Epilogue~
Dario
Three months later
I woke with my body wrapped around Catalina, spooning her, my front to her back. Her long hair tickled my nose. My hard cock ached with my need for the woman in my arms. It wasn’t supposed to be like this. In the five months since our wedding, she’d managed to break down the walls I’d placed around my heart. It wasn’t only my desire for her body. It was visceral need I had to be in her light.
That’s what Catalina was to me, a shining light—a beacon—in the darkness of my life. After losing Josie, I made the decision to never open up to anyone else. The marriage was to be part of the alliance, nothing more. There was no way for me to fathom what this woman would do to me.
I’d seen a fire in her based on her determination to continue her education. That was rare in our world. Most of the women in the famiglia were content to be married, pampered, and kept. While some weren’t content, they willingly reaped the benefits of their husband’s wealth.
Catalina surprised me at every turn.
From the night of our wedding when I learned she was a virgin, to her reaction as she learned about Jasmine, her bravery when stabbing Rocco, and her willingness of and receptiveness to the minutest ministration, her light pulled me in, swallowing me with its lifegiving brightness.
Tugging Catalina against me, she wiggled, no doubt feeling the hardness of my cock between her folds. I parted her legs, my fingers finding her silky wetness. She whimpered as I kissed her neck and opening her lower lips, slid into her tight pussy.
I closed my eyes, enjoying the way her body contracted around me. It still took her a moment to adjust but adjust she did. Catalina pushed herself back, taking me deeper.
“I wasn’t going to wake you,” I whispered, balls deep inside my wife.
Another delicious wiggle.
“I’m not complaining.”
Holding her tight against me, I found my rhythm, my hips pistoning with each thrust. My hands wandered over the softness of her beautiful skin, tweaking her nipples and kneading her breasts. “Touch yourself.”
She didn’t hesitate the way she used to. Catalina reached between her legs and began rolling her clit. Her body ignited, electricity pulsing through her veins as she tensed. Stretching my neck, I watched as her beautiful face contorted in pleasure. She was a vision to watch come undone.
To think that I could have lost her. A fierce possessiveness came to mind. This sensational woman in my arms was mine and mine alone. Whenever I considered my father’s plan, it made me wish I was the one to pull the trigger. No, the gunshot was too easy on him. My knife. I would have slit his lower abdomen, letting his intestines fall to his feet as he stared in horror. Even that wouldn’t have been enough suffering.
“Dario.”
Catalina’s cry alerted me to her impending orgasm. That and the way her body convulsed around me. A few more thrusts and I too found my release. While I could spend forever inside her, I pulled out, and rolled her toward me. Her emerald stare took my breath away as she looked up at me, and her lips curled into a satiated smile.
“I want to tell my mother,” she said, lifting a hand to my shoulder.
My hand went lower, covering her stomach. “Maybe we should wait until you’re farther along.”
“The doctor said everything is good.”
I kissed her forehead. “I didn’t plan on the alliance being solidified this soon.”
“I didn’t get pregnant by myself.”
“No, you had some help.”
Catalina’s palm came to my scruffy cheek. “I know you’re worried. We’re adding another weakness to your list of concerns.”
“I’m not worried about that. Dante and I have made certain our ranks are loyal. And after the stunt my father tried to pull, Roríguez knows I’m committed to making our alliance work.” I felt my cheeks rise. “Even your brother is acting like he doesn’t want you to gut me in my sleep.”
“Well…” She laughed before turning serious. “Em was afraid of a double cross. He wasn’t wrong. I believe he knows he can trust you.”
“Roríguez called yesterday.” This was something that had been on my mind, something I was nervous to mention to my wife.
“Did he have a reason to call?”
I scoffed, looking into her eyes. “Drug lords and capos don’t call to chat.”
Catalina sat up, tugging the sheet over her breasts and leaning against the headboard. “What did he want?”
“He thinks it’s time for Aléjandro to marry.”
Catalina’s eyes opened wide. “Jasmine. No, Dario. I know Aléjandro. He’s…” She shook her head. “He’s not a good match for Jasmine. Besides, she’s back at school, and she has years before she’ll be done.”
Words couldn’t describe how happy I was with the way Catalina opened her heart and our home to Jasmine. I’d been stupid to worry that she’d respond like my parents. My wife’s heart was too big to shut anyone out. After I became capo, Jasmine stayed with us for a time. The bond the two formed made me believe that somewhere Josie was happy. Jasmine was always her first priority. Now she was on the top of Catalina’s list, too.
“No. Jasmine isn’t ready to marry. I told him I wouldn’t let her marry until she was done with university.”
My wife sighed. “Thank you.”
“It goes without saying that Aléjandro doesn’t want to wait three more years anyway.”
Catalina’s emerald eyes stared in anticipation.
“Jorge had another prospect in mind with his call.”
“Who?”
“Mia.”
Catalina bit on her lower lip, probably thinking about the possible union as I had. “She’s older than he is and a new widow.”
I nodded. “She’s only two years older and definitely not a virgin.”
“I don’t think that will bother Aléjandro.”
“Roríguez made it seem that while Jasmine was Aléjandro’s date at the wedding, Mia was higher on his list. Something about Aléjandro meeting her and remembering her from the wedding.”
“Does she want to remarry?”
I shook my head. “It’s not her choice. Besides, after being married to Rocco, I think she could handle Aléjandro. My first impressions of him were less than favorable, but since I became capo, I’ve seen a different side of him.”
“That’s probably the side Em knows.” She shrugged. “I’ve always thought of him as an arrogant ass, but Em does approve. Is it set?”
“We’re negotiating.”
“When will Mia learn about this?”
“Not yet,” I said. “I told Roríguez she needed six months of mourning.”
“That’s only another three months.” Catalina shook her head. “Arianna won’t be happy.”
“It’s not her decision, either. It’s mine.”
Smiling, Catalina scooted down and curled toward me, laying her head on my chest. I stroked her silky hair with my fingertips as her arm surrounded my torso.
After a moment, she turned her beautiful green stare to me. “I hear it.”
“What?”
“The heart you didn’t think you had. It’s beating strong and steady.”
Taking her chin between my thumb and finger, I lifted it and bent forward until our lips met. Slowly, I pushed her back, until I was over her and our kiss deepened. When I pulled up, I smiled at the sight of her swollen lips.
“It’s beating,” I said, “because of you. I don’t say it enough, but I love you.” I lowered my hand back to her stomach and splayed my fingers. “I love you too.” My gaze met hers. “Thank you.”
“For?”
“Making me see that I can have both, this and the world I’ve been raised to rule.”
“You can do whatever you set your mind to. I have no doubt.” She laid her hand over mine. “Thank you.”
It was my turn to question. “For…?”
“When Papá informed me of our wedding, I didn’t think we would ever have this—love—it’s more than I could have imagined.”