His Stolen Bride - MINK Page 0,11

kiss, a real kiss, one that consumes us and binds our destinies together for the rest of our lives.

8

Bella

I gasp as he pulls me into his body. This kiss isn’t a stolen one. It’s claiming. I dig my fingers into his shirt as he deepens the kiss. My lips part for him, and he takes full advantage. My eyes fall closed as I let my body relax into him, pretending for a moment this is all real. Not just Santino taking what he now thinks belongs to him to do with as he pleases.

A whimper leaves me when I feel his hardness press against me. He’s turned on. Heat flashes through my body. Unwanted desire curls in my stomach. What is happening to me? It’s then I wake from the dream state I was in and remember what my role is. I push at his chest and try to break away, but he doesn't let go at first. He lets out a growl before tearing his mouth from mine and leaving me breathless.

I lick my lips, still tasting him there before releasing his shirt. I bring my fingers to my lips. I don’t know if the throb there is from the kiss overall or if my lip is still sore from where my last husband backhanded me.

His eyes glint. “I’m sorry.”

“You’re sorry?” I repeat. I swear I hear Gianna whisper the question, both of us thrown off.

I watch as my new husband reaches down, his eyes never leaving mine until his thumb softly rubs against my bottom lip, his eyes finally dropping there.

“I shouldn't have kissed you so hard. I—” He trails off.

I watch as his demeanor changes. He remembers people are watching. Whatever he was about to say is likely forever lost. “Was it Giuseppe who did this or one of his men I need to handle?” That tick in his jaw is back now.

“Handle?”

“Kill.” He shrugs.

“You would kill whoever struck me?”

“You are my wife, are you not?”

I stare at him, confused. “It was Giuseppe.”

“One less thing to handle.” He leans in and brushes his mouth against mine again. I let him. It’s tender and almost sweet. I don’t understand what he’s doing. All of it sets me off balance. His presence alone does that to me.

“Do you want another kiss, my beautiful wife?” He smiles against my lips.

I do, but I’m not going to tell him that. He’s being so nice now. Charming even. Then it dawns on me. Of course he’s being sweet, because he wants sex now. I felt how much he wanted me. It was strange compared to my last husband's reaction. Well, non-reaction, I should say.

“After you brush your teeth. I don’t care for the taste of smoke.” That should buy me some time to get myself and my thoughts together.

“I’ll keep that in mind.” He smirks. “If you kiss me like you just did I’ll never smoke again.”

I get that strange feeling inside my stomach again, but I push it down, because I can’t afford to have those types of feelings. I have my family to protect.

“Sir. We have a problem.” The man I heard Santino call Lucenzo before interrupts.

Santino steps back from me, but he doesn't let me go as he shifts partly in front of me. “Fernando Carrera is here.”

My sister’s eyes widen as my stomach drops. Leo takes a step closer to Gianna. Too close. I give him a look. He gives me a small nod, letting me know he’s armed. My mind starts to race with all the ways this could play out. Bad ways, all of them.

“We’ll be right there.” Santino looks down at me. “You’re scared of your father?” It’s not really a question but more of a statement.

“Why would you say that?”

His eyes go to my hand. It’s wrapped around his forearm, my nails digging into him. I let go quickly, not having realized I’d grabbed him. It’s not my fault I can’t control my body around this man.

“Is there something I should know?” Santino asks it almost gently, but there’s steel underneath.

I lick my lips, still tasting him there. I’m not sure what I should tell him. I don’t want him to have something to hold over my head, but what choice do I really have? I’ll need him on my side if there’s any chance of keeping Gianna here and safe. I have to be smart. I know my purpose in all of this. But I want Gianna to have better, so I’ll do