Texas Proud and Circle of Gold (Long, Tall Texans #52) - Diana Palmer Page 0,86
shivering a little with the overwhelming hunger he felt for Bernie. He looked at Santi blankly. “What? You got a cold?”
“Boss, it’s raining. Really raining. You know?”
Mikey blinked. Santi’s hair was plastered to his head and face. He scowled and looked down at Bernie. Her hair was plastered to her head and face, too. He laughed out loud. “Damn. So it is! I guess we should find a dry place, huh?”
“I guess,” Santi mused. He opened the car door.
“But I’m wet,” Bernie wailed.
“The seats are leather, honey, they’ll dry. Santi, find her cane, would you?”
“You bet!”
Santi closed the door.
“Now,” Mikey murmured, drawing her close. “Where were we...?”
* * *
They were married in the courthouse, in the office of the justice of the peace. Bernie wore a winter-white coatdress and carried a bouquet of white roses. She had on a little saucy white hat that had a veil, and Mikey lifted it as he kissed her for the first time as Mrs. Michael Fiore.
Sari and Paul were their witnesses, and Tony Garza came down with his entourage for the wedding. In fact, Marcus Carrera and his Delia, and their little boys, also came to town for the event.
“I owe you a lot,” Mikey told Marcus.
The big man waved away the thanks. “No sweat,” he chuckled. “But if you come across a bolt of antique cloth, you know where to mail it, right?” he teased.
Mikey clapped him on the back. “You bet I do.”
* * *
The honeymoon was in Jamaica, in Montego Bay, where they swam and acted like tourists. Well, at least, after the first night they were together.
“You don’t need to worry about a thing,” Mikey whispered to her as he undressed her very slowly and eased her under the covers.
She shivered a little at the first contact with his nude body, but he kissed her and caressed her until she didn’t care what he did as long as he didn’t stop.
He carried her from one breathless plateau to another, from one side of the bed to the other, for what seemed hours before he finally moved over her with intent. She was so sensitized by then that she barely felt the little flash of pain that hallmarked his slow penetration of her welcoming body.
She was aching for him, so hungry that she knew nothing, saw nothing, except his face above her as the passion grew and grew and grew and finally exploded into pleasure beyond anything she’d ever dreamed.
“Oh, my goodness,” she moaned as they finally moved apart. She shifted her hips and the exquisite sensations went on and on.
He chuckled, drawing her to his side. “It’s addictive.”
“Very!”
He pulled her onto him and looked up into her soft eyes. “I’ve never missed anyone the way I missed you. I was just ashamed to even call you, after what I did.”
She bent and kissed him tenderly. “We both believed lies because we were insecure.”
“But no more.”
“Not ever,” she agreed.
“There’s still the matter of the little unlawful things,” he said, grimacing. “But I’ve got a legitimate casino now, and two of the biggest mob bosses in history in my corner. So if I want to move out into the world, so long as I don’t betray any secrets, I can leave the old life behind. Not that I’ll give up my house in Jersey. You’ll like it,” he added softly. “It’s old, but it’s got character.”
“I’ll love anywhere you live,” she said simply. “And I’ll cope, however I have to.” Her pale eyes met his dark ones. “I love you.”
He hugged her close. “I love you, too, baby. And don’t you dare think I mind about the cane and the days you have flares, or if you get sick. I can afford nurses, anything you need. But I’ll take care of you myself,” he added, lifting his head, and his eyes adored her. “Because you’re the most important thing in the whole world.”
“So are you to me,” she whispered, and kissed him.
“Listen, I spoke to your doctor,” he said. “Louise Coltrain said there are medicines you can inject, that will make your quality of life a hundred times better.”
“Yes, but they’re so expensive—”
“I could fund the treasury of a small country, honey,” he interrupted. “It will be money well spent, especially when the kids come along. You won’t need to try and keep up with me,” he chuckled. “I’ll carry you, if I need to. But you will need to keep up with our kids...”