You asked for a long story,” she cackled. “And I got all hot and bothered, hoping you’d take me into a dark corner and ravish me.”
A booming laughter filled the room and it was mine. She was the only woman to constantly make me smile and laugh. Her body squirmed closer to me, melting into mine and my cock instantly responded.
“Amore, you are tired,” I tried to do the right thing.
“I am but I also ache for you,” she murmured, trailing kisses along my chest.
My hand skimmed the curve of her butt, pressing her harder against me. If I was on my deathbed and she told me she ached for me, I’d take that last bit of life in me and make sure I gave her pleasure.
I slid my hand under the waistband of her pajama pants and groaned when I found her not wearing panties.
“I love you so fucking much,” I groaned against her mouth. My tongue darted over her lips and then thrust inside her mouth. Her whimpered moans, her fingers threading through my hair pulling me closer was the only thing I could focus on.
My fingers found her pussy and she was dripping wet. For me. My woman. This need for her was soul-shattering, all consuming. When I first met her, I thought each touch she’d give me would sate me. I was so damn wrong. Each touch made the fire burn stronger and hunger for her greater.
“I love you too, husband,” her voice was breathless, needy. “I need you so damn much.”
I should devour her, take it slow, but my cock strained for her hot pussy. She was my home.