~~~~~

Nicolo watched as she waltzed around the room with a bottle of whiskey and offering to pour, her black cocktail dress almost floating with her form. Lili was classy, confidence personified, and he loved it. He also noticed how she dominated any conversation and convinced people to see her perspective. When those chocolate brown eyes turned to him, his breath caught in his throat.

“She’s almost flawless, isn’t she?” Angelo wondered from his side, and Nicolo glanced at him with an indescribable expression. “What? I’m only worried your future wife is trying too hard.”

Nicolo glanced at his fiancé before back at his cousin with a grim annoyance clear in his eyes. If only he knew. The request to keep her true identity was a requirement for marrying her, so no one could know she was the Heiress to the Accardi family. They could not know she trained to become a Donna. She already knew the ropes. Most current families treated their princesses as little Damsels, but it was clear she had not been.

“Nah, Lili knows how much she can handle.” Though he was a little worried about how fast she left the party the other night. “I’m sure I do not need to worry.”

Life seemed to have other plans, though. Florencia approached Liliana with a sway in her step, knocking into the girl, forcing her to drop the bottle of liquor. Right as he stepped towards the problem, Liliana’s face fell before narrowed, angry brown eyes snapped up to lock eyes with Florencia, making the woman take two full steps backwards in shock. Now, Nicolo wondered if he would have to step in to save Florencia, then shook his head no. She brought this on herself.

“I find it difficult to believe we would bump into each other twice in one day, Miss Florencia.” Liliana stated with a careless shrug, but snapped her finger, making a man appear seemingly from nowhere. “But since you seem set on causing me problems after I so graciously agreed to play Hostess, allow me to spell it out for you.” The woman continued, pulling a file out of the purse the man held before he disappeared again. “Trying to place a hit against me is unnecessary and illogical. You can’t expect men to trust you when all you do is lie to get out of your responsibilities.”

Liliana dropped the thick file into the whiskey on the floor before she turned away, her eyes focusing on Nicolo. As she made her way in his direction, he watched Florencia fall to the floor, her eyes wide in shock. What was in those documents? When he locked eyes with Lili, she simply shook her head, and stood at his side, her focus still on the woman gathering up the documents on the floor.

“You should not target someone who knows her way in and out of this world, Miss. Because it could get very dangerous.” She continued with a shrug. “But do what you like. It will not change the fact he is marrying me and not you.”

~~~~~

There was nothing I hated more than entitled Princesses. It was why I avoided meeting them at all costs. But Don Romano had plenty of them after him, so I would have to firm up my position as his fiancé. This little ‘engagement party’ was to do just that. The wedding planning was complete, all in a matter of days, since I was so simple about my choices. Plus, my grandfather was pushing things along behind the scenes.

The engagement party was to make the proper announcements to Nicolo’s family, friends, and allies. What frustrated me was Angelo was there. It had been a week since his punishment was set, yet Nicolo put it off again and again. And he was right there. I could take him out myself where there were not so many to witness it. The purpose of having the Don handle it was to prevent the chance of exposure, limit the number of those aware of the punishment, and keep our hands clean.

So, his delay made me act rashly with the Princess of the Esposito Family. Florencia Esposito’s eyes focused on the paper soaking up whiskey on the floor, with tears in her eyes. The paperwork listed everything, from her scandals in Vegas to her theft in Paris. She was the lowest of the low, even by Mafia standards. When she looked up at me with pure anger and hatred in her eyes, I crossed my arms with a sneer.

“You’re a former maid. You don’t belong in our world, little girl.” Florencia muttered with a huff. “Even with the scandals I got involved with, at least I am a part of a well-known Mafia. You are nothing.”

“Miss Esposito, Liliana is my fiancé and the woman I love, no matter her past. You are a dear friend, but that is all you ever will be.” Nicolo answered, nodding to a Soldati to help her stand. “And as the future Donna of the Romano family, a clean history is necessary, regardless of if she has any experience with Mafia or not. I need a wife, not a slave to her family or her past.”

Nicolo seemed heavily attracted to me, to the point I could feel the heat of his body from where he held me close by my waist. I could see the lust in his emerald eyes. And it had me wanting him, too. But that desire frustrated me as well. I did not want to come to depend on his love or on him for protection. Especially if his ‘love’ faded after a few years. The only purpose this marriage served was to see my grandfather happy.

“Mia Cara Lili, ti trovo bellissima oggi!” A familiar voice called, and Liliana could not help the smile that graced her lips. “È bello vederti, Don Romano. How is the planning coming along?”

“Grandfather!” Liliana smiled, kissing both his cheeks. “So good of you to come. Nico and I were about to share a toast!”

“Were you a servant for some odd family no one has ever heard of, either?” Florencia rose to her full height, her voluptuous form drawing more than a few eyes. “Shouldn’t you show the Don more respect? You maybe her grandfather, but in this world…”

Silence fell over the room as Don Accardi turned to face the girl with a severe expression on his face. No one could believe she would speak to an elder with such disrespect, regardless of who he was. Not that the young woman could ever imagine she was speaking to the most powerful man in the world. I knew my grandfather watched as many nations rose and fell during his time. A lot of Dons rise and fall too, I thought with a sigh.

“Did Esposito not teach you manners, child?” The old man asked with a chuckle before he took one step forward, brown eyes narrowing in anger. “Or do you think yourself above discipline?”

“Florencia! Pensa a te stesso!” Another man walked forward, his cane taping on the marble floors. “Per favore, la perdoni, signore. Ama il signor Romano sin da quando era bambina.”

“It is fine, just remember, even the toughest of the Mafia fear the law.” Her grandfather replied with a wave of the hand, but Liliana did not miss the glare the other man sent her. “And worse, attempt to mess with a family they do not know exists.”

“Hahaha, so you have heard of the Accardi she claims to have worked for.” Florencia countered, crossing her arms over ample breasts.

“There are some things you should not look into, dear.” My grandfather smiled mysteriously before he turned back to me with a bright smile. “The wedding plans are set. Three days. Enjoy your freedom, Don Romano. My granddaughter is not one to trifle with.”

~~~~~

Nicolo could tell. It was what attracted him to her. A few nights later, as he prepared for bed, an unexpected knock had him grabbing his pistol from his bedstand. There were few in residence confident or brave enough to come knocking besides Angelo, so he was wary. He tiptoed over to the door and dragged it open a crack. Who he found standing there shocked him to the core. Liliana in a white robe, brown hair loose from her earlier elaborate style.

“Lili? What is it?” He wondered, looking behind her for anyone else before inviting her in, automatically placing his gun back where it belonged. “I am not to see you for twenty-four hours. Was there something wrong?”

Their wedding is tomorrow. Things moved quickly, since everyone agreed. There was even a prenuptial agreement that allowed her to continue to run the Accardi behind the scenes while his family provided physical protection. No one knew who she really was. But seeing her there, tanned skin peeking out beneath her robes, a small sliver of her tattoo showing, made him harden. Something she noticed with red cheeks.

“I see no point in tradition when we both clearly have need of each other.” She stated, opening her robes to reveal nothing beneath. “I agreed to the marriage, and to warm your bed. The least I can do is uphold that agreement.”

“Accidenti!” He exclaimed, stepping forward, hands extended a little. “I will show you complete satisfaction, Amore Mio.”

When he finally came to a stop in front of her, he took in a deep breath of her soapy scent, his hands reaching out to wrap around her waist. She must have just finished her bath, as her skin was still damp and flushed, something which made him harder. Nicolo watched as she inhaled, before his eyes fell over the peaks and valleys of her skin.

There was a tattoo of a rose on her left breast, and he could see the tips of full sleeves on her shoulders. He leaned closer to touch his tongue gently to them before his hungry gaze locked with hers. Liliana was panting, her chest heaving as he paid special attention to each breast before he pulled her over to the bed, pushing the robes off her form as they went.

Nicolo planned to trace every inch of her heated flesh with his lips, tongue, and fingers, and he wanted to start with that tattoo he only saw glimpses of before. When he revealed her tattoo to the chilly air, Liliana shivered, her back pulling tight when she felt his tongue press against her spine.

“Amore Mio, your tattoo is so sexy.” He groaned, tensing when he noticed her fingers clenching into the deep red bedsheets. “How are you so perfect?”

When he let his fingers drift down her back to her core, his knees felt weak at her wetness and the heat emanating from her body. Nicolo took in a deep breath as he let a finger sink inside, and Liliana looked pleadingly over her shoulder at him. Seeing her chocolate brown eyes blown up in lust had him wanting to follow through and sink to her depths, but he refused that instinct, wanting to see her writhe in pleasure first.

“Nico… come on…” Liliana huffed, trying to lift herself with weak, shaking arms. “Give me you…”

He wanted to. She was wet enough. But he wanted to see her contort in pleasure, to watch her arch as she came. He chewed on his lip as he continued teasing her flesh, feeling each clench and shift of her body and every moan in his soul. Love made him mad for her, and he wanted to prove it.

After a few more minutes of taunting her skin, he flipped her over, body connecting with hers immediately. Nails dug into his skin, the bite just as satisfying as the heat wrapping around him. Under their pleasure, Nicolo felt his mind go blank as he thrusted within her.