“Amore, stop looking at me naked. I’m doing my best to wait until our wedding day.”
“Dom…sorry. Um…I just didn’t expect you to be so…gorgeous,” I confess.
With a growl, he adds, “Give me a minute.” He steps into his closet out of sight and comes back a minute later in a pair of sweats and a tee-shirt, adding a different element to his sexy. Who knew a man like him owned regular clothes? “Come on. Let’s eat before it gets cold. Giuseppe wouldn’t want you to be upset with his cooking.”
“Okay.” I climb off the bed and walk around to the small table in his room, taking a seat across from him. I’ve never eaten in front of him before. In fact, everything about this man is new to me, except the years of fantasizing about him.
“Eat, Aria. When we say our vows, you will be too busy for food for a long while. Do get your nourishment in now.” I lift up the lid to my plate to hide my blush when it comes to us fucking. When I look at my dish, it’s one of my favorites—Pappardelle in a beef and mushroom sauce. Looking up at Domani, I wonder if he knew it was my favorite. “You can learn a lot about someone from their Pinterest posts.”
“I can’t believe you did this for me.”
He pours a glass of wine for both of us. I don’t drink a lot of wine, but at a good dinner, my parents let me have a bit. “It’s nothing. I don’t cook the food; still, I am glad you are pleased. Now, do eat.” He begins to dip his bread into the sauce before taking a large bite of the pasta.
“This is delicious. I think I’m in love.” I moan, taking another bite.
“Hey, don’t get Giuseppe killed, now,” he growls, taking a drink of his wine.
“Silly, I meant the dish. I better continue running every day or I’ll be getting chunky.”
“You can run if you please, but it must be in the gym here. I do not trust your safety.”
“I know. I prefer the treadmill anyway. It’s not like I’ve been let out much since that day with Franco.”
He pauses with his fork midair. “No talk of him tonight, please. I’d like to enjoy my dinner, cara mia.”
“Yes, sorry. So when you’re not all mob bossing and stuff, what do you do for fun?”
“Fun? I watch television or read books. What about you?”
I shoot my brow up at him and then shake my head before taking a sip of my drink. “I’m guessing you already know that, but I’ll humor you.” Setting the glass down, I continue. “I like to draw and paint. Nothing fancy, just stuff to occupy my time outside of my schoolwork, and well, pure boredom.”
His face lights up. “Are those your drawings on Pinterest?”
“Yes. I’ve had offers and requests, but they’re just for me.”
“Well, they are lovely. I especially love the girl staring out her window with a whimsical look, as if waiting on her lover.”
I gasp. “Is that what you see?”
“I do. Is that not what it is?”
I smile widely. “No, you’re a hundred percent correct on it. Some think she’s depressed, miserable.”
“They miss the slightest glint in her eyes or the upturn of her lips.”
“Thank you, Domani. I’m glad someone truly enjoyed it.”
“I’m sure there are many others that caught it.”
“No one I know. You’re the first person that actually took a real interest in my art.”
“I’d like that piece to be somewhere special in the house. Wherever, even if you just put it in our bedroom.”
“Are you serious?”
“Tesoro, I am always serious. I don’t say things I don’t mean.”
“Oh God, the explosion,” I sob. “Everything I had was in my art studio in the back of the house.”
“Do not worry. Your studio is safe. Your father said he knew they meant the world to you. My men will collect everything tomorrow. That part of the house was clear of the fire, so they haven’t been damaged. It was only in the main front living area.”
“That’s really good. I’d been so worried about you two that I’d completely forgotten about them.”
“Thank you, Aria.” He squeezes my hand and then continues to eat. I do the same because I am pretty damn hungry and the smell is incredible. By the time we’re done stuffing our faces, I sit back and sigh.
“I think I overate. I’m stuffed.”
“You needed it. You haven’t eaten most of the day.”
“How did you know that?”
“I asked earlier.” I know he’s lying, but I let it go.
“You know you could have just talked to me to learn my likes and dislikes.”
“Yes, but you’ve seen what happens when I have you alone and close to me.” He takes my hand and gently massages my wrist with his thumb.
“We have very nice talks,” I offer.
“Smart ass.” I let out a yawn. “How about we watch some television and then go to bed?”
“Okay.” He hops up and grabs the remote from his dresser and turns on the television. He has it on a CSI marathon—the original CSI with William Peterson, my favorite. “How about this?”
“I do like this one—even if it’s a cop show.”
“If it makes you feel better, I used to watch Cops all the time as a teenager.” He shakes his head at me after I press my hand to my chest in shock.
“That’s funny. Oh, the irony,” I remark dramatically. A criminal loving a criminal-catching show.
“Do you have a good enough view from there?” he asks.
“Yes.” I’m totally lying, and he can read it. In a swift motion, he picks me up and sits me on the bed. “That’s much better.”
He sits on the edge of the bed, but from the looks of things, I have a feeling he’s not going to be joining me. Cupping my face, he asks, “Amore, are you going to be okay in here alone? I have to talk to my men. With everything that has happened, I have a mess to clean up.”
As much as I hate for him to leave me, I know that just because the threat is gone, it doesn’t mean their work is over. “Do what you have to do. I’ll be okay here. Just be safe, please, Domani.” He bends over and kisses my lips. We start off sweet and gentle, but before I know it, he has pinned me to the pillows and his mouth devours mine. His hands wander all over my body, skimming up my thighs, and then he pulls back. We’re both panting, filling our lungs with much-needed air. Straightening himself up, Domani adjusts his cock, which is clearly beyond hard in his joggers. “You have no idea how sexy you are.”
“I’m starting to see.” I lick my lips, teasing Domani and myself because I’m so damned aroused as well.
“That’s a bad girl. Keep that up, and you won’t be coming tonight.”
“Fine. I need to shower since someone left me a sticky mess, but I’m guessing you didn’t grab any of my clothes.”
“No. I didn’t, but your mom picked out some new clothes for your new life by my side. They’re in the closet on the right.” My eyes shoot open wide, shock and excitement written all over my face.
Climbing onto my knees, I throw my arms around his neck for a huge hug that he returns, lifting me off the bed. I kiss his cheek as he sets me back on the mattress. “You are a big surprise, Mr. Bianchi.”