"Always ask. Always tell me what you need. I'll give you anything. Everything."
The pleasure built fast. Intense. Made more intense by the risk. The location. The knowledge that we were being reckless and not caring.
"Elio—I'm close—"
"Let go. Show me. Want to hear you scream my name."
I came hard. Did scream his name. Loud enough that security definitely heard. Didn't care. Just felt wave after wave of pleasure crash through me.
Elio thrust twice more then followed. Buried deep. My name a prayer on his lips.
We stayed connected for a moment. Both catching our breath. Both grinning like idiots.
"That was—" I couldn't finish.
"Risky and reckless and perfect." He pulled out carefully. Cleaned us both with tissues from his desk drawer. "And absolutely worth it."
"We're good together," I said. "In ways that go beyond just physical compatibility."
"We are. In every way. Working together. Living together. Loving each other. All of it fits."
We got dressed. Elio put his office back in order. Made it look like we'd actually been working instead of christening his desk.
As we were leaving, I kissed him thoroughly. "Thank you."
"For what?"
"For giving me a life where I can ask for what I want. Where I can be brave. Where I can be myself completely."
"Thank you for being brave enough to run. To choose this life. To choose me."
We went home together. Both content. Both grateful.
Both building something real despite the chaos around us.
The next morning we were back at Inferno for a partners meeting. Routine check-in on restructuring progress.
But when we walked into the conference room, Sandro was smiling. Actually smiling. Which was rare enough to make everyone notice.
"Before we start," he said, "Emilio and I have news we wanted to share. We're going to have a child. Via surrogate. Due in six months."
The room erupted.
Matteo stood and pulled Sandro into a hug. "Congratulations. That's amazing news."
Stefan was beaming. "I'm so happy for you both. You're going to be wonderful parents."
Luca raised his coffee cup. "To Sandro and Emilio. And to the next generation."
Elio clasped Sandro's shoulder. "Congratulations. Truly. This is wonderful."
I added my congratulations. Felt genuinely happy for them. This was the natural next step.
But underneath the happiness, my mind was spinning with darker thoughts.
Children. Dante had wanted children. Had talked about it like it was inevitable. Like once we were married, raising heirs would be my primary function.
The thought made me sick.
