Page 26 of The Proposal

“Just doing my wifely duties,” she retorts.

I wish she’d do her other wifely duties.I swear I already have one ballsack dangling in the grave.

After our impromptu meeting in the kitchen this morning, I had to jack off in the shower to release some pent-up tension. This is my driest spell in history. My neglected cock is feeling very sorry for itself. I don’t blame the poor guy; I feel sorry for us both.

With that thought in mind, I decide to push my limit and see how much this little temptress will allow when she has an audience.

Letting go of her hip, I take the plates from her hands and set them on the table. She gives me a look that clearly says,What the hell are you doing?

I can’t help but grin as I reach for her again, tugging her onto my lap. “Dante,” she gasps as her cheeks flush a deep pink.

“What? I’m just fulfilling my husbandly duties and showing appreciation for my wife. I’m sure my men don’t mind.”

She turns her face towards mine as if trying to shield herself from everyone else’s view. “That’s so sweet of you.” Her narrowed eyes betray the sweetness in her voice, and I can’t stop my smile from widening.

“Are you heading to the shops now?” My gaze drops briefly to her cleavage—where my money is stashed—as I speak.

The move doesn’t go unnoticed. Her lips purse in irritation as she grabs hold of my chin, squeezing tightly as she jerks my face back to hers. It takes every ounce of restraint I have not to laugh. I’m beginning to realise that I love antagonising this woman. Her sassy side is a turn-on.

“I am,” she replies through clenched teeth.

I can feel the tension in her body, which should be enough to tell me I’ve pushed her too far, but I find myself cupping her jaw and pulling her lips down to meet mineinstead. I’ve always been a risk taker, and I’m curious to see how far she’ll let this go.

It’s nothing more than a brief meeting of mouths, but I extend it longer than I should. Her full lips feel like soft little pillows against mine. I can only hope she remembers we’re not alone and doesn’t repeat what she did on our wedding day by wiping her mouth with her hand when I draw back.

As soon as I release her, she shoots me a warning glare, which has me biting back another grin. When she rises from my lap, I give her peachy arse a playful slap, reaffirming she knows who’s in charge.

“Have fun spending my money,la mia regina(My Queen),” I say, watching her walk away with a mixture of admiration and possessiveness. I wouldn’t hesitate to make hermy queenif she’d let me.

“Oh, I will,mio re(My King),” she replies with too much enthusiasm, and the men around the table burst out laughing.

Calling meher kingwas just for show, but damn, if those words don’t stir something in me.

“Let’s start by seeing a show of hands. Who has an issue with me taking over my father’s position?” My gaze is firmly fixed on Edoardo as I speak.

When he doesn’t raise his hand, my eyes move around the rest of the table. I was hoping not to get pushback, so I’m grateful to see that’s the case.

“Good, now that we’ve got that settled, I’m moving forward with some restructuring. I don’t want to undermine anything my father built, but I believe it’s time to bring the business into the twenty-first century. I’m confident this will not only boost our profits but our power as well.”

“When you say restructuring, what exactly do you mean?” Edoardo asks, clearly unimpressed with my vision.

I was waiting for it.

“I’m young and have a clear vision of how we need to move forward. My father was old school, and while that served us once, the world is changing fast. Technology is evolving at an alarming rate, and if we don’t adapt, we’ll be left behind. I’m playing the long game here. With the loss of most of ourCaporegime(Captains) in the ambush, I see this as an opportunity to bring in new blood to lead our crews. Men my age, who share my values, my drive, and my understanding of the future. It’s not just strategy. It’s imperative for our survival.”

“So, are you saying I’m no longer going to be the underboss because I’m old?” Edoardo bites.

“You never were the underboss,” I counter. “Yes, you were my father’s closest friend … his confidant—theConsigliere(Advisor)—but you were never given the title of underboss, and you know it. My brother was always going to be the one to take over. It was never going to be you.”

“Your brother has had nothing to do with the business for a long time.”

“He’s been running all of our companies down in Sydney.”

He doesn’t argue that point because he knows I’m right. Instead, he takes a different angle. “If your brother was meant to take over, why are you sitting in that seat and not him?”

I stand, clenching the edge of the table so hard my knuckles turn white. “Because he didn’t want the job or the responsibilities that come with it. He has a wife and child to look after and feels his priorities lie there. Since I am the next in line, naturally, the position goes to me.I am a Mancini.My father’s blood runs through my veins,” I growl, banging my closed fist against my chest.

“By child, do you mean thebastardo(Bastard)?”

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