“Thank you,” he said quietly against my chest.
“For what?”
“For showing me.” His arms tightened around me. “Even if you can’t say it yet, I felt it. What you were trying to tell me.”
My throat felt tight, and I pressed a kiss to the top of his head. “Good. Because I meant it.”
We stood there for a while longer, wrapped up in each other, before finally heading back down the hill toward the tiny house in the distance.
Chapter 21
Dante
It felt good to get out of Hell Creek, even if it was only for a single night. Ever since the wedding I’d been stuck in town. Then, after I got run over by the heifer, I wasespeciallystuck. But I had most of my movement back now, I didn’t wince every single time I took a breath, and I was going fucking stir crazy.
And that’s why Nick was currently driving us both to the movie theater in the next town over. I didn’t really care what we were going to see. All that mattered to me was that I got to hold his hand, and that we got to spend the night together in the hotel suite we’d booked.
It was incredible how I, Dante Valenti, had transformed from a hardened mob son into a fucking puppy that Nick had wrapped around his little finger in a matter of weeks. I’d always heard that marriage changes a man, but I never expected it to make me…happy.
Two months ago, I was breaking fingers, roughing people up, and trying to make sure the supply pipeline of illegal goods between Pittsburgh and Newark didn’t get fucked up. And now I was a rancher wearing a cowboy hat and spending every night being delightfully used by my husband. When I moved toMontana, I expected fresh air and peace. But contentment and love weren’t things I ever thought I’d get.
I couldn’t believe how lucky I’d gotten.
The theater lobby was busy with families and teenagers, the smell of buttered popcorn overwhelming in the best way. Nick headed straight for the concession stand, and I followed, watching as he ordered what seemed like an absurd amount of snacks.
“Large popcorn, two large sodas, nachos, candy—are you planning on feeding an army?” I asked as the pimply teenager behind the counter started loading everything onto the counter.
“I’m hungry,” Nick said with a shrug. “And you need to keep your strength up.”
The kid rang us up without making eye contact, probably used to couples buying enough food to sustain them through a two-hour movie. I pulled out my wallet, but Nick waved me off.
“I’ve got it,” he said, handing over his card. “You paid for the hotel.”
It was such a small thing, him paying for movie snacks, but it felt significant somehow. Like we were a real couple doing normal couple things, not two men forced into an arrangement by mob contracts and financial desperation.
We made our way to our theater, arms loaded with enough junk food to give us both heart attacks. The previews were already playing when we entered, and I was surprised to see the theater was nearly empty. Maybe a dozen people scattered throughout the rows, most of them sitting toward the front.
“Back row?” Nick suggested, and I nodded, following him up the stairs.
We settled into our seats, the worn fabric comfortable beneath me. Nick immediately opened the popcorn, the smell of butter and salt making my mouth water. He offered me thebucket, and I grabbed a handful, our fingers brushing in the process.
The movie started. It was some action thing with explosions and car chases that I immediately lost interest in. Nick had been right. I wasn’t going to be paying attention to the screen.
“This okay?” Nick murmured, his hand landing high up on my thigh.
“Yeah,” I breathed, hyperaware of every point where our bodies touched in the darkness.
He took his time, his hand moving in slow circles on my leg while we both pretended to watch the movie. The other people in the theater were absorbed in the action on screen, completely unaware of what was happening in the back row.
After what felt like an eternity of teasing, his hand finally moved higher, palming me through my jeans. I bit back a groan, my hips lifting involuntarily into his touch.
“Shh,” he whispered, his lips brushing my ear. “You have to be quiet.”
I nodded, not trusting myself to speak. His fingers worked at my belt, and I glanced around nervously. No one was looking our way. Everyone was focused on the screen where some car was currently flipping through the air in slow motion.
Nick got my jeans open with practiced ease, his hand slipping inside to wrap around my cock. I grabbed the armrest with one hand and covered my mouth with the other, trying to muffle the sound that wanted to escape.
“That’s it,” he murmured, his hand moving in slow, deliberate strokes. “Just like that. Stay quiet for me.”
