Giselle cracks up laughing. Mama tries to stifle her laughter, but she already told me how proud she was of my creative streak. If it had been her, she would’ve cut off his balls. Not a bad idea, but a little harder to avoid jail time. A drunken night in a tattoo parlor is much more believable and a lot less likely my fault when explained in the courts.
“Okay, ladies. It’s time. Get your dresses,” Mama instructs.
Chloe and Giselle’s dresses are full length, red satin gowns with black ribbons around their waists and black heels. Their masks are simple black lace eye covers that tie around their heads.
My dress is crimson red with black lace appliqué along the bottom and up the bodice. It’s off the shoulder with a low-cut center reaching almost to my navel. Sexy yet classy. My mask is a red satin cover with black lace edges. Mama made a tight bun on top of my head with long dark spiral curls spilling out of the top and two small, red horns poking out. One on each side.
His little devil indeed.
But it’s what’s under the dress that I’m certain will capture my husband’s attention the most.
Let’s hope he doesn’t shred this one.
The men were instructed to have their faces painted, the same way the dungeon masters did for Halloween. Hex volunteered to handle that for me. He seemed to take pride in the fact I asked him to oversee such a thing.
I canceled the quartet Enzo originally scheduled and asked Chloe to bring a copy of the trance music they played in the main room at The Mansion on Halloween, and Liam provided a smoke machine with citrus and jasmine oils to scent the air.
Everyone has gathered inside. The men have all taken their places. Daemon ushered Mama inside and then sat beside her in the front row, begrudgingly I’m sure, but Mama won’t be told no by anyone. Daemon’s a good sport for obliging her.
Nazario even brought his guest. The woman who’s been staying in his cottage this week, whom no one has seen except his guards and Mauro. I don’t know why he’s kept her secret. Vella insisted she come to the wedding and bought her a costume to conceal her identity and gave Nazario hell about keeping a woman locked away all by herself when there’s so much beauty to be enjoyed here.
The music has started, and the girls are making their way down the aisle. Papa and I are watching from the back, out of sight of all the others. I can’t see Enzo from here, but I can feel him.
The bridal march starts, and with my bouquet of black and red roses in hand, Papa takes my arm in his, then walks me to meet Enzo. The moment our eyes meet, my heart begins to race and my stomach twists in anticipation. His makeup is perfectly done. The mask of Death just like it was on Halloween.
We reach the front of the room, and Enzo’s eyes still haven’t left mine. Papa hands me off to Enzo. Nazario and Mauro stand beside him. The smoke trickles out, surrounding the two of us as if we’re in our own little bubble, alone. I don’t hear the prayer or the sentiments of the Priest. I barely remember reciting ourvows. It’s as if time has stood still until he tells Enzo, “You may now kiss your bride.”
Enzo’s response is to devour my lips with his. He doesn’t care that there’s a room full of people watching us. He’s not paying any attention to the catcalls and the whistling erupting from our friends and family. All that matters in this moment is that I’m his and he is mine. And without hesitation, I tell him, “I love you, Enzo. This isn’t fake for me. This isn’t a business arrangement. I fell in love with you, and I am proud to call you husband.”
Enzo’s forehead rests against mine, his eyes dancing with amusement and his lips tipped up in a sinister smile. “That’s good to know. Since I’m pretty sure I’ve been in love with you since the moment you walked your sexy little ass into The Mansion and filled out the membership papers. I knew then that you were meant to be mine.”
EPILOGUE
ENZO
“Your dress is beautiful, baby. But I’m afraid it’s time you lost it.” Althea stands in the middle of our bedroom, a vision in red and black. “Leave the mask on for now.” Her eyes sparkle with defiance.
She turns herself around, giving me her back. With her head turned back over her shoulder, she gives me a devilish smirk, pulling the pins from her hair and letting the dark curls cascade down her back. Shaking her head from side to side, she loosens the remaining tendrils with a soft moan. When she lifts her head again, turning back to see me, I notice the devil horns haven’t been removed.
Little devil indeed.
“I’m afraid I need your help to get the zipper. I can’t quite reach.” Althea lifts her hair over her arms, exposing her neck and shoulders to me from behind. I take my time slowly stalking to her. My lips find her shoulder, trailing soft kisses up one shoulder then down the other.
My fingers find the zipper and slowly draw it down. Althea shivers as the cool air hits her warm skin. I only get the zipper down a couple of inches and growl when I find all the smallhooks on the backside of a low-back bustier. Althea’s shoulders shake with silent laughter.
“What’s the matter, Enzo? You don’t like it?”
“I can’t see it well enough to appreciate it from here.” I turn Althea around and pull the sleeves down her arms, exposing the red lacy fabric layered cups. The top of her dress catches at her waist, and the tops of her breasts bounce. I run my fingertip over the soft skin of her breasts, tugging the front of the left cup down and then the right, teasing each nipple with my tongue.
Althea arches into my mouth, making herself unsteady with the weight of her gown. I hold her steady with my arm around her back and continue unzipping the rest of the way until the dress falls into a pool at her feet.
My hands traverse her body from her shoulders to her ass. I bite down hard on her right nipple, eliciting a scream from my beautiful little devil.
“What is this?” I ask, tugging at the leather strap wrapped around her waist. I let my hands travel the expanse of each thin piece down her ass cheek and around her thighs. “You bought a new harness.” It’s not a question. It’s a fact. One she is going to pay dearly for.
My little devil isn’t the only one with plans for this evening.
Her coy smile is like a punch to the groin. She knows exactly what she does to me when she defies me. But she also knows whatI’lldo when she does. My eyes travel the full length of her body, taking in each detail, from the bustier to the harness, the garters, and the heels.
