With the friction of their bodies, she came hard, but Klaus didn’t give her time to grow accustomed to the pleasure. He pounded inside her, finding his own release and flooding her body with his cum.
Their hands were still locked together as she smiled up at him. Perspiration covered their skin, and he kissed her again.
“This is how it’s going to be, morning, noon, and night. You’re the only woman I want, Bella. All you’ve got to do is give yourself to me and trust me and my word. I’m not like my father, or yours.”
She wrinkled her nose. “I don’t want to talk about him.”
“He’s planning something. You’ll need to be cautious when we’re back.”
“I don’t want to see him, Klaus. He … scares me.”
“You have nothing to be afraid of.”
She licked her suddenly dry lips. “After what happened on our wedding night, he’s going to try and hurt you.”
He nodded.
“I don’t want anything to happen to you,” she said. The thought of Klaus not coming home to her hurt more than she could even bear.
“I’m not going to let anything happen. Your father won’t get the best of me, that I can guarantee.” He kissed her again.
She wanted to tell him how she felt, but the truth was, she wasn’t entirely sure how she did feel. When they were alone like this, she had no doubt she was falling for him. How could she not? She’d yet to truly see the monster. The man he’d been on their wedding night, he’d held back the true person he was. She’d seen the restraint he possessed. One day, she would see the monster, and she hoped that deep down, she would still recognize Klaus, the man who’d rescued her.
Chapter Six
“What were you thinking?” asked Marcel.
His father paced in the living room of the family home, his arms wildly animating as he spoke. Klaus had stopped in to pick up a contract from his brother Renzo but was ambushed by his father.
“He deserved what he got,” said Klaus, popping an olive in his mouth. He waved away the chef in case things got ugly.
“This wedding was to create peace.”
“And it has,” said Klaus. He knew the calm was only temporary. One day, Lastra would want revenge.
“People have been talking ever since the wedding night. Lastra is obsessed with revenge. You humiliated him in front of everyone who matters.”
“He shouldn’t have touched my wife.”
“She wasn’t your wife before the wedding day, Klaus. You’re not putting the good of the family first. As the oldest son, it’s your duty. You’ve said so yourself.”
He exhaled, running a hand through his hair.
The family home reminded him of his mother. Now it was cold and lacked a soul. He was glad to have his own home with Isabella. Soon, it would be full of life and children.
“I’ll handle everything. Stop worrying yourself. You’ll have a fucking heart attack.” He grabbed the contract from the table and leafed through it.
“Because of you.”
His father dropped down into an armchair, his fire doused. Once upon a time, Klaus had looked up to him. He was a god, powerful, in control, and had his hand on the pulse of the city. Now he was tired and lacked any passion. Klaus may have to take over sooner rather than later. People would talk, and the sharks would smell blood. They had to present a strong, united front no matter how much things were crumbling behind the scenes.
“Are you sure you want to handle this one?” asked Renzo.
“It’s what I do.”
This contract was for a paid kill. A deal had gone wrong and someone with money wanted revenge. He rarely bothered to look too deeply. If they paid, and it didn’t involve anything personal, he’d get it done. Klaus preferred to be the one to get his hands dirty over his younger brothers.
His father was pushing Renzo and Carlo to become more involved in the family business. Klaus wouldn’t allow Carlo the freedom to even jerk off. He wanted him to finish university and make something of himself. Renzo was already waist-deep in this bullshit, but Klaus still tried to minimize his involvement when possible.
He often wondered how he’d feel about his own sons wanting to continue their empire. He wasn’t sure how he felt about it and chose not to think on it too hard.
“We can do it together. It would be faster,” said Renzo.
“It looks like you’re about to have a good meal. Enjoy it. Our father needs you to keep him calm.”
He walked over to the armchair and kissed his father on the forehead before leaving the house. Klaus longed for the day they could have a good Sunday family meal together with Isabella by his side. The way things were going, that dream was fading away quickly.
As he got into his Mercedes, he tossed the file onto the passenger seat and squeezed the wheel with both hands. There would have been peace between the families, but there wouldn’t be because Lastra had to die. He wasn’t sure when he’d do it, but Klaus just couldn’t let it go. He’d crossed the line, harming his promised bride. The one he was falling in love with.
Love was an illusion in their world. Everything was about money and power. He’d found something rare and special with Isabella, and he’d protect that at all costs.
His cell phone rang as he drove away from the house.
“Klaus.”
“What is it, Bella?” He planned to grab some dinner and bring it home. Klaus had been handling business since nine in the morning. Hearing her voice put him at ease.
“My mother called.”
“And?”
“They’ve invited us to dinner this weekend.”
“They?”
“Yes, she said they both want us to come,” said Isabella.
The old piece of shit couldn’t even try to take him out on the down low? Klaus wasn’t stupid enough to walk straight into the dragon’s den.
“Bad idea, baby. For me and for you. Every
