The Marriage Merger

Chapter Fifteen


Sawyer lifted his beer and clinked it against Max’s. The frosty brew slid cold and clean down his throat. “Salute.

Been too long, man.”

“yeah, since Vegas. When you tried to seduce my wife.”

“If I hadn’t pushed you to make a move, you never would’ve been married. Just call me Cupid.”

“yeah, I’m still not feeling all warm and fuzzy with that one.” His friend slid two more beers down for Michael and Nick, who were embroiled in a lively debate of Gucci versus Prada. He jerked a thumb at them. “They’re going to ruin our reputation as real men. What the hell happened to football versus baseball?”

Sawyer gave a wicked chuckle. “Let’s just call them me-trosexual. They’ll want to kick our asses.”

“What’s that?”

“you don’t want to know, man.”

The Brera district held an eclectic mix of hot clubs, bars, and restaurants. The real night crowd began coming in around ten, but the after-work crowd poured in around five for an aperitif to celebrate the end of the day. Sawyer rarely put in time for socializing, especially at the local hot spots, but after touring Purity and spending a few hours sketch-ing out his plans, it felt good to relax and hang with his old friend. Max was one of his closest male acquaintances, and Sawyer recognized an honesty in the man along with the dry humor that spoke to him. After a fight on a Greek yacht over some random woman, they’d forged a bond that had only strengthened since Max had met and married Carina.

“How’s married life treating you?” Max asked.

The loaded question gave him pause. “Good.”

His friend raised a brow. “Why do I think there’s something deeper going on here? you’re not the type to rush into a wedding, since the word commitment used to give you a nasty rash. Love at first sight?”

He wished he could confess the truth. He was one hot mess. Making love to his wife last night had transcended their usual bedroom games. Things were changing, fast, and the slippery slope kept inclining in a mad rush to toss him off. Sawyer took another sip of beer. “Something like that.”

His friend stared at him long and hard. “you know you can talk to me, right? I know Julietta is Carina’s sister, but if I thought you were a piece of shit I would’ve boarded the plane ASAP to break it up. I saw you together. She’s the one.”

Sawyer raised his gaze, startled. “What makes you say that after a few hours?”

Max shrugged. “A connection. The way you look at each other. And you seem different. Less—”

“What?”

“Haunted.”

Sawyer jerked. He opened his mouth to respond, but Michael and Nick slid into the booth with their beers.

“What are we talking about?” Michael interjected.

Max rolled his eyes. “Women. What else?”

“Bunch of pansies,” Nick muttered. “Hey, speaking of women, aren’t we running late? We’re supposed to pick them up at five, right? Who has a watch?”

The other two men glanced at their designer Zannetti watches. “yeah, we’ll finish our beers and head back,”

Michael noted. “I never go out anymore. Do you?”

Max and Nick shook their heads. “Nope. Not that I partied hard before, but after the kids came, it’s too crazy. I’m lucky to have some quality time with Alexa.”

“Same thing with Maggie. Those boys are a hell of a lot of work. Worth everything, though. How about you, Max?

I bet you’re still hitting fabulous parties and living high.”

Max snorted. “Are you kidding me? We’re not planning to have kids till next year, and we’re already exhausted. our work schedules are insane, and we tire out at ten. Pathetic.”

Sawyer grunted. “Look at you. Finally out for a few drinks with the guys, and you’re whining. Let’s enjoy it. Live it up a bit. Hell, for my excitement, I’m looking forward to a Rocky marathon with Julietta and Wolfe.”

“I love Balboa. Italian Stallion. Never gets old,” Nick said.

“Nah, anyone see Road House? Now that’s a quality movie,” Max ventured.

Sawyer bobbed his head and drained his beer. Put up a finger for another. “Women don’t get the real gist behind that movie. A shame.”

“I’m a Tarantino convert,” Michael said. “He’s a genius.

Reservoir Dogs. Django.”

“Alexa gives me a hard time. Says he’s too violent.”

The men all groaned in agreement. And ordered another round.

When they finally got to Mama Conte’s house, Sawyer sensed trouble. He knew they were late but figured the women would be flexible. After all, how often did their husbands get out for some quality male conversation?

Michael paused before opening the door. He blinked and swayed a bit on his feet. “How late are we really?”

Nick laughed. Seemed like Nick was laughing a lot lately, and the guy wasn’t the giggly type. “Just an hour.

or two. I lost track after the third extra round. That damn funicular should have a warning sign. I almost got killed.”

Sawyer did a quick body scan. Definitely a bit off, but not drunk. No one was really drunk. Why was Michael just standing there? “Dude, aren’t you going to open the door?”

Nick pressed his ears to the heavy wood. “I don’t hear anything. How come the kids aren’t screaming?”

Max rubbed his forehead. “I have a bad feeling about this. This stinks of a setup. Do you think they’ll be unrea-sonable because we’re a little late?”

Michael groaned. “Maggie’s probably stirring them up.”

Sawyer let out a breath. “Guys, get it together. Let’s go in, tell them we lost track of time, and then take them to dinner. Are you afraid of your own wives?”

The looks on their faces screamed yes, but male pride forced them to grunt. Michael pushed open the door.

The scene was not good.

Maggie, Carina, Alexa, and Julietta all sat in the living room facing the open hallway, dressed in killer heels and little black dresses. The sweet scent of musk and spice drifted in the air along with another, fainter smell.

Female rage.

Their expressions all matched. Accusation peppered the men like ammo from a paintball gun, stinging and re-minding them that hell hath no fury like a woman scorned.

or a woman waiting to be fed. Sawyer glanced at the male crew. The magnitude of their error seemed to hit them all at once. He stepped forward to try and smooth things out.

Julietta met him halfway. The long naked length of her legs got him dizzy. Her hair swung in a rich cloud of dark waves over her bare shoulders. The tiny scrap of fabric hugging her hips and stopping midthigh was an intricate mixture of black lace that played a wicked game of hide-and-go-seek that he desperately wanted to win. She wore a deep red lipstick that plumped her lush mouth and gleamed moist and wet under the light.

“Don’t.” She put up a hand. “We’ve been waiting for three hours. Max’s mother finally left. Mama finally got the kids settled, but the twins keep waking up because it’s a strange place, and Lily peed the bed and we had to refix our hair and makeup at least three times.”

Alexa narrowed her eyes and pinned Nick to the wall.

“you’re drunk.”

“No not.”

Sawyer closed his eyes. He guessed the man was not used to eight beers in three hours. “Do you know much I was looking forward to this? All of us going out for a real adult evening? Why are you so late?” Alexa asked.

“Not no,” Nick said.

Michael stepped up to the plate and directed his words to his wife. “I’m so sorry, cara. We ended up having a drink, and our watches stopped and we lost track of time.”

Maggie pointed to the piece of expensive jewelry on his wrist. “That watch? The one that never loses power, works underwater while scuba diving, and is as strong as James Bond’s? The one I bought you for your birthday after you lusted after Max’s? That thing cost a fortune and resembles a spy unit. It stopped?”

Out at first base.

Max raised his hands, his gaze roving over Carina’s low-cut top with blurred lust. “you look beautiful, baby. I’m sorry. Let’s go now, and we’ll make it up to you. Look, we’re ready. The kids are asleep. It’s early.”

Carina pursed her lips. “We ate already, Max. We were starving, so Mama made us dinner. We can’t leave her alone with the kids at this point; she’s resting in her room after a long day of serving her family and babysitting her grandchildren.

So, no, I’m not going to do that to my mother at this point.”

Out at second.

Nick gave a hearty laugh. “We’re all together now. Let’s open a bottle of wine, start the fire, and spend a relaxing evening in. We haven’t done that in a while.”

Alexa glared. “We do that every Friday night. After we cook and clean up and take care of the kids.”

Out at third.

“What do you want us to do then?” Sawyer asked.

Four women shared glances. Smiles eased onto their lips and he nodded with relief. Good, they’d salvage the evening, and he’d be able to drag Julietta out early so he could show her the many ways her outfit could be used for bondage purposes.

They all stood in one uniformed mass, grabbed their beaded bags, and dragged on their coats.

Alexa said, “Maria needs to be fed within the hour. Bottle’s in the fridge. Check on Lily, she’s been up a few times. Bye.”

Maggie grinned. “The twins should pop back up in a few. Good luck.”

Carina and Julietta didn’t speak. Just gave their men a look and eased past them toward the front door.

Sawyer glanced around, not understanding. “Wait.

Where are you going?”

Julietta winked. “out. Don’t wait up.”

In a cloud of sensuality and mystery and pissed-off hor-mones, they shut the door behind them.

Out at home.

…

“Stood up by our own husbands.” Maggie ran a finger over the rim of her glass and sucked the salt off her finger. “Pathetic.”

Alexa sighed and stared moodily into her chocolate martini. “I shaved. Waxed. Bikini wax!”

Carina clucked in sympathy. “you know how men are when they get together. Probably talking stupid violent movies and sports. remembering the good old days when they were young and free and drunk.”

Julietta looked at the depressed women in front of her.

She took charge and spoke in a crisp tone. “enough. yes, we missed out on romantic dinners, but when was the last time any of you went out for ladies’ night?”

Maggie shrugged. “Too long.”

“exactly. So let’s stop whining about our husbands and enjoy ourselves.”

Alexa perked up. “Julietta’s right. This is just as good.

Shopping at Marc Jacobs and eating at the café is a dream.

Promise no more complaining. Look at this place!”

Julietta glanced around the familiar café. She’d stopped many times along the way to grab a drink or do some shop-ping, but seeing it through Alexa’s eyes made her appreci-ate the sleek design of illuminated glass, sprawling bar, and tiered ceiling. The bar hopped, music blared, and their table looked out over all the action.

“Agreed,” Maggie said. “ But we have to stick together on one point. They need to be taught a lesson.”

“Absolutely. What do you think we should do?” Carina asked.

Her sister-in-law grinned. “It’s what we don’t do. No sex tonight.”

Silence.

Julietta knew how they felt. Sure, she was mad at Sawyer, but she still looked forward to climbing into bed with him after girls’ night out.

Alexa sank back into gloom. “Good-bye painful bikini wax.”

Carina pursed her lips. “Couldn’t we just torture them a lot in bed?”

Maggie shook her head firmly. “No. It will drive the lesson home. Just tonight. Hell, by the time we all get home, we’ll be exhausted, and they’ll be sleeping anyway. We won’t suffer at all. But this needs to be a united agreement.”

Julietta rallied. After all, it would be the easiest for her.

And a night alone might be the best thing for both of them.

“Agreed.”

Carina and Alexa chimed in.

Maggie rubbed her palms together, green eyes sparkling. “Great. They have music starting in a few, so we can dance. Now that we’re not having sex, let’s talk about sex.”

Her gaze swung around like a radar. “Starting with Julietta.

Spill.”

“Me?” She ducked her head to fight the color in her cheeks and took a sip of her Kahlúa. “Uh, it’s good. We’re good.”

Carina giggled. “you’re blushing. That says it all.”

Curiosity made her face her sister. “Hmm, since you could have been in my place, maybe I should ask you. Didn’t you spend some time with Sawyer before Max?”

Carina made a face. “I didn’t fool around with my new brother-in-law, Julietta! We shared a short kiss that meant nothing. He was a nice distraction while I trying to make Max jealous. But he had all this brooding, sexual energy that seemed quite yummy for the right woman. It wasn’t like that at all between us.” Her dark eyes sparkled. “But with you he’s so different. Calmer. Happier.”

Julietta jerked back. “really? How do you know?”

The women shared a worried glance. “Why do you seem surprised?” Carina asked gently. “you got married. you’re obviously madly in love. Is something else going on?”

odd, she’d always been close to her sisters but had never shared her personal secrets. Venezia was too different to understand, and Carina was always too young. The girlfriends she hung with were always chosen from work and rarely scratched the deeper surface of sharing thoughts, dreams, and fears. Her innate loneliness had become such a part of her makeup, she’d never thought to question it. But since Sawyer had stormed into her life, she craved more.

Including friendship.

Her heart pounded and she dragged her sweaty palms down the length of her skirt. “We didn’t elope like we told everyone. We had to get married.”

Carina gasped. “Are you pregnant?”

“No. Mama made us.”

A short silence fell over the table. The sounds of the band starting up, glass tinkling, and laughter rang out.

Maggie cleared her throat. “Umm, Julietta, I think you need to tell us everything.”

Julietta did. When she was done with the whole story, a lightness tingled through her body. For the first time, she didn’t feel so isolated. How silly of her to be so afraid of opening up. The serious looks on their faces told her how much they cared about her, and that her fight was theirs.

Carina took her hand and squeezed. “I’m so sorry, Julietta. I had no idea you were going through this.

Meanwhile, I was telling the girls we finally had proof the love-spell book worked.”

The memory of creating the love spell and burning her list in the fire shimmered before her. Such an odd coinci-dence. “Nope, I guess this time it didn’t have the power. At least not compared to Mama.”

Carina took a deep breath. “I have my own truth to tell.

Mama made me marry Max.”

Julietta gasped. “What are you talking about? you married in Vegas.”

Her sister nodded. “We slept together. Mama came to visit and found us. She threatened Max and me, and we ended up eloping.”

Maggie drained her margarita in one long gulp. “you guys are starting to freak me out here. you’re making her sound like some crazy mob boss.”

“Her reasons were solid, and Mama is very strict on tra-ditional values and doing the right thing. She also told me she knew I was in love with Max and that she would never have forced me to marry someone I didn’t love.”

“Weird. Two forced marriages in one family.” Maggie frowned, as if a thought flickered past. “you know, I’m not sure you know this, but your brother and I weren’t really married when we came to visit you guys. It was supposed to be a fake to let Venezia get married.”

Julietta’s mouth slid open. “No. Not possible.”

“yeah. I never planned on saying anything, but it seems this is confession time.” She gave a laugh. “of course, the fake marriage ended up real when your mother surprised us. Father richard showed up, and all of a sudden, I was saying vows and . . .” She trailed off. “oh. My. God. Do you think Mama knew we were faking it? She was sick, and Michael was afraid to say no.”

Carina pressed her lips together. “remember how surprised we all were when she was perfectly fine a few hours later? Like nothing ever happened. Maggie, I bet she knew and forced you to marry Michael!”

They all lapsed into quiet, analyzing the actions of the woman who’d raised them. Maggie whistled. “Damn, she is a mob boss. A love-mob boss. I don’t know whether to yell at her or kiss her.”

Alexa spoke up. “Umm, since we’re all confessing how we fell for our husbands, I think it’s my turn. Mama Conte wasn’t involved, though. But I ended up marrying Nick for money to save my mother’s home. We struck a bargain to be married for a year. No sex, no love, nothing.” She grinned.

“of course, that didn’t work out the way we planned, thank God. We fell in love and eventually worked it out. But isn’t it strange how all of us at this table were forced to marry our husbands?”

Maggie grabbed her wallet and slid off the stool. “Wait here. I’m getting another round for everyone. We need some serious alcohol.”

Carina leaned across the table. “you need to tell him the truth, Julietta. He loves you—I see it in his eyes when he looks at you. And the way he treats Wolfe? He watched over him the whole time at Mama’s. Making sure he was comfortable, trying to engage him in conversation. When Dante jumped on his lap and Wolfe smiled, Sawyer looked so damn happy it was like he was his father.”

Alexa nodded. “Sometimes you have to take your shot.

It may have started because Mama Conte bullied you and on paper it sounded like a good arrangement, but he has real feelings for you. He’s probably terrified, and you’ll need to take the plunge. What do you have to lose?”

Everything.

“It could change us,” she whispered. “As long as we don’t push, things can stay the same. We’re content. We still have each other. Maybe with more time, he’ll come around.

Sawyer was very clear he doesn’t believe in love.”

Alexa smiled gently. “Nick was the same way. Something was broken inside, but eventually we were able to heal it together. He still has some flashbacks from his lousy par-ents, but we deal with it. He knows I’m not going anywhere.

Sawyer needs to know you’ll fight for him. you deserve happiness, Julietta. A real marriage. Maybe children one day.”

Carina nodded. “And if Sawyer can’t give this to you, you may have to make a choice. When Max and I had trouble, I realized it became more about me. I didn’t think I was worthy of him. Took a while to get my head on straight and then I got him back. Something tells me you’ve always avoided relationships for a very good reason. once you figure it out, you don’t have to be scared any longer.”

Her sister’s words crashed through her with a bone-deep truth. How many years was she going to wait to feel worthy of love? Would she spend the rest of her time work-ing endlessly, being satisfied on paper but empty in her soul?

Maggie plunked the drinks down and grinned. “Guy tried to pick me up at the bar. So cool. Now, let’s finish this group therapy session and do some dancing. Salute.”

The glasses clinked.

…

Sawyer rolled over and stared up at the ceiling. Two a.m.

He didn’t expect her to come to him tonight, but he couldn’t seem to fall asleep until he knew she’d gotten home safe.

He cocked his knee for a better position. of course, she was fine. She was in a close-knit group, and Maggie could kick anyone’s ass, but he’d expected her a few hours ago. What if she drank too much and got sick? Would Carina call him?

He shifted for the hundredth time and glanced at his cell phone. Maybe he’d call. Just once. Maybe— The sound of heels clicking echoed in the air.

relief coursed through him. She was safe. Good. He ached to open his door to see her himself, but he forced himself to remain in bed. Time to go back to sleep. Nothing more to worry about.

Long minutes ticked by. He heard the adjoining bath-room door open. Water running. He imagined her brushing her teeth, donning her nightgown, and falling into bed.

She’d probably fall into a deep slumber from a fun night out while he’d been tortured for hours babysitting, male sitting, and then waiting for her to come home.

He punched the pillow. rolled over.

The door opened.

The hallway light splashed through and illuminated her naked body. She stood perfectly still and let him drink his fill. The high tilt of her breasts, the hard stab of strawberry nipples. Her dancer-type body was beautiful in its muscled symmetry and grace, the curve of hip, length of thigh, right to the perfectly trimmed dark mound that covered her sex.

He sat up in bed and waited.

She crossed the room, hips swaying, hair brushing her naked back in a sleek waterfall of dark silk. Her eyes were filled with a focus and purpose that stopped his heart. He opened his mouth to halt her, half afraid of her intentions, but his dick had swelled to the max and Sawyer knew he’d sell his f*cking soul to claim her tonight.

She crawled, on hands and knees, across the bed. Swung her leg over him and straddled his thighs. A groan rose up and escaped. He reached for her.

“No.” The velvety, dark voice of a powerful goddess made him pause. “you’re not allowed to touch me. Tonight we play by my rules.” She shook out her hair and ran her fingers down his cock. “Hands over your head. Grip the head rails.”

A strange panic fluttered through him. He never played sub and was uncomfortable not being in control. No way.

“Baby, you know you love it when I’m in charge. Let me show you how much I missed you.”

He reared up to flip her over, but those gentle hands suddenly wrapped around his erection and squeezed. Hard.

The breath let loose from his chest, and arousal hit and grabbed him in a death grip. His balls tightened at her calm power. “Wrong. We play my way, or I leave. I’m not kidding, Sawyer. Think carefully before you decide.”

Holy shit, her demand touched his skin with pure flame.

He studied her face, looked into her eyes, and realized something else was going on, something he didn’t know and didn’t want to find out. He opened his mouth to call it off, but her hand did some magic stroking, and he shuddered helplessly.

Sawyer slid his arms over his head and grasped the rails.

She purred like a cat and all that silky skin poured over him like warm sticky honey. He’d play her game for a few, then wrest back control when she was too far gone.

Confident in his plan, he enjoyed the shift of her body and the clench of her thighs as she adjusted herself over him.

He waited for the ease of foreplay, the glide of her mouth over his, the stroke of her hands on his body.

Instead, she lowered her mouth and took his shaft deep.

He bucked up at the sudden move and gritted his teeth.

Jesus, her tongue swirled around and licked with an exper-tise that made his eyes roll in the back of his head. Her hair spilled over his stomach and thighs, the strands sweeping and tickling his skin and wrapping him in a sensual cocoon.

Completely under her spell, his fingers tightened on the wooden spindles.

She demolished him. Her teeth scraped the underside of his length, while her fingers massaged his testicles. Deep moaning sounds from her mouth vibrated off his erection and tumbled through his body. He stretched to monstrous proportions until his skin was pulled so tight he didn’t think he could hold off any longer.

every stroke of her tongue and lips and teeth bespoke a pure giving of herself over to him. This was more than sex, more than a woman who wanted to receive pleasure. She continued to drive him toward orgasm at a heart-stopping pace he couldn’t seem to control.

He released his hold on the rails. “Wait. Baby, wait, let me—”

She lifted her head. “No.” Cocoa brown eyes seethed with arousal, lust, and a need that stripped him of any rights.

“Don’t make me punish you.” She reached up and cupped her breasts, running her fingers over her tight nipples, taunting him. “or you don’t get to touch me at all.”

The monster he’d created took charge. His body shut down his mind, and with a muttered curse, he returned to his original position. He feasted on the lush curves of her ass, the way the hall light played over her body, the delicious up and down motion of her mouth as she sucked him.

He hung on to his control with his last rasping breath, but it didn’t stop, never stopped. She kissed every part of him, his legs, hips, stomach. Moved up his chest to play with his nipples while her hands massaged and rubbed his erection, keeping him iron hard. When she finally reached his mouth, he was starved for her taste. She nibbled his bottom lip, running her tongue lightly over the seam, until he groaned and opened for her.

She dove in, claiming him as he’d claimed her endless nights, knowing he was completely at her mercy. She tasted of sweet chocolate, crisp mint, a touch of Kalúha. Her musky arousal assaulted his nostrils and made him crazed for more. His fingers gripped with all his strength until he was afraid the posts would snap in two.

“you taste so good. Feel so good,” she breathed against him, diving in deep with her tongue. “I’ll never get enough of you.”

Time to finish. He eased his hold and got ready to take what was his.

But she sensed his shift and slid down his body in one graceful motion. Parted her legs. And buried him to the hilt inside her.

He cried out. Her silky, wet channel clenched around him and squeezed tight. She adjusted her position, shimmy-ing her hips as she took control and began easing up and down on top of him. Within pleasure, a glimmer of fear took root in his gut. He fought for rational thought and began to flip her over.

“No.” Her eyes were wild, her lips soft and slightly bruised. “Let me do this. Let me love you.”

The words stung like wasps. He lost his breath. “Don’t.”

She arched, and ripples of pleasure shot down his dick.

“Julietta, please.”

“Let go. Just this once.”

She didn’t wait for his response. She rode him hard and wild and deep. His need to come, to give to her, roared up and washed away the last of his control. He watched her as she neared the edge, held herself there, her fingers digging into his hips, hair streaming down her back, face completely open to him.

“Tell me you belong to me.”

Her demand singed his nerves. Sawyer gritted his teeth, and the orgasm shimmered before him in all its haunting glory. “I belong to you.”

“Come for me, Sawyer.”

With a shout, he let go. His seed shot inside of her, but she never stopped the frantic pounding rhythm. She drenched him with her own climax, and aftershocks of pleasure hit and convulsed his body. The orgasm went on and on with so much intensity it blurred into pain. Sawyer took it all, humbled by her beauty, and a wave of emotion washed over him in violent splendor.

Her body folded over. Her breasts pressed into his chest, and he stroked back her damp hair. She gave him the words in the darkness with no hesitation.

“I love you, Sawyer. This is more than sex. More than business or companionship or something on paper. This is about how I feel when I look at you. About the way you protect Wolfe, and how you respect me, and how you make me a better person. A whole person. It’s about the man I see every day. I believe he has everything to give; he’s just afraid to take it. I’m not going to be afraid anymore. I’m going to be brave enough for both of us.”

The stunning words crashed through his barriers and pierced his heart. His thoughts whirled in a jumbled mass of confusion and need and fear he’d never experienced.

Unable to speak, unable to do anything but breathe and remain frozen, Sawyer did nothing.

A while later, she fell asleep, never asking for his an-swer.