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“Shh,” Dante murmured. “You don’t want people to hear how much you love being fucked like this, do you? On all fours in the backseat of a car, taking every inch of my cock like you’re fucking made for it.”
“Might want to fix your lipstick, mia cara. As beautiful as you look freshly fucked, I would hate to ruin our evening by having to kill every other man who sees you like this.”
“You can’t see the stars in New York,” Dante said. “So I brought the stars to you.”
“I’d like the tagliatelle.”
THIS DIVA
“I don’t see you as a bargaining chip, but can you honestly tell me your parents feel the same way? I’m not trying to make you feel bad, amore mio, but you don’t have to put up with their bullshit. You’re an adult. You’re beautiful, successful, intelligent, and three times the person either of them will ever be. You have your own money and career. You don’t need them.”
“You’re fucking perfect the way you are, Vivian. If your parents can’t see that, then it’s their loss.”
“I love them.” He removed his current cufflinks and replaced them with the new ones. “Thank you, mia cara.”
She was my one spark of selfishness in a lifetime of reason.
“Se sapessi il potere che hai su di me,”
“Do you want me to ask what my father had on you? To ask whether the past two months meant anything, or if you were just trying to make the most out of a shitty situation until you could get rid of me? Do you want me to tell you how devastating it is to find out your father is…is…”
“Do you know how it feels to learn your fiancé was only with you because he was forced into it? To think we were actually getting closer when you secretly hated me? Not that I blame you.” She let out a bitter laugh. “If I were in your position, I would hate me too.”
“I don’t hate you,” I said, my voice low. I’ve never hated you.
“This is just business.”
Jesus.
Hes so me
The way I’d stayed in bed longer every morning just to catch her first smile of the day. The way our takeout lunch dates became my favorite part of the work week. The way I’d opened up to her about my family, my life, myself… And the way watching her walk away on Monday had cost me an irretrievable piece of my soul. The breath left my lungs. Somehow, somewhere along the way, I’d fallen in love with Vivian Lau.
“I read an article about the seven sins in my dentist’s waiting room.”
Ill put my entire bank account the author was talking about herseelf
“Don’t let your pursuit of wrath ruin the best thing that’s ever happened to you. Yeah, figuring things out with Vivian will be hard, but you’ve always been a fighter. So fucking fight.”
“Take your hands off my fiancée.”
“I don’t give a fuck what you did or didn’t realize.” The lethally quiet statement poured ice down my spine. “Touch Vivian again, and I’ll kill you.”
“We had a fight,” he said, his voice low. “We didn’t officially break up.”
“You’ve been gone less than a week and I already feel like I’ve spent an eternity in hell.”
“I love you, Vivian. More than I could ever hate your father. And more than I ever thought I was capable of.”
“You and me,” Dante said. His eyes held mine. “For real this time. We can make it work. That is…if you want to.”
“That’s six reasons,” Dante said. “I can work with six. I can even work with a thousand.”
“You said our relationship had a rocky start, and you were right,” he said quietly. “So here I am, trying for a fresh start. No business, no bullshit. Just us, meeting normally like any two people would.”
I’d lingered in that damn coffee shop for almost two hours on the off chance I’d see her.
“I am desperate.”
“I’ve never had to…pursue someone before, so perhaps I’m not doing this right. But I wanted to hear your voice."
A sky without stars, a home without heart.
“It’s the truth,” I said. “Your clothes are here. Your memories are here. But you’re not here, and I…” I dragged in a shaky breath and pushed my hand through my hair. “Fuck, Vivian, I didn’t think I was capable of missing someone so much. But I am, and I do.”
was hypocritical, but I didn’t care. “I don’t want anyone,” I said fiercely. “I want you. Your wit and intelligence, your kindness and charm. The way your eyes crinkle when you laugh and how your smile makes the world tilt just a little bit. I even want the disgusting food combinations you put together and somehow make taste good.”
“You take the most ordinary or unexpected things and make them extraordinary. You see the silver lining in every situation and the good in everyone, even if they don’t deserve it. And I’m selfish enough to hope you’ll see how much I don’t just want but need you. Today, tomorrow, and all the days that come after that.”
“I will,” I said. “No manipulation from your father. No questions asked. Just say the word.”
“Because I don’t care about punishment or revenge anymore. I care about you.”
“You and me, sweetheart. That’s the destination. And I’m willing to take as many steps as I need to get there.”
“Tofu as tofu, not as chicken. Chicken should be chicken,” Dante growled. “And in case you were wondering, no, she didn’t prepare it properly. It tasted like chewy cardboard.”
“Whatever it is, I’ll give it to you.”
“You’d be okay with that?” “I’ll survive. It’s not about me, mia cara.” Warmth curled low in my stomach. “And work?” He gave me a crooked smile. “I think I can convince the boss to give me a day off.”
“We have to work twice as hard to get an iota of the same respect as our peers. We are criticized for every misstep and examined for every flaw when others get away with much worse. We have to be perfect.”
“If she wants to reconcile with you in the future, that’s up to her. But if you talk to her again the way you did at the dinner table tonight—if you hurt her in any way, if you make her shed a single tear or cause her a single fucking second of sadness, I will take everything from you. Your business, your house, your reputation. I will blacklist you so thoroughly you won’t even be able to get past the bouncer at your shitty local bar.”
My hatred of him had almost cost me the person I loved, and I refused to waste a single second more on him. Not when there was someone else I’d much rather spend my time with.
“I’ve been practicing my restraint.” The faintest tip of his mouth. “Like I said, this trip isn’t about me.”
“Because they’re still your family, mia cara. Because if I could go back in time and stop your father from blackmailing me, I wouldn’t. Otherwise…” His voice dipped, just the tiniest fraction. “I wouldn’t have met you.”
“Per te aspetterei per sempre, amore mio.” “Spero non ci vorrà così tanto.“
“Watch your mouth,” I growled, giving her a playful nip. “Or I’ll punish you right here where anyone can see.”
“Yes. One that reminds me very much of you. Beautiful, rare, and difficult as hell to find…but worth every minute it took to get there.” My face softened. “I spent thirty-seven years thinking my perfect match didn’t exist. You proved me wrong in less than one. And even though we didn’t do it right the first time, I’m hoping you’ll give me a chance to prove myself a second time.” My pulse thumped with nerves as the most important question of my life left my mouth. “Vivian Lau, will you marry me?”
I felt the phantom tug of that thread now, stretching between us and vibrating with the promise of something only fate could deliver. I used to think we wouldn’t be together if her father hadn’t forced us together. I was wrong. A part of me would always find my way to her. She was my North Star, the brightest jewel in my sky.
“You clean up nice, Mr. Russo,”
“I could say the same for you, Mrs. Russo.”
I was too busy with my wife. Wife. The word sent an electric thrill down my spine.
