Page 110 of Cruelest Contract
“I’m so glad you’re home.” I cling to him with no shame. Couldn’t stop if I tried.
Julian rubs my back and sighs. “I’m glad to be home, baby.”
I tip my face up to look into his eyes. “You surprised me. I had no idea you’d be back today.”
He smiles and drops a tender kiss on my mouth.
There’s no safer place on earth than in his arms. The need to be alone with him is consuming. I wish we could just return to the honeymoon cabin and pick up where we left off.
Too bad we’re surrounded by people. On the periphery, I catch sight of Sonny and his team of dark-suited Mafia soldiers gathered in a knot. Some wear visibly holstered weapons. They break into raucous laughter and I try not to shudder at the idea of what they might find amusing.
Before Miguel returns Luna to her stall, I detach from Julian long enough to give the horse a soft pat of affection and a promise that the next time I visit her, I’ll bring a pocket full of apple slices.
Julian and I hold hands on the way to the house. I’m keenly aware that Cass watches us with a peculiar, intense expression. Sometimes I’m glad I don’t know what’s going on inside the head of my father-in-law.
Cass greets his sons in the manner of a general inspecting the troops. “Boys, we’ll have a meeting now,” he says and starts heading to the door, expecting to be followed.
“We’ll talk later,” Julian says, standing his ground. His tone is mild but the refusal is definite.
The air shifts. Slowly, Cass turns around. Behind us, Julian’s three brothers have come to a halt on the porch steps.
Julian and his father face off. I’m not sure why the hair stands up on the back of my neck but instinctively I move closer to my husband.
Cass’s eyes swing to me. The glint of cold ferocity within their dark depths is disconcerting. I recognize the stamp of ruthlessness. I’ve seen it in my grandfather whenever his authority is challenged. If my father had lived and assumedcontrol of the Grimaldi family, he likely would have acquired it too.
Perhaps Julian will as well.
Cass blinks and the warning flash disappears. I can almost convince myself I’d imagined it.Almost.
“See to your wife for now,” he says to his son. “We’ll handle business after dinner.”
“Fair enough,” Julian replies.
I’m not expecting him to sweep me into his arms and carry me over the threshold but this is exactly what he does. Giggling, I hang onto his neck as he proceeds right to the stairs. Mel happens to be passing by in the middle of some mission that probably involves the two silver candlesticks clutched in each hand but she pauses long enough to give us the happiest of smiles.
Julian carries me straight to his room.Ourroom. It doesn’t look the same as it did when he left. I’ve replaced his grey comforter with a cheerful floral quilt. Painted vases crafted by a local artist occupy the new larger dresser and the two brand new nightstands. The watercolor painting of downtown Vigilance hangs on the formerly empty wall space opposite the bed. Dried flowers preserved in glass and framed have joined the iron ranch brand on the wall.
He notices none of it. The instant the door shuts his hands roam everywhere on my body. I couldn’t be more willing to be ravaged. I pull at his belt and he swiftly removes his holstered gun, tossing it to the desk chair. I kick off my boots and open his pants while he loses patience with the buttons on my shirt. I don’t even care when half of them pop off. His hands cup my ass and his cock, restrained only by his briefs, grinds against my belly.
“I fuckingneedyou,” he hisses in my ear and sucks at my neck.
“Harder,” I gasp, craving to be marked up by him no matter who sees the evidence.
Julian seizes my jaw in his hand and the way he kisses me it’s as if I’ve done something unforgivable and now he’s going to inflict a tortuous punishment.
Sex has never been rough with anyone else. Before Julian, I would have recoiled at the concept. Now I hunger for it.
My bra comes off. My jeans have been successfully pushed down to my ankles. And my panties will be soaked by the time I take him inside me.
Julian breaks the kiss. His fingers still have a grip on my jaw. I can’t even turn my head.
This, I can see, pleases him. He enjoys the fact that I’m under his control. Good. Iwantto please him.
“Did you think about me while I was gone?” He fires the question like a dare and seductively tastes my lips with his tongue.
“All the time.” I can’t suppress a moan when the fingers of his free hand tease outside my panties.
“I bet you touched yourself, didn’t you, Cecilia? Tell me the truth.”
