Forced To Be The Mafia King's Bride (by Oma Green) novel Chapter 205

Dante's POV

Those three words, I had never said them to anyone except Esme. They had been locked away for so long that I wasn't sure I remembered how to let them out.

But Gianna was looking at me like I held her entire world in my hands.

And maybe I did.

"Be a good girl tonight," I murmured, my thumb still tracing her lip. "And maybe I might throw in a sweetener."

Her expression shifted from hopeful to annoyed in an instant.

She gave me a fake scowl, her hands pushing against my chest.

"You're impossible."

"And you love it."

"I really don't." But she was smiling, even as she tried to glare at me. "You can't just dangle something like that in front of me and expect me to behave."

"Can't I?" I caught her hands, pinning them against my chest, feeling my heart thunder beneath her palms. "I think you'll behave perfectly, because you want to know what I'll say when this night is over."

She jabbed me lightly with her finger.

"You're cruel."

"I'm practical."

"You're avoiding..."

I kissed her again, deeper this time, pouring everything I couldn't say into that kiss. All the feelings I had been denying, all the affection and need.

She melted into me completely, her resistance crumbling, her body molding to mine like she was made for me.

When I lifted my head, Gianna's lips were swollen, her lipstick smudged.

She looked thoroughly kissed, and I fucking loved it.

Then her expression shifted, mock outrage replacing the dazed heat in her eyes.

She tried to scowl at me, but her lips were too swollen to pull it off properly.

"Now you've ruined my makeup."

I grinned, unable to help myself.

"And you enjoyed every minute of it."

Her cheeks flushed deeper, and she pushed at my chest.

"Let me go. I need to fix this."

I didn't budge. Instead, I tightened my hold on her waist, keeping her pressed against me.

"Let me help you fix what I ruined."

"Dante..."

"Stay still." My voice dropped lower, commanding.

She huffed but stopped squirming. I reached up, my thumb dragging along the corner of her lips, then across the full curve of her bottom lip, smoothing out the smudged lipstick.

Her eyes closed, and her breath hitched at the touch. I felt her shiver against me.

"There," I murmured, my voice rough. "Perfect again."

When her eyes opened, they were filled with want.

That knowing smile returned, the one that made my blood heat and my control slip.

She reached up, her thumb brushing across my lower lip, wiping away the red stain her lipstick had left behind. Her fingers lingered.

"Can't have you walking in there looking like you've been thoroughly kissed," she murmured.

"Even though I have been?" Her fingers traced along my jaw with a gentleness that made my heart skip a beat.

"Even though you have been. Though I think everyone will know anyway."

"Good." I caught her hand, pressing a kiss to her palm, then to her wrist, feeling her pulse race beneath my lips. "I want them to know. I want every man in that room to see you and know you're taken, claimed, mine."

"So possessive," she teased, but her eyes were soft.

"When it comes to you? Always."

I stepped back, offering her my arm. She took it, her hand curling around my bicep.

Together, we walked toward the entrance where music and laughter spilled out into the night.

"Thank you, Dante. I've put a lot of work into making this place feel like home."

Roberto's gaze shifted to Gianna beside me. He paused, openly appreciating what he saw.

"And this must be your wife." His gaze traveled over her. "Dante, you're a lucky man. She's beautiful."

I pulled Gianna closer, my hand tightening on her waist.

"Gianna, this is Roberto."

"Mr. Roberto." Gianna offered her hand.

He took it and raised it to his lips.

"Just Roberto, please. Dante chose well."

"Thank you."

Estelle stepped forward, and the women embraced, first Vera, then Gianna. They looked comfortable together, like friends now.

"Such a shame you left brunch early," Estelle said to Gianna, linking arms with her. "I heard your husband threw a bit of a jealous fit when he came to fetch you himself. Newlyweds."

Gianna let out a nervous chuckle, her cheeks flushing slightly.

"He's... protective."

"Protective." Estelle laughed, the sound rich and knowing. "That's what they all call it. Mafia men and jealousy go together like wine and cheese. You'll get used to it, darling."

Roberto must have noticed me glancing around at the chaos. He chuckled.

"This is for Matteo, my son's twenty-third birthday. He wanted something lively, and his friends have a taste for fun, as do most boys their age, I suppose."

I gave a forced chuckle, my jaw tight. This wasn't exactly the ideal place to talk business, and Roberto knew it. The noise, the crowd, the lack of privacy. It was the worst setting for a deal this important.

"Hm." I gave nothing away.

He must have noticed my apprehension.

"Our dinner is separate from all this chaos. Just us."

"Come." He gestured toward the hallway. "Let me show you."