The Power of a Woman: A Mafia Erotic Romance Read online

  He stalked toward me, obviously catching the worry in my tone. “That’s exactly why…it was my bed. This is our bed. New beginnings.”

  I sat up straight, waiting for him to stand between my legs before asking the real question that was on my mind. “Tell me the truth. It’s because of other women, isn’t it? Don’t get me wrong, Stefan. I like that you wanted us to have unsoiled bed, untainted from your…past. I’m well aware you have a one. But I’m also secure enough to know I’m your future. You didn’t need to pay this much money for a new bed.”

  He pressed his finger against my lips, effectively silencing me. “I’m happy to hear of your security over us. But this bed isn’t about my past. I’ve never lied to you—you’ve been the only woman in my bed—or, at least my old bed.” He smirked at me with a glint in his eye. “This is about you and me, having something brand new to both of us. The expense has no bearing on me, but comfort does. And since I plan to spend most of our time in it…”

  My tongue ran over my lips and my gaze remained locked onto Stefan’s. He bent down and captured me with both arms on either side of my body, pressing himself against me until he hovered over my body as I lay beneath him.

  “Now that I have you in every meaningful way, I plan on enjoying what’s mine all day and all night…every day and every night.” The desire in his eyes warmed my entire body until I felt feverish.

  “I want you, Stefan Giannotti.”

  “You have all of me, Mrs. Giannotti. But first, there’s something hanging in your closet I’d like you to see.” He kissed both corners of my mouth before pulling me to my feet and directing me to the ensuite bathroom.

  “More gifts?”

  “Always more, my love. There aren’t enough gifts in the world for you.”

  We came to a stop at the mouth of the bathroom where closets sat on either side. I turned to him, suddenly feeling inadequate. “But I haven’t gotten you anything.”

  “That’s where you’re wrong, Tesoro…you are my most valuable gift. My most precious gift. And you’ve already given yourself to me.” A shudder rolled through me as I wrapped my arms around his neck, pulling his lips to mine. He pulled away slowly with a smile, using his hands on my hips to spin me around. “Close your eyes.”

  I did as he said and squeezed my eyes shut, hearing the door slowly open in front of me. I wanted to peek out, the anticipation getting to me, but I waited a few more seconds until he told me to open.

  A gasp fell from my lips as I took in the sight in front of me. Covering my mouth with the tips of my fingers, I slowly took a few steps inside, glancing around at all the things he’d gotten for me. This closet had always been his storage, where he kept his boxes of things that didn’t have a place—things he’d brought with him when he moved back. But it looked like he’d done more than just clear out his belongings. Rope lighting ran against the crown molding, giving the space a soft glow. In the center of the closet hung a small crystal chandelier—beneath it, a waist-high island with drawers on all sides perfect for undergarments. I glanced behind me, only to find the space by the door empty. I wanted to go in search of him, thanking him for all he’d done for me, but I couldn’t tear myself away from the closet long enough.

  Clothes lined one wall, organized by occasion and then by color. Handbags were displayed on shelves along the far wall, with the lower shelves designated for shoes. He did leave the entire third wall bare for what I brought from my father’s house. However, I didn’t think I’d be using the space for my old clothes—the ones still packed in suitcases in the trunk of my car downstairs.

  I turned to leave when my eyes came to rest on a tan suede chaise against the wall next to the door, a large, shiny red box on the cushion. I pulled at the black bow until the satin fall to the sides, and then removed the top. Black tissue paper enveloped a beautiful, white lace, full-length demi-cup nightgown. I moved over to the full-length mirror in the bathroom and held it up against my body in awe. It was beautiful and very bridal. I may not have had the wedding dress of my dreams, but at least I had this.

  It’s tradition for the bride’s mother to buy her peignoir set. But my mother was no longer alive. It seemed Stefan had taken both into account, the gesture taking an emotional toll on my body. Unable to hold back the pain of my own circumstance, tears pricked my eyes, welling and falling in quick succession. I allowed myself this one moment of reflection, wiping away my sorrow. But then I pulled myself together, not wanting to keep my husband waiting a moment longer.

  I quickly stepped out of my clothes and slipped on the gown. I adjusted my full breasts that swelled out perfectly of the demi-cups, and then fluffed my hair before entering the bedroom again. I drew in a shuttered breath when I saw him standing across the room, lighting candles on the bedside tables in a pair of black satin pajama pants that accentuated the outline of his beautiful body. I tore my gaze from him and glanced to the table where he stood. A bottle of champagne sat in an iced decanter. Next to it was a platter of long stemmed strawberries, covered in chocolate.

  He turned once he heard my soft gasp, and it gave me the chance to admire his bare torso, his broad chest rippled with muscle. His pants hung low on his hips, revealing the trail of black hair that disappeared below his waistband. My mouth watered instantly, remembering how much I loved to trace it with my fingers and tongue. Hunger and anticipation scorched my skin, and I forgot all about my outfit, too busy focusing on getting naked as quickly as possible.

  Our gaze met and his eyes were filled with adoration. “You look beautiful, Tesoro. Just beautiful,” he said breathlessly as he stalked my way. He held up his finger in the air, twirling it around “Turn.”

  I spun around, letting him admire the backless gown. He made a sound deep in his throat, and then I felt his fingertip trail a line down my spine before both hands took hold of my hips. His lips came to rest at the base of my bare neck, his hot breath fanning over my sensitive skin.

  “I promised myself I’d go slow…take my time with you tonight. But when it comes to you, Tesoro, I want to break all my rules.” He reached around and cupped my sex through the lacy gown. “I want nothing more than to give you pleasure. But it seems my actions are selfish where you’re concerned.”

  I turned my head to the side, causing his lips to graze my ear. “Why would you say that? I wouldn’t call anything you do to me ‘selfish.’”

  “When I hold you, it’s for my pleasure.” His nose skimmed the column of my neck to my shoulder. “When I touch you, it’s for my pleasure.” His hand moved over my stomach until it cupped my breast. “When you look at me like you did earlier…?”

  “Yes,” I breathed out.

  “That gave me pleasure.” He grabbed my hips and spun me around to face him, his hands dropping to my thighs. “When you speak to me using that sexy tone, it gives me pleasure.” He began walk forward, forcing me to take steps back while keeping our gazes locked. I wanted to close my eyes, the intensity of it all too much. However, I didn’t want a miss a second. “When you whisper in my ear and tell me you love me, it gives me pleasure.”

  The backs of my legs hit something soft, and I knew it was the bed. He pressed forward until I sat down, extending my arms behind me on the soft bedding to keep me upright. The passion in his eyes left me feeling weak yet empowered at the same time.

  “When you cry out my name, I receive pleasure.” His eyes held mine as he lowered himself to his knees in front of me. His hands found my ankles beneath my gown, and he slowly slid them up my calves. “When you come on my cock, I get pleasure.” He continued to move his hands up my bare legs, pushing the fabric of the nightgown up until the material gathered around my hips. A menacing grin took hold of his lips as he moved his mouth closer to my exposed sex, never taking his eyes off mine. “And when I lick you…taste you…it gives me pleasure.”

  I shuddered when his heated breath hit my throbbing clit.

  “Do you want to come, my love?”

  I wordlessly answere
d with an eager nod.

  “Tell me where you want to come. On my fingers?” He grazed my wet folds with the rough pads of his fingertips. “My tongue?” He flicked my bundle of nerves with his hot tongue. “Or my cock?” He slowly rose to his feet and grabbed his obvious erection through the silk bottoms.

  Those fucking pants needed to come off.

  His words drove my insane. I didn’t want to choose. I was a greedy bitch when it came to Stefan…especially fucking Stefan. I grabbed the bundled silk around my waist and pulled it over my head, dropping it to the floor by his feet. “I want to come on your fingers,” I said as I grabbed his hand and pulled him closer. My mouth covered his, and when his tongue met mine, I sucked on it. “I want to come on that filthy, wicked tongue of yours.” My fingernails raked down his hard chest, coming to a stop at his waistband. I curled my fingers around the elastic and yanked down, freeing his impressive erection. “And I want to come on that fucking fabulous cock of yours.”

  A storm brewed behind his eyes, but either way, it would be to my benefit.

  His lips turned up into a toe-curling grin. “It’s my pleasure, my greedy wife. I will tongue your little clit until your cum is dripping down your lush thighs.” His crude words sent a shiver of heat through me. He held my hips, his mouth coming to rest against my mound, his warm breath teasing me into a frenzy. His face no longer clean-shaven, so the five o’clock shadow on his chin scraped against my clit, driving me crazy with prickled pleasure as his wet lips began to rain moist kisses along my sensitive skin. He groaned as I drove my hands into his hair and pulled his face closer to where I needed him the most.

  He continued to tease me with soft swipes of his tongue and gentle nibbles of his teeth. I knew what he sought, but it took a moment to pull my thoughts together enough to give it to him.

  “Please,” I begged, my body on fire and my pussy throbbing. I knew he wanted me to beg. He got off on it. The fears induced by begging no longer plagued me; instead, it turned me on, knowing his cock bobbed between his legs every time I said the words. It wasn’t out of humiliation or degradation, but out of pure and honest need. “Please, Stefan, make me come.”

  “Lay back,” he demanded. “Move to the middle of the bed and open those pretty legs wide for me.”

  I obeyed and splayed myself open and bare to him. He climbed onto the bed and settled between my legs, locking my thighs over his shoulders with his arms. Stefan raised his eyes to mine and smiled. It was sexy and hot. He flicked my clit and circled my opening, then he speared his wicked tongue inside me. I bucked, but he held my thighs tighter, making it impossible to move. After he finished fucking me with his tongue, his lips found my clit again and latched on, suckling it. He repeated the motions until I became lost in the sensations, my orgasm steadily building beyond my control. He hummed against me, scraping his whiskers against my flesh, and that’s when I lost it. I screamed through my eruption as he drove his fingers into me…keeping my orgasm going by applying steady pressure to my pelvis. In and out he drove until I came again. His tongue gently cleaned me before he crawled up my body.

  “Jesus fuck that was insane.”

  “Insane and delicious, but now I want to fill you before I explode all over our new bed.” I held onto his shoulders drawing him closer, as he grasped his cock at the base ready to drive into me. “I don’t want to hurt you, but I can’t be gentle right now, Tesoro.”

  “Then don’t. Fuck your wife, Stefan. We have our entire lives to make love.”

  “Fuck yes.” He growled and filled me in one thrust.

  He plunged into me as I cried out, holding on tight. He was impossibly thick, and I felt as though I was filled completely, and there was nothing between us but hardness sliding in and out of my wetness. I whimpered and he slowed, checking my face for signs of pain. I pulled his face to mine, capturing his lips. It was my way of letting him know that I was fine.

  “Fuck, your pussy feels amazing.” He groaned, his chest rumbling in the tight space between our bodies. His thrusts became desperate and greedy until my pussy squeezed, milking his cock. He braced his arms on either side of my head and grabbed my face between hands, pinning his lips to mine as he pumped deeper into me. “Keep squeezing my cock like that and I’m going to come,” he said, his voice trembling.

  I could tell he was holding back, and I didn’t want him to. We had all night to go slow and explore. I wanted him to come now, deep inside of me. So I clenched again and again and again until he screamed, “Fuck!” His body coiled tight and a hiss escaped him as he plunged in one more time, coming with such force his body shook violently. His breaths were ragged as he caught my lips again, kissing me deeply. He continued to pulse inside me, and it caused me to come, sucking every last drop he had.

  “Now that was insane,” he whispered, pulling back enough to see my face.

  “I don’t think I’ll ever get enough of you.” The words left my lips before I could stop them.

  “Ditto.” With a smile, he removed himself from me and rolled over. He picked up his pants, sliding them back on, and then grabbed the champagne. “

  I rolled to my side and propped my head up with my fist. “Chocolate?”

  “Oh, Tesoro…I plan covering you with it so I can lick it all off.”

  “Sounds messy.”

  He wagged his eyebrows and gave me an orgasm-inducing smile. “Good thing we have a bathtub.”

  I sat in the hot water surrounded by bubbles with my back pressed firmly against Stefan’s chest. The euphoria of our first real night together settled deep within my body and left me calm—happy. And as much as I enjoyed being with Stefan sexually, nothing compared to the intimacy of this…coming down from the high of sex, and knowing he was right here with me.

  Sneaking around behind everyone’s backs had made it hard to be this relaxed with him. I’d grown so accustomed to fucking, and then leaving. I’d been so used to his cold demeanor once our clothes were back in place that I’d forgotten how caring he could be afterward.

  “Promise me something, Stefan…”

  He ran the washcloth over my shoulder, wiping away the bubbles before pressing a kiss to my warm skin. “Anything, love. There’s nothing I wouldn’t promise you.”

  His words brought a smile to my lips and caused my eyes to close. This was the side of him no one ever saw…only me. “Promise me it’ll be like this forever. No matter what happens in life, no matter how busy we get…just tell me that things will always be like this between us.”

  “I swear, Tesoro.” He ran his hands up my sides until his fingertips softly grazed the sides of my breasts. “It’s me and you now. Just us. No one will ever get in the way.”

  I didn’t respond, too lost in my thoughts to speak.

  “Tell me what’s going on in that head of yours. There’s nothing between us anymore, no secrets or sneaking around. We hide nothing from each other from now on.”

  I fully relaxed into him and took a deep breath, not sure if this was the time or place to bring up such a heavy topic. “I want to know everything about you, Stefan. The good, the bad…the ugly.” I paused, waiting for some hint from him to continue. When he circled my shoulder with his fingertip, I took that as my cue to keep talking. “You never talk about your brother. Obviously, he was a big part of your life, and I want to know more about him and you.”

  “What do you want to know?”

  “Everything,” I answered on a breath.

  Stefan reclined more in the tub, pulling me closer to him until we were pretty much lying back with the bubbles coming to my chin. “We were really close growing up. He was three years older than me, so I always looked up to him. He was my hero for the longest time.”

  “Did you guys stay close after you left for college?”

  Silence met me and I worried I’d upset him with my question, but then he cleared his throat, the action vibrating against my back. “We kind of grew apart when I was fifteen. That’s when I stopped seeing him as the superhe
ro I’d built him up to be in my mind.”

  My heart ached for him, knowing exactly how that felt. My father had always been my hero, and probably always will, but I, too, came to a point in life where I realized he was only human. And the reality had crushed me. So I could relate to the pain that laced Stefan’s voice.

  “Our rooms were down the hall from one another, so I heard him every night. I never saw him with a girl during the day, so I just assumed it was the same one. But one night, I was coming out of the bathroom and saw a blonde leave his room. I’d never seen her before. Two nights later, it was a brunette. The next week, someone else entirely. I remember wanting to be just like him. I thought he was cool because he had so many women.”

  “What changed?” I kept my voice low, not wanting to interrupt his memory. I could tell by the soft tone he spoke with that it was emotional for him. A turning point, if you will. And I wanted to let him keep talking.

  “One night, I was in the hallway between our rooms. I overheard him telling the girl to leave. He wasn’t angry or yelling, just more or less he was done and it was her time to go. When the handle on his door turned, I quickly hid in the bathroom. I didn’t want them thinking I’d been listening to them having sex, because I wasn’t. And the bathroom was the closest room, so I ducked in the dark room to wait for the girl to leave.”

  This was definitely a side of Stefan I’d never seen before. I never knew him as a kid, or even a teenager. We all knew Nico had a younger brother, but that was about it. He’d stayed out of the spotlight and everyone said he was quiet, so he never really had too much recognition growing up. Hearing him talk about his younger days had me picturing someone very different from the man behind me right now, and it made my heart grow impossibly larger with my love for him.