Twisted Bonds by Cora Reilly

CHAPTER 2

KIARA

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Nino stirred and gently untangledhimself from me. I watched through half closed eyes him getting dressed in a black shirt and jeans, not saying anything. He threw a quick glance over his shoulder at me before he left for the video recording. The moment the door closed, I swung myself out of bed and threw a bathrobe over my nightgown. I had an inkling where the recording would take place. I needed to see Serafina with my own eyes.

Even more than that, I needed to figure out a way to help the girl without betraying my new family—because that’s what the Falcones were.

I crept through the corridor and made my way toward the door that led into the basement.

“Where do you think you’re going?”

I cried out in surprise and jumped away from the hot breath on my neck. Whirling around, I hit Savio’s chest hard.

A grin flitted across his face. “Ouch,” he said, rubbing the spot in exaggeration.

“You’re in an awfully good mood considering a girl is being tortured in the basement,” I said, turning and trying to continue, but Savio stepped in my way.

The amusement disappeared from his expression, which was a rare event. Savio always either smirked or grinned. “Someone’s always being tortured,” he said mockingly.

I couldn’t believe him. With Nino I understood why it didn’t bother him; it was his emotional disposition, but Savio didn’t have that excuse.

He sighed, running a hand through his usual impeccably styled dark hair. “The girl’s not being tortured.”

“Are you sure about that?” I asked, trying to sidestep Savio. He mirrored my move.

“I can’t let you go down there. Orders from Nino.”

Angry, I quickly ducked past Savio. His arm came around my waist and he lifted me off the ground. Tension shot through me and I sucked in a startled breath. Savio carried me a few steps then set me down and peered into my eyes. “Come on, no panic attack, all right? I touched your waist. No danger.”

I swallowed.

“Hit me again, if that helps.”

“What?” I asked, confused, and my panic subsided.

Savio gave me the cocky grin. “I know you enjoyed hitting me.”

I knew what he was trying, and under different circumstances I might have laughed.

“Let me pass,” I said.

“No,” he said. “If you try again, I’ll hold you.”

“I don’t care.” Once again I tried to walk past Savio and this time he grabbed my shoulders and pressed me against the wall, holding me fast. I squirmed, my body tightening, but he didn’t release me.

“Kiara, I won’t let you go down there. I gave Nino my word. Give up. I don’t want to have to restrain you.”

I shivered at his proximity.

“Fuck,” he breathed. “You know I’d never hurt you, right?”

I looked up into his face, into brown eyes that had held wariness in the beginning but were softer now. I gave a sharp nod and began to relax in his hold.

He let go of me and stepped back, then ran a hand through his hair again. He looked at me. “I really wish I could have been there when Nino and Remo dismembered him.”

I knew who he meant and I was surprised by his admission. Savio and I had gotten off on the wrong foot, and I often still had the impression that he resented the new restrictions my presence had brought.

He leaned one shoulder against the wall beside the basement door. “Remo would never hurt an innocent woman like your uncle hurt you.”

There wasn’t the hint of doubt in his voice.

“How can you be sure?”

“I know Remo,” Savio said simply, for a moment again dropping his arrogant smirk.

Like Nino, he had unfailing trust in Remo. I huffed, wishing I could share their convictions. “I want to go into the kitchen, if that’s still allowed?”

Savio stepped back after a moment of hesitation. I walked past him toward the kitchen. He followed me like an annoying shadow.

I whirled on him. “Am I a captive in this house now too?”

Savio raised his palms. “This is Remo’s game, not mine. Talk to him, if you don’t like what’s going on.” He smiled in a way that suggested I wouldn’t. Maybe the arrogant smirk was his protection. They all wore different masks, Nino his lack of emotions. Remo his anger, and Savio his arrogance. I wasn’t quite sure about Adamo’s mask yet, but he was wearing one too, I was sure of it.

I turned on my heel and continued into the kitchen, wondering why these twisted Falcone men wormed their way into my heart a bit more every day.

After a quick breakfast, I moved into the library, pointedly ignoring Savio who leaned beside the basement door, typing on his phone. I wouldn’t spend all day in the bedroom while Remo played captor, and I couldn’t stop thinking about Serafina.

I was lounging on the couch when Nino came in. The moment I saw the haunted look in his eyes I knew something had gone horribly wrong. Dropping my book, I pushed to my feet and hurried over to him, trying to suppress my rising worry.

“Are you okay?”

Nino cupped my face and kissed me fiercely, catching me by surprise. My body sprang to life, answering to the need in his kiss until it became more, heated, too much. I tore away from him, shaking my head, even as my body throbbed with desire. “Tell me what happened.”

Nino’s gaze dropped to his forearm where his fingers traced the scars. He frowned, pain and sadness flashing in his eyes before emotionless calm wiped them away. “Remo recorded a live video for Cavallaro and Serafina’s family, but her choice wasn’t the one Remo had anticipated.” There was no emotion in his voice, only that terrifying calm.

I backed away. “Don’t tell me you gave Serafina that choice?”

My insides convulsed, twisting tighter and tighter. Nino continued to regard me with that quiet scrutiny. “Remo is playing mind games, but Serafina is strong-willed. She chose pain, forced his hand in front of Cavallaro.” His gaze flickered to the scars on his wrist. “She chose her wrist for the cut ...she ...”

“Remo cut her?” I took another step back then turned around. “I’m sick of it. I’ll have a word with him. Someone has to.”

I rushed toward the door to confront Remo. Nino slung his arm around my waist from behind and held me tight. First Savio, now him. Anger and frustration flooded me, and a worse feeling of helplessness. “Let me go.”

“Only if you promise not to go to my brother.”

I squirmed in his grip. “Let me go.”

“No,” he said firmly.

I twisted and peered up at him, swallowing my hurt. “You promised to never use your physical power against me.”

His arms loosened slightly, but not enough for me to slip away, and a pained look crossed his face. “I’m protecting you. I’d never use my strength to cause you pain, I swear it.” He kissed the side of my head. “Don’t compare me to your uncle.” His voice rang with a note of vulnerability that startled me so much I turned in his hold to see his face better. It was impassive, but his eyes weren’t.

“I’m not,” I said. “I’m not scared of you or of you restraining me like this, but it makes me feel powerless and I hate it.”

“Your protection is always my top priority. I’ll take making you feel uncomfortable if it serves that purpose.”

I sighed. I didn’t want to fight with Nino. In his mind, his reasoning made sense.

“Where is she?” I askedNino, who followed close behind me as we headed into Remo’s wing. My pulse was still up from my confrontation with Remo but I was glad that I’d managed to talk him into letting me visit Serafina.

Nino motioned toward a door to our right and stopped me before I could go in. “Be careful. People who are backed into a corner are dangerous.”

“Don’t worry. Everything will be fine.”

“I know.” He said it in a way that made me pause because of the steely undertone.

I knocked and, when no protest sounded, I turned the key and pushed inside.

Serafina was on the bed, her eyes filled with surprise. She was beautiful in an angelic way; long blonde hair, blue eyes, pale skin.

“Kiara Vitiello,” she said.

My name coming from her lips, I could practically hear all the stories she’d heard about me. People whispered about the bloody wedding, about what Remo and Nino had done, about the reasons for their actions.

“Kiara Falcone now, but yes, that’s me.” Nino stood close behind me as if he expected an attack any moment. His worry warmed my heart and annoyed me equally. I doubted Serafina would talk to me as long as he was present. She didn’t have reason to trust me, but she had plenty of reason to mistrust him and his brothers.

I told him, “You don’t have to stay. Serafina and I are going to talk. She poses no danger to me.”

Nino wasn’t looking at me, his calculating eyes firmly focused on Serafina. “I will stay.” He closed the door after him and leaned against the wall to watch everything. “And if you make a move toward my wife, the consequences will be very unpleasant.”

How could he say something like that? I gave Serafina an embarrassed smile before I moved close to Nino and pressed my palms against his chest. He lowered his gaze to me, the remnants of harshness still in his eyes. “She’s an innocent woman, Nino. You shouldn’t threaten her, much less consider hurting her.”

Nino’s expression remained hard. “I don’t care who she is, woman or man, innocent or guilty. If she poses a threat to you, I’ll cause her the amount of pain necessary to make her back off.”

I swallowed at his voice. When Nino was around me, he made it so very easy to forget what he was capable of. To me he was loving and gentle, but not to others.

“I don’t want you to hurt her.”

“I always respect your wishes, but this is something I won’t promise you. Protecting you is the only thing I care about. As long as she acts accordingly, she’s safe from me.”

“Nino,” I tried again. He shook his head and made it clear I wouldn’t be able to change his mind about the matter. I moved closer to Serafina, who eyed me as if I was the enemy. I was probably the only person in this house, except for Adamo maybe, who cared for her wellbeing, but our conversation showed that she had no intention of opening up to me.

“I doubt you’ve come to offer your help. You are loyal to the Falcones,” she said at last, sounding almost accusing.

“I am. They are my family.”

NINO

Hearing Kiara say that she was family, my chest felt lighter and some of the tension slipped away. She smiled softly at me, still loving and caring despite what she often witnessed us doing.

I’d been content with our family, of just my brothers and me building a tight-knit unit. I hadn’t seen any necessity to extend it, and still hadn’t considered it when I’d been set up to marry Kiara for tactical purposes. It had seemed impossible that anyone could fit into our family, that anyone could become part of our life and gain our trust, especially a woman, but Kiara had surprised us all. She found her place in our family in her own quiet, thoughtful way, accepted us despite our many faults, and tried to better us in subtle ways. That she considered us capable of being better men was something that filled me with contentment, even if her attempts were bound to fail.

Kiara turned back to Serafina and leaned close to her. I took a step in their direction. Sitting so close to the enemy was foolish. What was she telling Serafina? Vigilance and distrust were the foundations of my nature, but I couldn’t imagine Kiara betraying us in any way. I didn’t want to even consider the option that she could.

After their talk, I led Kiara outside and locked the door. “What did you tell her?”

Kiara peered up at me, frowning. “Don’t you trust me?”

“I do,” I said quietly, then cupped the back of her head, trying to remind her that she trusted me enough to touch her there. “You remember the rule we established at the beginning of our marriage? No lies. Don’t keep secrets from me, Kiara.”

“Secrets aren’t necessarily lying. You should know, Nino. I think you have more secrets than I do.”

That was true, but it wasn’t because I didn’t trust Kiara with them. “Do you want to know every aspect of our business, everything I do?”

Her lashes fluttered, hesitation clouding her expression. Kiara was clever, she knew the nature of my work, but there was a difference between knowing in general and knowing the sordid details. “No, I don’t think I could stomach it.”

That’s what I’d thought. Kiara was inherently kind, proven by her insistence to refrain from eating meat. She pressed her forehead to my chest, seeking solace in my closeness as she so often did.

“I only said to Serafina that there’s more to Remo than meets the eye and that she might be able to get through to him,” she said.

“If you think that she could be for him what you are for me, you’re forgetting that Remo’s initial situation is different from mine. I started on neutral ground. I didn’t have any kind of emotions for you, neither positive nor negative, but Remo’s opinion of women is tinged with anger.”

Kiara pulled back. “That doesn’t mean it can’t be changed. He seems to get used to me, so who’s to say he can’t get used to someone else?”

I couldn’t imagine Remo allowing an emotional bond with a woman, and even if Kiara might wish for it, not everyone was destined to find love. I still had trouble grasping the full concept of it, to understand its many nuances.

“I’m going to take a swim in the pool. Why don’t you join me?”

“Are you trying to distract me?”

I was, but that was beside the point. “That, and you said you wanted to learn how to swim.”

Her mouth curved down. “I can swim ... I think. I was never very good and it’s been almost a decade since my last swim, but it’s not something you can’t unlearn, right?”

I never unlearned anything, but I was aware that the workings of my brain were different from those of most people. “Why don’t we test your theory?”

Her eyes dragged back to Serafina’s door.

“You did what you could. She’s safe for now.”

Kiara pursed her lips. “What about her wound?”

“Remo takes care of it, and he won’t hurt her like that again. He never intended to do so in the first place. He’ll re-evaluate his tactic to adapt to her volatile personality.”

“His tactic,” Kiara said in disdain, then let out a soft sigh.

“Come on. Let’s go for a swim.”

Kiara gave me a small teasing smile. “You only want to see me in a bikini.”

“I prefer you naked.”

A blush stained Kiara’s cheeks and I swiped my thumb over it, always fascinated by her body’s reactions to a simple truth. “I have my swim trunks under my pants. Why don’t you get changed and I go ahead to warm up?”

Pushing up to her toes, Kiara kissed me then headed away. My gaze followed her for a moment before they settled on the key in Serafina’s door, wondering if it was best to hide it. Trust. It was difficult to gain and just as hard to maintain. I turned, leaving the key where it was, and headed downstairs.  Only Savio was still in the common area, lounging on the sofa, one leg thrown over the armrest. He didn’t look up when he spoke. “And how did it go? Are Kiara and the captive BFFs now?”

“Hardly,” I said. “Where are Remo and Adamo?”

“Remo went into the kitchen, and Adamo’s sulking in his room.” He tore his eyes from the screen. “I think he might refuse the tattoo.”

“He won’t.”

Savio put his phone down and swung into a sitting position. “I wouldn’t be sure, if I were you. He’s feeling rebellious, wants to be a better man, or boy, whatever. I think he might use the initiation ceremony to make a statement.” Savio’s lip curled. “Come on, don’t tell me you haven’t considered it. He’s trying too hard, if you ask me. He’s like us and he can’t accept it. That’s all.”

He pushed to his feet, pocketed his phone then shrugged. “He’s not listening to me and I’m tired of hearing his whining. I’m off to meet Diego and Mick. I won’t be back until after midnight. After all, I have to take my fucking elsewhere and I don’t want those girls in my wing.”

I continued toward the front pool then thought better of it and headed for our recreational pool landscape. After I’d stripped down to my swim trunks, I dove in and emerged at the other end of the oval where Savio’s flamingo float bobbed on the surface. I shoved it out of the pool before I began swimming rounds, even though the pool wasn’t practical for that.

In my peripheral vision, movement caught my attention and I stopped my swimming and stood. Kiara was strolling toward me, a towel wrapped around her middle to protect her modesty.

Her smile was secretive when she stopped at a sunchair and dropped her towel, revealing a red bikini.

It was a very pleasing, albeit surprising, sight. I doubted she’d owned it before becoming my wife. The tiny bottom was held on Kiara’s beautiful hips by two ribbons, and the material covered only half of her round ass cheeks. The bikini top didn’t cover much more, giving a tantalizing view at Kiara’s ample breasts.

I’d been hungry for her since yesterday and this wasn’t helping.

“It’s new. I ordered it online. I thought you might appreciate it.”

“Appreciation isn’t a strong enough word for what your body is doing to me, Kiara,” I murmured.

She laughed, moved toward the pool and sank down on its edge, dipping her legs into the water. It was comfortably warm, even for someone with a higher sensitivity to cold like Kiara, which was why I’d chosen it instead of the deeper, square pool. I swam over to her, unable to stop admiring her, then propped my hands up on the edge and pushed myself out of the water to steal a kiss from Kiara. She responded with a soft gasp and opened her legs when I applied more pressure with my hips, allowing me to slide between them and press my erection against her pussy.

Kiara pulled away, eyes wide as they searched our surroundings. “We shouldn’t do this. Someone might see us.”

The neighbors were too far away to see us and my brothers would enjoy the show.  I didn’t care if someone watched us. In the past I’d found it stimulating to have people watch me having sex, but Kiara was more conservative due to her upbringing.  I stole another kiss then lowered myself back into the water. Before I moved out from between Kiara’s legs, I pressed a firm, lingering kiss to the red fabric covering her pussy. She exhaled, then bit her lip, her expression filling with the same desire that burnt me up.

“How deep is it?” She gestured at the water.

“The pool has different depths. Here it reaches my chin, so you won’t be able to stand, but back where the waterfall is it’s only about chest level for me, and over at the staircase it’s flat but getting steeper quickly.”

Kiara glided into the water slowly, clinging to the edge with a white-knuckled grip. I gripped her waist. “I have you. I’ll make sure you don’t go under.”

She released the edge only to grip my shoulders with the same fervor. I carried her through the water, floating on her belly, allowing her to get used to the feel of it, to relax. Eventually Kiara began to move her legs and she could have swum on her own but I was reluctant to release her. One of my hands glided down her body, taking in the curve of her ass, before I slipped two fingers under her bikini bottoms and began stroking her. She was slightly aroused.

“Nino,” she warned. I kept rubbing her folds and clit, lowering her slightly into the water so she felt less on display.

“Keep swimming,” I said as I circled her clit slowly. Her eyes flitted to me uncertainly. “Nobody can see us. But if you want me to stop, I will.” I really thought she’d enjoy it if she’d allow herself, but I wouldn’t push Kiara past her limits, not with her hurtful past. She didn’t say anything and I kept teasing her until I could feel her become slicker. Kiara’s strokes became less coordinated and she kept swallowing water when she moaned. “Turn over.”

Her arm slung around my neck as she drifted on her back in my arms. I nudged her bikini top aside with my mouth and latched onto her pink nipple while sliding a thumb into her.

Kiara let out an astonished moan.

“Is this good?” I asked against her breast then drew it back into my mouth, my thumb rotating in her pussy.

“Yes,” she whispered, eyes focused on my face as I sucked her breast. Then she averted her gaze shyly.

“Watch me. It turns me on if you watch me give you pleasure.”

Kiara smiled slowly, her breathing deepening, and her arousal quickly rose. Sometimes her eyes still darted back to the mansion and I made sure to keep her distracted. Her muscles began to quiver as her fingers on my neck tightened, and then she tensed with a beautiful moan.

“Yes,” I growled, moving my finger faster and sucking her nipple once more.

My own arousal throbbed through my body, turning my swim trunks into an uncomfortable prison for my cock. When Kiara became slack, I raised my head and kissed her mouth. She gave me a sex-drunken smile. I kept teasing her pussy even as I released her body and she hovered before me. She was always very sensitive after her orgasm so this brought her additional pleasure.

“Can we have sex here?”

I paused briefly, surprised by her request, and a bit concerned due to her body’s tendency to clamp up.

She flushed bright red as if she’d said something wrong. I pulled her against me so her legs wrapped around my middle. “Of course, but contrary to common belief water isn’t a lubricant. It dilutes your body’s very own lubricant. That can lead to discomfort.”

Kiara let out a small giggle, then pressed her lips together. “Sorry.”

I raised my eyebrows, trying to figure out what she found funny. I’d thought I should warn her and not plunge into her and cause any pain, which could lead to unpleasant memories.

“Your sexy talk is a bit ... strange.”

“I can talk dirty, don’t worry.”

Curiosity filled her eyes. “Really?”

“Yes. I tend to be a dominant, and vocal, lover. But I figured it would be better to tone it down for you.”

Her face fell. “Oh, right ...” She cast her eyes down and she laughed again, but this time it was a tense, joyless sound. “I guess our sex life isn’t very fulfilling for you.”

I frowned. “I didn’t say that. I enjoy sex with you and we’ve only begun. You’ll grow more comfortable and we’ll discover your limits together.” I released my hold so she sank lower until my erection pressed up against her center, causing her to moan softly.

“Would you like to try sex in the pool now?”

She nodded. I slid first one finger, then a second into her. It was a tight fit. Like I had suspected the water wasn’t helping. I swam toward the pool’s edge and hoisted Kiara out before sliding her bottoms to the side and kissing her pussy.

“Nino—”

“Let me help your body. I want to lick you.”

I pushed the flamingo into a position where it covered most of Kiara if someone were to glance toward the pool from the mansion. Then I ran my tongue along her crease, tasting hints of her arousal but not enough. That would soon change. Kiara was always very responsive when I ate her pussy.

“Watch me,” I said, deciding to test how much of my dominance she could deal with, and Kiara obeyed. I took my time licking around her outer lips then sucking them into my mouth, one after the other, before I used the tip of my tongue to play with her sensitive inner lips. Kiara’s fingers tangled in my hair, her hips rocking slightly, and the sweet taste of her arousal became more prominent. M cock jerked when Kiara’s juice swiveled on my tongue. I groaned against her. “Kiara, I love your taste.”

She shuddered when I parted her with my thumbs and dove back in, even slower than before, really savoring her pussy, but soon she began clenching, a sure sign of her impending orgasm. “Hold back. It’ll be more intense if you fight your release for a while, trust me.”

I ignored her clit and focused on her opening. Even that made Kiara tremble. “Hold back,” I said again.

“I can’t,” Kiara gasped, her face twisting with pleasure. “It feels too good.”

I gently eased two fingers into her and when my lips finally closed around her clit a tremor went through her and she moaned, her hands tugging at my hair with enough force to send a wave of pleasure through my body. I pumped my fingers into her quickly, enjoying the way her walls contracted around them with every pulse of her orgasm.

“Fuck, you’re so wet.”

I shoved down my swim trunks before I helped her back into the water, and Kiara clung to me, a dazed little smile on her face as I lowered her to my erection.

“I’ll go slowly. Tell me if you feel discomfort.”

She kissed me and I slid into her, feeling no resistance. I halted as I was sheathed in her. Kiara was already pressing into me, rocking encouragingly, so there really was no question about if she felt discomfort. Holding onto her waist I started bouncing her up and down on my cock.

Kiara forgot everything around us as I fucked her, and I had to hold back not to come as she ground herself against me over and over again, her walls clenching and she threw her head back with a breathless moan, coming around me. I licked water off her elegant throat, enjoying the feel of her erratic pulse against my tongue.

My balls clenched but I fought my release with gritted teeth and carefully slid out of her.

Kiara stared at me in confusion. “You didn’t come.”

“Not in the pool.”

“I know your brothers have used the pool for their activities, especially Savio. Don’t tell me they never come, just to keep the water clear.” Her lips curled and she glanced around.

“They do, but with the whores they use condoms, and if they get a blowjob, the women swallow.”

Kiara gave a small nod. “Right.” Then she tilted her head up. “Did you like it if a woman did that?”

“Gave me head?”

“Yeah.” Her voice was a bare whisper. Were there men who didn’t enjoy the feel of a hot mouth? I stroked my palm down her spine, trying to gauge her mood. She seemed self-conscious. Was it because she’d never gone down on me? I had never asked her to, even if I missed it, because it was obvious that she was scared of doing it. 

“I did,” I said, opting for the truth. “Let’s go inside. I want to be inside you again.”

Kiara followed me back into the house. She was tense, but the moment I lowered her to the bed and kissed her, she softened. I traced her thighs, then raised one over my back before I inched into her, savoring the slow tempo of her walls hugging my cock.

“Perfection,” I rasped. “This is fucking perfection, Kiara, so don’t linger in the past, not in mine, not in yours.”

Kiara’s expression lit up with surprise then a small smile came before my next thrust forced a moan from her lips.

I sped up gradually, pushing her deeper into the bed with every slam. When she was getting closer, I slowed again and pushed myself up on my hands. Kiara made a small sound of frustration and I kept up the torturously slow pace, rotating my hips, until I was only teasing her with my tip. She began wiggling for additional friction. I retreated every time she drove my cock deeper into her. She bit her lip, eyes filled with need. “Nino, please ...”

I eased my tip into her then halted. Her eyes trailed down my body to the point where our bodies met and she sighed. As she watched, I began fucking her slowly again. Kiara didn’t take her eyes off the sight, and I too dipped my head to see my cock claiming her pussy, glistening with her juices. Holding my weight up with only one arm, I parted her wide, giving us both an even better view, then I caressed the sensitive skin of her inner thigh while I kept up the slow thrusting. My fingertips graced the crease between her pussy and thigh, then her outer lip before they circled her clit. She clenched and whimpered, but didn’t come yet.

“Rub your nipples for me.”

After a moment of hesitation, Kiara took her nipples between her fingers and tugged lightly.

“Test your limits. Tug as hard as you enjoy.” My voice was rough, drenched with the strain to hold back my orgasm.

Kiara worked her nipples harder and she gasped in surprise and clenched again. My fingers on her clit sped up and so did my thrusts, and finally she cried out, shaking with the force of her release, and my balls jerked violently as I came. I thrust harder, turned on by the look of utter passion on Kiara’s face as I fucked her while she played with her tits. Fucking perfection.

I stilled and lowered myself until I covered Kiara’s petite body.

She let out an astonished laugh. “That was incredible. Whenever I think sex can’t possibly get better, you do something new and ... just wow.”

I chuckled at the innocent wonder in her voice, raising my head to look at her flushed face. “Trust me, Kiara, we’ve only just begun.”