Page 44 of Savage Vow (Mafia Marriages 3)

16

Karina

I’d almost fallen to sleep, but my mind won’t stop racing.

Ashton is going to panic when he wakes up in a strange bed and an unfamiliar place. I should have stayed with him. Even if it meant me sleeping on the floor, he’ll need me.

What happens if he stirs in the middle of the night? Or he has a bad dream?

The shower turns off, and Aurielo will be out any minute. He’s going to expect to share a bed.

I don’t want to, and I’ve made that clear, but the couch is more like a love seat, and the last thing I want is to end up sleeping on it because I’m the smaller of us.

Maybe I should have put Ashton on the couch and stolen Aurielo’s bed. He could have taken over my bedroom, where Ash is sound asleep.

It’s too late for that now.

I’m not moving Ash again. He slept soundly on the car ride over. The last thing I want is to wake him and be up the rest of the night.

I need to sleep. I’ve got work tomorrow and a kid who is going to be panicking in the morning. Not to mention I need to get him to kindergarten, which is across town, and figure out picking him up and dropping him off with my work schedule. Ivy had been helping with that transition, with him going from preschool to kindergarten.

The bathroom door opens, and I shut my eyes. I don’t want to converse with Aurielo.

Anything I say at this point will come out sharp, and I’ll regret it. I’m exhausted and sore as hell.

His footsteps against the hard marble is soft and gentle. It’s uncharacteristic for Aurielo. At least my impression of him. He’s tough, a ruthless savage. Aren’t all mafia men monsters?

My eyelids flutter open, and he drops the towel, rummaging through his dresser drawer.

The soft light from the bathroom outlines his naked body.

He’s beautiful—every inch of him.

Six years ago, I never got to see him naked. We didn’t make love. We didn’t savor the experience.

It was a quick and dirty fuck.

I’m not complaining. I enjoyed what he offered, but I didn’t get to feel over every inch of his skin, taste him, touch him, explore his body.

The room is stuffy, and while I want to push the covers off my body, Aurielo will notice that I’m not asleep.

I’ve already made the mistake of pretending to be out cold.

I exhale a soft breath, a slight puff of air as I study his body, his muscles, and his exquisite frame. I may never see him like this again.

He glances over his shoulder and catches me staring at him.

Shit.

That was not supposed to happen. I slam my eyes shut and groan. I roll over so that I don’t have to face him or my embarrassment.

Aurielo chuckles under his breath. “I knew you were awake.”

He’s not nearly as quiet as he shuffles his clothes on, then shuts off the bathroom light and strides toward the bed.

“I can’t sleep.” It’s not a lie. It’s been exhausting.

Aurielo pulls back the covers and climbs into bed beside me. “I can put a pillow between us if that will make you more comfortable,” he offers.

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