Chapter Forty-Seven Ella
Chapter Forty-Seven
Ella
The sound of birds chirping in the garden filters into my awareness. But that’s not what wakes me.
It’s the pleasure moving through me in slow waves that’s coaxing me back into my body.
My back arches before I’m fully awake, a soft gasp catching in my throat as sensation blooms low and deep in my core, impossible to ignore.
I lift my head, finding Tiero busy between my legs, his soft hair brushing against my inner thighs as he tastes me thoroughly.
Well… good morning to me.
A lazy smile spreads across my face. He’s been at this for a while. I’m already wet, already yielding, my body opening to him without resistance.
If he follows the pattern from our island time, this won’t stay slow for long. It’ll turn fast, rough… and deliciously intense. He won’t accept any less than my total surrender.
After a night like we had, it’s almost as if he needs to remind himself he’s still in control. I like that he feels like he’s losing it with me.
My fingers slip into his hair, tightening just enough to draw him up. I want to feel the solid weight of him, the heat of his body pressing me into the mattress.
His mouth finds mine, and the world narrows to that single point of contact. I taste myself on his tongue as the kiss deepens quickly, turning consuming… claiming.
There he is. Gualtiero, the Don and Conqueror.
There really is nothing tentative about him this morning. His touch is urgent, more driven; the slow, drawn-out intimacy of last night giving way to his need to take.
I smile against his lips, but before I can fully revel in the shift of his mood and the way his steely length rubs against me, he thrusts forward in one decisive move, burying himself to the hilt.
The breath leaves my lungs in a rush, a broken sound escaping me as my head falls back into the pillow.
He fills me so completely, stretching me to the limit, a sweet agony.
God, he feels amazing.
Then he moves. There’s no easing into it. No patience.
He sets a relentless rhythm, each movement purposeful, driving, leaving only space to feel.
And I do, loving every second.
I lose myself in the way he takes and gives all at once. Time, space, and reality slip out of reach until nothing exists beyond this moment.
We don’t even try to be quiet. The sounds between us fill the room, unrestrained, and I don’t care who might hear.
All I care about is him.
The heat, the friction, the way everything inside me tightens, builds, spirals.
Suddenly, he pulls out. I barely have time to register the loss of him before his hand slides beneath my back and he flips me over, putting me on all fours.
His hands press between my shoulder blades, pushing me down until my face sinks into the pillow, leaving my butt and core lifted and fully exposed to him.
He takes hold of my wrists, crossing them over my lower back, completely immobilizing me. Then he drives himself back inside me, more possessive than before.
Each thrust drives through me with a force that steals the air from my lungs, pulling sounds from me I can’t hold back even if I tried. All I can do is take it.
Harder. Deeper. He seems to lay more claim on me with each pump of his hips. He’s driven, his tempo not slowing one bit.
His breath is ragged, and so is mine. Air seems in short supply as the world fractures into sensation.
Everything tightens, builds faster now, sharper, until I’m right at the edge, teetering…
Keeping my arms locked together against my back with one hand, Tiero reaches around my waist, finding my clit. He pinches it hard, without mercy.
I detonate, my release hitting all at once.
Overwhelming waves of pleasure rip through me as I lose myself completely, my body clenching and pulling him deeper.
He follows moments later, his control breaking with a raw, unrestrained groan of my name that echoes through the room, while his cock jerks violently within my walls.
After that, everything slows.
The tension drains from my limbs, leaving me boneless, trembling as I collapse back onto the bed the moment he lets go of my arms.
Neither of us moves.
Then I glance over my shoulder. He’s still, head tipped back, eyes closed, his chest rising and falling as he drags in air. He’s the epitome of sexual satisfaction.
My body is still thrumming, every nerve alive, the echoes of it rolling through me in slow, fading waves.
When his gaze finds mine again, his smile is blinding, full of that same shared high. My lips curve too, heat still pulsing low in my body as I hold his gaze.
Then his eyes drift lower.
And linger.
I follow his gaze… to the spot where his warm seed is slipping from me.
His eyes are riveted to it as he gathers it with his thumb and spreads it slowly over my swollen sex.
I shiver, everything still sensitive to the touch. His focus is fixed on my core and the movement of his fingers.
It’s as if he’s marking his territory.
My stomach tightens. Somehow, I’ve never felt more naked or more exposed, despite all the things we’ve done together.
What he’s doing feels primal. Almost ritualistic.
I stare at the place where we were joined only moments ago.
And suddenly all I can see is his white, creamy seed against my skin.
Oh. My. God.
My breath falters as my body goes cold.
The post-coital bliss vanishes in an instant. I’m sure the blood drains from my face.
“What’s wrong, princess?” Tiero lifts his head, his gaze settling on me.
“We didn’t use protection.” My voice comes out unsteady, thinner than I’d like.
How could I have been so careless?
My stomach churns as I try to piece together where I am in my cycle, but my thoughts won’t line up.
He took my pills. He took them and never gave them back.
A cold wave washes over me.
What if I end up pregnant?
I push upright, my hands trembling.
Tiero misreads my reaction completely. A slow smile spreads across his face.
What is there to smile about?
“Don’t worry, princess,” he says easily. “I won’t be upset if our lovemaking results in a baby. Quite the opposite.”
His hand comes up to brush my cheek as if he’s reassuring me.
“I’m planning on having lots of babies with you. I can’t wait to see you grow round with my child.”
“What?” I shove him away, but he catches my wrists.
“Did you do this on purpose?” I demand, my voice shaking now as I search his eyes.
“Of course not,” he says. “We just got carried away.”
He leans in to kiss me, but I turn my head.
“Cuore mio,” he murmurs against my ear, “I told you before, you’re it for me. I want a family with you. And I don’t want to wait too long.”
His voice softens. “We’ll get married soon. Then there’ll be no question about our baby’s legitimacy.”
Oh my god. Oh my god. Oh my god.
Is he trying to get me pregnant?
Cold clarity suddenly cuts through everything.
He’s trying to tie me to him forever, isn’t he? He knows I’d never abandon my child.
What have I done?
And now that we’ve slept together again, he’ll think everything is going back to the way it was.
He presses a kiss to the tip of my nose.
“Don’t worry, I’ll propose properly, the way you deserve. I’ll give you everything you want.”
He pauses, as if considering it, then adds with a wink, “Except your freedom from me.”
Everything inside me goes still.
I try to grasp onto a thought, onto anything, but there’s nothing. Just a hollow, echoing emptiness where everything else was a moment ago.
Tiero watches me, waiting.
I have nothing to give him. Nothing at all.
I’m spared from answering when his phone rings on the nightstand. He glances at the screen, and his expression hardens.
“You better have a damn good reason to call me at this hour,” he snaps, his voice cold.
I glance at the clock. It’s just after five thirty. Tiero listens, his eyes sharpening.
“You know where to take him. I’ll be right there.”
He ends the call and leans over, pressing a quick kiss to the top of my head.
“I have to take care of something, princess. I’ll be back in a couple of hours. We’ll have breakfast before heading to the track.”
He disappears into the bathroom for a quick shower, and then he’s dressed and out the door.
I pinch the bridge of my nose, trying to think, but everything is a blur.
Nothing settles. Nothing makes sense.
I can’t seem to form a single coherent thought.
Eventually, I force myself out of bed and head to the bathroom, turning on the shower.
Maybe washing off the scent of sex and going for a morning run will lift this numbness.
By the time I make my way to the kitchen, my ability to think has returned, but it’s still a jumbled mess. Thoughts fire off in all directions, tangling into crisscrossing anxieties.
A run will help. It has to. But first, a smoothie.
I’m surprised to find Mateo in the kitchen. He’s chatting with Roberta, the cook here, as he sips on a cup of coffee.
“Hey, Ella.” He smiles at me broadly.
I don’t know much about Tiero’s brother, but he’s always struck me as the easygoing one.
“Mateo, I didn’t know you were here.”
“Tiero invited me to your Formula One outing. I had to see for myself what the fuss is all about. I’m sorry I missed your spin on the track yesterday.”
That memory brings a genuine smile back to my face. “It was so much fun. There’s practice today, qualifying tomorrow, and the race on Sunday. I’m sure you’ll love it.”
“Fast cars and beautiful women everywhere. What’s not to love?” he says with a wink.
Ever the playboy.
“When did you get here?” I ask, pulling the ingredients for my smoothie from the fridge and setting them by the blender. I wave Roberta off when she tries to grab them to make it for me.
“I arrived last night.” After a pause, he adds, “I’m happy you and Tiero are back together.” There’s a smirk in his voice.
I freeze mid-motion, my hand hovering over the open blender. I’m glad my back is turned because I’m sure my face is beet red.
Shit. Mateo heard us.
Actually, I’m sure the entire house did. We weren’t exactly quiet.
I clear my throat and continue preparing my drink.
Mateo sets his cup down and comes up behind me, placing his hands on my shoulders in a reassuring gesture.
“Don’t be embarrassed, Ella. I’m thrilled for both of you. He loves you. You’ll be happy together.”
Happy together?
How can I be happy with a man who walks all over me? Who does as he pleases without caring what I want?
But I keep my thoughts to myself. Mateo is cut from the same cloth. How could he understand?
When I stay silent, he gives my shoulders a light squeeze before stepping away and picking up his cup again.
“Are you joining us for breakfast?” he asks as he heads for the terrace door.
I shake my head. “No, I’m not hungry. I’m going for a run.”
I can’t stomach the thought of facing Tiero right now. My anger is still too fresh. I’d probably punch him, and undoubtedly, he wouldn’t tolerate that.
It’ll be better for both of us if I cool off before confronting him.
I set my smoothie down after a few sips. As I walk past the open terrace door, Tiero jogs up the stairs from the garden. Not wanting him to see me, I step out of sight and slip behind the curtain.
Mateo rises from his seat, and they greet each other with a quick hug. He claps Tiero on the back, looking happy. The gesture is almost congratulatory, and his tone matches it. I can clearly hear them, but of course don’t understand a word.
Damn. Why haven’t I started learning Italian yet?
Tiero grins. It’s self-satisfied, the kind that instantly sets my teeth on edge.
Are they talking about last night? About how he finally got me back into his bed?
Heat flares in my chest, but I force myself to stay still, drawing in slow, steady breaths.
I strain to catch a word, anything I might understand.
And then I do.
Bambino.
It’s accompanied by Tiero’s broad smile.
I knew it.
He really is trying to get me pregnant.