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  stop it.

  “Let me grab a washcloth,” he said as he pushed off the bed.

  I grabbed his arm, stopping him. “Let me. I’m dying to brush my teeth. I want a proper kiss.” I smiled at him, trying not to run my tongue across my dirty teeth.

  He collapsed against the mattress, staring up at the ceiling as he rested his hand on his chest. “I’ll be waiting.” He grabbed my arm with his free hand, sliding his palm down my arm. “Make it quick,” he said with a crooked, happy smile.

  I groaned as my feet touched the floor. The after effects of an evening of overindulgence and wicked high heels, hit me. I swayed, grabbing the mattress to steady myself.

  “You okay, sugar?” City asked as he sat up and touched my hand.

  “Fine, baby. Just not as young as I used to be. Can’t party all night and bounce right back.”

  “I doubt you partied all night too much even in your college years.” He laughed, covered his mouth with his hand.

  “I didn’t sit in my dorm room and study all the time,” I said sarcastically. It was all bullshit. I rarely partied. The number of times I had been drunk in college I could count on one hand, but sometimes I didn’t like to be reminded of just how much of a good girl I had been.

  “Uh, huh,” he said, resting his head on his hand as he watched me walk away.

  I flipped him off, a small chuckle escaping my lips. He knew me too well. Knew I could never escape my good girl qualities even though I liked to pretend I had a badass side. I knew I was a cream puff and I accepted it even though I did so begrudgingly.

  My mascara was smeared down my cheeks, the result of my crying last night over City. I looked as bad as I felt. My hair was a tangled mess, makeup half on but not in the right places, and my eyes were swollen. Thank God the wedding wasn’t today. I’d have to live with horrible wedding pictures for the rest of my life.

  Grabbing the tube of toothpaste out of my toiletry bag, I stood on my tiptoes and leaned into the mirror. Shit, I looked horrible. I quickly backed up not needing the up-close reminder of last night. After washing him from my body, I filled my toothbrush with paste. I needed to clear the funk out of my mouth. My mouth felt drier than the Mojave Desert on a blistering summer day. Just as I stuck the toothbrush in my mouth and started scrubbing, I heard my phone chirp.

  “Suzy, your mother sent you a text,” City yelled from the bedroom.

  Fucking great. I loved my mom but she added an extra bit of pressure and stress to an already nerve-racking situation. Weddings are supposed to be blissful but no one seems to tell you about all the turmoil and decisions that need to be made. My mother could be judgmental at times and I often felt like my decisions weren’t good enough.

  I pulled the toothbrush out of my mouth, balancing the paste remnants on my tongue as I yelled, “What’s it say?”

  I scrubbed my teeth, my motions more feverish at the thought of my parents being in town. She always watched City with a suspicious eye when she didn’t know I was looking. She was happy that he had money, although it wasn’t the reason I fell in love with the man. I would’ve been with him even if he were only a tattoo artists. It’s a good job and he’s talented. She couldn’t get beyond his looks. He had a roughness about him and the tattoos didn’t exactly win him any points in her mind. She’d bust a cork if she knew about the piercing that decorated his lower extremity or if she ever found out that I had my nipple pierced.

  “She just wants to know if she should be at the rehearsal dinner early to help.”

  I spit the toothpaste into the sink, cupping water in my hand and swishing. The last thing I wanted was my mother there for her type of help. Everything was ready and all we needed to do was show up, including her and my father.

  I washed my face quickly, erasing the nightmarish mess from the smudged makeup before returning to the bedroom.

  “She’s become such a pain the last few months,” I said as I crawled in bed.

  “She’s still your mom and she loves you,” he said, grabbing my hand, planting soft kisses across the top.

  “You grew up with a different type of mother, City. You’re mom has made me feel more like a daughter than my mother ever did. Don’t get me wrong, I love her, but she doesn’t know how to make me feel loved.” I closed my eyes when they watered as I thought about what it would’ve been like to grow up calling Mrs. Gallo Mom. I always felt like my parents had to fit me into their schedule and often there wasn’t a slot for me unless I had called in advanced.

  “Let’s just get through the next thirty-six hours and everything will go back to normal. You have the Gallo family now and they’re not letting you go.”

  I’d felt like a member of the family since that first Sunday dinner so long ago. They made me feel like I belonged and had always been there. My sister and I had never even really been close. I didn’t ask her to be a part of my wedding party. Izzy had become more of a sister to me than she ever had. We don’t get to choose our family, but we do choose those people who we let into our life and with who we spend time with going forward. For me, the people I wanted nearest were the Gallos. They were a loving and diehard loyal group. Above all else, they had each other’s backs and no one could tear them apart. They accepted each other for their flaws, embraced the bad with the good, and loved unconditionally.

  “We should go soon. I have a ton to do before the rehearsal dinner tonight.” I snuggled into his side, enjoying the last moment of peace.

  He pulled me tighter against his chest, rubbing the tender skin on my upper arm as he kissed my hair. “It’ll all work out. Somehow it will all fall into place.”

  “I’m sure you’re right.” That statement was a total lie. I couldn’t give up my incessant need to be in control and plan every last detail.

  “You can’t control everything in life, but I know you try like hell. It’s one of the things I love about you.”

  “Tell me five other things you love, City.” I swiped my fingers across his chest, stopping on his nipple to tug on his piercing.

  “Where do I start?” he said before rattling off a list that left me feeling more loved than I had ever felt before. The list wasn’t filled with vain things like my beauty that would fade over time, but the things that made me as a person. My success, education, kind heart, and silliness were just a couple things he listed without much thought.

  “I love you, City,” I said, moving my body to plant a wet sloppy kiss on his lips.

  Breaking our connection slightly he whispered, “I love you too, sugar.” He kissed me with as much fervor and passion as he did the first night we met.

  We made love one more time before dragging ourselves from the hotel room and heading home to prep for the chaos that awaited us. Wedding weekend was in full swing and there was no turning back.

  Chapter 10 ~Never Say Never

  Never in a million fucking years did I think I’d be standing in a church dressed in a tuxedo, not as a groom at least. I wasn’t a cynic. I just never found anyone worthy of my time or commitment until Suzy walked into my life. Sometimes when we least expect it and stop looking, fate has a way of playing its hand. Mine came in the form of a drop dead gorgeous girl broken down on a deserted street. I thank my lucky stars each God damn day that her car was a piece of shit.

  “You look a little nervous, son,” Pop said, slapping me on the back, pulling me from my thoughts.

  I rubbed my hands together; they slid easy from the sheen of sweat that formed over my entire body. I wiped my brow, feeling more nervous than I had ever felt in my life. “I am, Pop. Just never thought I’d be standing here.”

  “Amazing the place hasn’t burst into flames,” Anthony said and laughed. “We surely aren’t the church going crowd and Lord knows we’ve broken more than one commandment.” He fidgeted with his bowtie, pulling it away from his neck.

  I laughed, his words were true, but that wasn’t why I was nervous. I turned to my Pop who had a smile on his face. “Did you feel this way when
you married Ma?”

  He nodded, his smile growing larger. “I was scared as hell, son. It’s a big step to take in one’s life. It’s a serious commitment, but times are different now. I didn’t live with your mother before we got married like you’ve lived with Suzy. It was a leap of faith.” He grabbed my shoulder, squeezing it gently. “Do you love her, son? The type of love you can’t be without for even a day?”

  “I do, Pop. I know she’s the one. She makes me a better person, and I want to be surrounded by her and make a family. I want to be in your shoes one day. Suzy is more than I deserve.”

  “She isn’t more than you deserve. You two were made for each other. Just like your mother and me. She brings peace and tranquility to my life and gave me an amazing family. My life would’ve been meaningless without her.”

  I didn’t doubt that marrying Suzy was the right decision. The events of Friday night scared the shit out of me. The thought of losing her drove me half-insane. I’ve never wanted to need someone in that way, but I did with her. I needed her in my life, needed her to be mine, and wanted to spend the rest of my days on earth with her.

  The door creaked open, as Ma poked her head inside. “Where’s my baby boy?” she asked, opening the door with tears in her eyes.

  “Why ya crying, Ma?” I asked, as she wiped the tears.

  “Damn, I’m going to mess up my makeup.” She pulled a tissue from her bra and blotted the skin under her eyes. “I just saw Suzy and she looks stunning. I’m the happiest woman in the world today. They’re tears of joy.”

  “How is she, Ma? Is she okay?” My heart pounded, my throat feeling constricted by the button up shirt.

  “She’s better than okay, she’s glowing and ready for the ceremony to start.” Ma wrapped her arms around me, holding me against her as she spoke. “You’ve made me a happy woman, Joseph. I couldn’t love Suzy any more than I do if I had given birth to her myself.” She rubbed my back as she kissed my cheek.

  “You just have baby Gallos in your mind, Ma,” Michael said as he kicked back in a chair against the wall. He looked so put together and calm.

  “So what?” she asked as she placed her hands on her hips and turned toward Michael. “I’m old, boy and all I want is a baby…just one damn baby. Is that too much to ask?”

  “Not really, Ma, but it’ll happen when it happens. We’re still young and enjoying our life,” Michael said, leaning forward resting his elbows on his knees.

  “By the time I was your age, I had four children. I enjoyed every bit of my life and maybe more so since it was filled with such love. Children don’t end your life, Michael, they add to it.”

  “Bullshit,” Anthony muttered, covering his mouth and coughing.

  Ma narrowed her eyes at him. “Anthony, you better stop acting like a playboy and living your hollow existence. You have to settle down sometime and when you do, you’ll regret all the years you spent alone.”

  “I’m rarely alone, Ma.” He smiled, his hair flopping over his forehead.

  “I mean emotionally alone.” She stared at him, waiting for him to respond, but he didn’t. “Okay, I want a picture with my son on his wedding day. Where’s that damn photographer?”

  Pop walked toward the door, pausing as he opened it. “I’ll go get him.”

  As the door clicked shut, my ma turned to me. “Nerves are normal, son. Once you see how breathtaking Suzy is in her dress, everything else will fade away.” She rested her head on my chest, as she held my hand.

  “I know, Ma. I’m just ready to get this started. I hate waiting; I’ve never been a patient man.” I kissed the top of her head, getting lost in the strawberry scent from my childhood.

  “You don’t say.” She laughed, squeezing my hand. “Just like your father.” She sighed, drawing her body closer to mine. “I wish Thomas could’ve been here. I’m more worried about him than I’ve ever been, Joseph.”

  “I know, Ma. I haven’t spoken to him in a while. He’s too deep undercover now. I don’t like it, not one fucking bit.”

  “Ya’ll are going to burst into flames with the language in this room. We are in a church,” Izzy said as she entered the room with Pop and the photographer.

  “If you haven’t, then no one will, Izzy,” Anthony said with a laugh.

  “Enough. Let’s take some photos. We have five minutes until you boys need to be at the altar.”

  Five minutes felt like an eternity as we took more pictures than I wanted to count. My line of sight would have a perpetual dot from the camera flash. By the end of the night, I’d have dozens of tiny blobs in my eyes and possibly be partially blind. We took photos as a group, the Gallo Family minus Thomas. We took turns taking pictures with our parents; it wasn’t often that we were all dressed up and in one place together.

  I was thankful when there was a knock on the door and a voice said, “It’s time.”

  Cracking my neck, I straightened my back and headed for the door. Ma grabbed my arm, stopping me. “I’m proud of you, baby.” She smiled and released me.

  I nodded, leaving the tiny room and heading toward the church. Anthony and Michael filled in behind me as we stood in our designated spot at the top of the altar in front of the crowd. The church was packed with people, many faces I didn’t know. Ma and Suzy went overboard on the invites, but my mother insisted that her friends be invited besides our gigantic family that had flown in from all parts of the world. The Gallos didn’t know how to do anything small.

  As the music started, the doors in the back of the church swung open and the entire church stood and turned. The attention no longer on me, I squinted down the aisle, catching a glimpse of Suzy. She looked like an angel dressed in off white.

  The tulle straps created a V, encasing her breasts. The fact that I knew the word tulle disturbed me slightly, but Suzy had educated me about bridal fashion…whether I wanted to know it or not. The bodice was form fitting, a wide ribbon around her waist held a large fabric flower just below her left breast. The bottom of the dress was loose with layers of tulle that flowed and shifted as she walked. It wasn’t over the top of puffy shit, it was perfect and totally Suzy—classy and sweet. I couldn’t wait to rip the fucking thing off of her. A veil covered her face, more traditional than I thought she’d be. I desperately wanted to see her.

  She walked arm and arm with her father, slowly moving down the aisle, facing forward. I rubbed my hands together, the last bit of nerves leaving my body, replaced by excitement and a calm that I hadn’t expected. When she stopped in front of the first step, our eyes connected. Through the thin veil, I could see the smile on her face as the priest approached her and her father.

  The priest stepped down and said, “Who gives this bride away today?”

  “I do,” her father said, releasing her hand and lifting her veil. He placed a chaste kiss on her cheek before stepping back.

  Suzy ascended the stairs, stopping in front of me with teary eyes.

  “I love you,” I whispered, trying not to become misty eyed myself.

  With a smile on her face, she tilted her head and said, “I love you too.”

  Sophia reached around and grabbed the flowers from her. Suzy held her hands out to me and I grasped them with both of mine and squeezed. With one last smile, we turned toward the priest and waited.

  We stole glances at each other as he spoke; his words were lost on us. With our hands in each other’s, we faced forward and tried to pay attention, but it was impossible. I leaned over; close enough for only her to hear. “You look beautiful, sugar.”

  She blushed, squeezing my hand. The priest cleared his throat; clearly, we missed something, as we were so lost in each other.

  “The rings,” the priest repeated.

  I turned to Michael, my best man and brother, and held out my hand. He placed the two platinum bands in my palm and I closed my fingers around them. I had hers engraved with – You’re mine, sugar. A simple statement and she was from the moment she walked into my life. I handed him the ring
s and we watched him bless the metal, saying a prayer over them before returning his attention to us.

  “Suzette, repeat after me,” he stated, turning toward her.

  “I, Suzette McCarthy, take you, Joseph Gallo…” She repeated his words, never breaking eye contact with me. She slid the ring on my finger, a smile on her face, as we both felt the power in the moment. Her voice never wavered as she finished with “Until death do us part.” She wiped a tear from her eye as she finished. I had to fight every urge I had to wrap my arms around her and kiss her.

  “Joseph, repeat after me,” the priest said, holding her ring in his hand.

  I repeated the words, without missing a single one, letting the powerfulness behind the statement seep into my veins. We were connected, a single soul in front of the eyes of God, joined in holy matrimony. We never broke eye contact, keeping each other grounded in the moment.

  As I slipped the ring on her finger, I held her hand in mine, running my fingertips against her dampened flesh. We stood there for a few more minutes after I finished my part of the vows and stared at each other. He could’ve said the church was on fire and we wouldn’t have known. I always looked at Suzy, usually watched her sleep, but to stand here and just look into each other’s eyes was some heady shit. I loved this woman, more than I loved anyone or anything in my life, including myself.

  “I give you Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Gallo,” he said as we both turned to him. “You may now kiss the bride.”

  Without needing another word, I grabbed her by the waist and pulled her to my body. Stopping briefly above her lips, I searched her eyes and could see only joy. I crushed my lips to hers as the crowd began to whistle and holler in the background. They’re voices faded away as I kissed her, my wife and bride.

  When we backed away from each other, we both had watery eyes. As we turned toward the people, now on their feet, I grabbed her around the waist and held her to my side. Our friends and family clapped and cheered as we made our way down the aisle and out of the church doors to the small bridal suite.

  As soon as I closed the door, I pulled her into a kiss. Not the small kiss I gave her in front of the family, but one that left us both breathless and needing more.

  “We did it, sugar. You’re mine forever,” I said, as I swiped my fingers against her cheek.

  “No, baby, you’re mine.” She smirked, a devilish expression on her face as she leaned in and captured my lips.

  Chapter 11 ~ The Reception

  After we greeted the guests at the door, my feet were on fire. The shoes I picked were beautiful and made me feel almost the same height as City, but the damn things were like torture devices. I loved how the satin ribbon of the high heels intertwined and laced up my feet, stopping around my ankle with a bow. It was too bad the dress was so long that no one could see them. I grabbed City’s arm, leaning over to rub my ankles.

  “You want to go change your shoes?” City asked, watching me with a concerned look.

  “You think we can sneak away for a minute upstairs? I’ll never be able to dance in these.”

  “It’s our wedding, sugar. We can do anything we want.” He smiled and winked at me. He turned toward his mother and said, “Hey, Ma, we’re going to run upstairs and get different shoes for Suzy.”

  She smirked, not believing the reason for our hasty exit. “Sure, just don’t be too long, son. We have a wedding to celebrate.”

  City nodded, holding my hand and pulling me from the line. As we walked out into the hotel hallway, he grabbed me by the waist and scooped me up into his muscular arms. I squealed from the sudden movement and sighed as I rested my head on his chest. The intense pain in my feet turned into a dull throb as he carried me to the elevator.

  “It’s great that we had the reception in a hotel. Makes life so much easier,” he said, the low timbre of his voice echoing in his chest.

  Reaching up, I touched his cheek; still not believing we were married. “We really did it, huh?” I asked.

  “We did, sugar. Now comes the fun part,” he said as the doors to the elevator opened.

  “Dancing?”

  “Fucking my wife,” he said, a deep growl low in his chest.

  He quickly adjusted me as the doors to the elevator closed. Pushing my back against the wall, he pressed the STOP button on the elevator as soon as it moved. Holding me against the wall with one arm supporting my weight he quickly undid his zipper and reached under my dress.

  His eyes twinkled as a naughty grin decorated his face. “No panties again. It must be my lucky day.”

  “I wanted to give you a surprise when you put your head under my gown for the garter.”

  “Don’t give a shit about that right now. I want to fuck my wife, right here, right now.”

  I didn’t speak, just threw my head back as he thrust inside of me. I wrapped my legs around his waist, holding him to me as he moved. He nibbled on my neck and kissed my lips as he pulled out and slammed back into me. The building tension from the day quickly drove me to the edge as his body slammed into my clit.

  I panted, so close to the edge as he rocked his cock into my core. Within minutes, our bodies shook and we both came on baited breath. Our bodies were dotted with perspiration, and our breathing was ragged as he rested his forehead against mine. He must have pressed the STOP button off because the elevator began to move again as he pulled out and zipped back up.

  As he cradled me in his arms, I felt utterly loved, completely content, and totally sated. He carried me to our suite, placing me on the couch as we entered. He knelt down and undid the cloth straps on my heels. Grasping my feet in his large hands, he massaged the ache out of them.

  I moaned, throwing my head back against the couch cushions. “That feels so gooood.”