A Year Later
A YEAR LATER
GEORGIA
Castel Amaro
A fter a morning working with my team on my first ever upcoming show, I left Erica in charge of catching up with the PR team and went for a swim. My favorite place to swim wasn’t the swimming pool just beyond the stables at home. It was the secluded lake that sat a few miles outside of town.
I rode my favorite horse, Vento, there. Yes, a year ago I was living off ramen, had a loan shark banging down my door, and had worked my hands to the point of early arthritis. Now, I was working on my first collection, and I split my time between Atlantic City and Castel Amaro, going into Naples when I needed to talk to stores and make production decisions. I rode horses in the countryside and was wildly in love with my husband.
After years of misfortune and tragedy, Elio coming back into my life had turned it all around. He had saved me after all in the end, and I’d saved him right back.
I tied Vento up to a tree to let him graze then stripped down to my bikini. The shore of the lake was dotted with pebbles. I passed over them, enjoying the way they pressed into the soles of my feet. The water was cool and refreshing.
I walked out until I could swim and then dived beneath the glassy surface. When I came back up, I lay on my back and floated, enjoying the feel of the sun on my exposed skin. It was funny, even though I’d lived in LA for so long, this was the first summer in years that I was sunbathing and swimming.
Vento snorted from the shore, and I turned to see that he was no longer alone. My blood immediately heated to see Elio standing in the shade beneath the tree, stroking the chestnut horse’s neck.
He was back. He’d been away on business for the past few days.
He left Vento and walked toward me. His suit looked odd in the idyllic rural setting. Usually, he opted for worn-out jeans and T-shirts to work with the horses at the house or wander the countryside.
“Nice outfit… city mouse,” I called to him, treading water.
He grinned at me as his hand went to his suit jacket. He shed it like it wasn’t a bespoke designer piece and discarded it on the stones. His shirt followed next.
“I haven’t been home yet. Ettore told me you were up here.”
Ettore, the youngest man in Elio’s private guard who had chosen to be hurt over failing his boss. Toni had spared him, shooting him in the leg. He’d recovered well and was back at work.
Shirtless, Elio stole my breath away. His hands went to the waistband of his pants, and he pulled his belt out of the loops with a dramatic swish that had my mouth falling open.
“Now you’re just showing off.”
“I told you I was experienced with restraints, topolina .” He smirked, cast the belt aside, and dropped his pants.
“Hey, no complaints from this end,” I murmured, my heartbeat picking up. I took in Elio’s body. I’d never get tired of looking at my husband.
“Where’s the bodyguard I assigned you?” Elio walked into the water.
“I don’t know… he can’t ride fast enough to keep up with me. Better get Toni back,” I said.
Elio’s eyes narrowed. “Not happening.”
“We’ll see,” I called back.
Toni and her partner were living up north near the Alps in a ski town. Giada had found her for me. I knew she wanted to be brought back into the Santori fold, but Elio was being stubborn about it. I’d wear him down.
“I warned you not to ditch the bodyguard again.”
“Like anyone will find me up here!”
“Still, it’s not a risk I’d like to take. You broke the rules, topolina .”
A thrill went through me at his dark, intense expression.
“Oops.” I shrugged and then let out a shriek when he dived under the water, darting quickly for me.
I swam away, kicking my legs and trying to move as fast as I could through the cool water, but it was no use. Elio was too damn fast.
His arms went around my waist and tugged me backward. He surfaced behind me with an explosion of expelled breath and hugged me to his chest.
“I’m starting to think you just like breaking rules.”
“Only yours…”
He was right. I did like breaking his rules. I liked his delicious punishments and his wicked imagination.
“Hmm, let’s see what we can do about that.” He tugged me back and swam us toward an outcrop of rocks, his arm loosely locked around my neck like he was saving my life. His cock brushed my back now and then, hard and probing.
I reached under me and grabbed it, and he swore. I slid my hand around him, squeezing his impressive length.
“It’s too late to be a good girl now, Georgia.”
The warmth in his voice filled my soul up to the brim. Sure, I’d seen him in meetings and talks with dangerous men. He was soulless. A man without mercy. A man you shouldn’t cross, in charge of the security of the De Sanctis family. Renato’s sottocapo . But alone? He was my cittaiolo . Again. Just for me.
We got to the rocks, and Elio sat on a broad, smooth one that was hidden under the water. He pulled me onto his lap, my back against his front, and hooked his ankles around mine, forcing my legs apart.
His hand wandered down my front and slid between my thighs. His fingers traced down my slit and slipped inside me, his thumb rubbing my clit. The hand that was around my waist shifted up to my face, cupping my jaw. Some of his fingers fell inside my mouth, and I sucked on them as he pumped his hand into me.
Before I came, my trembling muscles giving away how close I was, he lifted his hand free of me and turned me around so I could face him. I slid one leg across him and nestled on his lap. He shifted his hips and pushed inside me, impaling me.
“Did you miss me?” He cupped my face and sank deep.
I wrapped my arms around his shoulders and nodded.
“I missed you. I can’t sleep without you…” I admitted, rising and falling on him.
“Good,” he growled. “That’s only fair… since I’m a wreck without you. I haven’t slept, I’ve barely eaten… It’s hard to breathe when you’re not next to me.”
His hand wandered down my back and gripped my ass.
“That being said… don’t forget your punishment…” His finger traced my asshole and surged inside.
I gasped, my pussy clenching tightly around him while he invaded my ass. I bit my lip and swallowed down another gasp.
“Oh, no. You don’t get to hide how much you love it when I fuck you in both holes, cara . Let me hear how much you love being filled by me,” he said then kissed me hard, his tongue snaking into my mouth.
His possession was complete.
I moaned deeply into his mouth, and he raised his hips just right to rub me in all the best places. I was climbing higher and higher with every second. His finger in my ass withdrew, and I made a noise of complaint that had him chuckling.
“Don’t worry… I think you’re ready for more,” he said against my lips.
“More?” Nerves battled with anticipation. “How much more?”
Using the water to carry my weight, he lifted me and then tilted me back on his lap, his strong hands holding me easily.
“Everything.” He pressed the tip of his cock to my ass.
My eyes widened, and my heart pounded hard.
“Do you trust me?” he asked softly, his cock breaching my ass.
“Yes,” I said without thought. “Always.”
He smiled against my lips and pressed deeper. It felt like I was being split in half and remade at the same time.
His hand lowered to my clit, and he circled me there, his cock shallowly thrusting into my ass.
“Tell me how good it feels, cara … because to me it feels like fucking heaven.”
He brought his pale-green eyes to mine.
“You feel like heaven… you are heaven, to me… the only one I’ve ever sought to reach. The only paradise worth fighting for.”
“I’m going to come, I — I’m going to come right now,” I panted, my thoughts dissolving. I couldn’t think. I couldn’t speak. There was just the feeling of the water around us and his body under mine. His cock, pumping steadily into me, and his hand circling my clit, making me shake.
“Come, cara . Come with me, now,” he growled in my ear.
And I did.
Maybe I was a good girl after all.
After, we got dressed and got onto Vento. Elio sat behind me, cradling me in his arms, his hands on the reins. He’d learned to ride like a pro. He was a natural. Seeing him taking care of the horses was the most peaceful sight.
We rode, and he took something from his pocket and tucked it under my bracelet. His wedding ring flashed in the afternoon sunlight as he picked up the reins again.
“I saw these when I was looking for you.”
Heliotropes.
“They’re beautiful.”
The vivid purple shone against my tanned skin.
“They are an interesting little flower… if you remember?”
Vento walked on slowly, taking his time to travel the small paths back toward the villa.
I shook my head, even though I did remember, and rested it back against Elio’s broad chest.
“Tell me.”
“As you wish. Purple often symbolizes mysticism and dreams… which makes sense, because for fourteen years, I’ve dreamed of you. Heliotropes turn their heads to track the sun, showing devotion… In Victorian England, they were given as a sign,” he continued and leaned down to speak in my ear. “ ‘I adore you,’ they said.”
“And don’t forget that they were named for Helios, the god of the sun… like you, Apollo.”
“I am no god, topolina, ” he chuckled. “In fact, I might be the very opposite. A mercenary, a devil… whatever I am, know one thing beyond all doubt.” He tightened his arms around me.
“I’m yours.”
“The feeling, my mercenary, is entirely mutual.”
Thank you so much for reading!