Page 8 of Bought By the Mafia

“What are you getting at?”

His eyes flared. “You’re going to have to earn it.”

“How? You want me to work for you or something?”

“Something like that.” Gio’s gaze dropped to my chest. The white blouse I had on was low cut and revealed a little cleavage. His naked glare made me feel like I had my boobs bared. When I grasped his meaning, heat crept up cheeks. He wanted to fuck me for it. The idea held appeal, as much as I hated to admit it, but what would he think of me if I said yes? Did his opinion of me even matter?

“I’m not your whore,” I said.

“Some might disagree, but I don’t care how you label yourself. But you’re my wife.”

“I thought you didn’t want to touch me.”

“I don’t. But apparently, I must,” he said.

My eyes narrowed. “What are you getting at?”

“Your brother called. Texted actually.” He fished his phone out of his pocket and flashed it in my face. The words written on it were so ludicrous, I took it out of his hand to read them for myself. Michael rarely involved himself in my life and with the fifteen-age difference between the two of us, he felt more like an uncle than a brother. His caring about me now was rich. “He’s saying you and I should consummate the marriage?” I said, barely able to comprehend the archaic request.

“Your father’s wishes, apparently,” Gio said. “They didn’t say anything to you?” His voice was so soft, one might have thought he was concerned, but I wasn’t dumb enough to think that.

“My father would rather die than talk sex to me,” I said. “As for my brother, well, he and I rarely speak so, this is odd. I married you for Christ’s sake. What more do they want?”

“It was actually in the agreement. Didn’t you read it?”

Actually, I had skimmed it. I was too shocked to find out that Gio wanted to marry me to read the damn contract clearly. What else was in there? What if? “They can’t expect kids to come out of this, can they?”

“You really didn’t read a damn thing, didn’t you?” His annoying smirk was back, and I wanted to punch it off his face.

“I don’t care. I’m not having your kids.”

“The feeling’s mutual,” he replied. I don’t know why, but hearing him say that was a stab to my heart. It made no sense. “However,” he continued, “your father seems insistent on this.”

“So? Just tell them we consummated the marriage. It’s not like they want a blood-stained white sheet.” Right? Knowing my father’s archaic sensibilities, he probably would demand one.

“I was planning on that until a new opportunity dawned me. Why not make it real? If you want my money, you have to at least show me some appreciation.”

“Is this your way of humiliating me?”

He stepped forward, eliminating the small space between us. I took in a deep breath as he leaned in and kissed my neck. He placed another kiss a little further up, and another until he reached my mouth and placed a light but persistent kiss. Whatever part of me that wanted to resist slowly disappeared, and I let him delve into my mouth. His tongue danced with mine as he deepened the kiss. I stifled a moan as he assaulted my senses with just his tongue and mouth. It felt like the first time all over again. As if nothing bad happened between us and we were back in Greece, enjoying each other. “Is this humiliating?” he whispered against my lips before kissing me again. The fog that was cocooning me lifted as the meaning of what he was saying registered. Somewhere within me, I found the strength to push him away.

He chuckled. “Looks like I still have the same effect on you as I did before.”

“Right back at you,” I said, pointing at his tented pants.

“I’m a warm-blooded man, Simona. It has nothing to do with you in particular. You could be any woman, and I would have the same reaction.”

“You’re a piece of shit.”

“Doesn’t stop you from wanting to fuck me.”

I hate he was right. With a simple kiss, he had awakened something in me I thought was dead. Not since… well, not since the last time I was with him I’ve ever felt like a horny little teenager simply from a kiss.

“Think of it this way. It would be the most profitable fuck you’d ever have. I doubt you got a million dollars, plus potentially more, from your other marks. You certainly didn’t get that much from me.”

So he still saw me as a woman who uses her body to steal people’s money. He thought what happened in Greece was something I did all the time. The inaccuracy about it all was so funny I felt a laughter bubble inside me. If only he knew the truth, but I doubt he would believe me if I told him. He would think I was lying, and I didn’t have the strength to dredge up the past. I had moved on from that part of my life and I wanted it over with. But if he wanted to think of me as some floozy who uses her body to get money out of men, then why not? Let him think about that. It would mean he would never have to be nice to me like he was in Greece. I would never have to fear falling for him, and that was good. When all of this is over, I would return to my life with my heart protected, my head held high, and some money in my pocket. He wanted a slut. I was going to give him a slut.

Mustering all the confidence I could, I took a step back and unpinned the first button on my blouse. Then the second. Gio raised an eyebrow. I unpinned the rest of the buttons, removed the blouse, and threw it on the couch. His nose flared. I thought he was going to make a move, but it seemed like he wanted me to remove all my clothes. So much for this not being some humiliation exercise. The skirt followed. I unzipped it and let it drop to the floor.

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