Nevio pouted.
“And thanks to you.”
Together they turned around as I straightened. I gripped Gemma’s hand and slid the ring on her finger. A familiar wave of possessiveness washed over me, seeing my ring on Gemma’s hand. Glancing at my own hand, I realized that now I, too, would wear a sign that made me someone else’s. It was a strange feeling, knowing Gemma would be the woman I’d spend the rest of my life with, the only woman I’d have sex with…
“You may kiss the bride,” the priest said, tearing me from my thoughts.
I smirked.
Snaking my arm around Gemma’s waist, my palm pressed to the soft, hot skin of her back, I pulled her against me.
“Behave,” she said almost desperately a second before my mouth crashed down on hers. The priest had given his official blessing for a kiss, so Gemma’s stuck-up family could suck it up. Sliding my lips over Gemma’s soft ones, I nudged her open with my tongue. Gemma tensed, but I didn’t give her a chance to react, pulling her even closer, my pinky slipping below the fabric of her dress to tease her tailbone as my tongue tasted her. Applause rang out in the church, at first only by a few people, probably orchestrated by Remo, until everyone fell in.
Eventually I pulled back, breathing heavily. I would have kept kissing Gemma if blood hadn’t started pooling in my cock. A hard-on in church was definitely something that Gemma would hold against me. Gemma’s skin was flushed, her lips swollen, her eyes lidded. For a moment before she remembered herself, desire filled her gaze and fuck it, I wanted to throw her over my shoulder right then and carry her to the car so I could take her to a secluded place where I could have my way with her.
Then Gemma’s eyes narrowed, and realization settled on her features, her eyes darting to our audience.
Outside of the church the guests gathered around us, clinking champagne glasses and cheering. Remo and Serafina were the first to congratulate us, of course. As Capo and my brother, it was his honor. He shook his head, then grabbed my hand and pulled me against him to hug me briefly. Many men avoided public displays of affection, especially if they were a high-ranking mobster. Remo knew he didn’t need to impress anyone. Every person in the room respected or even feared him. “I can’t fucking believe that you’re married. I was sure you’d pull a Hugh Hefner on all of us.”
I snorted, pulling away. “How could I not agree to marry, considering the hottest girl in Vegas was waiting at the altar?”
“That’s a lot of trouble for a piece of virgin ass,” Remo muttered. Gemma stiffened beside me.
My hand around his tightened, my lips curling in anger. “Careful.”
Remo’s mouth twitched into his twisted smile. “I see. Not just some hot ass after all.” He stepped back with that insufferable knowing expression and Serafina took his place. She smiled. “Congrats.” Then she hit my arm. “Don’t mess this up. I love her.”
“I’d never do anything to destroy your special bond.”
She hit me again before she stepped back, then searched the area for Nevio, who’d disappeared.
Diego and his mother Claudia, the latter holding Carlotta, who was still pale, were next. Diego gripped my hand and touched my shoulder. “Congrats.” He leaned forward, his eyes dead serious. “You are like a brother I never had. You are my best friend. But if you hurt Gemma, I’m going to kill you.”
I smiled in response. By now, I’d gotten used to his threats and they didn’t piss me off anymore. “She’s mine to protect now, Diego, and I will protect her.”
Diego nodded, but the hint of doubt lingered in his expression.
Claudia with Carlotta was next. She gave me a one-armed hug. “Please be good to my girl, Savio,” she whispered, her eyes earnest in their worry for her daughter. “Gemma is a good girl. She’s got a heart of gold, but even gold isn’t indestructible. I know as a Falcone, Diego’s threats mean nothing to you, but maybe the wish of a mother does.”
Tears filled her eyes. She looked exhausted and too-thin. Since Daniele’s death, she’d been breakable. “Claudia, you don’t have to ask me to be good to Gem. I won’t hurt her, and if I tried, she’d kick my ass as she should.”
Carlotta smiled shyly. I held out my arms, and she immediately leaned forward. Claudia handed her to me, and I pressed her to my chest. She was a tiny kid, no surprise, given her illness. “Hey Lotta, you look dashing in your dress. Like a princess.”
She giggled and actually snuggled against me. Her dad was gone, a constant male presence in her life, and knowing Diego’s workload, he probably didn’t have time to fill the void. I stroked her head.
Gemma pulled away from Diego who’d been hugging her for a long time. They both stared at me. I gave them a wink then turned back to Carlotta. “Will you dance with me later?”
Carlotta nodded, biting her lip.
“Your other guests are waiting for their turn,” Claudia said and took Carlotta from me before she and Diego moved to the side. Gemma linked our fingers and stood on her tiptoes to whisper in my ear. “Thank you for making her feel special. She’s been through so much. She really likes you.”
I squeezed her hand as she turned back to the guests. Nino and Kiara waited before us. Kiara had tears in her eyes. Each of them carried one of their sons. Both were dressed in bow ties and suspenders, earning admiring glances from all the women around.
Gemma’s face twisted with rapture as well. My baby alarm went off at once, and I realized I should have talked to her about not wanting kids within the next ten years at least. Four kids in the house were already more than enough, five if you
