A Sinner's Promise (De Bellis Crime Family, #1)

by Kylie Kent

“If it’s not the house that’s got you this worked up, what is it, Ellie?” he repeats. “I… I don’t know…” “Yes, you do,” he says. His fingers glide up and down, exploring every bit of my pussy, circling around my clit, and then he inserts them into my opening. “Oh god.” “Tell me… what has you this excited?” he asks again. “You,” I whisper. “Good girl,” he says and then slams his lips onto mine.

She shakes her head. She doesn’t know that I don’t take no for an answer. If I want something, I’m going to have it, and the thing I want more than my next breath right now is her.

“This is the strangest date I’ve ever been on,” I say, breaking the silence. “This is not a date,” she tells me. “Sure, it is. You’re here. I’m here. We’re eating dinner together. That’s a date.” “No, a date is when you ask me out to dinner and I accept the invitation. You show up at my apartment to pick me up with a bunch of pink roses, because they’re my favourite flower, and then you take me out. Somewhere fun, not overly fancy, and quiet,” she says. “Well, shit, Ellie, guess I need to step up my game.” I laugh. “You do.” “So, how about Friday?” “What about Friday?” I thought the question was obvious but I explain anyway. “For this date.” “Sorry, can’t. I’m busy.” “Doing what?” “Laundry,” she tells me.

“Oh, I’m sorry. What about your brothers? You mentioned you were close. You must be. If you’re all living together.” “We’re very close. I’d do anything for them.” “That’s nice. What about girlfriends?” “What about them?” “Do you have one?” “That depends.” I chuckle. “On what?” she asks, and I feel her head shift towards me. I don’t turn around. “On you. Wanna be my girlfriend, Ellie?”

“You know you’re the hottest fucking girlfriend I’ve ever had,” I tell her. “I seriously doubt that, and I’m not your girlfriend.” “You’re the first. So, yes, you’re also the hottest.” “You’ve never been in a relationship?” “Never wanted to be… before now,” I admit. “What’s changed?” “I like you, and when I think about you being with anyone else, I want to rip heads off. I don’t want to share you, which means you and I are exclusive.” It’s simple as that.

“Right, well, since I don’t need to worry about it, I’ll just go home then and you can worry about it all on your own, with your little boys’ club,” I tell him. “Wait.” Gio reaches out and grabs me around the waist. He pulls me into his chest. “Why?” “Because I’m fucking petrified of losing you, Ellie. I’m scared and I’ve never been scared of anything in my fucking life. But you… you scare the shit out of me.”

“This is just the beginning of our forever, Ellie,” Gio says. “Forever is a really long time, Giovanni.” “You are it for me, Ellie. I know it. You know it. Why deny it and pussyfoot around? You and I are going all the way. Marriage, kids, the lot.” “Gio, if this is your way of proposing, I’m gonna need a ring—but the answer is yes,” I tell him.

“So ready, but you’re supposed to be out there. You know, waiting for me at the other end of the aisle,” I remind him. “Yeah, fuck that. I’m not having you walk down the aisle alone. We’re in this together, Ellie. We do everything together, which includes walking down the aisle. You will never have to do anything alone again.” He kisses the side of my neck. “How do you always know?” I ask him. “It’s like you can read my mind.” “I know you.” He shrugs. “Now, come on. Let’s make this official.” He spins me around and takes my hand.

“The bride and groom have prepared their own vows. Gio, you may start with yours.” “Eloise, I wake up every morning counting my blessings that you’re next to me. I’ve been in love with you since the moment I first saw you. I promise to always love you, to protect you, and to spend the rest of my life making sure you have everything you ever need or want. I promise to always listen to whatever it is you have to say, even when you’re rambling and don’t make much sense. You’re my other half, the part that completes me. It will always be you,” Gio says as he slides a gold band onto my finger.

Then the celebrant turns to me. “Eloise, can you read out your vows to Gio?” I take a deep breath, trying really hard to hold the tears at bay. “Gio, you are everything I’m not supposed to want in life. And, at the same time, you are exactly what I’m meant to want. You have shown me what it’s like to be loved unconditionally, to be accepted for who I am. I promise to always be by your side, to be your cheerleader through life. To be your confidant. I promise to love you despite the red flags, and because of them. I will be forever grateful that you chose me.” I slide the gold band that matches mine onto his ring finger.

Her arms wrap around my stomach and her head rests on my chest as my hand mindlessly runs through the strands of her hair. When I finally feel her body relax, I close my eyes and let myself relax too. This is my heaven. Right here with my wife in my arms. There is no place on earth that will ever feel more right than this.