“Let go of me,” I say, inserting steel into my tone. My voice is calm and even, despite my sex being wet and aching. If he fucked me right now on his brother’s lawn, I’m not sure I’d protest. What has gotten into me? Surely arousal, in and of itself, can’t be the source for such lustful thoughts?
Rafael uses his knee to part my thighs and then presses closer, all but thrusting his hard cock into my stomach. I mash my lips together to keep the moan in my throat from spilling out.
“I’m only going to say this once, so pay attention,” he says, bringing his face no more than an inch from mine. The fury in his gaze heats me all over, increasing the intensity of my arousal. “No one else will be fucking what is mine. When I said you were going to be my wife, I assumed you knew that meant my cock is the only one that’ll be fucking your mouth, your ass, and your cunt. That I’ll be the only one who has access to your body and if someone thinks to touch what is mine? I will kill that motherfucker. You get me?”
My breathing’s shallow even though my heart beats a million times a minute. Every single word he’s spoken has somehow gotten under my skin and into my bones, imprinting his claim on me at a deep level.
He drops his hand from my hip to my thigh, and shoves it underneath my dress. When he grabs me between the legs and positions his thumb at my entrance, I can’t stop the low moan that escapes from my mouth. He hisses at the dampness he finds and then plunges his thumb inside me. Immediately I grind down onto his hand, my body taking over in its search for sexual relief.
“You naughty bitch,” he rasps against my lips. “You’re soaking wet and ready to be fucked, yet you’re talking shit and purposefully pissing me off. Well, fuck you.” He steps back and leaves me sagging against the metal frame of the car. “Get your ass inside or I’ll bend you over my brother’s dining table and fuck you bloody during the meeting.”
He spins on his heel and I have to take several deep breaths before I’m confident that I can stand without pitching forward. I refuse to run in order to catch up with him, but I do walk briskly and by the time the butler opens the front door, I’m standing next to Rafael as though nothing is amiss.
“Welcome, Signor Silvestri.”
“How’s it going, George?” Rafael steps inside and playfully slaps the man’s bicep. “You know I’m not anal-retentive like my brother, so why do you refuse to call me by my first name?”
The older man adjusts the sleeve of his suit and then dusts it off for good measure. “Sir, I knew your parents since before you were born and in honor of their memory, I will always show their sons the proper respect.”
Rafael grips the man’s shoulder and then drops his arm. “You’re one of the good ones.” He turns to me and holds out his hand. “I’d like you to meet my future bride, Carina.”
Taking my cue, I smile and walk over to stand beside my fiancé. “It’s a pleasure to meet you.”
“Likewise, signorina.”
Rafael weaves his fingers through mine and tightens his hold. “Where is Tristano hiding?”
“In the unlikely event I found myself intimidated by someone, it would not be you.”
I swing my gaze to the speaker and find the oldest Silvestri is already looking at me. His gaze is full of sharp intelligence like Rafael’s, but there’s a coolness about him that brings goosebumps to my skin. Tristano is like an iceberg: cold, solid, unable to bend, and hiding so much under the surface.
“Tristano!” Rafael grins and turns to face him fully, while still clasping my hand. “You’re such a jackass. A jackass that I miss, by the way.”
“I’m quite sure.” Tristano dismisses the butler with a minute jutting of his chin and then shifts his focus back to me. “Forgive my brother’s manners, or lack thereof. I raised him as best I could, but some people will never mature.” He closes the distance between us and offers his hand. “It’s a pleasure to meet you.”
I place my free hand in his and the smile on my face wobbles when he brings his lips to my knuckles and places a light kiss there. “The pleasure is all mine,” I say quietly.
Rafael grunts. “The fuck it is. Her pleasure is allmine, Tristano, so fuck off.”
The eldest brother slants his gaze at my fiancé and exhales while shaking his head. Returning his piercing gaze to mine, he asks, “Why did you agree to work with him when I’m clearly the better candidate?”
I tilt my head and grin. “Because he’s a whore.”
Rafael mutters a string of obscenities under his breath. Well, sort of. In actuality, it’s one decibel from shouting. But I ignore him in favor of watching Tristano’s lips spread into a smile. It’s sincere and warm, completely ruining my comparing him to an iceberg.
“Is that so?” he asks, the gray of his eyes sparkling with mirth.
I nod. “I knew Rafael was opposed to commitment of any sort, which would ensure I didn’t have to be concerned with him trapping me in marriage. It’s a worry I had, considering who my father is.”
Tristano opens his mouth to speak, but Rafael interrupts.
“Now that you’re as acquainted as you’ll ever get,” Rafael says, snatching my hand from Tristano’s grasp, “let’s get this show on the road.”
This earns him a narrowed gaze from his brother, one that I consider beyond intimidating. Obviously, my fiancé doesn’t.
“Very well.” Tristano gestures to the right wing of the house. “I had Giorgio organize brunch for our guests.”
I blink in surprise. That’s very thoughtful and very unexpected. “Thank you.”
