Then Rafael reaches for my hand and removes it from Jessica’s hold. His gaze turns into twin obsidian shards at the small mark on my finger where she hurt me. He releases me to take a step toward her, and for a second I’m fearful for Jessica’s life, so I intervene.
I palm his cheek, caressing the hollow of it and that gets Rafael’s attention. He gives me the full weight of his stare and the rage is instantly replaced with puzzlement.
“You shouldn’t have gotten me such a big diamond, my love,” I say, my voice soft, affectionate. “It’s too massive and if you hadn’t been so sweet, I wouldn’t have needed a different band to support the weight of it.”
He takes my hand in his and kisses the spot of the tiny injury. That alone sends a tendril of arousal through me. “I would buy you the world if I thought it’d make you happy, Carina.”
I stop breathing at the sincerity in his voice.
Rafael is playing the part of a devoted fiancé so well I almost believe he’s in love with me. My heart stutters in my chest and only when my lungs spasm do I inhale much needed oxygen.
“Thank you,” I whisper.
I’m so lost in him I’m only aware of Jessica when she huffs. The sound is almost inaudible. I turn to her and jerk my chin at the shoes in her hand.
“I’ll take the sexy black heels.” I wink at Rafael. “For that specialeventlater on tonight.”
This time the saleswoman doesn’t bother to hide her ire. It’s written all over her face, mostly indicated by the death glare I’m receiving. I raise a brow at Jessica in challenge.
Is there anything else you want to say?
I don’t get to finish my staring contest with her because Rafael grabs me by the throat and pulls me closer, taking my captured hand and pinning it to the small of my back. My breasts are pressed against his chest and my belly cushions his hard cock. I’m so close I can make out the flecks of copper in his eyes.
“Do you know what I’d do to you if you wore those shoes?” he murmurs. I have no response, but it doesn’t matter since he keeps talking, painting alluring, titillating pictures in my mind. “Those six inches would put you at the perfect height for me to bend you over and easily access your cunt and ass. And after I’m done fucking those, I’d flip you onto your back and you’d press the tips of those heels into my shoulders hard enough to draw blood while I pound the fuck out of you.”
I swallow on a throat gone dry. What do you say to something like that? My body has an answer though; my sex pulses with need and flares with liquid heat.
I want what he’s offering.
Rafael scans my face and then closes his eyes as though in pain. Or maybe it’s to exert control over himself. I’m not sure, but the inner turmoil is easily seen in the tight lines of his face. He takes a deep breath and releases me, but he doesn’t step away.
“It’s time to go or we’ll be late for tonight.”
I lick my lips out of sheer nervousness. “What are you referring to exactly?”
He chuckles and taps the end of my nose. “You’ll see,viziata.”
Now I’m equal parts excited and terrified.
Rafael
The grand ol’ opera.
I gaze at the crowd, identifying familiar faces of bosses,capos,consiglieres, and the like. We’re all dressed in our finery and on our best behavior.
Who says the mafia doesn’t have class?
My family’s set of box seats are prime real estate and will make it easy for Carina and me to be seen in each other’s company. I’m positive we’re a hot topic of conversation. If the surprised expressions and lingering stares of the people here are any indication. Or it could be that Carina’s garnering attention all on her own.
She looks fucking delicious, downright edible.
Or maybe I just can’t stop thinking about eating her out? Either way, she’s beautiful.
“Have you ever been to a performance before?” I ask her.
She shakes her head and the amethysts gracing her ears and neck glitter as they catch the interior lighting. “My father never allowed us to experience anything outside of what would make us good wives.”
I don’t like the bitterness in her tone, even if it’s not directed at me. Paolo Nardone is an asshole. I’ve never liked him, and the deeper into the underworld I traveled, the darker things became. Nardone dwells in that place where honor is irrelevant and malice is admired. It’s a wonder Carina has any light left in her and I’m surprised he didn’t completely darken it.
