Chapter 78
Harlow
Alexander wanted to keep Serenity for a few days, and she was fine with it, so Caterina and I had a few days alone.
I still couldn’t believe she was ours. Caterina truly surprised me when she told me, and now our little family was complete, for now.
I was still mortified Vincenzo would take it away from me, but I didn’t need to live in fear anymore.
My life was my own, and allowing him to control me only gave him power.
I loved my wife. She always found a way to surprise me, and it made my heart swell.
Caterina took us to a private dinner at one of her other favorite restaurants.
I wanted to explore and taste new things.
Tonight, she took us to a Korean restaurant where they prepared the food in front of us.
I chose a simple black dress that stopped just above my knee and hugged my body like a glove.
It made me feel beautiful, and that was what I wanted.
“I wanted to talk to you about something,” she said as she sipped her white wine. “How do you feel about an auction for your art?”
My art was not something I thought about sharing before.
Everyone mentioned to me that I had a talent, but it was hard to see it.
When I looked at my art, I saw the emotions of a broken girl.
But as my art progressed, I saw a woman that was healing, who wasn’t afraid of falling in love, and who was finally free from her physical prison.
The mental prison was a little harder to fully escape, but I was working on it every single day.
I didn’t know how I felt about showing my art to people, but I also knew I wanted to find a way to help people. And if my art could do that, then maybe I could create a project that would tell more than just my story but paint a picture of hope for others who experienced the same thing I did.
“Do you think I should?”
“Mia vita, this isn’t something for me to decide. Your art tells a beautiful story, but if you don’t want it to be shared, that is your choice.”
I pressed my lips together. “Will it help other women like me? You said auction, so I assume the profits will go to a foundation or charity?” She nodded. “I want most of the money to go to a foundation or foundations that help people who experienced sexual assault or trafficking.”
She nodded. “Of course. It can go to whatever foundations you want. Do you want to do it?”
“I think so. How many pieces do I need to make to add to it?”
“Can you add five more in three weeks?”
“Possibly; I am feeling inspired again. I just don’t know if painting is going to be the same.”
“And if it’s not, we have the ones you already created. Gemma loved them, and so did everyone else.”
I had eight non-erotic pieces, but twelve erotic ones. “Do they want the erotic art as well? I’m not sure how that’ll work out.”
“Private room. No one under the age of eighteen allowed in. I already thought about it.”
“Okay, then yes. I’ll paint some more when we get home and while Serenity is away.”
Four days passed since Serenity officially became ours, and I think we already lost her to her grandfather.
She was already being spoiled by Alexander and Serena.
It seemed me and Caterina had to step up our game when we got her back.
Mallory and her family would be over tomorrow for dinner, and she would see that my mother was still alive.
I wanted to tell her when I saw her, but I wanted it to be a surprise.
My grandmother was with Malachi and Alexi, packing her house in Springfield and getting ready to move to Chicago. She didn’t want to live on the property with us, but Caterina bought her a nice little house a mile up the road. Life was finally starting to get back to normal.
I was in my studio when Caterina came into the room with a bouquet of carnations and daisies. She made it her goal to bring me different flowers every few days.
With Serenity at her grandfather’s house, I decided to paint an erotic piece for the auction.
This one was sensual, but more erotic as well with two women scissoring and kissing.
Nothing intimate could be seen, but the idea was there.
This painting was textured, and I’d finish it off by adding a layer of gloss finish.
Painting was easy, as simple as riding a bike, and my sensual art wasn’t hiding from me. I was still in love with sex and how it made me feel alive. Now, I was using what we did before. New York was an adventure, and I didn’t want it ruined by Vincenzo’s memory.
“Painting our night in the sky?” Caterina cooed as she wrapped her arms around my neck.
I set my paint brush down and leaned into her. “I don’t want to expose everything we do.”
“Good point. That means more people I would have to kill for fantasizing about you.” She kissed my cheek. “Gemma wanted me to make sure you were good to go for the auction this weekend. How do you feel?”
“I’m almost finished with this one, and I have one more, but I am good.” I turned in the chair and wrapped my arms around her waist. “Excited. Terrified. I don’t know how people are going to react to my art. I know you love it, but you’re my wife, so you’re biased.”
“I am your wife, and I hate art. But your art tells a story, and I love reading it through each brush stroke.”
“Now you’re being a sap.”
“Only for you.”
“So can I paint a different picture?”
“Are you sure?”
She peered down at me and I smirked. I snapped her suspenders and quickly undid her shirt buttons. “Yeah. My pace.”
Caterina wasn’t wearing a bra, and my hands instinctively went to her breasts. “Are you trying to seduce me, Mrs. Moretti?”
I unbuttoned her slacks, tugging them down her legs as she stepped out of them. “Nope. I’m painting a different picture with my tongue. Lay down for me, please.”
“Anything for you, mia vita.”
Caterina laid down on the floor, spreading her legs as I fell to my knees.
Art was one of my favorite things, but she was my muse.
My lips kissed her legs, running up to her thighs.
I kissed her covered center before moving up to her hips.
I dug my teeth into her hip bone and she hissed but didn’t do anything.
My teeth were imprinted in her skin, and I liked the mark it left.
“Do you think Spencer can tattoo my teeth on one side and my lips on the other?” I kissed her navel. “I like the idea of marking you as mine.”
“Mia vita, you don’t realize how hot that is. You’re talking dirty to me, ‘cause I’ll do it. I’ll tattoo your name on my pussy if you want me to.”
I laughed, trailing my tongue up to her left breast. “Mmm, that seems like bad luck.”
I continued to trail my tongue along her chest, taking my time on her breasts.
Caterina’s nipples were extra sensitive, and I loved the way she reacted to me.
I wanted to do this. I haven’t been able to have her touch me, and I felt selfish doing this, but it was the start of repairing what he took from me.
“I love you, Caterina Moretti.”
“I love you, Harlow Moretti.”
She was everything to me and more. I knew she would be with me every step of the way through my healing and love me when I couldn’t love myself. I made a merciless queen into a merciful one, but only for me and now our growing family.
“Take me to bed, Caterina.”