"Zach." His name left my lips in a strangled whisper. Mariano's grip on me tightened. I clutched to his arm, my nails digging into his suit jacket, but I scarcely cared.
How had I ever liked this man? He was like an animal. His eyes, ferocious and scary and thirsty for blood. In the two years that had passed since high school, he had only gotten worse and worse. Looking at him was like reliving all of that trauma. I could feel his hands on me. I could feel his dick in my face.
"Isabelle." Zach said it like he was admonishing me. "So now you're a mafia whore."
I heard Mariano grit his teeth.
"Don't say her name." He said calmly. "Or I'll feed you your own fucking tongue."
I hung out with Landon in the evening after completing my assignment. Aiden and Felicia were working, so Lan came over and we had enchiladas at Haley's.Yep, at my own workplace. They give discounts to workers.Luigi had come there to get some takeout, we'd nodded at each other, and I'd spent hours explaning to Lan why Mariano's chaffeur could afford a Harley.He was also his bodyguard, I'd told him. And he was, for the majority of the day, yes. Mariano's mansion was guarded by brothers Semerin and Semerino and their huge team. I hadn't bonded with them yet, not like I had bonded with Luca, Antonio, or Carter. I made a mental note for that.I didn't like lying to Lan about the man I was seeing, but I finally understood the thrill of a forbidden romance.
"I called my stylist today." Mariano said nonchalantly as he drove.I turned away from the traffic at my right to look at him.Of course he had a fucking stylist."Okay?""Yes. He'll accompany us when we buy your dress for this Friday."Oh yeah?"I think I'll wear the dress I wore at my sister's wedding. Its very pretty." I said. "And not too extravagant.""No, Isabelle." He smiled, but his tone rang of finality. "I'm going to buy you a dress. You'll look stunning in red, I think.""I'll pay for it."
I was in Mariano's kitchen, making cupcakes. Meela and Mrs.Cole were out grocery shopping. Mariano was in his room, taking a bath. We'd decided I'd stay the night today, and were going to watch a movie after he'd taken his bath and we'd had dinner.I had changed into black yoga pants and a grey t-shirt. I'd packed a bag this time, instead of relying on Mariano's wardrobe."Mariano?" Came Emilio's voice suddenly.I ran out."Hey." I said to him when our eyes met. "Mariano is taking a bath. You can sit down. I'm making cupcakes."He nodded, and followed me to the kitchen. Grabbing a beer from the fridge, he sat down on a stool."So yo
It started with a kiss. His mouth enveloped mine softly, as he let me revel in its softness, the slight demand of his lips as he teased mine with the tip of his tongue.His kisses were insidious, seeping into every fibre of my being.I parted my lips, and his tounge entered my mouth deftly in one stroke, tasting me with a sensual roughness."Tell me if it gets too much." He ordered softly.I could only hum in response.He trailed kisses up my jaw, then down, stopping just short of my cleavage, nipping slightly.I clawed at his back. "Take off your shirt."He took my lips again, pla
I woke up in the middle of the night to an empty bed. Mariano's side of the bed was cold, as if he'd been gone for hours.His phone was lying on the bedside table, along with the book he was reading.I noticed that our clothes were still carelessly strewn all over the place, and picked them all up, dressing myself in Mariano's white shirt.The clock struck three suddenly, and there was the sound of muttered Italian phrases from the balcony adjoining Mariano's room.I padded over to him. The sky was dark, with almost no stars, and Mariano sat on a swinging chair, smoking. He had a swinging chair. I giggled to myself. Only 60 year olds have swinging chairs."Hi." I whispered, and
Nora made me try on a hundred different dresses. I tried black, orange, pink, blue, even yellow.It was kind of pathetic how a woman who lived in Italy knew more stores for shopping here than I did.We reached home and she started on dinner.What the fuck happened to getting tired?I offered to help, but she waved me off, wanting to cook for her sons herself.I was talking to Landon on the phone in Mariano's room when he came back."Hi." I told him.He smiled and pointed to the phone. "It's Landon." I whispered. "I'll be with you in a sec."
"I read somewhere that men become inconsiderate after sex." Felicia told me, as she pretended to write notes while our Proffessor Righton lectured about the Romantic Era."Miss Reese? Miss Forte?" Righton called. "What is so vital as to be discussed in the middle of my lecture?""We're discussing..err..Shakespeare, sir!" Fel answered."In the Romantic Era?""Yes. He was very romantic, sir, don't you think? Those eyes that Love's own hand did make?" She grinned. Righton didn't look impressed."Meet me after class." He ordered."Motherfucker." Felicia murmured under her breath, then turned back to me.
"I want you." Mariano's eyes darkened."Right now?""Yes. I always want you. I burn for you, Bella.""This dress isn't very flexible. What if it tears?"He growled impatiently. "Let's just skip this thing."I giggled. "But its important." I admonished.He sighed, then his eyes lit up, fixing on me. "Lift your dress." He ordered. "Spread your legs."I gaped at him. "It will get all crumpled.""I don't care.""I do!" I whined. "I want to look good on my first mafia outing."