"I stand up for myself," she said in a huff, trying to move off his lap. "Angelina always told me... I am very capable of... Just because I am a woman does not mean... Let me go! Take your hands off of me!"
That brow of his arched again...
The driver nodded in satisfaction. He had won the bet he had made earlier and would reward himself with a fine bottle of the Godfather's wine this evening. He would toast the lesson his boss would teach his future wife and then he would toast the aftermath of the lesson, the part where Don Batali soothed her burning bottom.
As Don Batali's personal driver, life was always interesting. The Godfather's schedule was diverse, business appointments, familia obligations, nights of pleasure and now the addition of Francesca Minucci in their lives. He couldn't wait for the coming nuptials.
~~~
With great patience, he leaned against the wall, his arms folded across his chest as he watched Angelina embrace Francesca. There was no doubt the love between the two women was genuine and it pleased him to see it.
"Bambina, you are well, si?" Angelina asked, her hands cupping the younger woman's face. "You did not come to harm?"
"I am fine," was the reply. Angelina didn't know of her encounter with the two men who had accosted her and Francesca decided that little omission was a necessity. Angelina was a professional worrier and she didn't need any more worries.
After a few more minutes of hugging and reassurances, Giancarlo had enough. Smiling at Angelina, he slipped the strap of her handbag over her shoulder; it had been hanging on the back of a kitchen chair.
"You are going shopping," he announced.
"I am?" the startled woman asked.
"Si. My driver is taking you shopping. Buy whatever you want," he said as he handed her a brand new credit card and before she had a chance to protest, ushered her out the door and into his driver's care. "The sky's the limit," he smiled. "The bill will come to me; have a good time."
Locking the door behind him, he turned toward his future bride who took one look at his face, squealed, and ran.
Giancarlo laughed as he went after her, catching her as she tried to lock herself in Angelina's bedroom. His foot caught the door before it slammed shut and he swept her into his arms. One very large hand cupped her rounded bottom, the other held the back of her head and his mouth covered hers in a hard and demanding kiss.
"I can't breathe," she finally gasped when he let her up for air.
"Take a big breath, bambina," he told her when he lifted his head. "You're going to need it."
"You're not spanking me!" she said indignantly as he sat on Angelina's bed. "It wasn't my fault that... Giancarlo?" she said a little softer. "Please don't do this."
"You ran from me for no reason," he explained, cupping her chin. "You ran from me and I let you go so you could come to your senses."
"I..."
"When I came looking for you," he hushed her protesting explanation with a finger on her lips. "Angelina didn't even know where you were. Do you know how worried I was? And then," he arched a brow. "You went to New Jersey and told no one where you were? I am the Godfather, bambina. Dove era la vostra attenzione? Where was your caution? You must know I have made a few enemies over the years. You could have been raped or beaten or killed!" His voice rose as he spoke, the anger he had suppressed and the worry that had eaten away at him the last few days swiftly rising.
"I needed time; I needed... You're going to spank me, aren't you?" she said with quiet resignation.
"Si, la vostra estremità sta andando bruciarsi! Yes, your butt is going to burn!"
"Then do it and get it over with," she said with more dignity than she had ever shown. Pulling back from his embrace, she turned over on his lap and waited for the harsh spanking she knew would follow.
It took a moment for his shock to subside but he was a man of his word. He put his hands on her, one pulling her jeans and panties down, the other on her back. When her butt was bared, his hand came down swiftly and sharply and except for her soft gasps she made little sound.
He was pleased that she had acquiesced to his dominance and was taking the punishing spanking she so richly deserved. He continued to pepper her bottom until it was a rich carmine color and then, he relented. He could have continued until her flesh had purpled but his heart wasn't in it. With a much gentler hand, he rubbed her burning bottom and listened to her soft sobs, each one tugging at his heart.
"Francesca, mia amore," he murmured, turning her in his arms and lifting her to his chest. "Shhh, it's over. I forgive you. No more tears."
She remained quiet as she leaned against him, catching her breath, calming her nerves, and gathering her reserves. He lifted her slightly, too aware of her semi-nude state and pulled her panties up, leaving her jeans at her ankles.
"I'm not your love," she said flatly putting her hands on his shoulders as she tried to stand. He helped her and when she stood, she kicked the jeans off knowing it would be painful to pull them back on.
"Yes, you are," he said simply, pulling her between his thighs, holding her against him.
"Do you beat all your women?" she asked quietly.
"No," he answered in the same quiet tone. "Just the woman I'm going to marry, the woman who will be the mother of my children, the woman who holds my heart."
His words made her look at him, really look at him. He was a tall man - even sitting - with broad shoulders, a hard muscular chest, and very large hands. His dark good looks were pronounced, the planes of his face emphasized by a sensuous mouth and a chiseled chin. But the twinkle in his warm brown eyes held only tenderness as she gazed at him and for a moment, time stopped as she thought about a future as his wife.
"Bambina..." he soothed as he drew her closer.
"You spank too hard," she told him, the tears still staining her cheeks.
"Sto andando amarlo lungamente e duro, molto duro. I'm going to love you long and hard, very hard," he whispered. I'm going to love you longer and harder than I spanked you," he promised, laying her back on the bed and kissing her again, his hand cupping her sore bottom.
"So hard," he murmured as his mouth moved to her throat, his other hand creeping under her blouse and gently cupping a silky round breast.