I grin, agreeing with the sentiment. "I had a surprise planned for you tonight in the woods."
"Leone told me you dragged his old tent out to the cascades. I'm very sorry I missed the chance to make love to you under the stars tonight."
"I am, too. Sorry for the horrible thing that happened."
"Yes, but she's dead now and the last of her followers will be soon. I'll be glad to have you back home. All of you." My heart swells with his admittance. I knew it, but I wanted to hear it.
Another kiss with more fire. Nico nuzzles my throat, his hand slipping between my thighs. "The children…" I whisper.
"Are asleep."
"The pilot."
"Is doing his job, not watching us."
"You need to heal, Nico."
"A couple of scratches."
"Stubborn man."
"I am.Yourstubborn man."
***
Home at last, we stumble into our room once the children are tucked in. Our minds are wrung out, and there's no room for words this late, so we rely on body language to convey everything we're feeling.
The glow of the bedside lamp has Nico's dark eyes smoldering like charcoal as he kisses his way up my torso, claiming every inch of me. "One hundred and ninety-seven." He'll never stop counting our kisses, and I'll never take them for granted.
I gently caress his scars. This man has killed for me. This man would die for me. This man who holds my heart.
I spread my legs in invitation, eager for his possession, longing to be taken. He doesn't disappoint. Staring deep into my eyes, he thrusts, filling me, owning me, piercing my soul with his magnetic heat. "I love you," he murmurs, peppering my shoulders with more kisses.
"And I love you," I repeat, happier than I ever imagined possible.
49
Matilde
Six weeks later
"I look ridiculous in that thing."
"But you will wear it," I tell my sister, passing her the cap. "We will be in the audience, cheering for you."
"The babies will be even more bored by the commencement speeches than I will."
Probably. "Primo will be watching, too," I remind my sister. Healing takes time, but he declared himself fit enough to attend his girlfriend's graduation.
Maddalena hugs me tightly. "Thank you, Matilde… for everything. I wouldn't be doing this today if you hadn't come looking for me last year. I'm not sure where I'd be. Probably someplace very bad."
The sobering thought gives us both pause before I hug her back. "Go. It's time to line up. I'll see you after."
My sister heads one direction, and I go the other.
Backstage of the auditorium, the lights are dimmed, and my heart speeds up when I hear the heavier sound of a man's footsteps behind me. "You shouldn't be back here alone."
"Nico, you startled me! I'm not alone now. Why aren't you with the babies?"
