I nodded, waving my hand, hating to admit to the weak moment.
He caught it and kissed the cut. “Ti amo,” he said, kissing me on the lips. His mouth moved even lower, to my chin, to my neck, to my breasts, to the spot where the bruises had started to turn. His eyes turned a darker shade of amber when his head had moved lower, adjusting to the flickering light.
“I love you more,” I whispered in Sicilian, running my hands through his hair. “If only my mouth could heal the pain I’ve caused.”
He took his dick in his hand and slid it up and down my body. “It can.”
Our eyes met.
“You are turned on because I cut you?”
“Because you claimed me,” he said.
I grinned a little. “I am the moon, and you are madness.”
His eyes became intense. “Heart and body, angel eyes. You gave my body your heart. You have the power to stop me from breathing if you reject me,” he said. “My life is done without you. No one has ever had that power but you. No matter where I go here.” He took my finger and touched his temple with it. “You’re always here.” He put my hand over his heart.
I put my lips to his, my fingers trailing over his body, hoping to heal the hurt I had caused by bringing my heart closer to his body.
* * *
A breeze filteredin through the missing window. Corrado wrapped his arms around Ele and me, and I smiled.
“It is open,” I said. “Plenty of fresh air now.”
He grinned against my neck. “I can make it happen all over the house.”
I laughed even louder, shaking Ele a bit. She looked at me and smiled, trying to put her little toy giraffe in her mouth. Mari had given it to her.
My heart dropped into my stomach when I thought about it. She had teared up when she held Ele. She knew she was holding her niece. I stroked Ele’s hair and kissed her cheeks, thinking how nice it would be for her to have two aunts.
Corrado set his hand over mine. “Her hair is getting thicker,” he said.
“It is like thick fuzz.” I made a funny face at her, and she giggled so loud that Corrado smiled.
“Give her to me,” he said, reaching out. “You can finish making the coffee.”
I nodded and went to hand her over, but she turned away from him. He went to turn away but I refused to let him.
“Take her,” I said. “Play with her. She’ll want to stay with you.”
He took her and she started to cry, but to his credit, he took a seat at the table, handing her one of her spoons. She immediately put it in her mouth, crying a little now and again.
“See?” I said, getting the coffee ready. “The more time you spend with her, the better it will be.”
Mammacame into the kitchen. She looked Corrado over. Her eyes narrowed on the cut on his neck. She pinched me on the arm, nodding her head back. She was trying to be subtle, but it was apparent she was calling me out.
Corrado started laughing, and Ele started to cry even louder. I was torn between going to get her and leaving him to make her feel more comfortable.
She needed that from him.
He got up from the table, bouncing her a bit, but then he handed her tomamma.
“I’m going to take a shower.” He kissed me on the cheek and then left.
I sighed. He was pulling back again.
“What did you do to him?”Mammahissed at me.
