I wanted to savor the trepidation in her wide eyes, but I didn’t waste my moment of opportunity; I had to seduce her while she was off-balance, or she might change her mind about using those teeth to bite.

My mouth descended on hers, demanding and unyielding. My lips caressed hers with enough force to make them swollen and sensitive. She stiffened in my arms, so I clenched my fist tighter in her hair to command her full carnal attention. I traced the line of her pillowy lower lip with my tongue, a soft contrast to my initial onslaught. She shuddered against me, and her head dropped back slightly, allowing me to claim her more deeply.

A savage, triumphant sound rumbled from my chest into her pliant mouth, and I stroked my tongue against hers. She was hesitant at first, and I wasn’t sure if it was from fear or inexperience. Both possibilities sent lust punching through my body, desire flooding my veins. I liked the prospect that my bride was untouched, that she would be mine and mine alone. I could introduce her to all the dark pleasures I enjoyed, mold her into my perfect, sweetly obedient wife.

And I wanted her fear—just a little thread of it. I wanted her to look up at me with those wide eyes as she knelt before me, trembling because she didn’t know what I would demand of her next. I would earn her respect even if her love was an impossibility, a fantasy that didn’t exist in our world.

She wouldn’t love me, but she would submit. She would surrender her will and her body, and I would ensure that she enjoyed every ecstatic second of her submission.

Someone loudly cleared their throat, breaking through the haze of lust that clouded my mind. I remembered myself, my surroundings. I’d just married Elenora, and there were more formalities to handle before I could carry her upstairs and consummate our union.

I broke our kiss and almost released her entirely until she sagged against me, trembling. My arm firmed around her waist, holding her upright. Her gaze was slightly glassy as she stared up at me, her lips glossy from my savage kiss. An arrogant, slightly cruel smile tugged at the corners of my mouth.

Yes, we would get along just fine.

Chapter 4

Nora

Black ink shone starkly on white paper as I finished signing my name on the marriage certificate. I felt the seal of my signature on my soul: a damning brand.

Married. I was married to Luca Vitale.

This brute of a man who’d spanked me and stolen a ruthless kiss was now my husband. Only an hour ago, I’d been engaged to Dante Torrio, a notoriously sadistic capo who’d strangled a man right in front of me.

Which fate would be worse? Which man was more of a monster?

It didn’t matter now. I no longer had a choice. I never had. I’d always been destined to marry someone who was chosen for me. Love had been a foolish fantasy that I’d allowed myself to indulge, and the loss of that dream knifed through my chest.