Marry the Don

Chapter 31

I walked over to it, looking around to see if my henchmen had followed me or not, and found them lingering at the path’s end like they were trying to blend into the shrubbery in their black suits and ominous size.

I shook my head and gently sat down on the swing, praying it wasn’t old and frayed so I didn’t end up with my ass on the ground.

Much to my surprise though, the ropes hardly groaned with age or fatigue as I let my weight settle into the seat. I kicked myself backward, gently swaying as the cool Autumn breeze swirled around me.

I watched the fountain perform its magical dance and swayed timelessly, enjoying the peace that the area loaned me as my reality drifted away with the breeze.

When warm hands slid over the tops of my shoulders though, I shrieked, nearly toppling off the swing, and looked behind me to find Nicolas smirking down at me.

“You scared the daylights out of me.” I gasped, righting myself on the swing so I didn’t fall off.

“You’ve been out here too long. You must be cold.” He said in place of an apology, and I rolled my eyes as I faced the fountain again. I didn’t know how long I had been resting on the swaying paradise, but the cool ache in my body told me probably longer than I should have.

“Well, I didn’t win a jacket in the barter earlier so-.” I shrugged my shoulders impassively as he chuckled.

“I figured that’d be your excuse.” He said, running his fingers under my hair against my neck. The move was intimate and foreign for us, yet not unwanted on my part either. It was odd. “Jesus, Arianna,” He groaned, “You’re freezing.”

“I’m fine,” I said, flexing my stiff fingers around the ropes and ignoring the way they ached when the blood started returning to the cold limbs.

“Come here.” He walked around the front of the swing and picked me up, ignoring my protests before setting his weight down onto the swing with me in his arms.

“If this thing breaks under your big butt I’m going to be really upset.” I chided him as he turned me on his lap until my head was tucked under his chin with his warm arms around my body. He wore the same button-down shirt that I’d stripped off his body earlier and I could smell our sex on his skin, which made my head dance.

“I would hate to do anything to draw your anger Little One.” He teased and I poked his chest, drawing a grunt from him. “Where did you get this scar?” He asked, running his thumb over my cheek where a faint white scar ran down the flesh like a tear trail. Most people never noticed it thanks to my father’s highly esteemed plastic surgeon who promised to fix it the best he could.

“I don’t-,” Ipaused and shook my head. “I don’t remember. It’s kind of fuzzy.”

“What do you remember?” He asked, staring at me like he was waiting for me to crack some massive code that held all of the world's dark secrets.

“A cat.” I smiled and rolled my eyes. “That’s it.” “A cat?”

“Yep,” I shrugged. “I remember an orange cat, and my parents being so pissed at me when they saw the scratch on my cheek.”

He stayed silent and then looked back out over the water fountain. “What do you think of the grounds?” He asked after a while, “Do the fall colors live up to your expectations up close?”

“That and so much more,” I admitted wistfully, and his arms tightened around me. “I thought you weren’t a gentle man?” I leaned back to look up at his face, “This doesn’t feel like the man that I married a few days ago.”

He sighed and pursed his lips. “Give it time. I can’t hide him forever.” “Hmm.” I mused, “A little Dr. Jekyll Mr. Hyde?”

“Mr. Hyde would be nicer than I am, I assure you.” He looked away from me and then rose, setting me down on my feet in front of him.

“I suppose I should run away then,” I stated, staring up at his strong jaw and perfect green eyes. “You should.” He said but didn’t make any move to walk away from me.

“Okay.” I dropped his gaze and turned to walk around him towards the path that was now empty of my guards, but Nicolas ’ hand wrapped around my arm, pulling me back to his chest.

“I don’t understand you.” He said with a scowl, and I could see the real bewilderment in his gaze. “Are you supposed to just simply understand me without even knowing me?” I questioned.

“Yes.” He replied instantly. “I know people. I’ve spent my entire life studying everyone that I’ve been near, learning them, calculating their moves before they make them. Always staying ahead,” He shook his head, “But with you, I can’t figure you out.”

“Hmm.” I hummed again, smiling softly up at him, “Then my plan is working flawlessly.”

“Careful Little One.” He called as he followed me when I walked away from the swing towards the warmth of the house.

“Or what?” I joked with a false sense of braveness, “You’ll spank me?” I looked over my shoulder and caught the way his eyes darkened, and his jaw ticked, “Because we both now know that I enjoy that.” I stopped walking and turned to face him, and he didn’t stop until he was pressed flat against my chest again, “Or at least I enjoy it when you do it.”

“Ari,” he growled and slid his hands around my waist. “I don’t have the time to discipline you right

”

now.

“Then why did you come out here?” I challenged and ran my fingers over the bitemark I knew he still wore on his peck.