“It has to be those Lombardi cunts,” Benny says. “That’s probably why he’s having his guys sneak in. Natalia stayed in the office the entire time she was here. There’s no way she even knows about that room.”
“Look, Celine said the girl is nice,” Santos continues. “All I’m saying is, watch your back and be careful.”
“I’m always watching my back,” I snarl.
“Apparently not well enough.” He holds up his hands when I pin a death stare on him. “Don’t kill the man who ensures your ass stays out of prison.”
It’s late when I enter our bedroom.
I’ve gone from screwing my fiancée in my office to questioning if she’s double-crossing me. I wasn’t there when Vinny killed Dario. It could’ve gone down differently, and she could’ve been in on his death.
Natalia is in bed, wearing silky black pajamas and eating a goddamn Oreo cookie … on sheets I had imported from Italy. As I stalk into the room, she eyeballs me, opening and then shutting her mouth. It’s as if words are on the tip of her tongue, but she doesn’t know how to say them. Usually, I wouldn’t care, but everything about this woman arouses my interest.
“Spill it, Natalia,” I say, stopping at the edge of the bed.
“Spill what?” She looks away and separates a cookie before licking off the frosting.
Fuck. My cock grows hard as I watch her drop crumbs in our goddamn bed. What is this woman doing to me?
“Whatever it is you want to ask or say.”
She dismissively waves her hand into the air. “It’s nothing.”
“Say it,” I grind out.
“Will you …” Her voice trails off.
I crouch down so we’re at eye-level and adjust my dark gaze on her. “Will I what?”
“Will you be a good husband?” she finally asks, her question taking me off guard.
“That depends on what your definition of a good husband is.”
She breaks eye contact and runs her fingers along the bed. “My father was a good husband.”
Why would she bring up her father while half-naked in our bed?
Not that it’ll stop me from corrupting her body in it tonight.
Reaching forward, I use my thumb to wipe frosting off her top lip, and goose bumps form on her arms. “If there’s anything I can guarantee, it’s that I’m nothing like your father.”
She frowns. “You don’t know my father.”
“I know enough.” I draw back and unbutton my pants. “Whether or not I’ll be a good husband is an opinion you’ll need to form on your own.”
“So far, with half of your behavior, I’m worried and thinking not so good.”
“Most of that behavior was pre-engagement, Natalia.”
“That doesn’t excuse your actions.”
“You’re right. Now that we’ve discussed what’s on your mind, let’s move on to what’s on mine.”
“Okay.” She elongates the word.
I harden my voice so that my frustration is clear. “Are you feeding anyone information?”
“What?” Her mouth falls open, and she draws herself back. “What are you talking about?”
“Someone leaked information about the club and my finances.”
She presses her hand to her chest. “And you think that someone was me?”
“If there’s one thing I hate, it’s a rat.”
“Do you consider me a rat for telling you Vinny’s secrets?”
“No, I consider you smart.” I crouch down again, smack my palms down to each side of her, and invade her space. “But crossing me? That’s not smart.”
Her breaths quicken, and she attempts to keep her words steady. “I could’ve gone to the police instead of you, Cristian. They’d have also offered me protection.”
“You know they could never offer the extent of protection I can.” I inch closer to her space, inhaling her sweet scent, and can’t stop myself from brushing a hand along her thigh. I love that she shivers at my touch.
“Yes, but I had that option.” She chews on her lower lip and stares down at my hand massaging her leg. “I had someone approach me months ago, asking about Vinny, and I told them nothing. I swear, I’d never put you guys in harm’s way. I care too much about Gigi, Benny … and you.”
I lift my other hand to stop her chewing and trace a finger along the seam of her plump lips. “I had to make sure.”
I read people well—most likely why we haven’t had many traitor problems—and I’d bet my entire empire that Natalia has said nothing. And as Benny noted, she hasn’t had access to anything that was leaked.
She opens her mouth to drag her tongue across my finger. “Anything else?”
I disengage from her, standing and straightening my shoulders. “Yes. Don’t eat fucking Oreos in our bed.”
She grins before rolling over, her ass cheeks peeking out of her shorts, and grabs a handful of cookies before making herself comfortable.
I rub my forehead. “Who would’ve guessed our downfall would be fucking cookies?”
She laughs. “Lighten up some, Monster.”
I cock my head to the side. It’s the first time she’s referred to me by my nickname.
“A monster never lightens up,” I say. “But you know what I do?”
“What?”
I latch my hands around her ankles and drag her across the bed to me. “Eat my future wife until she orgasms on my tongue, and I taste her all night.”
CHAPTER 27
NATALIA
“I have to go back to work today, Cristian.” I tell him this as we’re drying off post-shower and post-orgasm.
Post-orgasm is always the best time to bring up stuff he’d typically say no to. The shower is my favorite space to share with Cristian. I love the view of his wet, naked body and the smell of his shampoo and body wash. Plus, he can’t keep his hands off me.
“No, you don’t,” he says, his voice stern as he knots a plush towel around his waist.
“Yes, I do.” I pinch my lips together. “I can’t do that to Bonnie, and she only needs me for a few hours.”
“I’ll go with you then.”
I freeze mid drying off. “Go with me to work?”
“Yes.”
“As in sit there and hang out?”
“Why not?”
“You’ll scare people.”
“Scare them into buying art from you.” He smirks. “Bonnie won’t mind.”
“You’ll make me nervous.”
“Act like I’m not there.” He drops his towel, and I can’t stop my gaze from dropping to his erect cock. “I need a birthday gift for Helena. I’ll find one there.”
“You told me your last purchase at the gallery was for Helena’s birthday. The one you didn’t even look at before purchasing?”
“She has a few more birthdays coming up.” He picks up another towel and runs it through his hair. “I like to be prepared.”
“Fine, but don’t say I didn’t warn you. It won’t be fun.”