Page 95 of The Viper's Wife

After one last long lick, I push my burning thighs to standing and scoop her against me.

Too languid to fight, she only releases a softohand settles her head against my shoulder.

In the bedroom, I leave the door open so that when I lay her on the bed, I can watch her in the dim light.

Her wide eyes, glassy with arousal and relaxation. Her short hair, fanning from her head like a black halo. Her fingers still entwined in her dress like she’s forgotten to let go.

My suit is off in seconds, but when I crawl over her on the bed, I take my time.

Every minute of punishing myself in the gym is worth it as she takes in my body with open admiration. I didn’t know it then, but it was all for her, for this moment.

I pause over her, my arms caging her in and my body naked and tense over her clothed and languid one.

She raises her hands and touches my face in a simple, loving gesture.

It undoes me.

I lean against her hands and ease myself inside her.

She moans, her hands caressing me.

I don’t trust myself to talk.

There are no rough touches, no whispered dirty talk about breeding or hate.

Just a woman and a man, holding each other in the night.

When she arches underneath me, I let go, and as we come together, I still wish the same selfish wish, the one that grows stronger with every beat of my heart.

Don’t leave.

18

NICO

“This wedding is goingto be a disaster.”

I roll over on the bed, careful not to disturb Valeria.

“What was your first clue?” I hiss into my new phone as I creep out of the room. “The fact that we’d almost gotten murdered yesterday, or that neither the bride nor groom want this wedding?”

“Don’t be dramatic,” Alessia says. “I had the planner show me the wedding details?—”

I don’t bother to ask how she got that information—if Alessia wants to know something, she’s going to find out—and instead walk directly to the kitchen in search of caffeine.

“The whole thing is modern, but this is supposed to be the wedding of the century. It needs to be traditional modern. Every detail has to scream understated wealth, elegance, and most importantly, power.”

I set a bag of coffee beans on the counter and rub my face. “What the hell is traditional modern?”

She gives a long-suffering sigh. “Where is Valeria? Put her on the phone.”

“She’s asleep,” I say, starting the kettle.

“Tell her to get dressed. I’m taking her to check out a couple of venues.”

“Aren’t you leaving today?”

“I made space in my schedule. What kind of big sister would I be if I let my baby brother have a stupid, ugly, tacky wedding?”