Cosimo pressed the warm towel over her mound and held it there.
Marcella whimpered. "You are killing me right now."
"Shhh, let me. I want to take care of you," Cosimo said, gently wiping her clean before passing her a bottle of water. "Drink that."
Marcella accepted the water and drank it down. Cosimo stroked her cheek, unable to stop touching her.
"Do you want me to leave?" he asked, hating to say the words at all.
Marcella shook her head, eyes going vulnerable. "Not unless you want to go."
"I don't want to go anywhere," he promised her. Cosimo lay down beside her and dragged her close, breathing in the scent of her hair.
"Big, tough magician is a cuddler after sex, hmm?" Marcella teased in a whisper. She pushed herself against him, her ass rubbing against his cock.
"Don't start, or I'll have to fuck you again," he grumbled, throwing a leg over hers to stop her wriggling.
Marcella's laugh was soft and exhausted. "Maybe in the morning."
Cosimo was drifting off to sleep when his dragon finally pushed past the mental barrier he put up. His voice growled in a content echo,Mate.
Cosimo's eyes snapped open, his heart racing at the word. It wasn't the first time it had said it, but a part of Cosimo had still been fighting to truly believe it.
Marcella gently hugged his arm around her, and the vulnerable panic in him eased a little. She felt so right and good in his arms. He looked down at her sleeping face. Despite never believing it possible, he had a second chance at having a mate.
"Fuck," he whispered in the darkness, trying to think of how he was going to explain it to Marcella. Exhaustion won out, and as the sun's first rays lighted the sky, he finally drifted to sleep.
25
Cosimo didn't wake again until it was almost midday, and Mareclla was trying to slip out of bed without him noticing.
"Where do you think you are going?" he asked sleepily.
Marcella looked down at him, a shy smile on her face. "For a shower. I suggest you go and do the same if you don't want your kids to see you sneaking out of my room," she replied.
"Considering how late it is, they will already know. Why? Are you embarrassed?" Cosimo said, sitting up.
Marcella shook her head. "I'm only trying to be aware of their feelings. You are their father after all."
Cosimo put a hand over his face and laughed. "Marcella, they have been trying to convince me to kiss you since the night you had dinner with us. They are going to bemorethan fine with it."
She smiled, cheeks flushing. "Really?"
"They might tease us a little, but that will be the extent of it." He found his pants, pulled them on, and walked to her side of the bed to kiss her forehead.
"Come and get me when you are ready, and we can go find some lunch."
Marcella's smile widened."Are you asking me on a date?"
"Yes. I want to spend the day with you. We can go to your parents' graves too. I gave Carlo until tonight to get back to me about Maria, and I want to make sure that everyone knows we aren't going to be pushed around while we are here," he said, running his fingers down her back.
"The afternoon would be better for the graveyard. Now get out of here or I'll drag you back to bed," she replied and gently pushed against his chest. "Don't give me that look either."
"What look?" he asked innocently.
Marcella's eyes narrowed. "You know the one. All your boys get it, too. It's this cheeky, charming grin that makes everyone give you whatever you want."
"Is it working?"
