Judith

“Time to consummate the marriage.”

The words clung to the air, heavier than the smoke around us. My heart hammered so loudly I was sure he could hear it. The shadows of the room pressed in close, suffocating, as I searched for something—anything—that could shift his focus from the words he had spoken only moments before.

How long had he been sitting there, watching me sleep? It was so creepy it made my skin crawl.

“Ho long have you been sitting there?” I asked, my voice coming out stronger than I felt on the inside.

Domenico only shrugged, as if the question didn’t matter. His shoulders moved with a lazy confidence that made me feel like prey in the presence of a predator.

“You’re different,” he said after a pause. His piercing blue eyes held mine, unblinking. “Is it because of the last time I threatened you? Or have you finally realized that you’ll never win this war you started?”

War? What war was he talking about that Janet started? Good God, what have I gotten myself into? Not knowing what to say, I maintained silence. Silence would save me a whole lot in this ordeal I’ve gotten myself into.

“What happened to you?” He studied me for a long moment, his cigarette glowing faintly between his fingers. Then he tilted his head and said softly, “Where’s the wild Janet? The one who wasn’t scared of offending the entire mafia family.”

My heart lurched in my chest. Mafia. Janet was involved with the mafia? That was why she had come to me, trembling, begging. It wasn’t just a bad lover or a mistake she had run from. It was this. She had somehow offended the mafia and she’s used me to escape the consequences.

Tears gathered in my eyes and I was grateful for the darkness in the room so he wouldn’t see that I was on the verge of tears. And again, my sister has thrown me to the wolves and left me for the dead. The feeling of betrayal sank deep in my gut.

Everything from the wedding finally made sense. The dark suits and guns and the aura of danger clinging to Domenico. Oh God.

What part of the mafia was Domenico involved with and what was his position? I was suddenly sweating under the air conditioner.

“You’re different tonight,” he cocked his head to the side, observing me, “Quieter,”

Fuck, fuck, fuck! This was the second time he was saying that I was different. If I slip up, or even make one mistake I’d be a goner. This man was in the mafia, I’m sure he won’t have issue killing and covering up my death.

“And why aren’t you all over me like usual? Hm? Jumping my bones, wasn’t that your thing?” His mouth curled into a mocking half-smile. “You wanted this marriage. Threatened me. You’ve been talking about the wedding night for ages. Now suddenly you’re quiet.”

Only one word stood out to me: ‘threatened me’. Janet threatened Domenico? With what? Janet was the sort of person who loved blackmailing others with any secret she finds about them. What did she have on Domenico that was able to force him into a marriage with her? It must be something bad that he doesn’t want to get out.

The only way to protect myself now was to act like I knew what this thing was, become bold and audacious like Janet because now I know that even in front of someone as dangerous as Domenico, my darling sister did not cower. If my sister has been taunting him with their wedding night then I needed to follow through with it.

I took in a deep breath before throwing the covers off my body and slowly sliding out of bed. My legs were trembling when they touched the ground but they held me as I slowly pulled off my pajamas, each step deliberate and in what I hoped looked sexy.

I stepped toward him in nothing but my panties, my skin prickling under his intense gaze. Every step felt like walking to the edge of a cliff. Still, I forced myself to keep going. I lifted my chin, trying to look bold, trying to look like Janet would.

A smirk tugged at my lips, though inside I was trembling. With deliberate slowness, I reached up and loosened my ponytail, letting my hair tumble down in messy waves around my face. The strands brushed over my shoulders and back.

When I reached him, I swung a leg over and lowered myself onto his lap. My bare chest brushed against his, and I felt the heat of his skin seep into me. He leaned back on the sofa like a king allowing his consort to entertain him, smoke drifting lazily from the cigarette between his fingers.

He blew a stream of it straight into my face. My lungs burned, and before I could stop myself, I snatched the cigarette from his hand and crushed it out in the ashtray beside him.

For a second, neither of us moved and it felt like I'd made another mistake. His eyes narrowed, blue and dangerous, but there was something else there too. Something like amusement.

Feigning calmness, I lifted my hand to his chest. My fingers trailed over the hard lines of muscle, trying to mimic the way Janet would touch him, slow and teasing, like she owned him. My voice shook, but I forced the words out.

“I just… I feel a little under the weather,” I whispered. “I am still mourning my parents’ death. That’s why I’ve been so dull.” I hoped to God Janet told him about my parent’s death or I’m doomed.

“You? Mourning?” He barked out a laugh, the sound harsh against my ear.

“Of course,”

His hand flew to my face and I nearly flinched but he caught my chin between his thumb and forefinger, “Like you care about anybody,”

“Don’t be like that, Dom,” I purred, “Of course I do care about them. These are my parents we are talking about,”

I like the way that sounded. It was so Janet-like. Seems like my fears were finally vanishing and I was finally settling into my role. Maybe I will really survive this year. I did not want to rejoice so fast though. I was still in the dark about so many things.

“Jane, you’re a heartless bitch. It’s a huge surprise you even buried them.”

“Now, don’t be like that,”

“You didn’t mourn. You buried them and rushed straight back here for this marriage. Benefits and power is more important than anything to you,”

Heat rose in my face, shame making me want to flee and hide because he was correct. I might not be Janet but that’s exactly what I did; buried them and rushed over because of the benefits I stood to gain.

I forced a smile, small and sly, and whispered, “I couldn’t let you escape my fingers.”

Something flickered in his eyes. A dangerous spark. He leaned in until his lips almost brushed mine, his breath hot, his presence suffocating.

“We really do need to consummate this marriage,” he murmured.

And then his mouth crashed down on mine.

The kiss was brutal, claiming, stealing the breath from my lungs. His hand gripped my hip hard, pulling me closer, until there was no space left between us. My body betrayed me, shivering under his touch even as fear clawed at my insides.

I instinctively wanted to fight, to push him away, to scream that I wasn’t Janet. But I couldn’t, not if I wanted to live.

So I kissed him back. My lips moved against his, hesitant at first, then with more desperation, more heat, because I knew he would notice if I held back. His tongue swept against mine, commanding, dominating, leaving me breathless.

My fingers tightened on his chest, nails digging into his skin. His taste was smoke and danger, bitter and intoxicating.

Inside, I was crumbling, my thoughts spinning wildly. He was in the mafia. He was powerful, untouchable. Janet had known this but still went on to play games with fire and now I was burning in her place.

I hated myself for the heat that coiled low in my stomach, for the way my body responded despite the fear. Shame licked at me, hot and relentless at the need burning low in my gut.

Domenico deepened the kiss, his hand sliding up my spine, pulling me against him until I could feel every inch of his strength and until the hard length of him was pressed to my soaked panties.