“Bortelli doesn’t give a shit what happens to him. He said he would deal with his son, and we can do as we like with the rest.”
"Careless bastard," I chuckle, lowering myself down onto the bed. "I'll deal with him myself tomorrow. He’ll regret shooting carelessly at a Rossi.”
“Stay with your woman and leave that to those of us with working legs.”
“Oh, fuck off,” I laugh even as the call drops. It’s my job as hiscapoto deal with these matters, but our father raised us to be brothers first before anything. We've been taking care of each other long before we inherited these positions, fighting together. And now, we have even more people to protect. I glance down at Emilia and realize I have a lot of work ahead of me. I’ll have to do everything it takes to deserve her love, and then I’ll make her mine forever.
"Antonio," she mutters in her sleep, so I slide down into bed and draw her into my arms, kissing her forehead and holding her close. I don’t sleep for a long time, content with just holding her. Feeling her heart beat against mine. Assuring me of her safety.
She’s mine.Forever. I’ll have to fight fate herself to keep Emilia with me forever.
Epilogue
Two Years Later
Emilia
I’ve always loved the smell of books. When I was younger, I would sit on the floor, surrounded by books I’d pulled from the shelves and just flip through them for that book smell. Twenty years later, I’ve traded the floor for a plush armchair in the quietest corner of the library, the scent of old paper surrounding me.
This room has always been magical, with sunlight streaming through the tall arched windows, illuminating dust motes dancing in the air. The sight that now mesmerizes this pregnant woman is the same one that it did for that little girl ages ago.
Today, however, this magical room doesn't offer its usual reprieve. The truth is, I am exhausted. Exhausted of sitting, of reading, of doing anything that requires more effort than breathing. I am so ready for the baby to finally come out. I glance down at my swollen belly, pushing against the fabric of my floral dress, reaching down to run a hand over it.
“What are you waiting for,mia stella?" I whisper, rubbing the belly. "Don't you think it's time you came out to say hello to your mama and papa?"
A sigh escapes my lips when the baby kicks as if asking me to be patient, but for how much longer? I shift in my seat, trying to find a more comfortable position. My back aches, and my legs feel like lead. The first couple of months were pure bliss with Antonio and me making love like animals. The pregnancyhormones made me so horny that I jumped my husband every chance I could.
I also loved watching my little bump grow and loved showing it off at work. And then the last two months happened, and I was too big and too tired to work. Antonio temporarily moved us back into the Rossi household, so I had people around me. And for the most part, I’ve had to hide to stop Leonardo and my mother from fussing over me too much.
Christ, between the two of them, I can’t tell who’s more excited to have their first grandchild.
“I knew I would find you in here.” My eyes shoot up, and I sigh when I see my husband leaning against one of the shelves, watching me. "Hiding?"
“God yes,” I say with a sigh, lifting my hand for him to help me up. “I slipped out while my mom and your dad were arguing about whether the nursery has too many stuffed animals. Apparently, Leonardo bought another dozen this morning.”
“Well now, that's a lot of teddy bears," he says, sliding his hand and pulling me against him before dipping his head to kiss my lips. “Are you sore?”
“A little,” I sigh against his lips.
"Well then, let's see what I can do to help," he says, and I gasp when he bends down and scoops me into his arms. I grab onto his shoulders and giggle as he carries me out of the library and to our bedroom, then into the ensuite. He sets me down on the bench by the tub, and I watch him roll the sleeves of his shirt up his tattooed arms, feeling my desire stir as he does so. I take him in as he prepares a bath. The way the muscles on his shoulders shift and the way those golden hazel eyes flash when he turns to look at me.
There’s heat and love in those eyes.
Not once in the nine months of this pregnancy has the man made me feel unwanted. Not even when I began feeling fat and undesirable. He doted on me until the thoughts faded. Kissed every stretchmark that formed and was as wicked with his desire as before.
And even now, I can see him hold back as he strips me out of my dress and helps me into the tub. His desire is restrained as he bathes me and washes my hair, but it doesn’t stop me from getting turned on. Those rough calloused hands leave a trail of fire burning in their wake as he washes me. By the time we’re done, I’m so turned on I could cry.
“Let’s get you dried off,” Antonio says, helping me out of the tub. He bundles me into a towel and then carries me to the bed, where he starts applying lotion to my skin, massaging my body as he moves down.
“Antonio,” I whimper as heat floods my core when his fingers graze my hips. My breath grows unsteady as his hands slide between my thighs, massaging the spot gently. “Please…”
“Please what,mia stellina?”
"Touch me," I whimper, falling back against the pillows with a sigh. “Please.”
“Lie on your side, baby,” he murmurs, helping me turn so I'm facing away from him, my swollen belly supported by the soft mattress. He slides in behind me, his warm chest pressing against my back, and I feel the hard length of him nestled against my ass. His hand skims over my hip and down between my thighs from behind. “Let me take care of you.”
A shiver rolls down my body when I feel his fingers brush against my inner thigh, his lips pressing hot kisses to myshoulder. “Goddamnit, I want you so bad,”" he growls, and I moan when he slides his finger between my folds and pushes it inside me. “Fuck, you're so wet. So fucking ready for me,mia stellina.”
