Chapter 43

Lucky

“We’re here,” Nico says as he puts his mobile away, the man is always on it. I’m not surprised he must have a million things going on at once. I take a look out of the blacked-out windows not able to see too much other than an imposing building that looks like something out of a gothic horror movie.

The driver opens the door for me, I step out as Nico comes to my side. The building has four turrets, it’s a drab grey and gives me a shiver down my spine. “Not very pretty,” I murmur.

“It’s not supposed to be it’s a safe house, one of many. We will be staying here; I shall have our families transferred today. They are in another safe house, but it would be too cramped for all of us and you Princess need a castle.”

“Humpf,” I stride past him up to the grand steps, also a dark grey. God, it feels fucking morbid. As morbid as my heart right now. I wish I could see Mia, go for a coffee, lunch, champagne and cocktails, let my hair down. Fuck’s sake I am still young and now I feel like a trapped bird in a cage.

“I’ve had enough of this, Nico. Can’t I go off and do something fun for an evening?”

He raises a dark, perfect eyebrow at me. “You could, but then you would be in danger. I’m telling you, Princess until we find out who has done this to us, we are not safe.”

“I’m bored, Nico. So fucking bored.” I notice I use his first name more and more nowadays. Maybe it’s time for the sniping at one another to stop. Who knows. I’m so bored I want to throw myself on the cold, stone steps and have a proper kid’s tantrum.

“I’ll think about it. If I do allow it, you must be protected so no going off and sneaking away. It is for your own good Lucky. If anything happened to you, I would not forgive myself.”

“You mean, you’d be pissed because your precious Kingdom would no longer be in reach.”

He sighs exasperated with the conversation and my bratty attitude. “No, that is not why. Are you always so petulant? God no wonder your father was quick to accept my offer. You need to grow up.”

“Says the grandfather, listen Mr, you’re only ten years older than me.  I am not a brat. Wait, what did you just say? My father accepted the offer without thinking about it? Well naturally, since you threatened his life.”

Nico runs his long fingers through his hair, I can’t help noticing how his jaw tightens, it looks kinda sexy. I don’t have time to have thoughts like this, I need to remember having any sexual, steamy thoughts or catching feelings for Nico Santangelo is off the cards. He is my enemy not my friend, not my lover. God knows though, my pussy wants some of what he's got in those tight trouser pants of his.

I tear my eyes away from his crotch, blushing as I see he has caught me staring. He raises both his eyebrows then wiggles them. It’s ridiculously hot, I flush. Warmth crusades from the pit of my stomach to my chest making my nipples erect. Fuck.

An elderly woman, I’d say late sixties maybe early seventies appears at the large iron door. “Nico, Nico you are here. Finally. I have missed you.”

“Hello, Ireña. It is good to see you.” He passes me tapping my ass on the way. Holy hell what is that all about? A display of affection, what has come over him. He’s stern, not playful. And who the hell is this Ireña? His grandmother maybe? She sounds Russian, however. I definitely detect an accent.

“Come, Princess meet Ireña, my nanny once and now my housekeeper here.”

I step up and extend my hand to the woman dressed all in black, as somber as the façade of the house, or castle as he wants to call it. Whatever. She opens her arms expecting to embrace me, I walk into them. Rigid. She is a stranger; I don’t do too well with strangers. Nonetheless her embrace is warm.

“It is good to finally meet you malen’kiy.” I frown not knowing what the hell that word means.

“It means little one,” Nico offers. I form an O with my mouth. She steps back, her arms extended, her hands on my forearms.

“You are beautiful, more beautiful than they say. It will be a pleasure to take care of you. Come, come you must come inside.”

We follow her into the property, it takes my breath away. Whereas outside is dull, grey and morbid. Inside is palatial. Rose colored marble covers the floors and pillars stand proud to the ceiling also of the same marble. There is a beautiful princess cut atrium allowing the last of the daylight to flood in.

“You must be hungry, I have prepared some food, let’s go into the kitchen to eat.” She leads the way her rubber soles making squishing noises on the marble, that kind of sound you ordinarily hear in hospital corridors.

Nico rests a hand on the small of my back, his touch warm. I find myself pushing slightly back into it. I question myself. Maybe it’s because I haven’t been touched like this for so long. Or maybe it’s because I know I have to marry him and the thought of being at each other’s throats for eternity isn’t the way I want to lead my life. I let him rest it there and follow Ireña into a large kitchen with modern furnishings.

A massive, long oak table sits in the middle of the kitchen, a gleaming color of honey and spun gold. It’s gorgeous as I trail my fingers along the top of it. “Sit,” she commands. Nico pulls out a chair for me and I sit as I am instructed to do.

“We will eat in here, Tony comes in an hour and your parents,” she addresses Nico who is now taking off his jacket and rolling up his white, pristine shirt to display the tatts on his ropey arms. Why does he have to have such sexy arms? It makes my stomach pool. Yeah, definitely it’s been way too long since a man has fucked me or made love to me.

Ireña has prepared us a hefty stew with dumplings, it tastes delicious. “This is so good,” I tell her. She smiles causing wrinkles to appear around her pale blue eyes.

“She’s the best aren’t you, Ireña.” She merely ruffles his hair; he smiles at her. This is almost adorable, it’s like seeing him revert to some kind of kid. We finish out meal, my stomach full and satisfied. Tiredness comes over me, it’s been a long day with going to the registry office, then getting straight on the four hours and something flight back to New York.

“Your suite is made up,” Ireña tells us. I gulp. I hope that she doesn’t mean we’ll be sleeping together. I don’t want to be in the same room as Nico and definitely not in the same bed.

“Thank you, Ireña. We will go up, shower and get changed. When Tony comes, please let him know to wait for me in my study.” Ireña nods. He stands and comes round to rest his hands on my chair and moves it out for me.

“Let’s go, Princess to our suite.” I glare at him. He smirks, the edge of his mouth lifting into a smile.

I follow him back out to the large marble entrance and head towards the sweeping staircase with iron railings. “After you.” I shoot him another look.

“You can drop the Mr Nice act, you’re not fooling me, Nico Santangelo. And if you think I’m sharing a suite with you, think again. I demand my own set of rooms.”

“You will get what you are given. You are my princess, and you don’t have a place here to make any demands now get your fucking ass up those stairs.” I huff at him.

At the top he guides me to the left, our feet silent on the plush dusky pink. I wonder what it would feel like to my bare feet, probably like heaven. At the end is a large double door, gleaming antique pine. Nico opens them and I can see our carryon luggage is already set by the door inside.

The room is large with a super king-size double bed dominating the room on the right close to double doors opening up to a balcony. I walk inside and go straight to the balcony. I can see trees and the sun beginning to set in the distance, a golden ball lowering itself, winking at us. “You will be happy here, Princess. It will become our main home once we are married.”

There’s that damn word again, I wish it didn’t exist in his vocabulary. He presses up against me, threading an arm around my waist. I can feel his hardness against my butt. “What are you doing?” I ask him my breath catching at his closeness, inhaling his masculine scent. Feeling his powerful body up close and personal.

“Holding you as we look at the sunset, Princess. We need to be more intimate if we are going to practice making babies.”

“You make me die, Nico. Now get the fuck off me and go wank yourself off in the shower or something. I told you; I will never give myself to you nor beg for you.”

He turns me round so fast my head spins. Our lips are close, I feel my face moving forward on impulse as his lips crash to mine. He doesn’t wait for me to give him access, as he slides his tongue along my bottom lip, then sucks on it causing me to involuntarily groan into his mouth. His fingers move hair away from my face and tucks it behind my ear. The caress of his fingers along my jawbone as he kisses me deeply, causes my heart to race. Damn this fucking attraction to a mobster.

He takes a hand and presses it against my breast causing my breath to hitch as his tongue goes further into my mouth. I kiss him back losing myself and letting my guard down. “You want me, Princess. I can feel the heat from your cunt. All you have to do is ask for my cock and I’ll give it to you. Your needy, tight cunt. I bet your lips are swollen, your nipples aching to be touched.” He runs a finger along my breast finding my erect nipple through my flimsy bra. Maybe I should have worn a padded bra.

Electricity pulses through my entire body. “I will never want you, not like that Santangelo.”

He chuckles, the vibration going through my mouth straight to my aching core. The wetness pools between my legs. Nico removes his hand from my breast and slides it between my legs making my hips buck and press into him.

“Fuck my hand you dirty little whore.” Oh hell, his words are so dirty. I wouldn’t ever let a man speak to me like this but when he says it, I see no sense I merely react by groaning.

His lips now trailing down my neck. “All you want is a breeding bitch,” I murmur unable to control myself as his hand moves along the seam of me, I move against his strong hand, my clit so desperate I could scream with wanting.

“All I want, Lucky my princess, my queen to be is you.”