Chapter 13
CHAPTER THIRTEEN
AURORA
H oly fucking hell. Ti prego, lasciati divorare . ‘ I’m begging you. Let me devour you’ . I may have unlocked Enzo’s inner submissive, but every word out of his mouth is sending me to a place I’ve never been before. One where I control every second of his pleasure and he trusts me with his safety. He’s coaxing a burning need to protect what I love to the surface and allowing me the freedom to dominate him.
It’s intoxicating and thrilling, yet grounding. There’s a weight to that privilege I feel honoured to shoulder.
I feel so close to Enzo right now, but it also makes me feel closer to them all, getting to experience the same pleasure Sin, Nico, and Benny get from exerting their control over me.
I’m careful to avoid resting any weight on his shoulder, gripping the top of the headboard before I lower myself. He starts to say something, but I silence him by swiftly finishing my descent and presenting my now throbbing clit to his mouth.
“Don’t talk with your mouth full,” I say with a half-giggle, half-moan as his tongue teases me in slow circles. “If you need to stop for any reason, tap my thigh.”
I’m lost to the sensations, drunk on the feeling of empowerment I get from taking my pleasure from Enzo in this way. Spurred on by the near obscene, guttural noises he’s making as his tongue ravishes me. His fingers dust up my outer thigh, gripping my ass firmly before trailing down and sliding through my folds. They work in tandem with his tongue, making me lose control and ride him harder.
He breeches my entrance, sliding his two middle fingers into me to the last knuckle. I roll my hips, enjoying the stretch until I throw my head back and cry out. My orgasm isn’t sneaking up on me, it’s ever-present and ready to crest at the slightest change in rhythm or pressure.
The second he curls his fingers against my G-spot, I shatter, falling forwards against the headboard and pulling myself up enough to let him catch his breath.
“You taste divine,” he says with a deep timbre and feral tone, one I’ve never heard before, and it fills me with pride that I’m the cause of it.
I’m sliding down his body and tasting myself on his lips before he has a chance to say anything else. I need him. I need his cock in my cunt and his mouth on mine, stealing every breath I take.
I enjoy the tickle of his chest hair beneath my fingertips. I pause to tease each nipple and then again at his hips, loving how he responds to my touch. His cock bobbing between us as he tenses his abdomen.
I wrap my palm around his base and squeeze before positioning his crown at my entrance. I don’t wait, I don’t tease. We’ve both waited long enough. I sink down, impaling myself on his length.
“Fuck, Aurora. You feel so good,” he moans, his eyes fixed where we’re joined like he’s trying to memorise this moment. His hands grip my thighs and squeeze in time with each snake of my hips while my clit grinds against him as I ride him. Not only can I feel the glide of his cock inside me, but I can hear how wet he’s making me.
We lose ourselves in a hypnotic rhythm. As my orgasm approaches, his cock hardens inside me, and as his movements falter, I wrap my hand around his neck, squeezing. The throb of his heartbeat pulses underneath my fingers and it only brings me closer to the brink.
“Give me what’s mine, come for me, mio re, ” I demand.
His body tenses as he comes hard, erupting in a roar that travels through every cell in my body, pushing me over the edge with him. My thighs tremble as rolling waves of pleasure radiate out from my core. I collapse against him and nuzzle my head on his good shoulder, kissing his neck where I held him moments before.
“Such a good fucking boy for me,” I say in a husky tone I don’t recognise. He’s feverishly mumbling words of praise and adoration as he fights to stay awake. “Sleep now, mio re ,” I whisper. “I’ll be here when you wake. Always.”
After taking a shower, I head downstairs to rustle up some lunch. After a few trips, I’ve got enough supplies that we don’t have to leave his room for hours. I love the idea of being holed up in our own little world together.
It’s hard not to stare at Enzo. He’s handsome in a way that shouldn’t be allowed. He’s all hard lines and chiselled jaw. Broad chested with a perfect smattering of hair highlighting every cut of muscle. The last two months have taken their toll on him, and although he’s lost weight, that’s not the most noticeable change.
He’s always shouldered more burdens than anyone should have to, but from what I know of Max, I have to assume he took Enzo to his limit. I know Max took me to mine. Enzo survived, but it’s obvious that he’s haunted. I can see it in his eyes and now it’s my turn to be there for him.
Enzo stirs in his sleep, tossing his head from side to side. To soothe his restlessness, I get under the covers and slide my arm across his chest, letting my fingertips roam across his skin in featherlight circles. I stay clear of the scar just below his ribs. While it’s healed well, I don’t know if it’s still tender and I don’t want to startle him. He settles under my touch and it makes me happy to know that, even when he’s asleep, my presence comforts him.
I grab the remote and I’m two episodes into a rewatch of an old favourite when Enzo presses a kiss to my forehead.
“Afternoon, sleepyhead,” I tease.
“In my defence, you’re the one who wore me out,” he says with the same contented smile from earlier. There’s nothing I wouldn’t do to make sure I see that smile every day for the rest of my life.
“Go and have a shower, then I’ll check your stitches and we can eat while we catch up on Bridgerton . I've waited long enough for this season. Scoot,” I say, pulling the sheets off him and nudging him out of bed.
By the time he gets back, I’ve made the bed, set down a blanket on top, and laid out lunch like a picnic. We’ve got sandwiches, chips and dips, and a selection of junk food.
Before we settle in, I help him out of his towel and into a pair of dark grey sweats before picking up the bandages and gauze from the sideboard and taking him back to the bathroom. Grabbing some scissors from the cabinet, I start checking and covering his wounds.
“These are healing well. Doc Em says she’ll visit and check the stitches are dissolving properly in a few days, then you won’t have to go back to the hospital until your next set of X-rays. They’re due in a few weeks.”
He doesn’t reply, but I see him nodding in my peripheral vision. I look up and find him studying the angry red lines that cross his bicep and shoulder. With the first surgery, they tried to stabilise the breaks with a less aggressive approach, using smaller pins, but it didn’t take. The second time, they went in with much more significant hardware and put multiple plates in his arm. The scar on his shoulder is longer than we expected because he ended up needing what Doc Em explained was a partial shoulder reconstruction.
When I’m done with the last dressing, I reach behind him on the vanity and retrieve the sling he conveniently left at the hospital. Doc Em had it delivered while he was asleep with a note.
Zo,
If you don’t wear this until your next hospital appointment, you may end up with one less arm to wring Max’s neck with. Your call,
Doc Em
I show him the note and he raises an eyebrow, in a ‘make me’ sort of way.
“If you don’t do as she says you’re risking your recovery, Enzo,” I tell him with a deadly serious tone in my voice.
“Are you going to punish me, mia guerrierotta? ”
“Maybe. Do you like the idea of a little punishment, Zo?” I say, letting a smirk flutter over my face before I grip his jaw firmly and turn my expression to one of complete authority. “Or maybe I’ll bench you until you’re fit to help us take Max down.” I drag his face down to mine and soften my features a little before adding, “Do as you’re fucking told, Enzo.”
“Fine,” he huffs, before stealing a kiss. “I’ll wear it.”
When he pulls away my hands explore the plains of his chest and I don’t miss the grimace that fixes itself on his face as I trace his more faded scars. Lifting my forearm to show him how we match, he follows the barbed silver tracks with his eyes and then cups my wrist in his palm, bringing it to his lips and pressing a soft kiss to my pulse point.
I follow him out of the bathroom and smile when he manages to sort the neck strap of the sling by himself, forgetting that he needs help with the one that wraps around his ribs.
“Infernal contraption,” he gripes, trying to secure it one-handed.
“Why are men such fucking idiots when it comes to asking for help? Here, let me.”
I reach the strap around his waist and link it through the loop at this elbow. It’s designed to limit the rotation of his shoulder. Oddly, as soon as I tighten the strap, he lets out a long breath and I watch his shoulders relax. Almost like he’s enjoying the restriction.
Interesting. I make a note of that and wonder if the ropes I’ve seen in Sin’s drawers might be something he’ll appreciate.
We spend the rest of the day together, enjoying each other's company. We snack, binge a significant number of TV episodes and we kiss a lot . We find any excuse to touch, whether it’s feeding each other or curling up together with our limbs entwined. I feel like a teenager whose boyfriend has snuck her into his bedroom—and it’s bliss. Tucked away from our responsibilities, only concerned with each other.
As the sun sets, there’s a gentle tap at the door. “Come in,” Zo says.
Sinclair pokes his head around and chuckles as soon as he sees the regency ball paused on the screen. “We’re making dinner. Do you want it up here?”
I appreciate his offer of space, but I want us all to spend the evening together. I can’t figure out if that makes me inconsiderate or not, expecting Enzo to come out and join us, but the guys need this. They mourned him like I did, and now they need their brother back.
“We’ll come down, Sin,” I reply, still cuddled into Enzo, giving his chest a squeeze of reassurance.
Sinclair nods, then locks eyes with Zo. “Good to have you back, boss. It wasn’t the same without you.” His words are even, but his cadence is off. We were all devastated when we lost Enzo, but Sinclair took on the bulk of the responsibility when it came to looking after us. He kept us going. I don’t think he ever got the chance to deal with how it affected him, and so having Zo back now must be hitting him like a ton of bricks.
“Glad to be back, brother. If I haven’t said it already, thank you,” Zo says.
“You have nothing to thank me for, Enzo.”
“That’s bullshit, and we both know it. I wouldn’t be here if it weren’t for you. Aurora told me how you tracked down my location. The CPR. Hell, how you held everyone together. Thank you, Sin.”
After a long pause that should have been more uncomfortable than it was, Sinclair nods, accepting the praise before retreating back down the hall as he shouts to us, “Dinner’s in ten minutes. ”
I clear my throat. “Before we head downstairs, you should know that I’ve already spoken with Stefano and the capos, and I’ve nominated you as my second. You are the Bianchi underboss. Sinclair, Nico and Benedict have been assigned tasks that sit outside of the new capo’s responsibilities and will continue to report directly to you. Sinclair has been working to handpick your foot soldiers and security for the last few weeks. You’ll meet them tomorrow.”
Enzo moves to get up, and even with the sling, assumes a stance I recognise well. Rising to his full height, he rolls his shoulders back and lifts his chin, oozing strength and power. “Yes, boss. Whatever you need.”
Kneeling up on the edge of the bed, I crook my finger and beckon him towards me. When he’s close enough, I stroke my fingers along his jawline, smiling when he leans into my touch. “Thank you for coming back to us, mio re. ” Pressing a kiss to his cheek, I whisper, “We need you.”
I finish stacking the plates in the dishwasher and go to get myself a wine glass from the cupboard. I giggle when I notice that someone has rearranged them so that they are on the bottom shelf. They were on the top shelf because the giants I live with never used them. The other day Nico found me climbing on the counter to retrieve one, so I assume this is his doing.
He thinks we don’t notice all the things he does to watch out for us, but I’ve got his number. He may not be rocking the daddy vibes as hard as Sin, but he’s definitely got a softer side.
I take the wine glass through to my office and pick up my dad’s old decanter, pouring myself a drink. I’ve taken to keeping it filled with one of my favourite reds. I settle behind my desk and start going through the printouts Sinclair left out for me. His level of detail borders on certifiable, but it's vital, especially now. We’re overhauling the entire organisation and fighting a war at the same time.
Today, the guys were out acting on intel from Gabriella’s team. They found who’s been tasked with Manny’s security, which is key to finding out where he’s been hiding. From the looks of it, he never left the city and has been holed up in a safe house for weeks. It must be killing Manny to be under orders to hide.
He’s a fucking idiot if he thinks Max will ever let him leave. Max needed him for his influence and his manpower, but my husband doesn’t play well with others. There’s no way he’ll tolerate having a second to undermine him. Manny’s only value now is information and any influence he still has. Manny’s nothing more than a puppet now, whether he knows it or not.
I couldn’t give a fuck about his value to Max. When we get our hands on him, I’ll hand him over to Nico and let him extract every bit of information that scum has on the De Luca organisation. And then I want Manny dead. By my hand. In the most brutal way I can think of.
Which reminds me, Benedict said he was working on some micro charges… I wonder if they’re ready yet? Maybe I can use them in some way.
I pull out my phone and call my right-hand man. Stefano answers within a few rings.
“Evening, boss.”
“I’ve told you a thousand times to call me Rory, old man,” I chide.
“It’ll be a cold day in hell when I address a Bianchi don as Rory, whippersnapper,” he says with a warm and rich tone, undermining his usually grumpy facade .
“Fine, but at least call me Aurora. I don’t see you as an employee, Stefano. You’re some of the only family I have left.”
There’s a pause, and I hear him clear his throat quietly. “Evening, Aurora. I take it you’re calling me about Sinclair’s report?”
“Uh-huh. You get a chance to review it?”
“Just finished. We need to tail the entire security detail to establish the true location. There are multiple groups rotating between three potential safe houses. It’s too risky to hit them all at the same time and would divide our manpower.”
“Agreed. Pull Gabriella’s team out of the clubs and get them surveilling the three locations for the next forty-eight hours. When we know which house he’s in, call a meeting and bring in the capos.”
“Anything else… Aurora?”
“Yes.” I pause, not quite knowing how to say this. “Thank you for arranging to bring Enzo home to us.”
“I had thought you might chew me out for letting him leave early,” he says.
“I nearly did, Stefano. However… we needed him home and waking up to having him back was a weight off my shoulders. I just wanted to let you know how much I appreciated the gesture. So… thank you.”
“Well, er, you're welcome, Aurora.” There’s a crack of emotion in his voice, but he shuts it down quickly. “I’ll be over tomorrow to go over some of the day-to-day stuff.”
“Any glaring issues?”
“Just some punks we need to deal with at one of the clubs, but Dom will be able to fill you in more tomorrow. See you at 11 am.”
“See you then.”
I hang up and place the phone down on the desk. Picking up my wine glass, I lean back in my chair and stare at the ceiling.
Enzo has been home for twelve hours and I already feel like the world has righted itself. It’s like everything is coming into focus. However, no matter how careful we’re being in taking a slower approach, gathering intel, and not going after Max, all guns blazing, it makes my stomach roil to know that he’s still out there.
Every day he lives is another day where I have failed.
Another day when someone else suffers. It must have killed him to give up his toy. To release Enzo. I know that means other people will be paying a price for his and my freedom. Without us, Max’s sadistic cravings will be meted out on others who are unlikely to withstand his brutality.
When his time comes, I will make sure he suffers for every one of his sins.