CHAPTER SEVENTY-EIGHT

CHAPTER SEVENTY-EIGHT
ELENA

"He can wait." Alexander said declining the call.

"Maybe it's important—"

"Elena." Alexander's voice was firm as he turned to face me fully. "Tonight is about us. My father has had decades to demand my attention. He can spare me a few hours. Now, where were we?"

"Tell me about your family," I said, as we entered the bedroom.

"The real story, not the sanitized version."

Alexander was quiet for so long I thought he might deflect. Then he took a deep breath and met my eyes.

"How much do you know about organized crime in Chicago?"

"Mostly what I've seen in movies. Why?" Though I was already starting to suspect where this was going as I sat on his laps.

"Because for the better part of a century, the Moretti name was synonymous with it." Alexander's voice was carefully controlled. "My great-grandfather started small—protection rackets, illegal gambling. By my father's generation, we were one of the most powerful crime families in the Midwest."

I blinked, processing this. "When you say crime family..."

"The Mafia." Alexander completed and watched my face carefully.

"That explains the excessive security," I said after a moment.

Alexander stared at me. "That's your reaction?"

"What did you expect? Screaming? Fainting? A dramatic exit?" I shrugged. "I figured it was something like that. Nobody accumulates your level of wealth from selling insurance."

"You're not... disturbed by this?"

"Should I be? You're not still running illegal gambling rings in your spare time, are you?"

"No, of course not—"

"Then what's the problem?" I reached for his hand. "Alexander, I fell in love with the man you are now, not whoever your family used to be."

Something in his expression cracked open. "I've spent the last ten years trying to legitimize everything. Clean money, legal businesses, cutting ties with anyone who couldn't make the transition." His thumb traced across my knuckles. "Some of my father's old associates weren't happy about that."

Suddenly understanding the weight he'd been carrying. "God, Alexander. That sounds exhausting."

"It is. But it was necessary. I couldn't build something clean on a foundation of mafia money." He looked up at me. "I was terrified you'd run when you found out."

"Where am I supposed to go? I have a mess in my apartment, remember?" I leaned in, placing my palms on his shoulders. "Someone has to keep you in check, too."

Alexander's hands settled on my hips, his eyes dark with emotion. "Elena—"

"I'm proud of you," I told him. "For having taken the difficult road. For building your own life. For being yourself and not who your family expected you to be."

"How can I know that I am different?"

"Good people consider their actions. Bad people never consider what they do." I leaned forward until our foreheads were together. "I've met plenty of bad people, trust me, and I know that there's a difference."

Alexander then kissed me hard and deep, like he needed my trust. His hands grasped my hips, drawing me toward him until we were pressing against each other.

"I love you," he whispered near my mouth. "More than I ever thought was possible."

"Show me," I told him, and he had a hungry, dark look in his eyes.

Alexander abruptly stood up while carrying me, I wrapped my legs around his waist as he carried me toward the bed, and his lips remained on mine while we French-kissed.

His hands were everywhere—tangled in my hair, gliding along my sides, and tracing every contour while we finally lay on the bed.

He removed his shirt. I put my palms flat on his chest and could feel hard muscles beneath warm flesh.

His fingertips gently brushed across the lower part of my sweater. Alexander took off my sweater, and his gaze became intense when he gazed into my eyes. His fingers gently caressed the curve of my bra, "So fucking beautiful".

I slid my arm down behind my back and unhooked my bra, then flung it away. Alexander gasped again and left his fingers hovering near my skin like he was afraid he would get into trouble if he touched me.

"Touch me," I murmured.

He grasped my breasts and rubbed his thumbs over my nipples.

I leaned in and moaned.

As he placed my nipple in his mouth, I groaned and began playing with his hair.

His tongue moved around my nipple. "I love the way you sound."

My thinking was so foggy that I couldn't say anything. Alexander's lips were doing fantastic things, sliding gradually from kisses to sucking my nipples, leaving me gasping for air. When he moved to my legs and teased my clit over my clothing, I was about to burst.

"Alexander, please..."

The motion of his fingers unnerved me. "What is it you desire?"

"You, in me, now." I felt such intense emotion within me that he was provoking.

Alexander discarded the rest of our attire while keeping his gaze fixed upon me. When we were finally skin to skin, he paused and kissed my forehead briefly.

"I love you," he said firmly. "Regardless of everything, never forget that."

"I love you, too," I murmured. "Now, be quiet and just fuck me."

Alexander's cock was in front of my pussy, gazing into my eyes as he moved into my pussy.

I let out a moan as he thrust even deeper into my pussy.

"Fuck! Elena," he sighed, "You feel amazing."

He went deep and moved slowly, leading me to repeat his name insistently. He kissed me and used his tongue to absorb my groans as he intensified his thrusts.

Every movement of his cock triggered feelings inside me, making me groan louder and louder.

"Fuck me harder," I said, pushing my nails into his shoulder. "More."

Alexander growled, forcing my legs farther apart and pounding into me so hard that the headboard slammed against the wall. The sound surprised and intrigued me, mixing with our panting and moans gave me extra pleasure.

"Is this what you were after?" he questioned coarsely, his tones grating. "Tell me, Elena."

"Yes," I gasped, feeling the orgasm building up. "Go on, keep—"

His hand slipped between us, and his thumb went around in small circles around my clit. The sensation and his rapid thrusts were incredible, and I could feel my orgasm in intense swells.

"That's my girl," he said gently, feeling me clench around him. "Come for me, beautiful."

He came after a while, my name on his lips as he buried himself deep inside me. Both of us were out of breath as we collapsed together, our bodies glistening with sweat.

"Holy shit" I managed to utter when I could speak.

Alexander chuckled low in his throat. "My thoughts exactly"