Chapter 4: One Night With You

Vittorio POV

The minute the front door closes and locks behind us, I marvel at being here in Leo’s mansion in a chic Manhattan neighborhood. But, despite the Italian marble, the thousands of dollars of paintings and statues and vases, and an actual butler taking my jacket, I’m not impressed with the place. Okay, that’s a lie. I am very impressed. However, it would be just another expensive New York address if not for the man standing close enough to touch. 

His fingers brush my polo shirt. “You didn’t get changed.”

“No time. Had to go to the hospital,” I say. “Mom couldn’t have the surgery otherwise. I couldn’t even get her a private room or a better nurse.”

I feel awkward, light-headed now that the fuss and fury and the adrenaline rush are starting to fade. We stopped by the house my family is renting, packed most of my things, and drove here. I didn’t even change into Leo’s favorite black outfit. 

“Do…do you want me to change now?”

His eyes smolder. “No. I don’t intend for you to be dressed for much longer. But I should feed you first, like I promised, and the chef has dinner ready. I can smell it. You will love it.”

He feeds me, as promised, and he’s right. It’s probably the best meal I’ve ever had in my life, and I don’t remember much else about it. All I remember is licking the steak sauce off my fingers. I’m a carnivore, which I share in common with Leo. I also enjoy an occasional glass of champagne, and the one that I had tonight went down like silk and sin. Looking into Leo’s eyes, I feel the bubbly go right to my head. Leo’s hand on my leg under the table goes to my head, and to another region of my body that is all too eager for tonight.

Seeing the expression on my face, Leo escorts me from the dining room. Wining and dining is over. I tremble, knowing what is coming next. All the way to his bedroom, Leo  flirts, he teases, and he whispers in my ear what he is going to do to me.

He’s in control. In command. His hand is on my ass and it belongs there. His hand stays on my ass until the bedroom door shuts behind us. Then, Leo pushes me up against the door and pins me with his body, surrounding me with his heat. 

His hot lips are on the hollow of my throat, branding me, and I moan as his tongue does things that should not be humanly possible. His teeth graze the side of my neck, and he bites down, marking me.

“Mine.” The word is a fiery promise. “Mine. You are mine, and before this night is through, you will feel it in your bones. Stay still, tesoro, and let me take care of you. Let me be in charge of your pleasure.”

He wants to dominate me in bed, to take me hard. But I’m already drowning in heat and passion. The longer he works his tongue magic and takes control of my body, the more I’m losing myself. 

I decide to brat. I buck my hips and grind against him. “I’m in charge of my own pleasure.”

Deep fires like hot lava burn in his eyes. “Oh, you little brat. You have no idea what you’ve just unleashed. Shall I tell you what you’ve done? You’ve unleashed the storm. You may be valiant–”

I blush. “Valiant? That’s an old-fashioned word.”

“You calling me old, brat?”

He grips my hips, and in a limber display that takes my breath away, steers me toward the bed.

“I like to be old-school,” he murmurs, caressing my dark hair. “I like your old-fashioned values. And I want you out of these clothes. I like putting my hands on you–but that’s just for starters.”

I want out of these d*mn clothes too. Why was I so stubborn, not wearing the ones he bought for me, nicer than anything I can afford on sale at the discount stores?

He undresses me, as if unwrapping a gift, and scoops me up in his strong arms, laying me down on the bed. My mouth waters, and I’m so aroused it hurts. Naked, I recline in front of him, on his soft bed that must put hotel beds to shame. 

“Be still and enjoy the show,” he drawls, loosening his tie, then discarding clothes so fast it makes my eyes glaze over. 

Finally, he stands before me in all his naked glory, hard muscles gleaming in the light. He approaches the bed, a great jungle cat on the prowl. He’s a beast, just like my father pretended to be.

“I shouldn’t have worn my father’s stupid ring,” I confess.

“Why did you?”

He joins me on the bed, and it dips beneath his weight. Then, he’s on top of me, nipping my shoulder and letting his hands run over my body. 

“It was a dumb decision. I wasn’t even aware of putting it on.”

His tongue slips into my ear. “You can do better than that.”

I have difficulty thinking, much less breathing. “I don’t know why I did it.”

“I don’t believe you, baby.”

“That man left us.” Anger sparks in my eyes. “The only thing I want from him now is to pay.”

“But you didn’t know the history between us? Your father and me?”

“NO.” I buck, and he wedges his leg between mine. “I swear it. You saw my mother. Why the h*ll would I do anything for him after what she’s gone through?”

“I believe you. But I think you wanted to be caught,” he whispers. “Being on the run, hiding, always looking over your shoulder, all of that tires you. No room for living. It stops now.”

He pins my arms above my head, and positions himself between my thighs. I moan. He’s like my own personal heater. Like the sun, right here between my legs, seeking entrance.

“Belong to me,” he commands in a sensual voice. “You are bound to me, forever. SAY IT.”

“Yours,” I gasp.

“Again.”

I can’t even think, because he’s inside me, and his lips are on mine. He devours my mouth, and I kiss back, full of desire I never even imagined. I lose count of the times he brings me to the edge. Always edging me higher and higher, pushing my limits, demonstrating without a doubt that he is the master of my body. 

“SAY IT,” he demands.

“YOURS,” I moan. “Yours, Leo. Always yours.”

“Good boy. Hold on tight.” 

His voice is the only thing keeping me connected to reality. I’m going to completely shatter if he keeps this up. 

“PLEASE, Leo. Please.” He’s released my hands, and they glide over his sweat-slick body, coming to rest on his gorgeous buttocks. They are works of art. 

“How do I make you feel?” 

“Safe. Cared for. Seen,” I whisper helplessly as the fire completely consumes me.

Then, the world explodes, my vision goes white, and I fall into blissful oblivion.

I don’t know how much time passes before I come back to reality, with Leo kissing me tenderly and gathering me up to take me into the bathroom. He’s decided we need a nice long soak in his insanely huge tub with the Jacuzzi jets. We talk quietly together about nothing in particular, soaking in more than hot water. We are soaking in the peace of being ourselves with each other.

Settled back in bed with Leo, I savor the sensation of sleeping naked next to him. He cuddles me, kissing me goodnight. “I think I’m gonna sleep tonight. The best in my entire life.”

“Hmmm. So I’m your pillow now?”

He gives a satisfied hum. “Sure. You can be my pillow.”

I can’t help it, but a happy sound escapes me, and his arms close around me. “No more sleeping alone for either of us,” he rumbles.

“Oh? You mean you don’t have multiple sexy twinks or delivery boys or rich guys from Tribeca lining up at your bedroom door?”

“They don’t stay the night,” he says simply.

“Oh.”

I’m not sure how to think or feel at this moment. On the one hand, he has all these options. All these men. On the other hand, I’m the first one that has stayed the night.

Exhaustion catches up with me, and I fall asleep, cocooned in his arms. Who would ever guess that the scary mob boss was a cuddler? I drift off…

BANG. BANG. BANG.

The haze in my head clears. Are those gunshots?

Marco’s voice is a fire alarm. “Don Santelli…we have a problem! Someone tried to kidnap Vittorio’s sister!”