Page 28 of Reign of Fate
Is she fucking kidding? I search her face and see she’s serious. I’ll be her first. I’ve always found Elisa attractive, and in the last few months, my desire for her has grown, but now I’m itching to take her clothes off and lick every inch of her.
I tug her back onto my lap. “You’re not disappointing me. Now kiss me,” I order.
She’s shy at first, circling her arms around my neck and pressing her lips to mine. Her lips move tentatively over my own. Such a sweet, gentle kiss. I delve my tongue into her mouth, and with a little coaxing, she follows my lead, and I deepen our kiss. She squirms in my lap. I’m already rock hard. The bulge in my pants strains against my zipper.
I break the kiss before it goes any further. Now that I know Elisa has never been touched like that, I want to savor the moment when I make her mine.
“Walk me to the door,” I say, guiding her to her feet. We walk to the door, and as I leave, I tell her, “Always tell me the truth.”
“Always,” she confirms.
TEN
I Give Myself to You
ELISA
No wedding is without some form of drama, and mine came three days before the big day. It started with my mother calling me, tearing a strip off me because I didn’t personally call her to tell her about my engagement to Ivo. My mother hasn’t spoken to me since Guido’s funeral, and yet she has the nerve to insist that Ivo and I have dinner at their home the very next night.
I was all for refusing the invitation, but Ivo decided it would be a show of good faith, and he was curious to know my parents better. The evening went from bad to worse.
It starts the moment we arrive.
“Elisa, bella, what a quaint dress,” Mom says. Translation:I don’t like what you’re wearing. What on earth are you thinking?This is followed by an air kiss to each of my cheeks. Ivo gets a much warmer greeting, mainly in an attempt to impress the capo’s consigliere.
My father speaks to me a total of two times while we visit. The first is to offer congratulations on our upcoming nuptials. Most of the evening, Dad and Ivo speak of business, and, after a very formal and polite dinner, the men retire to Dad’s den, while my mother continues to badger me about the details of the wedding.
The only ray of sunshine of the night is when my brother, Leno, arrives home. Dad and Ivo return to the living room for coffee, but as soon as Dad sees Leno, he throws question after question at his son, all related to work.
“You checked the warehouse?” Dad asks.
“All secure, Dad,” Leno answers.
“The deal with the new dealer?” Dad persists.
“Done,” Leno replies with a huff.
This goes on for quite a while until Ivo interrupts. “It seems that Leno has things under control.” Ivo puts a hand on Leno’s shoulder. “You’re doing good work.” I can see Leno’s chest puffs up with pride. I smile brightly at my brother, and he gives me a friendly wink.
The highlight of the night is when Dad speaks to me for the second time. “I expect you’ll be coming home the night before the wedding. It’s the proper thing to do.” He says this like it’s a foregone conclusion.
“I won’t, Dad. This is my second marriage. It wouldn’t be appropriate. I’m not an eighteen-year-old bride leaving my mother and father’s house for the first time.”
His eyes fill with fury. “Unacceptable,” Dad begins. “What will people say!”
Of course, it’s always been about what the gossipmongers will say and never about what I want. “Ivo and I have made our own decisions. I’m wearing a gown of my choosing.” I turn to my mother. “It’s not white or cream or champagne.”
“I should hope not!” my mother exclaims.
Then I drop the bomb. “I’m walking down the aisle of the church alone.”
“You insult your father in his own home!” my father shouts.
I’m ready to grab my purse and walk out, and I would have if Ivo didn’t come to my rescue. “You speak of propriety, yet you want to insult the memories of those who have passed. We’ve made decisions based on doing the right thing for all involved. Should you choose not to attend your daughter’s wedding, that will be up to you. But consider how this will look to all in attendance.”
Dad clears his throat, and concedes, not because he agrees, but because Ivo won’t be swayed, and he’s not going to argue with Raffaele’s consigliere. We depart shortly after that.
It’s now my wedding day, and instead of leaving my home alone for the last time, Evangeline and I are getting ready in a private room in the church. All my personal belongings have been picked up and taken to Ivo’s home and will be waiting for me there.
