The next morning, I plan on going on a snorkeling tour of the Coral Gardens with a group. It’s early and I hadn’t planned on inviting Dante with me because of that. He just didn’t strike me as the early morning type. So, I got up around 6, doing yoga on the beach. It’s so calm and peaceful. When I was in college, I spent an entire summer with a friend on the Italian coast. I did yoga every morning on the beach. It was one of my best memories of living there. Just the calm that would come over me during that time. The sound of the waves, the heat of the sun, the call of the gulls, the scent of the sea spray. It grounded me for my whole day. I’m finishing my last sun salutation when Dante jogs towards me from the beach. Huh. Guess I had him pegged wrong if he’s already gotten a run in this morning. “Buongiorno (Good morning), wife,” he says with a smile. I squint at him through the early morning sun rays. “Wife? Really?” “What?” He gives me a panty melting smirk.

Dante doesn’t stop touching me the entire time back to the house. On the boat, in the car, even as we walk into the house, he either has his arm around my shoulders, a hand on the small of my back, or has me tucked into his side. He also keeps giving me these quick looks out of the corner of his eye. It’s almost like he needs to keep reassuring himself that I’m there and safe. Honestly, I don’t mind it. The chill that crept over me when he said that the oxygen tank had been tampered with still lingers at the base of my spine. It reminds me of him saying that there were threats against me before our wedding. I had completely put that out of my mind, but this brought all of those fears back to the forefront of my mind. Dante’s touch seems to be the only thing that’s keeping me from breaking down. The entire ride back to the house is quiet. Kaipo is still unconscious from Josiah punching him. Josiah is focused on the drive. I’m in shock. And Dante seems to be stewing in w

Our time on Bora Bora for the next several days is mostly spent near the house. Dante was worried about more attempts on my life. Josiah had learned that someone had called the owner of the dive shop that was in charge of our tour. Apparently, they had offered to pay them a shit ton of money so that I was ensured to get the tank that had the least air in it. Now let me be clear, this wasn’t as big of a deal as Dante and Josiah were making it out to be. Yes, I was scared, but it wasn’t like I was really going to run out of air. The tank beeping alerted us, but I had plenty of time to get to the surface. I would have had plenty of time even if Dante and Josiah hadn’t helped me. I think that it’s just the premise. That someone had threatened my life, along with everything else that had been going on. It was scary and Dante didn’t want to take any chances. He’s been…kind. Very different from anything that he’s ever shown me. It’s seductive, and amazing, and really, real

We’ve been home for two days, unpacking and getting over jet lag. Today is my first day of work in the new offices in the Luciano branch of the business. I can’t say that I’m not nervous. I’ve just been in charge of talent acquisition at Rothschild’s Reads. Now I’ll be in charge of multiple departments. Editing, e-book business, talent acquisition. It’s a lot. And all of this will be under the watchful eye of the don, the most powerful, and scary, man in New York. And I’m under no delusions that if I fail the don, daughter-in-law or no daughter-in-law, I will be held accountable. I dress in one of my favorite suits. It’s a Kelly green three piece suit with a crop top underneath. I pair it with gold earrings, a simple chain necklace, and a pair of black Louis Vuitton heels. I leave my hair down and do my make up with a bold red lip. I feel fucking powerful. Like the bad ass bitch that I am. I breeze out of my room and walk directly into the kitchen with Mrs. Hughe

I don’t know how we make it to Dante’s bedroom. All I know is the feeling of Dante’s mouth on mine and his hands touching everywhere. It’s overwhelming and so pleasurable that I can’t help but get lost in the feeling of it. I have wanted this man ever since our first kiss at our wedding and no amount of battery inducing orgasms have made the need for him go away. I had thought that we were getting closer over our honeymoon and then he went and pulled his disappearing act. I should stop this, I know it. But it feels too damn good. And, per our contract, we’re going to be fucking in a matter of days anyway. Might as well get used to it, right? That’s what I tell myself to hide the simple truth. I just fucking want him. In his bedroom, Dante kicks his door closed behind us and spins me around so he’s pushing me up against the door. His hands are under my shirt and cupping my breasts, teasing the nipples through my thin bra.He tastes like fine scotch, and minty toothpaste, an