Bound by Temptation (Born in Blood Mafia Chronicles, #4)

by Cora Reilly

He cursed and then he was upon me, one hand cradling the back of my head, the other on my hip, the touch hot, warning and promise. I could almost taste his lips they were so close. His touch made me feel more alive than anything ever had. “Leave,” he rasped. “Leave before I break my oath.” It was half plea, half order.

I was right in front of Liliana but she hadn’t stopped screaming. “Calm down, Lily. Everything is okay,” I murmured. She didn’t seem to hear me.

She pressed her face against my chest and sobbed. It was an image that would haunt me for a long time.

wondered if I shouldn’t have come up with an excuse. The last time I’d seen Lily she’d been a girl, and while she still wasn’t a woman, she’d grown a lot. She was fucking stunning.

She looked at me with a sad smile. “It won’t be much longer. For me there’s nothing but regret. But you have your whole life ahead of you, Liliana. Promise me you’ll live it to the fullest. Try to be happy.”

“This is about you. If you’d rather stay here and enjoy the sun, we can do that too. I don’t mind.” Not one fucking bit. Watching Lily was something I could do all day.

Romero nodded. “Maybe you’ll get to choose for yourself as well. You might meet the perfect guy soon and he might be worthy in your father’s eyes.” The perfect guy sat in front of me.

Romero lightly touched my arm. My eyes traced his strong jaw with the hint of dark stubble, his worried brown eyes, his prominent cheekbones. And then I did what I’d promised myself not to do again but right in this moment, in this cold, hopeless house he was the light and I was the moth. I pushed to my toes and kissed him.

“Oh, but I have to worry considering the look of regret on your face when you said that your lips barely touched. You want her.” “Yes, I want her,” I muttered, starting to get annoyed by his interrogation.

I’d only be the fifth wheel. Before I closed the door, I saw Luca cradling my sister’s face and kissing her eyelids. That was love and devotion.

I walked out and headed for the stairs but stopped in front of Liliana’s door, listening for a sound. Maybe I wanted to hear crying so I could storm in and console her, be her knight in fucking armor. I moved on.

I slipped my hand into his and his fingers closed around me before he pulled me to my feet. The momentum of the movement catapulted me straight into Romero’s arms. I should have pulled back. He should have pushed me back. We didn’t.

“You better,” Luca said, giving me a one-arm hug. “I will have you force-fed if necessary. I promised your father to take good care of you.”

“Every night I feel like darkness is swallowing me whole, like my life is spiraling out of control, like there’s nothing good in my life. But when I think of you those feelings disappear. I feel safe when I’m with you.”

“I’m not playing around. I’m so lonely, Romero,” I whispered.

“Then why do you keep pushing me away?” “Because it’s the right thing to do, and because I know the risks.” “Isn’t it worth the risk?” Romero stared down at me with such intensity that I couldn’t help but shiver. He didn’t reply. He gripped my hips and pulled me against him before his lips came down on mine.

“Thanks for staying with me.” Romero kissed the back of my head. “Get some sleep. I’ll keep the nightmares away.” “I know you will,” I whispered.

He checked the corridor before he moved closer, and said in a low voice, “You look breathtaking.” Dropping my arms, I couldn’t hold back a jibe. “You didn’t seem to notice at breakfast.” Despite my attempt to sound flippant, my voice revealed my hurt, and it annoyed me.

“But can we snuggle?” Romero chuckled. “I should probably say no,” he murmured. “But I’m screwed anyway.” He lay down and opened his arms.

“What makes you happy?” “I don’t know. This, but I know it’s fleeting.”

“Romero,” she said in wonder, and my fucking heart swelled at hearing my name from her lips.

“I meant it, Romero,” I said in a small voice. “I love you.” He was quiet, and I realized he couldn’t, he wouldn’t say it back. “You shouldn’t. We don’t have a future, Lily.”

I pressed a kiss against her temple and I wasn’t sure why I said it because it definitely didn’t make things easier but it slipped out, “I love you.” And by God, it was the truth. I loved Lily, even though I knew our love was doomed. She sucked in a breath before whispering, “I love you too.”

“Mother told me to be happy shortly before she died. And Romero makes me happy. I want to be with him.”

“I slept with Lily,” I said calmly. Matteo let out another of his annoying whistles.

“Please, Luca, don’t punish Romero for protecting someone he loves. He and Lily belong together. I beg you.”

That was why I knew Lily was the one.

I glanced at Romero. All this because I loved a man I wasn’t supposed to love, and because I wanted to be with him. Was I a selfish bitch? Romero met my gaze.

“I know you’ve been through a lot and your last wedding experience was horrible, but I hope you give it another chance. I want to be the husband you deserve. I want to make you happy and love you, if you let me. Will you marry me?”

“God, you’re so damn beautiful. I can’t believe you’re finally mine.” “I’ve always been yours.”

Love was worth every risk.