Total pages in book: 92
Estimated words: 87704 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 439(@200wpm)___ 351(@250wpm)___ 292(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 87704 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 439(@200wpm)___ 351(@250wpm)___ 292(@300wpm)
The bedroom is dimly lit, the soft glow of a bedside lamp casting long shadows against the wall. Aemelia hesitates at the doorway, glancing between the three of us. “What happens when we go back?”
Antonio steps forward first, brushing his scarred knuckles over her cheek. “You’ll see what life could be like. What it means to belong to us.”
She looks around, exhaling slowly, her expression thoughtful. “And if I don’t want to stay?”
Alexis leans against the wall, his grin wolfish. “Then you walk. But not yet. Not until we’ve cleared your path.”
“But if you like it, maybe you’ll never want to leave.” Antonio takes her hand gently in his, an indication of how things could be and a clear communication that he wants her to stay.
Her lips part, but she doesn’t speak; instead, she steps into the room that still carries the lingering scent of sex to sleep between us.
“Okay,” she whispers. It’s a single word, but it carries weight, threading through the air like a promise. She’s choosing to stay. For now.
“Aemelia,” I say as we follow her. “You forgot something.”
Her eyes, bright and a little fearful that she’s disappointed me in some way, flick between us, searching for answers.
“You forgot to kiss us all goodnight.”
She blushes, and her first instinct is to find Antonio in the room, the man she knows most intimately. He takes her face in his hands and bends to kiss her lips like he’s sipping from a chalice of the finest wine. Her soft moan takes my breath away, anticipation drumming through me like the thunder of wild horses in my chest.
Alexis is closer than I am, and she hesitates in front of him. He slides his hand around her neck, tangling his fingers in the hair at her nape. He ducks his head so his mouth is close to her ear. “Beg,” he murmurs, only just loud enough for me and Antonio to overhear.
Antonio expresses displeasure with a tut, but he knows what our brother likes, and Aemelia will have to understand if this is going to work.
Her jaw flexes as though she’s gritting her teeth. Submission doesn’t come easy to her, but she will learn, and she will enjoy it. She’s spent too long shouldering too much responsibility. It’s time for her to hand all of that over to us.
Her dark eyes meet Alexis’s dancing hazel irises, searching. “Please,” she says softly. “Kiss me.”
It’s perfect. Alexis exhales, pleasure surging through him. Then he leans in to kiss her, long and lingering, a tease of what's to come. She sways on her feet, letting go of the edges of the robe she is holding together to stabilize herself with her hand on his shoulder. Beneath the robe is a white nightdress that cuts low in the center and high on the thigh.
Beautiful.
When my youngest brother is done with her, he taps her on the ass. “Now, go kiss your boss.”
I never liked the title. I didn’t choose to be in this position, but tonight, the power it gives me drips through me like an IV infusion. Aemelia’s approach is tentative, her eyes wide as she searches my expression. What does he want? What will he do? The questions are written clearly on her face. Up to now, our contact has been a mixture of gentle and harsh, my hand on her ass and between her legs but a distant memory to the feel of my arms around her.
“Luca,” she says, interrupting my thoughts.
I hold out my hand high enough that she knows what I expect. Holding my gaze, she bends to press her lips to my knuckles—such a good girl. The sweetness of her submission makes me close my eyes for just a second. When I open them, she watches me, biting back a smile.
Taking her by the chin, I draw her up so she’s balancing on the tips of her toes. Then I deliver a punishing kiss, pressing the sides of her jaw so she has to open up to accept my tongue. Her hands grip my shirt as I invade her mouth, tasting the sweetness of cannoli, remembering that my brothers’ kisses are still present on her lips. I plunder her, own her, prepare her for what’s coming, and she moans like the perfect good girl that she is.
We’ll find another way to get to Carlo. Aemelia isn’t part of that plan anymore.
But she’s still ours.
Willing captive.
Marked by one of us.
Soon to be claimed by us all.
28
ALEXIS
THE GIFT OF LOYALTY
It doesn’t take long to pack up the house. Andre and Vito carry the bags out to the SUV, Luca spins the keys around his finger, waiting to lock up, and Aemelia stands around looking pretty.
My god. She’s beautiful. Like the first sun breaking through the bleakest of winter skies over this sprawling city. Effortless in a knitted dress and long boots, her hair loose and trailing down her back, her face bare of makeup. Aemelia smiles at Antonio, who keeps appearing with cannoli like some kind of deranged grandmother intent on fattening up her grandkid. Watching him try to spoil her is fucking amusing and poignant.