Page 155 of Koroleva

"But that doesn't mean you might not want to be just a mortal instead of the mafia goddess Koroleva someday. Plus, I bet you haven't laughed like that in a long time," he commented suspiciously.

"I won't argue with that. I've never seen a rider on a donkey while the donkey was mounting his girl. That scene will be etched in my retinas forever," I confirmed.

"I promise to show you things you've never seen before."

I didn't doubt what he was saying. My mind returned to the incident that led my husband to massage my head.

"Do you think it was Cheng?"

"If it was her, we'll find out. I told Dante to make a move to draw the Chinese out of their cave." That sounded like an ambush.

"Are your father or uncle in the loop?" He stopped the motion and moved to my shoulders, which seemed knotted by a harbor sailor.

"This is our thing. Family is great for almost everything, but sometimes you have to make decisions regardless of what they think." His voice dropped a few tones.

"Mmm," I murmured. "I'll always say it, you have magical hands." His tongue brushed my cheek.

"It's our last day in Santorini, and I wouldn't want us to leave with a bad taste in our mouths. Why don't you go to the villa, fill up the bathtub, light those candles we bought yesterday, and rest for a while?"

"And will you join me in the bath?" I purred, in a better mood.

"I would love to, but I have to make a couple more calls to reorder the chaos and, though I didn't want to tell you, I have to go pick up a little something I ordered without you seeing it."

"What little something?" I asked curiously.

"If I tell you, it wouldn't be a surprise." I smiled sideways.

"Is it some kind of sex toy? Don't tell me you ordered a dildo

in the likeness of Eros," I joked, referring to the donkey.

"I would never put myself at a disadvantage against something so enormous. No matter how much you insist, I won't tell you what it is, otherwise, it wouldn't be a surprise and I love surprising my wife."

He stopped kneading my flesh and stood in front of me.

His eyes shone, and I swore mine did too. I saw my reflection in those dark pools and barely recognized myself.

Could marriage be changing me? And if it was, was I ready to be this new Nikita whose pulse raced when her husband smirked at her?

"Why are you so generous with me?" I inquired, trying to find answers.

"I've already told you. I like you and I want a chance for a future. When you're convinced that all the bad things you want to attribute to me aren't true, you'll fall helplessly for my charms."

"Are you referring to being a thug and a drug trafficker?"

"More like being an insatiable lover." Romeo kissed me again, parting my lips, igniting a desire in me like a match.

"Are you sure you don't want to come to the villa with me? I don't need gifts, this is enough." I lowered my hand and caressed his groin.

"It's a very tempting proposal, but I must delay it for a while. I promise it won't take more than two hours. You can set your phone's alarm if you want and find something to spank me with if I'm late."

"Ummm, a tempting promise. Alright," I agreed. "I'll wait for you."

Romeo extended his hands to help me up. I couldn't hold back. I pressed my body against his, caressed his mischievous beard, and kissed him.

That was no simple kiss; I put my whole soul into it, leaving the door open to a maybe.

One that tasted of hope and possibilities between us.