Filed to story: No Escape From The Mafia Kings Embrace
Without uttering a word, I reached up and gently caressed Mara’s cheek. I traced my hand down her throat, shoulder, and arm until I took her hand in mine. “Come”, I murmured. Mara immediately fell in step with me, lacing her finger with mine and grabbing my bicep with her other hand. A more intimate gesture than a proper one.
Luca’s POV
I guided her past the crowds of onlookers, towards a hall on the far side. “Where are we going?”, Mara asked softly. I smiled, “You’ll see, bambina. Be patient”, I replied, as I led her towards an open balcony. The sounds of the party faded more and more the farther we stepped away. When the garden and pond came into view, Mara gasped and released my hand to grab onto the railing.
“Holy-“, she began slowly. “Don’t say it”, I cut her off. She stopped and looked at me suspiciously. A frown graced her lips. “Why can’t I curse? You have monitored it for a minute now”, she mentioned softly, tilting her head to the side. “I don’t like it”, I answered. Her frown deepened, “You curse all the time, Luca”, she said. My lips twitched as a grin tried to form on my lips.
“I do, but that’s different”, I justified. “No, it’s not”, she snorted, as she looked back at the garden. I pulled my bottom lip between my teeth as I caged her to the railing. “It is. You will understand that soon, piccola”, I whispered into her ear.Mara took a rigid breath and sighed, “Probably not, but it’s fine”, she mumbled.
I don’t like that one bit either. I moved her hair off her neck, exposing her skin to me. I brought my lips to her flesh, gently touching her. “Don’t say that. If you have a problem you should voice it, bambina. I’m sorry, I just don’t like hearing you curse. Such ugly words shouldn’t come out of such a beautiful mouth”, I murmured, letting my lips brush her skin, making a layer of goosebumps break out across her neck and arms.
I planted my hand firmly against her stomach, pulling her tight against me. A hum left Mara’s lips as I kissed her skin deeply. “Luca”, she moaned. My blood was instantly pumping harder, as I pushed my hips against her. “I love the way your skin feels on my lips, piccola”, I muttered. Mara’s breath became heavy as her hand came up to grip mine.
“Have you no shame?”, she whispered, her voice trembling. I couldn’t help but chuckle. “No, I don’t, bambina. You are my wife. I am not ashamed”, I sniggered, as I spun her around in my arms. Mara faced me with a dazed look. Her hands rested on my chest for a moment before she ran them up to my neck. “Thank you”, she whispered, as she glanced up at me with her hazel-doe eyes.
My face crinkled in confusion, “For what, gattina (kitten)?”, I asked, softly. “For standing up for me back there. And, for getting me to a quiet place to decompress”, she whispered. I smiled, “I will always have your back, precious, always”, I murmured.Mara smiled and pulled my head down to hers, sealing my lips in a gentle kiss. I ran my hand up her back, to her neck, pulling her closer to me and returning the kiss with urgency. I ran my tongue over her bottom lip. Her mouth opened, making me groan and entwine my fingers in her hair.
The sound of a throat being cleared broke us apart. I growled as I turned to face the intruder. Ugh, Zachariah. “So, the rumors are true. The infamous Luca Barello has finally found a suitable bride”, he said teasingly. I cracked a grin as I stuck my hand out for him to shake.
“Zach, long time no see”, I greeted him. “The rumors are true. This is my beautiful wife, Mara. Mara this is an old friend of mine, Zachariah”, I introduced them. “It’s nice to meet the woman capable of snatching Luca off the market. A lot of women are mad at you tonight”, he said, reaching for Mara’s hand. Mara shook his hand, “I can’t really blame them”, she said timidly. I chuckled as I wrapped my arm around her waist and pulled her close to my side, planting a firm kiss on her temple. “You are the most beautiful woman I have ever seen”, I whispered huskily in her ear. A blush crept over Mara’s cheeks, making me chuckle.
“How’s the export business?”, Zach asked. “It’s good right now. Mara is working on a green house plan, so that we can grow year round”, I said, proudly. “That’s pretty awesome. Maybe you can help me next”, Zach said to her. “Zachariah owns an apple orchard”, I explained, looking down at her gorgeous face. Mara nodded, “A green house of that size would be near impossible, but not entirely”, she said.
“What you mean, is it is going to cost me a fortune”, Zach nodded, with a chuckle. “Most likely”, Mara grinned. Zach and I laughed loudly. “Well, whenever you have time, draw something up for me and have your husband pass it along. I’ll be more than happy to pay you, if it means the end result is my orchard being operable year-round”, Zach said, looking between the two of us. “Of course”, Mara nodded. “Luca, good to see you old friend”, Zach said, reaching out for my hand. “You too, Zach”, I said, shaking his hand. “Mrs. Barello”, he nodded at Mara. “Zachariah”, she muttered back.
I noticed a server walking by with a tray of champagne. I reached out and grabbed two glasses. One for me and one for Mara. “Thank you”, she spoke softly, as she took the glass from my fingers. “We don’t have to stay much longer. I just need to write a check, then we can leave. Unfortunately, there is an after-party waiting at home for us. That is, unless you would like to join me for another dance”, I teased, arching an eyebrow at her.
Mara blushed as she took a large swig of her drink. She slowly nodded and grinned. “I would love that”, she grinned sheepishly. I cocked my head to the side, a bit surprised by her confession. A slow grin spread across my lips. “Is that so?”, I asked, pulling her chest to mine. Mara opened her mouth, a beautiful smile on her lips.
Luca’s POV
“I can see why you turned me down now. You already had your sights set on someone else. A bad boy, no less. Maybe I shouldn’t feel offended, yet I am”, an unfamiliar voice interrupted us. Mara tensed, obviously knowing the voice. We turned to face a young man. Confusion washed over me. I had never seen this young man before. “What was so bad about me that you chose him?”, he asked Mara, anger evident in his voice. My eyebrows furrowed and hackles rose. My grip on her tightened with his familiarity with her.
Mara’s hand gripped my side harder as she spoke. “Duke, don’t act like that. It wasn’t supposed to be offensive. I just don’t like you like that”, Mara said cautiously, putting her other hand up in a calming gesture. “Are you fucking serious? You expect me to believe that? You walk around school with your head hung low, because you know what society you belong to. Yet, you have the nerve to walk around this event with your head held high like you belong here!”, the kid named Duke, roared.
