others were the people that really brought us money: gambling addicts.
Toni waved at us from behind the bar. We headed that way and she and Gemma hugged each other over the counter. The bar was crowded and apart from Toni, I could see only one other waitress.
The girls whispered among each other briefly, probably about our still non-existent sex life. Like all girls, Gemma had definitely kept her best friend updated on the progress of our bed activities.
I kept my hand on Gemma’s waist to dissuade a guy from looking at her. We took seats at the bar, not my usual spot, but I could tell that Gemma wanted to be close to her friend. Diego joined us shortly after, grimacing when he saw where we were sitting.
He and Toni were in the off part of their on-and-off affair once more. Gemma hugged her brother briefly. Toni gave him a look that suggested she hoped his balls would fall off.
“What’s with them?” she whispered.
“After the quickie at our wedding, things cooled off again,” I said.
Gemma sighed, giving Toni a worried look. I clapped Diego’s shoulder. The first fight was over within two minutes, a fucking bore, but the one after reached a level of bloodshed that would have made Remo proud.
I chanced glances at Gemma who looked shocked but unable to look away. I loved that I could take her to fights with me without having to worry that she’d pass out. Fuck, I could even discuss moves with her afterward.
She gave me a distracted smile when she noticed my gaze before she returned her focus to the cage, completely mesmerized. “Can I have a quick word with you?” Diego asked after the second fight.
I nodded and followed him into the back. “What’s the matter?”
“I’d like to deal with the Arena instead of Fabiano in the future.”
I shook my head. “Diego, that’s a fucking bad idea and you know it. Toni’s going to take over from her dad at some point. She already handles part of the business.”
“I can handle it. We’re only fuck buddies. Let me deal with it.”
“Remo’s not going to like it, neither do I. Do you really want to bring yourself into a position where you risk sitting between chairs?”
“I can handle it,” he said again.
“Not if you keep fucking her. That’s not going to work.”
When we returned to the bar, Gemma was serving drinks because Toni had to deal with a customer at a table. The looks the guys at the bar gave her made my blood boil.
I strode over to the bar and sat down, causing them to back off. Gemma gave me a hesitant smile. “Toni asked me to take over for just a moment.”
I nodded. The moment Toni returned, and Gemma came back to my side, I pulled her between my legs and kissed her hard. She squirmed. “Savio, everyone’s watching.”
That was exactly why I was kissing her like that. I ran my tongue along her mouth then sucked her lower lip gently. “That fucking mouth is mine.” I nibbled at the sensitive skin. “And I want every fucker in the room to know it.”
She leaned back, raising her hand with the engagement ring. “I think this thing is getting the message across.”
“Maybe, but better safe than sorry,” I said. “Don’t tell me you don’t like my ring? It’s a symbol of…”
“Your ownership?” she finished with an angry gleam in her eyes.
“Of my feelings,” I said with a wink.
“And what are they?”
I looked away from her hopeful eyes. What did she want me to say? “Right now, I feel sexually deprived.”
She pulled out of my hold and sat down on the stool beside me. “Well, that won’t change until you can find a better answer to that question.”
Savio and I enjoyed the same things, we laughed together. Everything could be good if he didn’t keep that invisible wall up. Whenever I tried to have a serious conversation, the smirk, or a joke was his reply. I could tell he was trying in his own idiotic way by making me feel at home, taking me to fights and working out together.
It wasn’t a bad foundation for an arranged marriage, but it wasn’t something I wanted to settle for.
I could tell that he was getting increasingly irate because of our lack of intimacy, and if I was being honest, it became more difficult to resist him every day. My body, unlike my mind, wasn’t in favor of making him pay. I was definitely punishing