Husband Read online

  Now I proud to be his wife.

  Hades helped me inside the car first before he took the seat beside me. His hands stayed on his lap, and he looked out the window, clearly upset by the turn of events. He wasn’t affectionate, and he didn’t ask me how my night had been.

  Damien seemed to be in the same foul mood.

  Our driver took us back into Florence and headed to Damien’s home. He also lived in the city, in a large building just like Hades.

  My eyes kept glancing at Hades’s hands in his lap, thinking of something I could do to show my gratitude. I could pretend not to know anything, and maybe that was smart, but I still wanted to show my appreciation for what he had done. We had a murky past filled with resentment on both sides, but we still had a future together.

  My hand moved across his thigh until I interlocked our fingers.

  He turned his head slightly my way, surprised by the unexpected affection. His fingers lightly squeezed mine in reciprocation, and his deep eyes looked into mine like he was trying to read my thoughts. Sometimes I forgot how handsome he was, how every woman in the world wished she could be me. But I had him all to myself…and I would have him for the rest of my life.

  After a minute, he looked away again, our hands still joined together.

  We pulled up to Damien’s, and he got out of the car without saying goodbye.

  We got back on the road and headed home.

  It was dark in the back seat with the sun gone. It was just the two of us, his driver keeping his eyes on the road. My hand pulled away from his and rubbed up his chest, moving until my fingers could grasp his collared shirt and tie. I gave him a gentle tug, wanting him to turn toward me.

  He turned his head my way, his eyes immediately focusing on my lips.

  I tugged on him again and kissed him.

  Our lips came together with the same explosive chemistry, with the same shocks that traveled down our spines. My fingertips went numb as I squeezed him harder. My mouth clung to his desperately, breathing oxygen into his lungs like he couldn’t get it on his own. I moaned quietly as my mouth opened to take his, to take his tongue.

  He pivoted his body and slid his hand up my dress, following the curve of my ass and fingering my thong underneath. His kisses turned more heated, became heavier. He unbuckled his safety belt so he could get closer to me, bring our writhing bodies together so we could feel each other as much as possible.

  I didn’t know why I wanted to kiss him so much… I just did. My heart softened for him, and my walls came down. He started to feel like a man I could really trust, someone who would have my back even when I wasn’t in the room. That kind of loyalty was hard to find…even among family.

  Since I’d never wanted to get married…maybe this was the best thing I could ever have. Maybe this was exactly what I wanted, a loyal man who would always take care of me, who would value me over money.

  His hand slid into my hair, and he kissed my neck. “Baby…”

  I rolled my head back and let him take all of me, let him conquer me. “Hades.”

  8

  Hades

  Our naked bodies fell to the bed, and I couldn’t get inside her fast enough.

  Her fingers dug into my hair as she kissed me, as she breathed hard into my mouth while she waited for me to slide deep inside her.

  So fucking wet.

  My cock throbbed inside her, surrounded by her slick warmth. My mouth paused against hers because my mind was overstimulated. Everything was good…everything. It felt the way it used to, unbridled passion.

  She couldn’t get enough of me.

  I couldn’t get enough of her.

  I rocked into her and kissed her at the same time, my cock and my mouth deep in heaven. I could feel every inch of her, even feel her soul. The last few weeks had been strictly sex, getting off on each other’s bodies. But now the old flame had been reignited, and we actually had emotion, actually had desire. Our hands shook as we gripped each other, and every kiss made our lips tremble with lust. It was exactly what I wanted…exactly what I’d longed for the last two years.

  My woman was back.

  I pushed her into the bed and fucked her fast, giving her as much of me as she wanted. The muscles in my ass ached because I was pushing my body to the limits, giving her the kind of good sex I never gave anyone else. With Sofia, I never met her halfway. I did all of the work, gave her a hundred percent.

  And right now, she was giving me a hundred percent too.

  “Hades…” She came right away, her pussy tightening around me like fingers into a fist. Her legs opened wider, and she rocked with my thrusts, her sexy lips parted as she moaned to the ceiling. “Yes…fuck yes.”

  I followed right behind her, caught off guard by the passion she showed me. My body was trained to last longer, to make a woman’s toes curl before the grand finale. But I couldn’t keep my body together, couldn’t keep my urges under control. My cock exploded inside her, giving her a mound of come that would last until she showered the next morning. It would slowly drip down her thighs and splash to the stone tile below. It was impossible for her not to think about me, not when my essence was stuffed deep inside.

  I rolled off her and let the sweat evaporate from my body. Our deep breaths slowly softened until they turned into gentle sighs. My hand rested on my chest, and I closed my eyes, so satisfied that my body immediately relaxed.

  I had no idea what got into Sofia tonight. Our conversation at the table had been boring, and then she was stuck with a stranger for the rest of the evening. Seeing me do business might have been a turn-on. Or listening to his wife complain about how poorly she was treated might have made Sofia appreciate me. I saw how miserable that young woman was, and judging from the way her husband asked lustful questions about my wife, he wasn’t a good man to be married to.

  Maybe my wife finally realized how lucky she was.

  She rolled over her and turned her back to me as she prepared to go to sleep.

  My hand stretched across the bed until my fingers rested against her back. I lightly grazed her skin, felt how soft she was. I started at the top of her spine and glided down to the top of her ass, right where her cheeks began. I could feel her back rise and fall with her deep breathing, feel her drift off to sleep and lose consciousness altogether.

  I stared at her until my eyes couldn’t stay open. Then I joined her.

  I sat in my office at the bank and took Damien’s call. “I just got the money. They’re putting it into storage now.”

  “We’ve got bigger problems, alright?”

  I leaned back in my leather chair and looked out the window. “I’m listening.”

  “Maddox is in Florence. I’ve had a few guys tail him—”

  “I told you to drop that shit, Damien. If you get on his radar, he might come after you.”

  “I’m sure he’s wanted to come after me for years.” His breath was shaky because it sounded like he was walking at a quick pace. “But that’s not the point. I think he’s staying in Tuscany and he’s got business here—which is a problem for us.”

  “We’ve always known he’s done business here. That’s the whole reason we hate him.”

  “Well, we should take advantage of the situation and finish him off. Come on, this shit will finally be over.”

  “You know I want to kill him as much as you do, but we’ve got to be smart about this—”

  “Being smart is taking advantage of opportunities.”

  “What if it’s a trap?” I asked. “This guy is smart and empty. We killed his only brother, and he didn’t care—at all. He’s not like other men. So, stop putting yourself in danger. We’ll take him out when it’s the time.”

  He was quiet.

  “I need you, Damien. So drop this shit now.”

  I stepped into the room, while Sofia continued her meeting with the board. She stood at the front while her laptop projected her notes and reports, going over revenue reports as well as promotional ideas to increase
occupancy of the hotel.

  She stopped her presentation for an instant when she saw me, our eyes connecting before she continued what she was she saying.

  The rest of the men turned to me before giving Sofia their full attention once more.

  I knew the men were behaving themselves, but I liked to drop by unannounced just to keep them on their toes. If they ever considered reverting to their previously disrespectful ways, they’d have to answer to me—and their own graves.

  My eyes moved back to Sofia, who wore a black dress, pumps, and a navy blazer. She looked classy in the attire, but that jacket couldn’t hide those sexy curves. Her ass begged to have my teeth sink into it. My tongue ached to taste her pussy. In all our time together, I’d never had the honor.

  She was my wife; I should know exactly how she tasted.

  I leaned against the back wall until her presentation was over. She took questions afterward, and it seemed like the meeting was a productive one. The guys weren’t assholes anymore, and they actually listened to what she said. I influenced them to give her a chance, and maybe now they realized she really was a good leader.

  The guys rose to their feet, shook my hand, and made small talk. When they filed out of the room, I walked up to my wife, seeing the way her eyes softened slightly as I drew near. She was definitely affected by my presence in a different way, like she was actually happy to see me.

  “Your ass looks unbelievable in that dress.” I leaned into her and gave her a soft kiss on the mouth.

  “That’s all you have to say about my presentation?” she asked, disappointed.

  “You were awesome—like always. When someone is flawless, they don’t get compliments or criticisms because it feels so natural. That’s you.”

  Her eyes filled with warmth, as if that praise actually dug into her flesh.

  “And you know me. I’m in love with your ass.”

  She smiled slightly before she rolled her eyes. But it was all playful. “Yeah…I’ve noticed.”

  “The guys haven’t been giving you a hard time?”

  “Not at all. Your presence seems to keep everyone on their best behavior…”

  “Baby, did you just give me a compliment?” I hated her for what she did to me, but when our natural connection deepened, it made me forget how much she’d hurt me. It made me focus on what we had…since she could never hurt me again.

  “Did you just call me baby?”

  “Yeah. And I’m gonna keep calling you that.” It was much more possessive than her first name, because anyone could call her Sofia. No one could call her baby…except me. “I think people are giving you a fair chance because of your new last name. They respect me—so they’ll respect you. But the reason they listen to you is because of your skills. If you were wrong, they would come to me privately and say it. They don’t.”

  Her eyes shifted down, breaking contact with me.

  I liked this side of her, this insecure and vulnerable version. Her walls were usually so high that it was impossible to see. But she seemed to trust me enough to unveil her true qualities.

  “Good to know…” She lifted her gaze again once the moment had passed.

  “That’s what you really want.”

  “Excuse me?”

  “You don’t want the hotel for the money. You want to be respected. You want to make this the greatest hotel it can possibly be…because that’s what matters to you.” It’d never been about financial security or power. Her ambitions had been much humbler than I’d ever realized.

  She held my gaze, and after a long pause, she nodded. “When you walk into a room, it just goes quiet… I want that.”

  “That’s because they’re afraid I might kill them.”

  “No, it’s more than that.”

  “I assure you, the room goes dead silent when you step into it too…because you’re so damn beautiful.” She was my wife, so I could speak my mind whenever I felt like it. I could tell her she was gorgeous every damn day. If she didn’t like it, too bad.

  “Well…I want to be more than just a beautiful face.”

  “You are.”

  She smiled slightly before she turned to gather her things.

  I watched her lean forward over the table, her ass luscious in that tight dress. Her thick hair was pushed over one shoulder, and she collected her laptop as well as the extras of the notes she’d distributed to her colleagues.

  I grabbed her by the arm and gently tugged her toward me.

  Instead of twisting out of my grasp and giving me a burst of attitude, she let it be. She paused and waited for me to speak.

  “I have to head back to the office.” My hand slid to her elbow before wrapping around her waist. I positioned her close to me, making her forget about the supplies she needed to gather. My arm tightened on her lower back before it slid down to her ass and gave her a hard squeeze. “But when I get home, your ass will sit on my face. I’m gonna eat that pussy for dinner—and dessert.”

  She dropped her gaze, her cheeks filling with color as the image filled her mind.

  My fingertips moved under her chin, forcing her to look at me. “Alright?”

  She held my gaze, her face tinted in a mixture of arousal and embarrassment. “Alright.”

  9

  Sofia

  I sat with my mother on her patio, the two of us drinking decaf coffee after dinner. It was strange to live with her and my new husband because two different worlds had collided. When it was just her and I, it felt like old times. But when Hades walked into the room, I was reminded my reality was much different.

  Hades stepped onto the balcony. “Something came up, and I have to run out. I’ll be home later tonight.” It was a nice courtesy that he came to tell me personally. He could have just left without telling me. Or he could have sent an impersonal text.

  “Everything alright?” I got out of my chair and walked up to him.

  “Yeah. Just bullshit.” He was in a gray suit and tie, dressed to make a statement.

  “Wake me up when you get home.” I blurted out the request stupidly, not even thinking about what I said before it came out. It was desperate, clingy, and something lovers said to each other.

  Hades took a moment to stare at me, like he was just as surprised by my request.

  That night had changed my feelings to a strong degree. It made me appreciate him, made me want him to live a long and happy life. But I was also embarrassed by how transparent I was being, treating him like a wife would actually treat her husband. “Just be safe.” I moved into his chest and kissed him goodbye.

  Indifferent to my mother’s presence, he slipped his hand into my hair and gave me a deep kiss. “I’m always safe.” He rubbed his nose against mine before he turned and walked off.

  I returned to my seat, prepared for whatever comments my mother was about to make.

  “Now that is how you treat your husband.” She added more sugar to her coffee and stirred it. “I’m glad you’re warming up to him. He’s a good man. I like him a lot.”

  “You hardly know him.”

  “He’s gotten you to go soft—so he must be pretty damn remarkable.”

  I didn’t want to roll my eyes at my mother, so I didn’t.

  “And he invited me to live with you. He’s charming.”

  I kept my mouth shut about the truth. “He wanted to make me happy.”

  “Exactly. You have a good man. Appreciate it because not too many women can say the same thing.”

  I was beginning to realize that. Not only did he not hurt me, but he defended me. He gave me the independence I needed to be happy. He treated me as an equal…at least in a professional setting. And it was better that he wanted to have sex with me instead of every other woman in town. “Before Hades and I got married, a man came to my office because he was interested in marrying me.”

  “Another suitor?” she asked.

  “Yeah. He said Gustavo had mentioned it to him before he passed away.”

  “Who is he?�
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  “His name was Maddox Stine. Never heard of him.”

  “Huh…I’ve never heard of him either.”

  “Really?” I took my coffee black, but I was a slower drinker so it was already lukewarm before it was halfway finished. “You didn’t approach him before Hades?”

  She shook her head. “Hades was the first and only man on my list.”

  “You think Gustavo would have gotten involved?” Gustavo wasn’t my father, so I’d be surprised if he’d participated in planning my future marriage.

  “He never mentioned it. The only thing I could think of is he was doing business with this man and mentioned you were single. Maybe this Maddox person decided to pursue it on his own. That must have been what happened because I can’t see Gustavo shopping for a husband on your behalf.”

  “I can’t either…”

  “I’m guessing you didn’t like him.”

  “He was young and fairly handsome…but he had a weird vibe to him. Kinda creepy. I told him I was marrying Hades, and he seemed pretty annoyed by the revelation. The whole encounter was strange.”

  “Does Hades know him?”

  “I…I never mentioned it to him.”

  “Oh.”

  “I just didn’t see the point. I picked him, so what does it matter if another man wanted to marry me?”

  “Might make him jealous…and sometimes it’s sexy when men get jealous.”

  “Mom.” Now I did roll my eyes.

  “Come on. You don’t think it’d be hot to see Hades get jealous of another man?”

  No. Because someone would probably die. “Hades isn’t like that. I’ve never seen him jealous. He’s too…confident to be jealous.”

  “Hmm…that’s interesting.”

  “What?”

  “Then why haven’t you told him?”

  It was three in the morning when Hades came into the bedroom. His clothes fell on the floor, and his shoes were kicked off. The heavy sound of his metal watch echoed as he set it on the dresser.