Mob Mistress

Chapter One

Lily

“Mr and Mrs Romano , is there anything else I can get for you at this time?”

I started. Romano? Was that his surname or the one we were “using” in our ruse to be seen as a married couple? But it wasn’t just the pretending I had a problem with , it was all of it. The way he was looking at me. Like he wanted to wrap me in his arms and kiss away all my pain and fears. The fact I knew absolutely nothing about him. Not even his surname. Hell I hadn’t even known he had a wife until recently.

He had made me have feelings for him, he had hinted he shared those feelings as well and all the while he was just playing with me.

“That will be all for now, is everything I requested already here?” Stefano’s hand curled around my hand, tugging me back against his side. His face open and friendly and very un-Stefano like. I clamped my lips together. It wouldn’t do to say something that would make the staff suspicious.

Which meant it was best if I kept my mouth shut and let him do all the talking. One word out of my mouth and everyone would know I definitely wasn’t in love with my “new husband”, hell one word and all the hatred I had for him would pour out.

Because I did hate him.

Hated that he had made me fall for him, hated how even now my stomach did flip flops every time I caught his staring at me like I was the most beautiful thing in the world.

“Everything is as you requested sir”

“Then that’s all we need for now, I would like ….” He chuckled and I jumped as his hand traced down my cheek. His touch one of ownership and leaving no doubt what he wanted.

Alone time with his new bride.

Alone time with me.

I blushed , I couldn’t help it.

“So” I pulled my hand away from his as the door to the suite closed with a soft click. This was the moment I had been dreading. The moment we were alone. Running my hand through my new chestnut coloured hair I walked towards the wall to ceiling sliding doors that opened onto a private deck.

“Lils.”

The pure hunger in his voice made me turn sharply before I could reach for the handle.

Shit.

His eyes were predatory as he stalked towards me, his long legs making short work of the space between us.

“Do…” My Hans fluttered towards my throat. I had never seen him look at me like this. Like he wanted to devour me.

He froze, his hand out stretched as if he had to stop himself from grabbing at me. Whether it was the sudden fear he saw on my face or something else I didn’t know.

“Don’t be afraid of me Lils.” His voice broke as he dropped his hand to his side. “s**t Lils, do you .. are you that afraid of me? You have to know…”

Swallowing hard , I made myself meet his eyes. Hating the pain in them because it mirrored the pain in my own heart. I wasn’t afraid of him. He had to know that.

I was afraid of my own feelings for him.

“I know Stefano, I know.” I turned away from him, looking out over the spectacular view of the turquoise ocean.

Being in a tropical paradise with a beautiful man wasn’t the worst way to spend our time on the run. It could be a hell of a lot worse.

“Lils, I am going to have to touch you in public.” His hands slid over my hips and the air moved as he stepped up behind me. So close there was barely an inch between our bodies. “Are you going to be able to handle that? Without flinching?”

I closed my eyes, as his lips brushed my hair. Thanking he couldn’t see my face otherwise he would see the reaction just that one small kiss had on me.

His fingers squeezed again as his body brushed mine. Stepping up so his body was flush with mine.

“I have never been scared of you Stefano.” And I hadn’t been, not once. It was in his arms I felt safest.

Until ….

“I hope that is true Lils.” Each word moved the hair on my head. “I…”

“I am not flinching now Stefano, I can play my part , don’t worry.” My voice was husky , breathier then it should be. What would I do if he turned me in his arms and kissed me?

Did I want him too.

“What are you thinking? Your face is all screwed up so I know something is going on in that pretty head of yours”

I flushed, and my eyes met his in the pristine glass. s**t , he could see my reflection. He had seen my eyes flicker shut and my lips part when he had kissed my head.

“Nothing, I mean I was just thinking of my new look.” I lied , running my fingers through my hair. My bright red locks were now a lustrous brown colour, shot through with copper.

It was different.

And it made me look like a totally different person. Which was kind of the whole point.

“Do you like it?”

“You look beautiful no matter the colour of your hair Lils.” His breath was warm against the skin of my cheek. “There is nothing . Nothing in the entire world that would make you look anything but stunning.” His voice was husky. “You are the most beautiful woman I have ever seen…”

“Stefano.” My voice was strangled. This was what I had been afraid of. This intimacy.

It had never been a problem before, before it had been easy to be with him. Even if it had been platonic , kind of.

The way he was staring at me, the way he was holding me wasn’t platonic. He wasn’t even trying to hide the heat in his eyes any more.

And it definitely wasn’t easy.

“Don’t say it Lils.” His eyes closed briefly. Shielding me from the pain in them. “I already know how you feel, how I will never be the man you end up with.”

Anger flared in my chest. Why was we talking about this? Of course he wouldn’t be the man I ended up with, hell he wouldn’t even be a casual fling.

He was married.

He had made vows to another woman , long before he had met me.

“And whose fault it that?” I couldn’t help it, my voice was bitter.

“Mine.” His hands were firm as he turned me in his arms. “The fault is all mine.” He tilted my face up to his. “But that doesn’t mean I don’t wish it was you who I had tied myself too, it doesn’t mean it’s not you I imagine when I close my eyes before I sleep. This is the time we have together…”

“This is make believe.” I didn’t avert my eyes from his this time, unblinking I smiled sadly. “When this is over….”

“I know” Turning away he stalked a few feet before turning back with a growl, “Here you are my wife though. Here no one knows that your aren’t mine.” He moved so quickly that I didn’t have a chance to move away before he captured my face between his hands. “Are you going to freak every time I touch you? Are you going to look at me with such loathing?” His lips were hovering above mine. And for the first time I saw real uncertainty in his face.

“I…” How could I explain it to him. Reaching up on my tiptoes, I pulled his head down to mine. Even in the heels I was wearing he was still so much taller than me. I pressed my lips to his softly.

“Oh.” He sighed into my mouth , his hands sliding around my waist as I moved backwards, my fingers pressed against my parted lips. “Oh Lils.”

“I will be fine Stefano.” Taking a shaky breath I smiled at him. Praying my heart beat would calm the hell down before I gave myself a heart attack. How was it possible that one small kiss with this man could make me feel so many things. “I won’t embarrass you. I can pretend with the best of them. We will give them a good show.”

“Show?” His voice was thick.

“Yes in public Stefano.” I swallowed hard. “You can treat me like your wife in public. I won’t flinch when you kiss me.”

“And in here? When we are alone?” His hand reached for me and I skirted it quickly. It wouldn’t do to let him in touch me now , not when my body wanted him so badly.

“In here we aren’t in public. And you won’t touch me.