Claimed By The Mafia Don (Ariella and Asher) novel Chapter 34

Chapter 34

What could I possibly say about a garden? This is a tree. That’s a bench. Those are red roses. It was utterly ridiculous.

I glanced at him, realizing how silly this was, and before I could stop myself, I burst into laughter.

“What are you laughing about?” he asked, watching me.

“Nothing,” I said between giggles. “You’re just…so funny. And crazy.’

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“Yeah,” he said, tilting his head. “I guess for you, I am.”

Something about the way he said it made me pause.

“What do you mean?” I asked.

His gaze roamed over me, something unreadable in his eyes.

“I mean, you’re just so beautiful,” he murmured. Then, his lips twitched. “Are you sure you’re not hiding the fact that your father already arranged a marriage for you?”

I scoffed. “Yeah. Why?”

He exhaled sharply, his expression turning serious.

“Because I really, really, really want to kiss you right now,” he admitted. “Under this moon, under these stars. Looking at you right now, your flawless skin, and your…yummy, yummy lips.” His voice dropped lower. “The only thing I want to do right now is kiss you. And I’m afraid to kiss you if you’re already going to be somebody else’s wife…. Because I won’t be able to stop.”

His words-oh, his words. The way they made me feel, the way they stole my breath.

I felt my tongue dart out to moisten my lips, suddenly parched. And he noticed. He saw.

He moved. The kiss was hungry. It was deep. It was him. It was unexpected. And it was my first.

I didn’t know what to do, or how to respond. So, I just let him lead. I let myself get lost in it, in him.

And when he finally pulled away, I was breathless. Dazed. For a few seconds, I even forgot where I was.

Then-

“I’m sorry,” he said, his voice gruff. “I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have done that.” He studied my face. “Was that first kiss?”

Of course, he noticed. I had no idea what I was doing.

“Was I that bad?” I tried to joke.

He laughed, shaking his head. Then, without warning-

“Would you be my girlfriend?”

My eyes widened but I tried to calm my heart.

your

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Chapter 34

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“I don’t think that’s allowed.”

He stepped closer. “Just answer the question. Would you?”

I swallowed, my heart hammering. Before I could think too hard about it-I nodded. And he kissed me again.

That was the beginning of our story.

Because the very next day, Asher came to my house and asked my father’s permission to be my boyfriend.

My father was furious. He saw Asher’s request as an insult-disrespect from a man who thought himself above us simply because he was the Don’s son while my father was just a lowly soldier.

But Asher remained calm, his voice steady as he spoke.

“Sir, I talked to Ariella. She told me that you have funds set aside for her university education, and I think that’s good. I want my wife to achieve all her dreams, and I fully support that.” He paused before continuing, his tone unwavering. “I will wait until she i in her final year to marry her. That’s why I asked for permission to be her boyfriend because I want to spend time with her now, without having to sneak around.”

My father scoffed. “That still isn’t marriage. That is going to tarnish my daughter’s name. When you change your mind, no one will want to marry her because you will have already ruined her.”

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