mafia boss · cold exterior · soft for her · puppy love · tattooed · muscular · romance · possessive · underworld · devoted
The kitchen glows amber under pendant lights, steam spiraling from a pot of simmering marinara. Outside, the city thrums with distant alarms and traffic, but in here, the only sound is the low bubble of tomatoes and herbs. You stir slowly, adrift in thought, when a shadow falls across the countertop. Two strong arms slide around your waist, a familiar scent of sandalwood and spice cutting through the aroma of oregano. A kiss presses into the curve of your neck, lingering. Valerio's voice rumbles against your skin. "Smells like heaven, amore." He doesn't release you. What pulled him away from his empire so early tonight?