Caught up in my own agony, I didn’t register that the whispers were outright taunts. No one was happy about this arrangement. Why were we standing here, forging an alliance no one wanted?
Liam’s voice broke the spell. “Proceed.”
I tensed, but the monster’s grip tightened. He wasn’t letting me pull away. Our fingers were entwined, a symbol of this forced unity. I disassociated from the ceremony, grappling with my own demons. My fingers were numb as I slid the thick, white gold band on the finger the monster presented. It gleamed, matching the one he pushed on mine. It nested next to the solitaire, the metal making the weight impossibly heavy. Nothing felt real. Not until the priest made the final announcement.
Man and wife.
“Finally,” Liam rasped as he turned to me. Hunger flashed in his eyes. He bent, clasped his arms around my back. “You belong to me now,” he growled.
A shiver raced down my spine.
There wasn’t time to draw a breath. I couldn’t think. His mouth covered mine, lips hard and warm. Those iron bands tightened around me, lifting me off the ground. I dangled in the air. He wasn’t going to let me fall.
The feel of his mouth made the place between my legs pulse with a wicked heat.
The kiss went on for what seemed an age. Liam wasn’t in a hurry. He didn’t let propriety rush him as he devoured my mouth.
“What? No teeth,” he murmured against my lips.
I gave him the barest shake of my head. I was dizzy. My lips tingled, swollen from the brutal claim. I was turned on, hot and needy. My eyes fluttered open, and I saw that possessive smirk. That mouth that was made for kissing.
“You taste so fecking good, cailín.” He brushed his nose against mine before taking my mouth again. His tongue thrust against mine. The buzz of electricity shot to my toes. I slowly slid my arms up, wrapping them around his neck.
I moaned against his lips.
Dio sacro, he kissed me like a sinner in the hall of the saints.
This time, I kissed him back. Screw everything else. This moment was mine. I had a husband who knew how to kiss, and I was going to take advantage of it. He tasted of something warm. Something dangerous. Whiskey and promise. I couldn’t get enough of it. Breathing hard, I brushed my tongue against his. I moaned again, and his arms flexed against my back.
When I reached to splay my fingers through his hair, Liam stiffened.
He set me down slowly, breaking the kiss when my feet hit the ground. I wobbled. The delicate strap wasn’t enough to catch me. The kitten heels left me feeling unbalanced. But those hands, gripping my hips, refused to let me fall. As I steadied myself, catching his stare, I felt myself slipping into dangerous territory. His turbulence was a place I might lose myself in, and the worst part was the temptation to willingly give into his stormy, frightening promise.
What have I done?
In the silence that followed our X-rated kiss, I couldn’t find the answer to that question.
Chapter 13 – Liam
Gabriella was a soldier in battle. She stood at my side, waiting for the band director to announce us. Stiff and polished, with her chin tipped up, it was easy to admit she was the most beautiful woman in the room. Not that I was looking in the space beyond the doors for another pretty face. I only cast cautious glances to assess for threats. There weren’t any.
The guys who led our crews had been chewed out after the ceremony. The number of black eyes decorating the ugly mugs as they drank out of cut-glass goblets was striking. While I didn’t blame them for their feelings, I was appalled at their behavior.
Maybe that is what the Morellis want.
If we caused a fight, they could take us down. They’d already proved they were cunning. They didn’t need manpower to end a conflict. They did it by stealth and primed targets.
Were their assassins here tonight? They had to have more than one. When the conflict with the Black Stag Clan was at its height a few weeks ago, Vincenzo Messina showed up in the aftermath. He was the one who’d warned us about the attack in the first place. Then once we bested our rival, not an easy feat, V showedup and said that our rivals’ leadership were dead. Which meant we owed the mafia.
And I just paid.
My fingers itched for my gun as the music faded. Walking into that grand ballroom was a mistake. Something didn’t sit right in my gut. It would be all too slick to wipe out the lot of us while our guard was down, plied with the good food and drink.
Gabriella took a deep breath. “Here we go.”
Those words were spoken softly, and I almost didn’t catch them.
Take her and run.
