Page 52 of Heir of Darkness

“Since we both signed the contract,” he admitted. “That was the first night I got sleep in a long time.”

She felt a little guilty. It didn’t help that she was probably one of the things keeping him awake at night, especially when she was fighting the contract as hard as she had been.

“I’m sorry for being one of the things that kept you up,” she said.

“Don’t apologize for anything. You can help me sleep now.”

“If you weren’t with me, would your father have set you up with someone?” she asked. “I know Finn will probably get set up one day.”

He sighed. “Yes, my father brought it up at one point. Had someone picked out, but I was quick to sign another contract instead.”

“And you picked me?” she asked. She couldn’t help but feel like maybe she was the bad decision. If Cesare Vitali had picked someone for his son, it had to have been someone beautiful, smart, and most likely more understanding of her role in his life. Probably someone less stubborn.

“I would have always picked you,” he said. “You’re loud, wild, beautiful, stubborn?—”

“Is this list supposed to make me feel better?” she asked.

He grabbed her hands, pulling her against him. “You are so unapologetically you. It’s not my fault that I’ve been enthralled since I was seventeen.”

“Who knew you were so mushy?” She smirked. “Imagine if any of your men heard you speaking this way.”

“I don’t give a shit. You’re going to be my wife; you deserve the mushy side of me. Let everyone hear it.”

Her heart shouldn’t have thumped the way it did, but it seemed to betray her at this point. He said all the right things, everything she wished he wouldn’t say because it made her melt more and more. Who knew the future mafia don was such a romantic?

“So you have a mushy side, a possessive side, a violent side. Any other versions of you I should know?” she asked.

“I’m sure you’ll learn them all one day, but something tells me you might like all versions of me, even the bad ones.”

“Like the version of you that shot not one but two different men on two occasions?” she asked sarcastically. She could feel the heat creeping up her cheeks.

He nodded. “Absolutely. Maybe you don’t want to admit it to yourself yet, but I think you enjoy the side that would go to extreme lengths for you. The version of me that remains on your side no matter what,” he said, cocking his head to the side.

“And if I don’t?” she asked, trying to hide the fact she did. She felt entirely too exposed in front of him and it wasn’t because she wasn’t wearing any clothes.

“Then you’d be lying to both of us.”

She nodded her head slowly. “And if I do?”

“You should. I’ll always be on your side,” he said, running his hand up and down her back.

She looked at him, exposing her vulnerability. “You promise?” The words tumbled out of her mouth before she could stop herself. For some reason, she cared a great deal about whether or not he would always be on her side.

He wrapped his pinkie finger around hers. “I swear.”

“You’re a little too good at this romance thing.” She let out a breathless laugh, trying to lighten the intensity of the moment. As if sensing exactly what she was doing, Valerio gave her a small grin.

“It comes naturally with you.” He shifted on the chair so he was sitting up, but now his towel had ridden up, exposing his upper thigh.

That brought her a sense of satisfaction. Her hand rested on his upper thigh, testing the waters and enjoying when his muscles flexed under her hand.

“Are you sure you’ve never been with anyone else? Never touched anyone but me?” she asked him.

“Only you,” he said.

“Has anyone ever touched you?”

She felt bold enough to move her hand up, looking up at him. He swallowed harshly.

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