She leaned away.“You don’t fight fair.”
“Fuck fair.Kiss me again.”
“The eggs are burning.”
I released her so she could stir the contents of the pan and turn down the heat.Then she avoided my reach as she refilled my glass.It must have been all the years of bartending that taught her that dance.“You’re beautiful.”
She set the carton down slowly.“Do you mean that?”
With my entire soul.And yet, I wasn’t talking about her face or her body.“My mom—” the frown on my face came automatically.I straightened it and continued.“She’s pretty.But, she’s also empty.You’re not.That makes you better.”God, that was lame.Usually, I was much more well-spoken with flattery.
She turned the knob on the burner all the way off and circled the island to get close to me.Once she was between my legs, I couldn’t resist holding her there.It was as if I was afraid she’d slip through my fingers, and I had the urge to cling tightly.I met her gaze with mine.“Babe?”
“I love you.”
I forgot to breathe.How could she?My mouth opened, but words were too elusive.Instead, I pulled her closer.So close our bodies aligned.My dick yearned to be against her skin, not sandwiched against layers of clothing.
“Are you mistress or wife material?”I asked.
She shoved distance between us.My stool rocked with the force.“God damn you!”
“What did I say?”
She picked up the carton of juice and cocked her arm back.It hung in position while she debated her next move.
“The maid comes two days from now.You’ll have to clean that up.”
Ellie slammed the carton on the countertop.Her back was turned as she contemplated the eggs.“You know what?Feed your fucking self.”
I caught her as she tried to escape and held her close despite her struggles.She glared at me even after her body stopped resisting.
“I wanted to make sure.Marry me.”
Her chin went up.“Listen up, buddy?—”
“No.”I put a finger on her lips.“Please?I love you.But I’m not a good guy.I’m not Mario with a stick up his ass and a long ass list of do’s and do not’s.I’m a rule-breaker, a bastard, and probably a bad bet for marriage.That’s why I gave you the option.Okay?”
“I don’t—” her breath overrode her words.It shook as she inhaled.“Would you cheat on me?”
I swallowed.My heart screamed, “Never!”But my gut and my brain threw out all sorts of situations where I’d be tempted, or perhaps even ordered to entertain the betrayal.“I’m not my own man.”
Her face fell.This time she extracted herself with more grace and less force.“Will you ever be?”
I sighed.My head shook once.
“How do people like Mario and Loppa and Don Manca do it then?They get married, you can’t?”
Don Manca went through three wives.Loppa wasn’t active as more than a very dangerous bodyguard, and Mario?Well, he was always the exception.Unlike me, he created rules to live by.He knew how to work through any crack or obstacle with precision.He applied force only when necessary, and when he did, it was surgical and final.I didn’t have that kind of skill.Nor did I have the grace of being born into the family to protect me.“I’m not family.”
Her face hardened.“You’re also Don Conti’s heir.Doesn’t that count?”
It did, but only slightly.“That’s a delicate situation.”
Ellie crossed her arms.Her mood was decidedly darker.
I rallied.“I should talk to Don Manca.If only to make him aware I can’t— I won’t do work that entails women.”I swallowed.Despite being the twin sister of one of the most treasured wives our family had in this generation, I shouldn’t have said that.It would topple us all if word got out I was telling her our secrets.
“Have you ever…done that?”
