Ferrara, p.31
Ferrara, page 31
I undo the buttons on his shirt and take it off over his shoulders, then I slide down his zipper and take his pants off.
He stares at me with his big brown eyes, so honest and empathetic, filled with love.
“I can’t stand the thought of….”
He cuts me off with a kiss. “It’s not going to happen.” He wraps my hand around his thick erection and strokes himself. “I’m yours.” He kisses me. “Only yours.” His grip around my hand tightens and I know he needs it hard tonight. I can feel the need oozing out of him, I smile softly against his lips. “I’ve only ever been yours, Chesk,” he whispers. “It’s always been you.”
Oh…my heart.
Our kiss turns desperate and we fall into the shower, naked and overwrought with emotion.
Close to the edge of insanity. Everything about us is fucked up.
He pins me to the wall and lifts my legs around his body, with our lips locked he slides deep inside my body.
The air crackles between us, my body rippling around his.
The feeling between us is so magical.
“I love you,” I whisper.
“I love you.” He kisses me. “So much that I need you to do something for me.”
“Anything,” I murmur.
His eyes search mine. “Marry me.”
19
Francesca
What?
Did I just hear that right?
I stare at him, shocked to my core.
“I mean…this isn’t how I…I know we haven’t been together long and I…. Fuck. World’s worst proposal.” He’s tripping over his words. “I fucked it, I was supposed to wait. I told myself I had to wait.”
He’s actually thought about this?
I love that it just came out without a heap of grand planning.
It came from his heart.
I smile down at my beautiful man, his body deep inside mine. “Yes.”
“Yes what?”
“Yes, I’ll marry you.”
He squeezes me tight and we hold each other and those damn tears are back. Streaming down my face, because I know this wasn’t planned but somehow, it’s perfect.
“I need you,” I whisper. “Love me like you mean it.”
He smiles darkly against me and without another word lifts me and brings me back down on him hard.
Oh God.
With my body pinned to the wall, my legs lifted up over his arms, he lets me have him.
All of it, every last inch. Thick, strong and at piston pace.
The burn is so fucking good and I cling to his shoulders as we stare at each other.
Our bodies feeding off each other as they scream toward climax. I bear down on him, clenching as hard as I can and I cry out as an orgasm tears me to shreds.
One, two, three thick pumps and he holds himself deep and tips his head back and groans loud.
Deep and guttural…the hottest sound on earth.
I feel the telling jerk as his cock empties itself deep within my body.
Hearts racing, chests gasping for air, we stare at each other as a sense of home swims between us.
“My wife,” he whispers in awe.
I smile goofily down at him. “And I don’t even have to change my last name.”
He smirks, then smiles and then tips his head back and laughs out loud.
And, so do I, it’s cathartic.
Insanity in its purest form.
The sound of Giuliano’s gentle breathing is rhythmic.
In…out. In…out. In…out.
I lie on my side, starstruck by the god who sleeps next to me.
He’s on his back, the white sheet pooling around his groin, one hand is on his dick and the other behind his head. His golden skin, showcasing the perfect muscles beneath.
Rippled and cut.
My eyes roam lower over the chiseled abs and the thick quad muscle on his leg as it hangs out of the sheet, up over his chest to the black hair sprinkled across it.
Giuliano Ferrara is a beautiful-looking man.
Virile, masculine and strong.
But it’s his heart that I love, his big beautiful heart. And it belongs to me.
I always said that marriage wouldn’t change me, that I would feel exactly the same.
But weirdly, it already has.
I’ve been engaged for all of eight hours and the feeling of closeness and trust that it has brought me is a new kind of high.
The best kind.
We made love for most of the night, soft and hard. Hard and soft.
And somehow, we hit a new level of intimacy. Which I really don’t know how it’s possible, because we’ve always been perfect together. But this…this, is something else, something higher than the both of us.
Fate.
Giuliano Ferrara was always going to be my one true love.
And he is.
He stirs and his eyes flutter open, I watch as he gets his bearings and looks around.
“Hi,” I whisper.
A slow sexy smile crosses his face and he puts his hand under my pillow and drags me closer to him. “What a night.”
I smile as he wraps his big arms around me.
“Did I dream it?”
“You mean, did you ask me to marry you and did I accept?”
He smiles with a frown. “Yeah, that bit.”
“Uh-huh.” I run my fingers through his dark stubble. “There’s no getting out of it now, I’ve locked it in. It’s a date.”
He chuckles and pulls me over his body and I snuggle into his chest. “I don’t want to get out of it. But I wish….” He cuts himself off.
I look up at him. “You wish what?”
“I wish I did it…better.
I lean up onto my elbow. “Did what better?”
“I had this big romantic proposal planned and I….” He shrugs as if embarrassed. “Lost my head and fucked it.”
Oh….
“It was perfect, Jules,” I whisper.
He scratches his head, as if pissed with himself. “I didn’t even have a fucking ring, next time it will be better. I promise.” He rolls over on top of me and holds my hands above my head, he pushes his knees between my legs to spread them.
“We need to celebrate.” He smiles down at me.
“What are we celebrating?”
“A lifetime of loving you.”
And there is it…the reason I love this man.
How could I not?
He’s the sun, the moon and the stars in the sky.
My everything.
The rain pours down as Giuliano turns the corner.
“I feel like we are so low to the ground in this car that we are almost in the puddles,” I say as I watch the road.
“It’s a Lamborghini.” He glances over. “That’s the point.”
I roll my eyes. “What is it about you and this car?”
He revs it hard and she purrs loudly, he smirks and reaches over and squeezes my thigh. “Are you jealous?”
“Ha,” I scoff. “Of this car?” I cross my arms, “Absolutely not.”
I am a little bit but I know it’s completely irrational.
“Don’t worry, I like driving you better.” He gives me a sexy wink.
“Oh.” I widen my eyes. “I’m flattered.”
The news comes onto the radio
IN BREAKING NEWS, THE CHIEF OF POLICE HAS BEEN MURDERED. HE WAS GUNNED DOWN IN A CROWDED MARKETPLACE IN WHAT IS BEING DESCRIBED AS AN ORGANISED CRIME HIT.
Giuliano hits the button and turns off the radio.
I glance over at him, that was weird. “Did you know him?”
“Yep.” He turns the corner. “Three kids, two boys and a girl. All under ten. A beautiful wife. It’s a tragedy.”
I frown as I watch him. “You knew him well?”
He nods once, his eyes stay fixed on the road.
“Who did it?” I ask.
“Me.”
“What?” I gasp, wide eyed. “You shot the chief of police?”
“No. I didn’t. It’s my fault he’s dead, though.”
“Why?”
“He had information that I needed, someone shot him before he could tell me.”
“What information?”
“We have a mole working for Ferrara.”
“What do you mean?”
“Our yacht with our drugs was stolen last week, it was an inside job.”
I frown in horror. “Who is it?”
“He was about to tell me yesterday and then….” His voice trails off.
“You were with him yesterday?” I frown.
“He died in my arms.”
“What?” I gasp. “You were with him when he was shot?”
He bites his bottom lip as he casually drives, as if he has this conversation every day.
“And you didn’t think to tell me this?” I splutter.
“I was….” He shrugs. “It doesn’t matter.”
I stare at him, shocked to my core. His life is so different to mine that sometimes I wonder if I really know him at all. Actually, I don’t wonder, I know that I don’t.
But I don’t want to know the other side because it scares the hell out of me.
“I spent the day in the police station answering questions and didn’t get out until about nine last night, I went to see my colleagues at the club to debrief them on the way home.”
My heart drops. “At the club?”
He nods.
“And you came home to my dramatics about strippers?” I put my head into my hands, feeling like the biggest asshole on earth. “Oh God, Giuliano, why didn’t you tell me?”
He shrugs.
I stare at him, mortified. “And you proposed to me after the day you had?”
“I proposed to you because of the day that I had.”
“What do you mean?”
“Life is short. Every moment counts.”
I stare at him as fear swirls around me. “Don’t say that. Not your life.”
He keeps driving but remains silent.
“Are you in danger?”
“No,” he snaps way too quickly.
I think for a moment. “Is this why there are extra guards everywhere?”
“Yes.” He reaches over and grabs my thigh once more. “You’re safe, babe, don’t worry.”
“What about you?”
“I’m a big boy, I can look after myself.”
This news is a nightmare. “You can’t die, Giuliano. I couldn’t bear it, promise me you won’t take any risks.”
He smiles over at me. “What do you want for dinner?”
“Don’t change the subject.” I glance behind us to see three cars following us and for once I’m glad they are there.
“I’ve got this,” he replies as he pulls into a parking lot. “Leave it.”
“But….”
“End of conversation,” he snaps angrily and I know the subject is now out of bounds. He probably regrets even telling me.
I stare at him as my mind races a million miles per minute.
“What do you want for dinner?”
I exhale heavily as I take off my seat belt. “Whatever.”
I’m not even hungry now.
I sit on the bathroom counter and watch as Giuliano does up his tie, my eyes roam up and down my fine specimen of a man. He’s wearing a perfectly fitted charcoal suit and crisp white shirt, trendy dress shoes and a chunky silver Rolex watch. His dark hair is thick and shiny and his square jaw could cut glass.
So fucking hot.
I smile goofily up at him.
He concentrates on his task of tying his tie and gives me the side eye. “What?”
“Just admiring your masculinity.”
He smirks and keeps tying. “Yeah well, tonight my masculinity will dominate your femininity.”
“How does that go?”
He grabs the back of my neck and drags me to him, he kisses me with just the right amount of suction, his tongue swipes through my lips and I feel it all the way to my bones.
Oh….
“Tonight,” he whispers darkly.
Oh crap. “We have dinner tonight with Carlo and Anna, I just remembered.”
He winces and pulls out of my grip and walks into the bedroom. “Cancel it.”
I jump off the counter and follow him. “Why?”
“Why?” he scoffs. “I wonder?” He puts his suit jacket on and does up his gold cuff links. “I love going out with friends and pretending that I’m not dating my future wife while watching two people who met fucking yesterday fawn all over each other.” He fakes a smile. “It’s my perfect night.”
“Stop going on about that.” I straighten his tie. “I’m having lunch with my mother on Thursday and we’re coming up with a timeline.”
“Timeline?” He repeats dryly.
“Yes, now that she’s got used to the idea of us together, we can make a map forward.”
“Why does our map depend on her?”
“You said we could wait to tell everyone until it was sorted with my family.” My shoulders slump. “I don’t want to feel guilty about this until I’ve at least tried. Please, for me?”
He rolls his eyes. “Your family are fucking annoying, Francesca.”
“I know.” I go up onto my tiptoes and kiss him softly.
“And if your mother doesn’t give me an acceptable…” he holds his fingers up to air quote the words, “—road map—”
I smirk.
“I’m running right through her stop sign with a big fucking Mack truck.”
“Okay,” I agree.
“Okay?” He seems surprised.
“Uh-huh,” I nod. “Thursday I will have a definite date that we can come out of hiding.”
He grabs me roughly on my behind and nips my bottom lip with his teeth. “That’s if you make it through tonight.”
Anna and I walk into the restaurant just on seven to see Giuliano and Carlo already seated at the table, they got held up at work so have met us here.
I’m wearing a fitted hot-pink dress that hangs off the shoulders with nude sky-high stilettos and clutch. My long dark hair is out and full and I have sultry makeup on with hot-pink lipstick.
“Hello, we have a booking in the name of Smithson,” I say to the waiter.
“Yes, this way.” He turns and walks through the restaurant and we follow, music is being piped through the space and the crowd is trendy and eclectic. The restaurant is huge with a few split levels, the bar is on the top floor, seven steps down is the main restaurant and kitchen and down another seven stairs is the bar area with high tables and stools.
I can see Giuliano and Carlo seated at a table in the back on the middle level and smile broadly.
I missed him today.
As we get closer Giuliano’s eyes drop down to my feet and then back up to my face, he gives me the best come-fuck-me look I have ever seen.
He likes this dress.
An excited thrill runs through me, getting that look from him is the ultimate.
“Hi.” I smile as we get to the table.
“Hello,” he replies calmly.
Anna bends and kisses Carlo. “Hey there, you.”
“Look at you being all hot.” Carlo smiles as he holds her hand out to inspect her closer.
Giuliano’s dark eyes hold mine and a trace of a smile crosses his face and now I see what he means. Having these two being able to show affection so freely is fucking annoying.
“Thanks for coming out with us.” Anna smiles to Giuliano as she pushes in her chair. “I know this can’t be easy for you two to hang out together as friends given your history. Carlo and I appreciate it, don’t we, baby?”
Giuliano stares at her.
“That’s okay,” I blurt out before he can reply. “We’re friends, aren’t we Jules. Happy to hang out with our best friends.”
He raises an eyebrow and sips his drink, choosing to remain silent.
He can’t lie.
I never realized this before, I smile as I pick up my wine and sip it. Another vital piece of information for the intel bank.
“Who’s hungry?” Carlo asks.
Giuliano’s dark eyes hold mine. “Fucking starving.”
I roll my lips to hide my smile as I fake-stare at the open menu.
He doesn’t mean for food.
“What’s everyone having?” I ask to change the subject.
“I’m feeling carnivorous.” Giuliano says casually as he looks over the menu.
“Carnivorous?” Anna frowns.
“I feel like meat,” he replies dryly, still reading. “All the meat.”
I giggle, surprised. What the hell?
Shut up, fool.
They’ll catch on to us, he is the worst fake non-boyfriend in the world. “Meat?” I reply. “Who goes to a restaurant simply for meat?”
“I do.”
I widen my eyes as I pretend to read the menu, okay then.
Guess I’m getting it hard when we get home tonight.
Bring it on, baby.
“I’d like to propose a toast,” Carlo says as he holds his drink up. We all hold our glasses to his.
“To friendship,” he says.
I smile, I love that Anna is with him. Once Jules and I get our situation sorted the four of us are going to have so much fun together. “To friendship.”
The meal was delicious and the laughter on tap.
We’ve had the best night and drunk way too many bottles of wine.
Giuliano’s eyes have been undressing me all night. Every time he licks his lips and I catch sight of his tongue, I feel it between my legs. He’s a bad man with bad things on his mind. My things.
Anna and Carlo are deep in conversation mode and hardly notice that we are here.
Giuliano’s eyes hold mine and he taps his phone as it sits on the table.
Huh? I frown.
He taps it again and widens his eyes.
Oh….
I take my phone out of my purse and put it on my lap. It beeps a text.
Go the bathroom
Don’t lock the door.
My eyes flick up and he raises an eyebrow.
What?
He picks up his phone as he answers a call. “Hey.” He pulls his phone down from his ear. “I’ve got to take this, it’s an important call. Back in a moment.” He disappears downstairs to the bar area.
