His Tesoro (Empire of Royals, #1)

by Emilia Rossi

We ate quietly, and I pretended not to notice as my husband fed small bites of food to Noodle.

I signaled for Noodle to get up from his spot by my chair, and he gave a cute little stretch as he came to my side. I had only had him a few days, and I couldn’t imagine my life without him. Without both of my guys.

“Do you think…” I started before trailing off, suddenly nervous. His hand cupped my cheek, his thumb caressing my jaw. “What is it, tesoro?” “Could we try holding hands while we walk?”

Matteo’s hold on my face tightened a fraction as some emotion flashed over his eyes so quickly I almost wasn’t sure it was real. He leaned down and pressed a tender kiss to my forehead. Then he straightened, took my hand in his, and we made our way through the park.

I’d spent all night trying to make up my mind. My hand had been on her doorknob twice before I turned back. Even though Sofiya and I had been together all day, it somehow wasn’t enough. I wanted to be beside her in bed, our naked bodies pressed together.

I liked Sofiya. She was fun to be around. Her quick sense of humor, sassy mutterings under her breath, and brilliant smile did something to me. It made me feel out of control, and I didn’t like it.

But the idea of asking the Pakhan for help, particularly after knowing how he treated Sofiya, was like ash in my mouth.

But I was still tempted to tell Rustik to go fuck himself. He didn’t deserve to breathe air after how he’d treated his daughter.

I rubbed at my chest even though I knew the strange tightness wouldn’t dissipate until I was back with Sofiya. One of my soldiers had betrayed me. A vital shipment of weapons was gone. Arben was making me look like a fool. But what I was angriest about was that it had pulled me away from my wife. I wouldn’t get to see her get up this morning, looking all messy and rumpled. And for that, the Albanians needed to die.

“I don’t need anything, bella.” I glanced up at Angelo. He was crowding my chair, his eyes flitting around the busy shop. “Of course you do. If I don’t spend a lot of money, Matteo will yell at me.” Angelo snorted. “As if the Boss would yell at you.”

“Matteo.” My voice broke, and I choked back a sob. “Sofiya? What’s wrong? Where’s Angelo?” “Someone’s shooting at us outside the bakery. Please come.”

“Please come.” The words were like a dagger to my heart. Hearing the panic in Sofiya’s voice made sweat prickle on my brow.

Angelo had cleared the trip with me this morning, and I said yes because I knew it would make Sofiya happy. And now she was in danger.

I knelt on the ground, supporting Sofiya’s back. “Fuck, tesoro mio. Are you hurt?” I couldn’t remember the last time I’d sounded so panicked, but as she looked up at me with tears streaking down her cheeks, I couldn’t keep my mask in place.

I kept my touch as gentle as I could as I held her close to my chest. I pressed my face to her hair, breathing in her scent. I could have lost her.

This is what I’d always feared when considering marriage. Being too exposed, too vulnerable. I’d done my best to create distance between us these past few weeks, but now I couldn’t bear the thought of being apart from her. I thought keeping my distance would protect myself from vulnerability, but maybe it had just caused more problems for both of us. Sofiya reached out a tentative hand, and my eyes fell closed as she brushed it along my jaw.

shifting in my lap so she could pet the dog. “Were you scared, malysh? You were so brave.” Something hot burned in my chest, and it was definitely not jealousy at whatever pet name she just called the dog. “He looks fine,” I said dryly.

“Angelo,” Sofiya said, reaching out her hand to the guard as we got out of the car. “Thank you for protecting me.” Her voice cracked and she blinked quickly as she took his hand. The fact that he had saved my wife’s life today was the only thing keeping me from chopping off his fucking hand. I wanted to be the only one she touched.

“Don’t argue,” I said, giving her a stern look. “You won’t win this one.” “I’m glad you know I’ll win most of our arguments,” she said primly.

I was learning Matteo’s subtle tells. He wore a stony expression, his tone stern and serious, but he couldn’t hide how he ran his hand through his hair when stressed, the way his fists clenched with anxiety, and the slight crinkle of his eyes when happy.

I hadn’t gotten the elaborate wedding I’d dreamed of or the smiling groom or the quiet, peaceful life in the countryside, but more and more I was thinking I’d ended up with something better.

The urge to tease him was strong, but instead, I held out my hand. “What? What is it?” Matteo asked, staring down at me. I snorted a giggle and grabbed his hand. “I don’t need any more blankets. Will you sit down with me?” His eyes were fixed on our joined hands. For a moment, I thought I might have overstepped, but then Matteo gave me a squeeze.

When we first met, I would have interpreted his behavior as being irritated with me, but I was growing increasingly suspicious that my husband might like me. Might care for me.

When he didn’t move away, I rested my head on his shoulder. “What are you doing, tesoro?” Could he hear the way my heart pounded at the term of endearment? “I’m… leaning.” “Leaning?” “Yes,” I said. “Okay. You lean all you want.” He adjusted his body so his arm was around me and then I was pulled tight to his chest.

“I’ll take being shot at every day if it leads to this,” I said, snuggling deeper into Matteo’s embrace. His hold on me tightened. “Don’t fucking joke about that.”

“Who says I was joking?” He sighed. “How about I promise to hold you every day if you promise not to get shot at?” “Deal.”

“I want a kiss.” His brow furrowed, and I held my breath, sure he would refuse me. But then his hand cupped my face, his thumb running down my cheek. “If that’s what you need, how can I refuse you?” Then he was tilting my face, his lips meeting mine with a softness so in contrast to his typical harshness, and I wondered if this was a side of him saved just for me.

“I should be taking care of you.” “You are taking care of me.”

With every move I made, I was braced for rejection, for the moment my husband realized he didn’t want this, didn’t want me. But the fear and adrenaline from today’s life-and-death experience was shifting, transforming—urging me to go after what made me feel alive.

“I don’t want to stop,” I said, meeting my husband’s gaze head-on, challenging him to argue. He ran his thumb across my lip. “You think I have much more self control than I do, tesoro, if you think I can stop now.”

He ran his hand up my leg, gently squeezing my thigh. “What else do I need to be careful of?” My heart felt like it was going to burst at his care for me, and I couldn’t stop myself from leaning in for a kiss.

“Just don’t freak out if I dislocate something.” He frowned. “You will not dislocate anything.” “I’m not sure you can command that.” I traced my fingers along his jaw. “But I’ll try my best.”

“I’m taking you to bed. Our first time isn’t going to be on this fucking couch.”

For the first time in my life, I felt desirable. I didn’t want to be a disappointment to my husband.

I crawled over her, being sure to keep my weight on my forearms so I didn’t put pressure on her joints. I wanted to make this good for her. I never wanted to hurt her.

“Yes,” she said, running her fingers down my jaw. Her touch was so gentle. I couldn’t remember being touched like that since my mamma died, and I felt that strange twinge in my chest I now realized was emotion. I kissed her forehead as I ran my fingers through her golden hair. “You are so beautiful it fucking hurts.”

I brushed the hair out of her face, still amazed that my hands were capable of doing something so tender.

“I’ve had sex once before,” she blurted out. I gritted my teeth against the rage rushing through my veins like molten lava. Only my wife’s soft, perfect body underneath mine kept me from leaving to track down the fucker who had touched what belonged to me.

I ran my nose down the side of her face, breathing in her sweet scent and forcing myself to be calm. I hated that I wouldn’t be the first one inside her, and I was determined to kill this fucking stronzo who had taken her virginity. But I wasn’t angry with her. Never with her.

She chewed her lip, still looking like she was bracing herself. I ran my thumb over her lip, and she took a deep breath.

“You are the most gorgeous woman I’ve ever set my eyes on.”

My heart ached as I planted soft kisses down the side of her face. Sofiya had been hidden away for most of her life, so I shouldn’t be surprised that she didn’t know how breathtaking she was.

“You wouldn’t prefer someone who wasn’t damaged?” Her voice was so soft, so fragile. The muscles in my jaw clenched. I’d had similar thoughts about her when we first met, but I had been wrong. “Next time you say something negative about yourself like that, I’m going to spank your ass. You are fucking perfect.”

“No,” I said, cupping the sides of her face. “No. You will not take any of the blame for that asshole’s behavior. He took advantage of you and left you in a vulnerable position.” I swallowed hard. A lifetime of not expressing myself told me to shut up, but she deserved more from me. “I would never do that to you. Never.”

“Have I told you I like when you have a beard?” she murmured. I grinned and rubbed my cheek against hers. There was a light puff of air against my skin as she giggled.

“I just… it just makes me feel safer to know I can get away if I need to.” I rested my forehead against hers. “I’ll give you what you need. But one day, you’ll know that...

I would deal with the bastard who hurt her in the morning, but for now, it was all about her. My treasure. My wife.

“You make me feel.” Her lips brushed against my cheek.

One time with her would never be enough. A million times with her wouldn’t be enough.

I had fucked a lot of women throughout the years, but I’d never felt this close to anyone.