I’m ten feet away from her room when the door opens, and she pops out in a black tank top and a pair of cut-off jean shorts. I have to hold back my groan. Fuck, she looks good enough to devour.
She sees me and smiles, but it fades when she notices the expression on my face. I must look like a predator eyeing its prey.
I walk up to her, trying to act normal and failing. My fists clench. I want her so fucking badly. I can’t believe the nonsense I told myself about getting bored with her. That’s never going to happen. I’m obsessed and I’m always going to be fucking obsessed.
Cleo’s eyes follow me, and when I stop right in front of her, they drop to my lips. The smattering of freckles across her nose is more prominent from the sun she’s been getting here. I want to kiss each one of them. I want to run my fingers through her hair and feel the softness of her skin. I want her writhing beneath me, begging me to fuck her. My dick jolts at the visual.
She bites on her bottom lip. “You’re staring.”
“I know.” I raise my hand and brush a strand of hair behind her ear.
Her eyes grow hooded, and she leans into my touch. “Kiss me.”
My skin buzzes. I press my lips to hers, possessive and hungry. Her hands go around my neck, her fingers tangling in my hair as she opens her mouth to me. I groan at the feel of her tongue teasing mine and lose myself in her sweet taste.
We announce our reconciliation shortly after.
Everyone’s over at De Rossis’ for brunch, and when Cleo breaks the news that she’s coming back to New York with me, there’s a full gamut of reactions. Valentina’s eyes narrow on me in a skeptical glare, Gemma gives me a pleased smile, and Mari lets out a breath of relief.
The men manage to hide their feelings better, with the exception of Ras, who opens his big mouth and says, “Are you sure, Cleo? If you want to ask us to dispose of him, now’s the time to do it.”
“Why’s that?” I drawl. After what happened with Nero, my opinion of the fucker has marginally improved, but maybe that was premature.
“You’re here alone and defenseless.”
“Defenseless? I could take you down with this butter knife if I wanted to.”
Ras snickers. “What are you waiting for then?”
“For the mood to strike.”
Cleo clears her throat. “Okay, enough.”
“He started it,” I mutter, shoving some eggs in my mouth.
“What are you, five?” Ras asks.
This fucker. “Put your dog back on his leash, De Rossi.”
Gemma reaches over and places her hand on his forearm. “Ras.”
He grins. “Look, I’m just making sure he can handle the heat if he’s really joining the family.”
“I am most certainly not joining your family.”
Cleo gives me a pointed look. “You are, Rafe. This is my family. So you’ve just acquired three annoying brothers.”
“I would prefer not to be included in that unflattering category,” Giorgio says, methodically cutting into a piece of tomato.
Cleo gives him an amused look. “Okay, two annoying brothers and Giorgio.”
I sigh. Fuck me. I really am stuck with these Casalesi idiots now, aren’t I? Not only because of Cleo, but because of Nero too.
After all, few things bring people closer than a secret.
“I suppose I’ll have to get used to it,” I say with a resigned shrug. “As I once told my accountant, whatever my wife wants, my wife gets.”
“Oh?” Valentina peers at me over her cappuccino. “Do I sense a good story?”
“You never told them?” I ask Cleo.
Her cheeks turn an alluring shade of pink. It reminds me of another part of her body that’s an alluring shade of pink. “No,” she answers.
“Ah.” I dab my napkin against the corner of my mouth. “It all starts with this list.”
Cleo’s eyes widen. “You know about the list?”
“I know about everything, my darling. I found it just the other day.”
“I’m lost,” Gemma says, her arms resting on her protruding belly. “What list?”
“Cleo’s plan for ruining Rafaele’s life,” Cleo and I say at the same time.
There’s a beat, and then everyone bursts out laughing.
“Seriously?” Valentina asks. “We’re going to need to hear the rest of it.”
Cleo giggles as she recites the rest of the list before jumping into the story about her attempt to bankrupt me. I sip on coffee and observe my stunning wife for a long moment before glancing at the rest of the people around the table. The mood is light, and laughter filters through the air. A warm feeling settles inside my chest.