29. LAYLA
29
LAYLA
“We’re getting late to meet your family…”
My protests are half-hearted as Valentino has his face pressed to my chest, licking my bare hard nipples.
We’re in the shower together, his suggestion.
“We’ll save time,” he’d said to me, but the moment our clothes came off, everything else was forgotten.
“I know,” he mumbles before biting my nipple, and bringing his other hand to play with the other breast. “Have I ever told you how you have perfect breasts?”
“Valentino….”
“Mmm.” He brings his face up to shut me up with a kiss.
His tongue lingers in my mouth for a moment before he pulls away.
The pressure of his stiffened length presses across my abdomen.
“Look how hard I am for you already, baby.”
My hand wanders over to his cock.
I stroke him slowly, and caress his balls with my other hand, eliciting a husky moan.
In the handful of times we’ve had sex, I’ve figured out what takes Valentino to the edge, and this is one of them.
“Maybe we can be a little late….”
“That’s more like it.” He grins, turning me around and pinning me against the shower glass wall.
I’m getting wetter, and it has nothing to do with the warm running water that’s cascading down on both of us.
“We have to be quick,” I gasp as he presses his hard-on against my ass.
“I’m going to take my time with you.”
My breath fogs up the glass, and I spread my ass cheeks wide for him as he pushes into my aching center.
“You’re so ready for me. You’re soaked, baby.”
He takes his time teasing me, slowly plunging shallow thrusts into my pussy.
I let out a needy moan.
He knows exactly what he’s doing.
“Deeper,” I cry.
Strong hands grip my ass so hard that I’m sure that it’s going to leave a mark.
He pushes his thick cock deeper, but with slow measured strokes.
I throw my head back in my blissful state, but my core still aches for more.
He’s still teasing me.
“I want you to fuck me harder,” I scream.
“Not yet.”
Two can play that game .
Bringing my legs together, I clench the walls of my pussy and tighten my hold around his dick.
“Fuck,” he exhales in husky voice.
He pulls out of me, but I barely have time to register my confusion as he rests his hand on the back of my neck and the other on my waist.
“Bend. Now.”
Fuck. When he gets like this, I have no other choice but to obey.
He has me hunched over with the warm beads of water falling between us.
I have one hand on the glass door with the other on the back of his tense thigh.
His cock grazes against my slit.
His hand knots in my hair and he pulls back on it, forcing my back to arch.
Fuck, this is hot .
My breasts sprawled out in front of me and mouth slightly open.
“You’re so beautiful,” he whispers into my ear. “How am I meant to resist fucking you when you walk around looking like this?”
One of his hands cups my breast, and his cock pierces my entrance.
“Fuck me…”
“Beg me for it.”
“Fuck – Valentino, I need you. I need to feel you. I…”
My words get caught in my throat as he pushes into me roughly.
“Fuck, baby. You’re killing me. See what you do to me? See what you turn me into?” he moans, already on the brink. “Cum for me, Layla.”
I shatter around him, my moans echoing against the walls of the bathroom.
I stop registering his words, instead just let myself get washed away from the waves of pleasure of his body ramming into mine.
Over, and over.
“Cum inside me,” I groan when his breathing gets faster. “I want you to fill me with your cum.”
He follows behind me, thrusting into me hard one last time before spilling inside me.
Too consumed by emotion – pleasure, desire, lust, love – none of us can speak.
We savor the moment, lingering in it until our breathing slowly returns to normal.
“That was intense.” Valentino finally pulls out of me.
I laugh. “I think we need another shower…”
So much for not being late.
***
When Valentino and I arrive at Enzo and Quinn’s house, the warm scent of breakfast wafts through the air, wrapping around me like a comforting embrace. The rich aroma of fresh coffee blends with the scent of sizzling bacon. And there’s the low hum of conversation, laughter, and the occasional clatter of dishes.
It’s been two weeks since Vincent came home from the hospital, and slowly, painstakingly, life has begun to feel normal again. But today feels different. There’s a new energy in the air, something warm, something filled with promise.
For the first time since everything happened, we’ve been invited for a weekend breakfast with the entire Marchetti family, Vincent’s family.
I reach for the car door handle, but then my stomach twists, and a strange feeling washes over me.
Something is missing.
I glance down at my left hand, my breath catching when I realize what it is.
The ring.
I forgot my engagement ring.
A slow wave of unease creeps up my spine, and I stare at my bare finger for a moment too long.
“What’s wrong?” Valentino’s voice is laced with concern as he adjusts Vincent in his arms.
He’s standing at the front of the car, waiting for me, his brows drawing together as he watches my hesitation.
“I… I forgot my ring.” I’m still staring at my hand.
It shouldn’t matter, it was just a symbol of our arrangement, after all. So, why does it feel like something is off? Like a piece of me is missing?
Valentino studies me for a second, something unreadable flashing in his dark eyes. Then, without missing a beat, he tilts his head toward the house.
“Come on,” he says, shifting Vincent’s weight effortlessly in his arms. “Everyone’s waiting for us.”
I nod, brushing aside the lingering unease.
It’s just a ring, right? Nothing more.
I force a smile and follow him inside.
The moment we step into the house, the warm, welcoming atmosphere envelopes me.
The kitchen is alive with movement, Alessio and Enzo are deep in some kind of culinary chaos, their voices raised in animated discussion over the “perfect” pancake flip. Quinn stands by the counter, laughing as she watches them, and the sound is enough to make my tension melt away.
Alessio grins, spotting us. “There’s my little Vincent. Come on, bring him over.”
Valentino sets Vincent on the kitchen counter beside Alessio, and the sight before me is enough to make my heart swell.
Vincent claps his hands excitedly as Alessio flips a pancake mid-air, his small face lighting up with uncontainable joy.
Quinn moves to my side, nudging me lightly with her elbow. “I’m glad you came. For a moment, I thought you might not.”
My cheeks flush slightly, the earlier moment with my ring still fresh in my mind. “We just got a bit caught up.”
Quinn gives me a knowing smile but doesn’t press. “No worries. I’m just happy you’re here.”
Across the room, Valentino’s laughter echoes as he leans closer to Vincent. “Would you like a bite of pancake?” he asks, his tone teasing. “Or would you rather have some fruit first?”
“Both!” His enthusiasm is contagious.
I find myself smiling, watching the two of them interact.
The way Valentino looks at Vincent, with so much love and adoration, it’s a sight I’ll never get tired of.
There was a time when I feared Vincent would never have this, that he’d never know the kind of love a father could give. But now, seeing them together, my heart overflows with gratitude.
Vincent deserves this. And so does Valentino.
Breakfast passes in a blur of laughter, warmth, and easy conversation. It’s the first time in a long time I’ve felt so at peace, so surrounded by love.
And yet, beneath the happiness, I know there’s something important we need to do.
Something we’ve been putting off for far too long.
It’s time to tell Vincent the truth.
***
After breakfast, when the house quiets down, Valentino and I take Vincent aside, leading him to the sitting room.
He looks up at us with wide, curious eyes, completely oblivious to the weight of what we’re about to tell him.
My heart pounds in my chest, but I steady myself, reminding myself that this is the right thing to do.
“Vincent,” I begin, my voice gentle. “Did you have fun with everyone this morning?”
He grins. “It was fun!”
“Well, it’s good that you like them because from now on, you’re going to be spending a lot more time with them.”
“Yay!” Then as if realizing something, Vincent blinks at me, tilting his head in confusion. “Why?”
Valentino kneels down beside him, placing a reassuring hand on his shoulder. “Because they’re your family, Vincent.”
“My family?” Vincent repeats, his small brows furrowing.
I take a deep breath. “Sweetheart, do you remember how we talked about families? How they can look different for everyone?”
Vincent nods slowly, his little mind working through the words.
I glance at Valentino, who gives me a reassuring nod.
“And do you remember that drawing you did of our family?
His smile widens and he nods harder.
“Well.” My throat tightens. “You had it right on that drawing. Valentino is your dad.”
For a moment, silence stretches between us.
My heart races as I watch Vincent process the words, his gaze flickering between us.
Then, to my surprise, his face lights up with pure, unfiltered joy.
“Dad?”
Valentino’s eyes glisten as he cups Vincent’s small face in his hands. “Yes, Vincent,” he whispers, his voice thick with emotion. “I’m your dad. And I am so, so proud of you.”
Before I can blink, Vincent launches himself into Valentino’s arms, wrapping his little arms around his neck in the tightest hug I’ve ever seen.
“Daddy!” He laughs as if he’s just discovered the greatest secret in the world.
A sob catches in my throat, my vision blurring as I watch them.
I can’t stop the tears that spill down my cheeks, overwhelmed by the beauty of this moment.
Vincent pulls back just enough to look at me. “Mommy, can I tell my cousins? I have a dad.”
I laugh, brushing away my tears. “Of course, sweetheart. Go ahead.”
Vincent takes off running toward the kitchen, his excitement echoing through the house.
I turn to Valentino, still breathless from everything.
But before I can say anything, he reaches into his pocket and pulls out something small and delicate.
I freeze.
My engagement ring.
“Valentino…” My voice catches.
He drops to one knee, holding the ring up to me with that cocky, confident grin, but there’s nothing playful in his eyes. Only sincerity.
“I stole your ring this morning because I wanted to give it back to you the way it was meant to be given in the first place.”
I gasp, covering my mouth with my hand.
“Layla.” His voice is steady but filled with emotion. “I don’t want an arrangement. I don’t want a contract. I want you. As my wife. As the mother of our son. As the woman I love more than anything in this world.”
Tears spill freely now, my heart swelling to the point of bursting.
“I love you. I meant it the first time I said it, and I mean it now. Will you give me the honor of marrying me?”
I let out a shaky breath, nodding before I can even form words.
“Yes,” I whisper. “Yes, I’ll marry you.”
Valentino slips the ring onto my finger, and this time, it feels real. It feels like it belongs there.
As he stands, he pulls me into his arms, capturing my lips in a kiss that is filled with everything, love, passion, promise.
When we break apart, applause fills the room.
I turn to see Enzo, Quinn, Alessio, Luciana, and Vincent watching, their faces beaming with joy.
“We’re engaged,” I announce, breathless.
And this time, it’s forever.