Page 89 of Vicious Vows

“I told you, I wanted peace.” She pressed her lips to mine and kissed me softly. “We need that.”

I released her face from my hold and circled her in a tight embrace, breathing in the comforting strawberry aroma that was her.

“Baby, as long as we’re together, there can be no peace.”

TWENTY

Lissia

The sun hadn’t even risen,but I couldn’t fall back asleep. There were too many conflicts swirling around in my head. I shouldn’t have gone to my dad and asked him for a favor on Nico’s behalf.

This is going to cost me.

My father was never the man I thought he was. The sooner I learned to accept that, the sooner I could move forward with Marchello.

Is the man who I sleep next to every night the man I think he is?

I propped myself on my elbow and gazed at Marchello as he slept. His hands were above his head and his quiet breaths were rhythmical.

My fingers twitched to trace the tattoos on his chest and side, but I didn’t want to disturb him. After what I put him through by going to my dad’s house yesterday, he deserved a few hours of sleep.

I slipped out of bed, being careful not to wake my sleeping beast, and crept into the bathroom. A hot bath might help my tense muscles and stressed mind.

Once the water was at an acceptable temperature, I dropped a strawberry bath bomb into the oversized tub, turned the jets on low, and waited for it to fill.

I tugged Marchello’s Princeton T-shirt over my head, then held it in my hands. What would his life have been like if he had honored his mother’s wishes and went to college? If Julia had lived, would her children have followed another path? Or was Nico too much of an influence over their choices?

The answer to that question was obvious.

I climbed into the tub and immersed myself under the steamy water, breathing in the fruitiness of the berries fizzling around me. Closing my eyes, I tried to settle down, but the conversation with my father kept haunting me.

It was as if my going to him to request help had turned into a Mafia 101 class. I didn’t want to learn from him, but I did find the skills exhilarating. If I had been a boy, would I be standing by my dad’s side like Marchello and Milo were with Nico? Would I be part of the family business?

If I had to be part of this world, I wanted to do it with Marchello. Did that make me a traitor? Wanting to be an Accetti was more appealing to me than being a Gallanti. That had so much to do with the way my father had treated me these past few months.

I didn’t want to feel betrayed—I wanted to be valued and for my opinions to count—but right now, neither men in my life were listening to me. Why couldn’t they realize that I could be the key to bridging this gap between the two families? If I could get them to agree to a truce, wouldn’t they be able to accomplish more within their own organizations?

The faucet squeaked and the water stopped. I sat up and opened my eyes to find Marchello standing over me, wearing nothing but his boxer briefs. Even in the dimly lit room, I could appreciate his amazing form.

“What are you doing?” he asked. “It’s barely morning.”

“I couldn’t sleep.”

“Why didn’t you wake me?” He sat on the edge of the tub. “I would have helped you fall back to sleep.”

“You looked so content.” I ran my finger along his thigh. “I didn’t want to disturb you.”

“Why can’t you sleep?” He took my hand in his. “What’s on your mind?”

“If you join me, maybe I’ll tell you.” I bit the corner of my bottom lip. “It’s big enough in here for the two of us.”

He stood, pushed his boxers down his legs, and stepped out of them, giving me an erotic view.

“I’m going to smell like dessert.” He lifted his leg over the side as I scooted forward so he could get behind me.

Once he settled in, I positioned myself between his legs and rested my back against his chest. He engulfed me in his muscular arms and rested his hands on my stomach.

We had sex all the time, but this moment seemed more intimate than anything we’d ever shared before. There was something personal about sharing a bath with him. I liked the sensation of his warm, wet skin against mine. Having his protective, strong arms wrapped around my body made me feel secure and comforted.

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