Chapter 35
NICOLETTE
I groan as he slides in and out of me, peering down into my eyes as he takes his time loving every inch of me.
I never knew sex with another person could feel so earth-shattering, like I’m floating out of my body. Like it’s more than just the act. Like our souls are connecting. Maybe that’s why they call it making love. You’re creating something that’s tangible. Something you can feel and taste and see.
“God, I love you,” he groans deep in his chest, slipping his lips down my nape, tugging my earlobe between his teeth.
“I love you, too, Raph.” I gasp as he hits that spot inside me that has me close.
My fingers sink further into his muscular behind, loving the feel of his body moving above mine. I’ll die happy knowing he’s the only man I’ve been with. With him, I have everything I need.
“Spread your legs wider,” he husks out as he draws back to stare at me. “I wanna watch my cock sink inside you.”
“Oh, God,” I cry out, gripping the sheets, shutting my eyes as he rises to his knees, clasping his palms around my calves.
“Look at me. Don’t you dare deny me those eyes.” His voice turns huskier as he places the backs of my legs over his shoulders, increasing his tempo, thrusting deeper.
We lock eyes as he impales me over and over while the shuddering sensations grow, shooting down my legs like a blaze he set fire to.
“Fuck, you’re soaking my cock.”
My cheeks flush, and he smirks.
“That’s a good thing, little one.” His thumb reaches for my clit, and he strokes it over and over until I feel it: that climb, the warmth spreading through me, making me feel alive and full.
“Yes…faster,” I gasp, and his growl only makes me slicker, chasing that release.
“Come now. Come for me, so I can make you do it all over again.”
He pulls my body higher, my ass in the air as he rams deeper inside me, sending me over the edge with his name across my lips. My body shudders while he groans, not releasing me from his relentless thrusts. In one swift move, he flips me over and forces my ass out and my body on all fours.
“Oh, fuck, look at you. Damn perfect.” He sinks roughly back inside me.
One hand wraps around my throat; the other fists my hair as he fucks me like I’ve unleashed the very animal I once craved.
“You’re gonna come one more time, understand?” he drawls, his teeth grazing my shoulder, sinking into it until it hurts, until it feels good.
I can’t manage to speak. No actual words come out, just sounds of pleasure slipping across the room.
My release climbs once more, stronger now. And when he fondles my clit, my knees tremble and my eyes roll back. His thrusts grow more urgent, and I feel him swell inside me. And together, drenched in fury and passion and deep-seated love, we drown in each other’s inescapable bliss.
Breathless, he flips back on top of me.
“You’re amazing,” he whispers, his mouth marking my throat, cruising up to my lips as he kisses me tenderly, as though wanting to remember everything about this moment.
His mouth begins to slow, and he falls to my side, molding me to him, his palm resting across my stomach. He remains quiet, his fingers lazily drawing circles around my bare abdomen. A heaviness settles in the air, and I can tell he has something on his mind.
Clutching his hand, I raise it up and kiss across his knuckles. “What’s wrong?”
“How do you know something’s wrong?”
I swivel to look at him from behind my shoulder. “Uh, because I know you like the back of my hand.”
He tightens his palm around me and pins me closer to his body, his laughter rumbling in his chest. “You do know me. You always have, and I love that.”
I turn all the way so I can look at him, so he doesn’t dare lie. Because I will know. “I love you.” I rub his nose against mine, lips hovering over his. “So what’s wrong, Raph?”
He sighs, heavy and defeated.
“Have you ever thought about having kids sometime in the future? With me?” Vulnerability tramples through his words like he fears the answer.
“I’ll have you know…” I throw my arm over his shoulder. “I’ve planned our wedding and our entire life years ago.”
He chuckles. “And what happens in this life of ours?”
“Well, for starters…” I smile real big. “We elope, piss off your family, then have four amazing kids who drive us insane. Their names are Stella, Savannah, Nathaniel, and Gabriel.”
“Holy shit.” He chuckles. “They have names already?”
“Yep.” I lift a brow. “But you do have veto power.”
A lazy smirk slants over his lips, and tenderly, he lets them fall against my forehead. My body warms whenever he does that, kisses me that way.
“You can name our children whatever you damn well please.”
But then, his expression turns anguished. A tense pause settles between us, and he continues to stare like the world is shattering beneath him.
“Raph…” I clasp his cheek. “I’ll love you no matter what. You know that, right?”
He throws his head back against the pillow and stares at the ceiling. “I need you to know…” His throat bobs. “I may not be able to have kids, Nicolette. Ever.”
And when he stares back at me, I find a man who’s hurting. Who thinks that somehow I’d want him less because of that.
“Then we don’t have kids.” I prop my arm up and settle my face in my hand. “All I want is you. The rest doesn’t matter.”
If being with him means we never have a baby, then I’ll be fine.
“You say that now, but what happens twenty years from now when you’re sick of me, wishing you could have kids of your own?”
My mouth drops against the corner of his.
“In twenty years…” I whisper, kissing him once more. “I’ll be saying the very same thing, Raph Marino, because a life with you is what I want. No matter what that life looks like.”
“How do you know that?” He pins his forehead to mine. “How can you be sure?”
“Because I love you.” I kiss him slowly, brushing my lips with his. “It’s that simple.”
With a groan, he slices his fingers through my hair and deepens our kiss until I have no doubt in my mind he believes me.
RAPH
ONE WEEK LATER
Michael’s estate has turned into a high-priced event. A large tent, seating two hundred, is set up, along with dimly lit fluorescent lighting. A violinist plays a soft melody while everyone waits for my mother.
She hooks her arm with mine as I ready to walk her down the aisle. “Are you happy, Ma?”
She sighs. “So happy, Raph. I never thought I’d ever get to be with him.” She gazes distantly. “Life surprises us that way.” She focuses on me now.
I’ve come to accept my mother’s apology for not telling me who my real father was.
She was in a scary situation, and I understand she wanted to protect me.
I have no doubt Giancarlo would’ve killed her.
If anyone ever found out his wife had a child by another man, he’d be ruined.
The men would never have taken him seriously, and he knew that.
So protecting her secret was to his own benefit, and he’d stop at nothing to keep her quiet.
“I can’t believe he’s the one you told me about.” I grin at her, and she shrugs.
“It’s not like I could’ve blurted out his real identity.”
“As long as he makes you happy, or I’ll kill him.”
“No one’s killing anyone.” She pushes me toward the aisle.
“No promises, Ma.”
She mutters something in Italian as the music changes, and that’s our cue to go. Together, we march down, tall white columns with blue flowers and hanging candles on them pass us on both sides.
She smiles at all the guests until we’re standing right before Patrick, who appears just as eager to marry my mother as she is to marry him.
Shaking his hand, I slant into his ear. “You hurt her, and I’ll kill you.”
He clasps me on the shoulder. “If I hurt her, I’ll finish the job myself.”
And that says it all right there, doesn’t it? Because I’d do the same for Nicolette.