“You…you’re sure?” I ask as he begins to wash me, starting at my feet and legs, then my gross dick.
“Yes. I bet if you didn’t have me, he would have bent you over the nearest surface by now.”
“But I do have you,” I point out.
“And?” Daddy runs the washcloth up my chest. “You know I don’t care about exclusivity, Doc. I know you’re mine, you willalwaysbe mine. Any other side relationships you have…they’re just pieces of the whole. You’re mine and I’m yours. I’m not saying you have to do anything with him, I'm simply reminding you that I don’t need to keep you to myself in order to own you.”
And own me he does, heart and soul.
I shudder, looking down into his bright blue eyes and wondering how the fuck I got so damn lucky.
“I love you, Soren.”
He smiles softly. “I love you, too.” He watches my face for a long moment before asking, “Was it too much?”
I laugh a little. “I should say yes, but…no, it wasn’t. It was humiliating, but it was a punishment. It might not be my kink, but when you use it like that? You make me feel…like I need to be better, do better, for you. So no, it wasn’t too much.”
“Okay. I wasn’t sure about the…ya know, in the mouth part, but it felt right.”
I snort and then wrinkle my nose. “I don’t mind you pissinginme sometimes when you’re trying to prove a point, but yeah…let’s save the in the mouth part for special occasions.”
Daddy laughs. “Deal.” Rising onto his toes, he kisses me fully on the mouth. “I love you. You’re so perfect for me.”
My chest warms again at his words, and I know that he could humiliate and degrade me, or anything else he wants to see from me, every single day, and I’d still want him. Because he’s mine, and I am so completely his.
Sleep…doesn’t exist for me anymore. The nightmares of my own making hold me hostage. Hence, being in the kitchen so early in the morning. At least it gives me time to cook, which is something I haven’t done in years, although the memories of my aunt teaching me haven’t left.Fuck, I miss her.
Still, as I slide the perfectly done frittata out of the skillet, a proud smile stretches across my face. It's odd, this sense of lightness. I add the frittata to the cart, along with coffee, orange juice, and the basket of pastries that the chef thrust at me. Frowning, I barely have a moment to even think about what I’m missing before someone adds silverware, plates, and napkins. I struggle not to blush at missing something so obvious, before thanking them all.
The kitchen grinds to a halt as they glance between each other and me. My shoulders twitch and rise defensively, butI ignore it, forcing myself to relax. I go to push the cart forward, but a maid quickly steps in, taking charge. Swallowing a sigh, I follow along. I’m lucky they even allowed me to work in the kitchen while I’m still recovering. But…I needed to do something. And I’ve certainly rested enough.
I’m finally working with PT, and this is good exercise, as long as I don’t overdo it. Jayden is cold, but effective. Being treated like a social pariah is…exhausting. Not that I don’t deserve it, but I worry, especially for Cristian. There’s only so much of being tossed carelessly aside that a person can take. While I’m fine with the treatment, especially as most of my Boys are still warm toward me, Cristian has nobody.
When we stop in front of the room Lio is currently staying in, I tell the maid thanks before knocking gently on the partially opened door. I take a deep breath and wait, my heart beating in time with the fear running through my veins. There is a terror that will always live in me during these moments…the moments when I’m not sure whether my love will recognize me again. I’ve grown, and so has he, but fuck, it doesn’t change a damn thing for me. I still love him as desperately as always.
Watching him become who he was always meant to be? It's priceless. And even if I have to exist on the edges of his reality, haunting this mansion like a wraith, just to be within range of him, that’s what I’ll do.
I know the Amatos hate me, and I accept that. They certainly don’t trust me, and really, they can join the club—I fucking founded it. But what they don’t see is how much more meaning my life has now. They see me as nothing because I lost my title as Il Padrone… Whereas I see myself as being set free. And this? This is the first step in showing Emilio who I truly am now, and it’ll be up to him to accept it—or to turn me away.
It may kill me if he does, but I’ll walk away if that’s what he wants. If that’s what he needs. But I’ll always be here for him,waiting, because my life is tied to his. My soul will be bound to the man who puts me to shame—forever.
“Come in,” Emilio’s voice beckons groggily, and I take a deep breath, opening the door all the way as I walk in pushing the cart.
I smile at him and Roman, both sitting in the same bed, despite there now being two in the room. “Breakfast delivery for you both.”
Emilio draws in a deep breath and shyly returns the smile I give him, before narrowing his eyes suspiciously. “Wait. I know that smell. I swear, that chef better not be here…”
I laugh, and both Emilio and Roman’s eyes widen at the sound. Feeling lighter than ever, I start to pour coffee and juice, and then plate the dishes. Shaking my head, I hand Emilio a cup of coffee first.
“No, Caro. I made your favorite frittata. It’s actually my aunt’s recipe, may she rest in peace. And yes, of course, I added extra mushrooms and the good bacon. I’m the one who taught the recipe to the chef.
“This morning, the kitchen staff kindly let me play around and make you both breakfast. I wasn’t sure what you enjoy eating, Roman, but there is a basket of pastries as well. And if none of that sounds good, I can make you something else.”
Roman blinks at me, seemingly overwhelmed, before managing a tired grin. “It seems wonderful. I’m not sure how much I can eat, but I’ll try some.”
I barely stifle the relief running through me. I’m not his favorite person—and I doubt I ever will be—but I’m so glad I can do something for him. Especially with how much he does for my love.
Turning my attention back to Emilio, I sit next to the bed, watching him carefully as he eats. It’s such a simple yet fulfilling pleasure. I can see why Zia Gia always loved to cook for people. Itfulfills the need in me to take care of others. To nourish them. I may have fucked up with how I tried to help in the past, but this? This I can do, especially based on the happy sounds Lio makes when he's eating.
