Total pages in book: 40
Estimated words: 40037 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 200(@200wpm)___ 160(@250wpm)___ 133(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 40037 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 200(@200wpm)___ 160(@250wpm)___ 133(@300wpm)
What a stubborn bastard.
A waiter arrived and poured Santino a glass of champagne. The whole time he kept his gaze on me. When the waiter left, Santino spoke, “You’re not to be with any other man.”
Stunned, I leaned back. “That’s ridiculous. This is an arrangement—”
“One that will be honored.”
“It won’t. Especially when it comes to sex. For god sake, I have Stress Relievers.”
“What the hell is that?”
“They’re men that are available to meet my needs.”
Rage blazed in his eyes. “If any of these men come near you, I will relieve them of their cocks.”
I stared at him in shock. “I think that’s a bit much. I’ll need my needs met.”
“I’ll be meeting them.”
“You won’t. We won’t be doing that part of the marriage.”
He smirked. “And what the hell does that mean?”
“We won’t be having any sex.”
Again, I thought he would frown. Instead, he laughed. It was a fun and boisterous sound.
Other guests gazed our way. Some giggled. A few whispered. The only one who didn’t appear happy about the situation was Simon, who frowned and glared at me from his table nearby.
When Santino stopped laughing, his eyes shone with mischief, and the corners of his dark eyes crinkled. “Your sense of humor is amazing.”
“That wasn’t a joke. We will not be having sex.”
“You’ll be my wife.” He leaned forward. “So, I’ll be fucking you anytime and every time I please, and you’ll love every cock-pounding, mind-blowing second of it.”
Sparks shot from my cheeks. “You’re crazy.”
“I am.” He moved closer still.
I whispered, “You’re not fucking me anytime or every time you please.”
“I would like to go somewhere private to talk about this.”
That caught me off guard. “Why?”
“The man over there,” Santino gestured to Simon’s table. “He guided us in and gave me some helpful advice.”
“What was that?”
“He told me that I should manhandle you.”
I glared Simon’s way.
I’m going to manhandle you, asshole.
Santino’s voice brought me back to him. “I want to know more about the politics that you’re battling. I want to help you. I’ll be your husband. You’ll need me.”
But, I don’t trust you.
“We should go for a walk. There are too many ears here.” Santino rose.
My grandmother had been talking to her friend next to her.
“Excuse me?” She snapped her view to him. “What is going on?”
I slowly stood too. “We’re going for a short walk.”
“We haven’t eaten or had the toast.” She scowled at me. “All you had to do was one thing, which was to sit and be quiet, and even that—”
“Relax. I’m going to show him around.” My annoyance rose to a higher level. “And my job is not to sit and be quiet, Grandma. It’s to be Chairman.”
“You’re only Chairman because better people are dead.”
I reeled back as if she’d slapped me.
Santino’s happy expression shifted to rage.
So shocked from that statement, I stepped away without saying anything.
It was insane how words could hurt worse than violence, sting more than any physical blow ever could.
There were so many things that she could have said. But those damn words from her, hurt me the most. It twisted and crushed my ribcage. It pierced my heart.
If Santino hadn’t pulled me away, I may have sank down in my seat, defeated.
But, thank God he gently took my hand and guided me off as if he knew the way to go.
Devasted, I followed Santino out of the room, leaving my anger behind. My people came with us.
Better people are dead. . .
I trudged forward, staring at the ground and feeling numb.
7
A Need
Santino
S
he’s more heartbroken than I thought she would be.
That touched my heart. It gripped my soul.
I’d spent this year walking in darkness, searching for something to make me happy or calm my blood lust. Now here I have this captivating damsel in distress that needed me. One, I so desperately yearned to protect and defend.
There was a need so strong that rose and shook me to the core.
Suddenly, I was wondering if the most important things in life, couldn’t be seen with the naked eye or even a magnifying glass. And what was this emotion that I suddenly was feeling along with the need to protect her? Was it love or joy, happiness or peace? It appeared I’d never felt any of those emotions before.
I think I like this odd effect she is having on me.
As we left the ballroom, an overwhelming amount of grief and sadness radiated from her body.
At the table, she’d shimmered and smiled.
Now, after her grandmother’s words, she’d folded in on herself and kept her eyes down, trying to make herself as small as possible. It reminded me of a younger version of myself. Back when I was moved from house to house. Each time, I tried to be quiet and small as to not be an inconvenience. I hoped for one of my uncles to keep me longer. I prayed for their undying love.