~~~~~

The gurgle of water from the jacuzzi jets was the only noise I could hear in the room as Nicolo opened the door and leaned against its frame. I’d come in here for some time away from his lecherous hands, yet when those powerful arms crossed over his muscly chest, I could already feel myself giving in to him. He smirked, as if reading my thoughts, then sauntered over to take a seat on the side of the tub.

He was wearing the hotel provided blue robe, parted at the chest. There was a touch of dark hair peeking out as he turned to look at me, then he reached out to pluck some wet hair off my cheek. His touch was gentle, the gentlest anyone had ever been with me, and a slight lump formed in my throat. Nicolo coaxed it out of me when I still didn’t understand the feelings he inspired in me, but I hated it when he looked so defeated last night.

I told him I loved him, and now I felt vulnerable. Perhaps Marcello was right, yet I couldn’t imagine not being with Nicolo now. I could also no longer deny myself that feeling. Love. I knew how dangerous it could be in our world to be in love; it’s a weakness that could be exploited. Those green eyes watched me so intently, so adoringly, that I could feel my heart speeding up. If we were careful, I could have the best of both worlds, right?

“I apologize, Lili. It’s hard to maintain control when you’re sweet to me.”

“I thought you liked it rough, darling.” Was my counter as I grabbed his hand and tugged a little. “This jacuzzi is quite lonely with you all dressed up as you are. Why not join me and forget control?”

Nicolo stared into my eyes, stunned as he let the robe fall away, then stepped into the water slowly, as if expecting me to stop him. When he sat across from me, I moved closer, then leaned my head against his shoulder somewhat like a teenager. I was still expecting him to tire of me at some point, but I could enjoy this for now. My eyes slipped closed for a moment until I felt him shift to wrap his arm around me. The slide of skin against mine had my face heating several degrees as I turned to look up at him.

“I never know what to expect with you, Lili.” When I shifted over him, then pressed a kiss to his lips, his eyelids drooped lazily. “I never knew how desirous I could be until I met you. Love is baffling.”

His fingers clenched into my hips a little as I lowered, a hiss parting my lips; when I noticed him watching me in a daze. He didn’t even have to speak for my stomach to tense. I loved him, no; I was crazy about him. Maybe when we went back to the Villa, I would go back to the way things were, but for how long would he stand for it knowing what he does? It wouldn’t be fair to withhold affection just because my brain impeded my heart. With everything I had, I wrapped my arms around his shoulders and hoped my kiss could compare to the ones he gave me.

“Yes, it is. So let me love you.” I whispered his usual line when I pulled away to find his eyes closed. “In return, I’ll stop running away from your love.”

My head fell back as his hands pushed up my sides to a stop over my chest. I wanted to be in control tonight, yet I could already feel it slipping through my fingers, much like time always did. My fingertips traced up his biceps to his shoulders, then hair only to tangle into it. There was something different about tonight, something more than just a usual night of sex with him.

~~~~~

Several hours later, the clatter of objects hitting the floor didn’t distract us as Nicolo pushed me over the sink near the mirror. I could feel the sweat rolling down my body, but his movements didn’t stop, only increase as his fingers dipped between my thighs. Try as I might, I couldn’t turn to glare at him – yet when I faced forward, I could see myself and I didn’t want to see that expression in the mirror.

“You can’t… Look at me like that… And expect me to want to stop, Lili.” He panted between words, free hand landing a smack right on my bottom. “It’s not fair… How crazed you make me…”

“I want to face you…” I whispered, gasping when he pulled away, only to forcibly turn me around and lift me to a seated position on the counter. “Nico!” He murmured several words in Italian as we continued at a slower pace, only stopping when I pressed my lips to his. “I love you, Amore Mio.”

We remained there, locked in our embrace until we caught our breath. Once I calmed my still racing heart a little, I looked into those green eyes, no longer able to deny what Marcello said earlier, or what Nicolo clearly already knew. Would I still be able to do what I needed to and be his wife? There’s so much danger that comes with being married into the Accardi family. Even though I knew that better than anyone, maybe Nico was worthy of the title.

“So, why did you do all this, Nico?” I wondered as he lifted me like a princess, hoping his answers would distract me from my thoughts. “The designer, the dinner, the sightseeing, and a hotel stay for four days and nights? It can’t have all been to get me to say three little words.”

“Well…” He hesitated as he sat me on the bed and wiped us both down with a dry towel. “That was part of it… The chance to have wild sex to get it all out was something else.” Nicolo chuckled before throwing my robe over my shoulders; slipped into his own, then tied it at the waist as he sat down. “I also wanted to take you on a date and small honeymoon… We didn’t really get to celebrate our marriage together alone.”

I stared blankly at him for several moments until the full reality of his words hit me. He did all this so we could be alone – so he could convince me to tell him I loved him. Nico annoyed me on the worst of days, but this side of him – the romantic fool – wasn’t a bad side. I was impressed with the lengths he would go to just to do something nice for me. His large hands took both of mine in them, gently, as if handling something precious, then he gazed into my heart.

“I’d hoped to show you just how much I love you without worry for who was looking. My men are guarding the building, so we’re safe, just a little freer without the constant reminder of responsibility.” He continued before motioning towards the window overlooking the city. “I had so many motives, such as wanting you to take some time off, which was why I confiscated your phone. Marcello’s handling things in your stead. I text him from your phone that you were going on a mission.” Then he looked back into my eyes with a smirk. “I also wanted to prove how much I would do to love you in any way I can.”

“Though I know I should be mad, I’m not.” I replied with a heavy sigh and pulled away from him to stand, then stretched my arms above my head. “You’ve clearly put a lot of thought into this. Tell me, Nico, was it everything you’d hoped for?”

“There’s still one little thing I need from you.” He held out his hand and pulled me back onto the bed, only to settle against the wooden headboard. “What were you like when you were a child until adulthood before we met?”

The abruptness with which he asked his question left me speechless for several moments, unable to think of where to start. As someone whose last few years of life were the beginning years of adulthood and the start of my time as a Donna, I’d not focused on anything else. Even though my grandfather tried to keep me from the family business, just having such a large family meant so much to me, I’d always stray back to it.

“I was a normal child just raised around Mafia like you, except my grandfather didn’t want me to get into the family business. He’d planned to end the family and retire when I became a successful adult. Then I turned seventeen and told him not to.” I shrugged, then rested my head on his shoulder, feeling a little drowsy again. “I haven’t dated or even had a boyfriend, then I jumped to engaged, then married.”

“You never dated for a mission?”

“Oh no. That was work. I don’t count those as dates because I am only there for one reason. Information.” It was the key thing which made the world go around. “Wherever there is information to be gained, there is an Accardi member. It all arrives at one location where it’s processed. Anything or anyone I need to know, I can find.”

“Then why don’t you use that system to figure out what happened to your parents?” He ventured, and I could feel my frustration building, but I let him finish. “Surely there’s information there somewhere.”

“There’s nothing. Once my position changed, I gained access to all files my grandfather had and have been poring over them, but there’s nothing. That briefcase is the best chance I have to learn about them…” I hesitated as he turned to stare at me. “But maybe I don’t want to know. I thought you would not bring up work.”

He held up his hands in pacification with a chuckle, then put his arm around my shoulders, pushing me lower on the bed and more effectively against his side. Nico was like a furnace, always warm to my always cold, yet another thing I loved about him. I wrapped my arm around his waist, then listened as the beat of his heart quickened. It was an unexpected comfort to have his arms wrapped so tightly around me.

“Wait, you’ve never had a boyfriend?” Nico asked with a stunned voice, causing me to giggle a little before shaking my head. “Then how are you so comfortable around me while naked?”

“Just because I’ve never had a boyfriend doesn’t mean I’ve not been around men. I’m in the Mafia Family known for espionage, Nico, dear.” I grinned at myself, then pulled back to stare at him straight on, while sliding my hand into my open robe. “Being beautiful has its perks when information is on the line.”

His eyes narrowed dangerously for a moment, features twisting into a grimace. Had he not been the one to ask a question he knew he would not like the answer to, maybe I wouldn’t have been so vivid with my answer. I have done things I’m not proud of for information, but I never actually did anything intimate with anyone except for him. What I didn’t expect was for him to suddenly pin me to the bed by my wrists.

“And what have you done?”

“It’s all in the past, Nico…” I taunted, biting back a moan when he latched onto my chest – his ego didn’t need the boost. “It doesn’t matter.”