Chapter 22
The Star of the Show
GAbrIEL
I wake up the morning after my date with Millie, my body pressed up against hers.
“If you’re trying not to wake me up, your dick already did that, so,” Millie says, turning her body to face mine. I can’t help but notice how perfectly our bodies fit against one another.
Aura stirs on the baby monitor, and Millie attempts to get up, but I push her back down to her pillow. “I got her, Bumper, relax.”
Opening the door to Aura’s nursery, I softly say good morning to her, picking her up and cradling her in my arms.
I change her diaper and get a bottle warmed before I take her back in my room, where Millie awaits.
“Good morning, my sweets,” Millie coos.
I head to the bathroom to take care of some business, and when I go back into the room, Millie is holding my daughter.
“I truly don’t think I’ve seen such a beautiful baby before I met Aura,” Millie says.
I drop onto the bed, stretching my arm around her shoulders. I place a few kisses on her shoulder and one on the top of her head. “She’s not the only beautiful girl in the room,” I say, pulling them closer.
Today is our last day here. Our flight takes off tonight. This vacation is exactly what I needed, and I am forever grateful that Millie came with us. I have no idea what our relationship would be if she hadn’t.
Since Haley, I haven’t been a relationship guy. But with Millie, things feel different, natural. I want the mushy feelings, to cuddle at night before falling asleep and waking up next to her.
“What do you say about going to a café and getting breakfast before we have to pack up?” I ask, getting up out of bed to change.
Millie stands, moving Aura to her hip. “Yeah, let me just get this little girl ready, and we can head out.”
Millie and Aura leave the room, and I finish getting ready. When I enter the kitchen, I notice Aura’s luggage is packed, and her diaper bag is sitting on the counter.
Millie exits Aura’s room saying, “She’s lying in her crib. I’m going to get ready real quick. Then we can head out.”
She comes out wearing sleek, form-fitting leggings that accentuate her legs. She has on an oversized hoodie. The fabric looks as if it could be soft, like a cloud.
She comes up to me, putting my hands around her waist.
“You look amazing,” I say, kissing her neck.
She scoffs, “Yeah, okay. I am in my flying attire. Comfy and not cute.”
I shake my head, pulling her body, touching her jaw and her neck, and I grip her hips to lift her to the counter. She gasps when she feels how hard I am for her.
“Does it feel like I think you’re not cute, Bumper?” I ask, rubbing into her.
She wordlessly shakes her head as my hand wanders underneath her sweatshirt, and I palm her bare tit.
“Fuck, no bra?”
“Wanted to give you a surprise later,” she whispers.
She gasps into my mouth as I continue to play with her, our movements becoming more frantic. I tug her leggings down, and she shifts off the counter to help me.
Carrying her to the bedroom, I rid myself of my clothing until we are left in our underwear. It’s mind-blowing how good she feels. When she rocks against me, we both shudder. Each time I rub against her clit, becoming more determined to make her scream my name.
“I don’t want this to end when we get home. This isn’t just sex for me. I’m falling in love with you,” I tell her between kisses.
Her eyes get glassy. “You are?” she whispers. “I think I’m falling in love with you too.”
She lifts her neck, giving me the softest, sweetest kiss.
I pick her up, wrapping her legs around my waist, and she whimpers when she feels me against her core. My mouth doesn’t leave hers as I remove my shirt over my head.
“I love you wearing nothing in my bed,” I say, reaching out to roll her pebbled nipples as she moans. “Let’s get rid of these now.” I pull her black bikini-style panties down and curse again, seeing her bare and wet for me.
“Damn, is it possible you get more beautiful every day?”
I slip a finger inside her, and she gasps.
Lowering myself down, I lick her pussy. She plunges her hands into my hair as I continue, slipping in another finger to hit her sensitive spot.
“Gabriel,” she moans, close to reaching her climax.
I pull my head away. “Eyes on me, Bumper. I want to see you when you come.” I smirk.
I speed up my fingers, curling them how she likes as I suck on her clit. Her back arches, and she pulls me closer.
“So ravenous,” I say, letting out a small laugh.
I nip at her clit, and that sets off her orgasm. She moans out with my name on her lips. The sounds she makes are music to my ears.
“Okay, my turn.” She sits up.
“No, let’s get you cleaned up. We have to leave for lunch soon.”
Once Millie is all cleaned up, we finish packing up the last few things, and I quietly make my way to Aura’s car seat, hoping to place her in it without waking her up.
We turn off the main road onto the gravel driveway that winds through a patch of old olive trees.
The sun slants through the leaves, casting golden shadows across the hood of the rental car.
I slow to a stop in front of my parents’ house—white stucco, green shutters, the same pots of basil and lavender by the windows like always.
Looks exactly the same. Feels... different.
I glance in the rearview mirror. Aura’s asleep in her car seat, cheeks rosy from the warmth.
Millie’s beside her, head tilted slightly toward the window, sunlight catching in her hair.
Her hands rest gently in her lap, calm. Too calm.
She’s either not nervous at all, or she’s hiding it better than I expected.
I reach over, sliding my hand over hers. “We don’t have to stay long,” I say softly, no trace of my usual gruffness. “Just... don’t let them overwhelm you.”
She turns to me with that smile—the one that’s equal parts sunshine and trouble. “Are you warning me about your family or warning your family about me?”
I laugh quietly, shaking my head. I get out and unbuckle Aura, who stirs, blinking up at me with warm, sleepy eyes. I kiss her cheek. “Ciao, cucciola1.”
Millie grabs the diaper bag and meets me at the steps. “Let’s do this.”
The moment we step onto the porch, the door flies open.
“Finalmente2!” Mamma cries, sweeping Millie into a hug like she’s been waiting for this day forever. “Come in, come in, i miei amori3!”
Millie glances at me over Mamma’s shoulder. I shrug, helpless. Then she spots Aura in my arms.
“Ecco la mia preziosa bambolina4!” Mamma gasps, taking Aura without hesitation and showering her with kisses. “Look at these cheeks! Gabriel.”
Millie chuckles, rubbing Aura’s back. “She knows she’s the star of the show.”
“She is the show!” Mamma declares, bouncing Aura gently with practiced ease.
From inside, the deep timbre of Papa’s voice carries through.
“Gabriel, my son,” Papa says, appearing in the kitchen doorway with that easy smile of his—broad and honest, with just a touch of tiredness from years of hard work. “Look at you. How handsome, mi figlio, and who is this lovely woman?”
I reach out, pulling Millie close beside me. “This is Millie—my girlfriend.”
Papa’s eyes soften with warmth as he steps forward, offering a hand to Millie, who shakes it with that natural grace I adore. “Welcome, Millie. It’s about time you joined us for lunch.”
Millie smiles, her fingers still laced with mine. “Thank you, Mr. Sirolli. It’s nice to be here.”
Luca’s laugh is low and genuine. “Call me Luca. We’re family here.”
The kitchen is filled with the smells of roasted tomatoes, fresh oregano, garlic, and something sweet baking in the oven. The whole place hums with light and laughter, alive like it always is. It smells like home.
Mamma nudges Millie toward the table, already crowded with olives, salami, bread, and cheeses. “I hope you’re hungry.”
“She eats like a bird,” I tease, draping an arm around Millie’s waist.
Millie elbows me gently. “I eat just fine, thank you.”
Mamma sighs, swatting me playfully. “Mio figlio, always so dramatic. You’d think we raised him in a cave.”
Papa shakes his head with a chuckle. “Gabriel’s dramatic, sure—but that’s because he cares.”
I glance at Millie, who’s settling Aura into her lap like she was made for this moment. Aura wakes a bit, and my niece and nephew, eyes wide with delight.
“Look at her!” Matteo says, reaching out to gently stroke Aura’s cheek.
Siena leans in, whispering to Millie, “She’s so soft. Like a real princess.”
Millie laughs, brushing back a stray curl. “She’s definitely the princess of this family.”
I crouch down beside them, resting a hand on each of their shoulders. “You two are going to be the best big cousins she could ask for,” I say, and they both beam up at me.
Matteo grins. “Can I teach her how to build with Legos when she’s bigger?”
“And I can show her how to braid hair,” Siena adds, bouncing a little on her toes.
“You’re already making big promises,” I say, ruffling Matteo’s hair. “But I think she’s lucky to have you both.”
Siena tilts her head. “Uncle Gabe, were we this small when we were born?”
I chuckle. “Even smaller. Matteo used to fit right in the crook of my arm, like a football.”
“No way!” Matteo says, wide-eyed.
“Oh yeah,” I say, nodding solemnly. “And Siena—she screamed every time I tried to hold her.”
Siena gasps in mock offense. “I did not!”
Millie bites back a laugh. “You did, sweetie. We have video proof.”
Siena groans, hiding her face in my side. I hug her close and press a kiss to the top of her head.
“Don’t worry,” I whisper. “Aura’s turn is coming.”
They both giggle, and for a moment, everything is still—the kind of still that only happens when you’re holding something precious.
Cruz walks in, flashing that cocky grin. “You must be Millie. I’m Cruz, the better-looking older brother.”
Millie laughs, shaking his hand with ease. “Nice to meet you, Cruz.”
I roll my eyes. “Don’t encourage him.”
Cruz leans in, voice low and teasing. “You’re brave, showing up with this one. You must like a challenge.”