When he found out about one of his father’s earlier flings, he’d wanted to kill him. That was a long time ago. Klaus knew he’d be different if he ever claimed a woman of his own. He’d devote his life to her and their children.
He could already envision Isabella ripe with their first child. One of many. He needed to breed her, keep the family going long into the future. Just thinking of his new life made him feel this child-like hope and excitement he hadn’t know in decades.
Klaus went to the powder room and ran the water over his bloodied knuckles, the red water swirling down the drain.
He wasn’t sure he could recover the night after that asshole tore her feelings to shreds. But he was patient when it came to her, and he could wait until life settled down before consummating their marriage.
“Are you okay?”
Her soft voice was right behind him. He hadn’t even heard Bella come in the bathroom, he was so lost in thought.
“Fine. Don’t worry about me.”
She reached for his hand, the water flowing over both of them. The room was too quiet. Bella carefully tended to the cuts on his knuckles, then covered them with a hand towel. “We’ll have to buy some antiseptic cream.”
“I said I’m fine.”
They turned to face each other. “Thank you for standing up for me.”
He cupped her cheek. “Don’t you dare believe anything he said. Understand me? He’s an ignorant prick, and you’re better off without him in your life.”
“My mother will be upset.”
“She turned a blind eye. Don’t worry about anyone. It’s only us now. Us against the world. You got that, Bella?”
She nodded.
He leaned down and kissed her—softly, deeply, deeper than oblivion. She melted against him. He was going to fall hard for this young girl, and he wasn’t sure how he felt about that. Weakness wasn’t something taught to him. Empathy was to be avoided. Women were to be used, not cherished. But here he was, already falling for his virgin bride.
****
Nothing her father had said surprised her. She swore it hurt Klaus more than her. Isabella had become numb to her father’s insults. But knowing her new husband cared enough about her to risk taking revenge on Carmello Lastra was a beautiful gift.
She pulled away from the kiss, attempting to catch her breath.
“My father’s dangerous, Klaus. You should have let it go—the bruises, the insult, everything. I don’t want him to hurt you.”
Klaus smiled, running a fingertip to frame her face. He could be surprisingly gentle. She always expected the worst from men.
“I’m dangerous, Bella.”
Then his lips came back down on hers. He was deliciously thorough this time. It felt like much more than sexual desire, at least to her, anyway. She didn’t have to worry about giving herself to this man. She belonged to him now.
Klaus was her husband. And she hoped he never turned into her father.
The next moment, he scooped her up into his strong arms. He carried her across the hallway to the bedroom, still kissing her with a desperation that made her pulse race.
He wanted her. And she’d be lying if she said she didn’t want him in return. Although, this was her first time, so she had so many apprehensions and insecurities.
The bedroom was massive, and the California King bed had rose petals on the duvet. Everything had been thought-out and prepared ahead of time for the honeymoon, the official consummation of the wedding. If she wasn’t so nervous, she’d be impressed by the large jacuzzi tub near the bed with the view of the city lights at night.
He set her on her feet and pushed the robe past her shoulders, and it fell to the ground. She took a deep breath. Her body image was always a huge issue for her, mostly due to her father’s constant disapproval.
Klaus didn’t look disgusted at all. He reached around and unfastened her strapless bra, her tits dropping heavily. He wet his lips.
“You’re fucking perfect, Bella,” he said. “I’m going to make you mine tonight. Everything changes from this day forward.”
She bit her lip as he bent over and twirled his tongue around her nipple. Skitters of pleasure cascaded through her entire body. Klaus had a reputation for more than just being a monster. She wanted it all.
He stood up tall, towering over her. Klaus shrugged out of his suit jacket, then he loosened his tie and began unbuttoning his shirt. She watched, her nipples tightly beaded. The air tickled the wetness from this mouth.
As he tossed his shirt, she got her first good look at Klaus. Her husband. The man men feared and women craved.
His muscles were thick, mature, and defined, and she could see all the ink work on his arms, chest, and back. He looked like a devil. And he made her want to sin.
She tentatively reached out to touch him, but chickened out, pulling back.
Klaus stopped unbuckling his pants, taking her wrist and placing her hand on his chest. “I’m yours now, Bella. I’m your man. Only yours.”
She swallowed hard.
“Touch me. Don’t be shy. I’ll never say no to you, baby girl.”
After a quick gulp of air, she tested his muscles with her fingers. Damn, he felt good, like leather over steel. Pure, unbridled male strength. She smoothed her hands down his chest and across his six-pack abs. There were scars too, old and newer. It was easy to become mesmerized with his body, touching him, standing in front of him in nothing but her little panties.
“I love the way you touch me,” he said. Klaus hooked a hand under each of her shoulders, lifting her high up into the air with ease, then carefully lowering her back down. He kissed her, slowly, patiently, and she felt herself falling in love with her husband.
Love and marriage were scary things to her because in her world, they never worked out as planned. She
