Page 42 of Devilish King (Valentino Empire 1)

“No, she should know what she’s signing up for. I had to watch my husband choke to death, his own saliva bubbling out of his mouth. Someone poisoned him at dinner. At afamily dinner. Afterwards, Theo went on a rampage—ten of the kitchen staff were slaughtered in that house last night.”

I already knew Theo was a little unhinged when I found him covered in blood. But I didn’t care.I don’t care.When I look at him, I see the man who brings me coffee each morning, the man who has cancelled meetings to make sure he can eat lunch with me every day. I look at the man I know would do anything for me. “It doesn’t matter what Theo does or doesn’t do in his role within your family. What matters is how he is with me. I can’t fault him. You’ve raised a great man, Mrs. Valentino. And I won’t let you or anyone else paint him in any other light. Because that’s what he deserves.”

“Okay then. Father Thomas, should we discuss the funeral arrangements.” Theo’s mother seems to drop her issue with me and goes into planning mode, as if a switch has been flicked.

For the next hour, I sit there, holding on to Theo’s hand while he and his mother go back and forth about the arrangements and who’s doing what. It’s a lot. By the sounds of it, this funeral is a bigger deal than any other I’ve attended. I never got a chance to meet his father, but it seems a lot of other people have. They’re expecting at least five hundred attendees to show up to the service. I don’t even know that many people…

“Thank you, Father Thomas, for your time.” Theo stands and shakes the priest’s hand. I watch as the older man holds on to Theo while whispering a prayer. When he’s done, they both make the sign of the cross.

I wouldn’t have pegged Theo for being a religious person. I’m wondering what else I don’t know about him. I guess we have time to find out.

The funeral has been scheduled for Saturday—five days away—to allow the overseas relatives time to fly in. It’s the Saturday before I start at the school.

I’m going to have to do some class prep work this week, so I have the weekend free to be with Theo. That’s if he wants me in attendance…

ChapterTwenty-One

The early hours of the morning are fast becoming my favorite part of the day. Lying here next to a peacefully sleeping Holly is the best way to start my morning. She’s my rock, when I thought I’d be hers. Right now though, I need her like I’ve never needed anyone else.

It’s during these early hours that I get uninterrupted time to admire her beauty. And to thank God for sending her to me. I don’t deserve this woman, but I sure as fuck am keeping her. The last couple of days have been hell, while Holly’s been the light that brings me back from the darkness.

“Mmm, good morning.” Her eyes flicker open, flashing me those green emeralds I love to get lost in.

“Buongiorno, bella.” I push her loose tendrils off her back, before leaning in and kissing her lips.

“I love it when you speak Italian to me. What does that mean?”

“Good morning, beautiful.”

“I’m sure I look like crap right now. It was a wild night.” Her hands come up to smooth down her hair—which is a tangled mass of curls—sprawled out on the pillow beneath her. The red strands are bright and vibrant, a contrast to the white pillow.

“Ogni volta che ti guardo, diventi sempre più bella.” I roll over, positioning myself on top of her before repeating my phrase in English, “Every time I look at you, you only get more beautiful.”

“Thank you.” Her eyes dart to the side. I’ve noticed that she finds it hard to take compliments. It’s why I make an effort to do so as often as possible. It’s not a hardship, when every word I speak is the truth.

I kiss along the side of her neck. “Dalla testa ai piedi, la tua bellezza si vede.” Pulling the sheet down, I watch as her naked chest comes into view. I cup each breast in my hands and kiss the spot where her heart is. “Ma è la tua bellezza qui dentro che amo di più.”

The best thing about translating my words for her? I get to tell her twice. “From your head to your toes, your beauty can be seen.” My fingertips trace a heart shape over where hers lies beneath her skin. “But it’s your beauty in here that I love the most.”

“How is it that you’re still single? How have you not been snatched up yet and locked away?” Holly asks.

“Dolcezza, I’m far from single. I’m as taken as taken gets.” Does she thinkshe’ssingle? Fuck that.

“That’s not what I meant. I meant up until I came along, obviously. How did you get by without being kidnapped and held in some woman’s basement?”

“Do you want to kidnap me and lock me in your basement, Holly?” I laugh.

“The thoughthascrossed my mind. But then I remember you’re a mob boss, and I’d likely have an army of your loyal soldiers out after me.”

“I have a feeling you’d outsmart every soldier I have. You don’t have to worry though. I’d go into your basement willingly.”

“Huh, maybe I should buy a house with a basement somewhere. In the meantime, I may not have a basement, but I do have you and I plan to take full advantage of this work of art you call a body.” Her hands travel down the small space between us.

One of her palms wraps around my cock—my alreadypainfully hardcock. “Ah, fuck, Hol. Keep doing that,” I moan as she continues to stroke up and down.

I’m leaking precum all over her fingers, and I watch in awe as she brings the tips to her mouth. “I never thought I could like the taste of a man as much as I do right now. I don’t just like it.I crave it. I crave you.” She sucks her fingers clean before pushing me onto my back.

“Get comfy. I might be a while,” she says as her tongue leaves a wet trail down the center of my abs. She returns her grip to my cock, while her tongue slips out, licking right along the slit of my tip.

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