Chapter 56
Life can be weird sometimes. One day you’re waking up thinking nothing’s going to change, and then someone comes along and throws a spanner in the works.
And in my case, I was so fucking grateful.
I was the luckiest bastard. I had a woman who loved me, with everything she was, and now she was holding me together as my world came crashing down.
It had only been yesterday when I caught Bella sitting by my mum’s bedside, stroking her hair.
Her compassion floored me. Isabella Ricci was one in a million. I still couldn’t believe she was mine.
Stepping outside, I breathed in the fresh air, flicking a pen between my fingers. Damn I missed smoking. For the fourth time, I dialled the only British number I had saved, cursing when it yet again went straight to voicemail.
“Alright, it’s Ben. I ain’t here so either leave a message or piss off.”
Always the charmer.
“Ben, it’s A. I know it’s been a long time, mate, but there’s somethin’ I need to talk to you about. Call me when you get this, yeah? Cheers.”
Hanging up, I glanced up at the room I shared with Bella. We'd spent many nights looking over this lake while discussing baby names, how many kids we wanted and how we’d raise them.
“ Buenos días, hijo mío, ” my mum breathed, as she floated across the grass.
“ Buenos días. ”
“I saw Isabella this morning. She says you are taking me out.” She took my hand in her much smaller one, looking excited.
“Yeah, you know, to buy clothes and that.”
“Yes, Isabella let me wear these,” she gestured down to her t-shirt and jeans that were far too big for her. “She is a good girl, Arturo. You look happy… content.”
“Yeah, I feel content.” My lip quirked up as Bella appeared at the window, looking like a fucking goddess in black. “Listen, before I forget, I’m takin’ Bella away next weekend. Got somethin’ special planned. Will you be alright here?”
“I think so. These people are very welcoming.” She patted my hand. “You will come back, sí ?” I nodded. “So in love, mi hijo , just like your papa. When he loved, he loved hard.” Her smile was edged in pain.
“You still miss him, don’t ya?” I asked, my heart squeezing.
“ Sí , every day. But the pain of losing you was… bigger. I did not know where you were, what you were doing or if you were even alive,” she sighed, rubbing her temples.
“Well, you’re ‘ere now, and so am I. It’ll all work out, Ma.” I could see her mulling over what I was saying. “I’m just surprised Ben didn’t call me, you know?”
“Do not blame Ben. I asked him not to say anything. I wanted you to hear it from me.”
“Even so, why didn’t you call?” I scrubbed my face, trying to make sense of everything. Maybe I was overthinking this or reading too much into it, but my cynical side wouldn’t rest.
Why can’t you just let this go and embrace the fact that you’ve got her back, dickhead?
“I was… scared. I thought you would think I was lying and hung up. So, Ben helped me to get a passport and buy plane tickets.”
“Looks like I owe Ben a pint or two.” I said, smiling, and this time it felt a little warmer. “Come on, let’s take you shoppin’.”
“How you feeling, dude?” Emmet asked from the opposite chair in Lorenzo’s office.
“No fuckin’ idea, mate. Ain’t really got my head round it yet.” I grunted, desperately wishing I had a cigarette.
“It’s not everyday someone comes back from the dead, kid.” Red said, giving me a smile edged in sadness. “But we’re all here for you.”
“I fuckin’ miss Ty.” I said, grimacing. Nodding, Red raised his scotch toward me. The rest followed, including Lorenzo.
“Me too, kid, me too. But how’s Bells and the baby doing?” Red asked.
“Good, real good.” I smiled, sipping my whisky. “Can’t wait to meet our lil’ one.”
“Best feeling in the world, y’know. The first time you hold them. The way their tiny little hand grips your finger.” I could tell Red was hurting, we all could. “Better do right by them, kid.”
“He knows what will happen if he doesn’t,” Lorenzo said, exhaling a ring of cigar smoke.
“Ugh, cut the bullshit, old man.” I said, resting my ankle on my thigh. “My family’s my world.”
“Good man.” Lorenzo winked, and that was that.
I glanced down at my phone’s lock screen, smiling at the picture I had snapped of Bella at the flat overlooking the city below.
To my frustration though, there was no missed call or message from Ben.
Why wasn’t the knob answering? All I wanted to know was why the fuck he didn’t call and tell me my mum was alive.
But perhaps it was a good thing. After all, this morning it had felt as if no time had passed at all.
Mum and I laughed and joked just like we used to, while I chewed her ear off non-stop about Bella and the baby.
“Alright, fuckers, I’m off to bed.” I said, knocking back the rest of my whiskey.
I paused on my way to bed to find the nursery light on and the door ajar.
“My love?” I pushed my way inside to find Bella cross legged on the floor, folding baby clothes. “It’s gettin’ late,” I replied, lowering myself to sit beside her.
“You ready for this, Art?” she asked, leaning her head on my shoulder. I rolled my eyes.
“Princess… you know how I feel about that name.” She giggled and wrapped her arms around me.
Sighing, I glanced around the soft grey walls, decorated with hand painted clouds, thinking about the many nights we had spent getting this room ready.
A cot sat against one wall, with matching bedding, Bella’s childhood teddy lying on top of the sheets.
“I was thinkin’, what if we knock through that wall?” I asked.
“We just decorated and now you want to rip it down?”
“Might be nice, though, havin’ easier access to them.” Her brow furrowed as she looked up at me.
“Baby, that would take ages, and where are we going to sleep while it’s being done?”
“We’ll get it done, Bells.” Luca said, appearing at the door. “When you two come back from your weekend away, it’ll be done.”
“You don’t need to do that, Luc.” she sighed, rubbing her stomach in discomfort.
“Cheers, mate. That’d be great.” I said, giving him a grateful nod. He shrugged.
“Good, then it’s settled. You deserve a break, Bells, what with all the budgets you’ve been balancing. The meetings. That and the training…”
“I’m not overdoing it in the gym, Luc… just keeping my fitness up. It’s allowed, I checked.” I rubbed her lower back, as she stifled a yawn.
“Luca, mate, chill. I’ve got it all under control.” I smiled.
“No, I know, I just worry.” He sighed.
I helped Bella to her feet before she wandered to the door. “See you in the morning, Luc. Goodnight.” She patted Luca’s arm, before heading to our room.
“So you all good with sortin’ the wall?”
“Yeah, I’ll get Pa onto someone he knows, and take care of all the costs.” Luca held out his hand to me. “I never got the chance to thank you by the way.”
“For what?”
“Always being in Bella’s corner… and standing up to me when I was treating her like shit.” I sighed as I nodded. He wasn’t wrong. “She needed you.”
“Nah, it was me that needed her, mate.”
When we arrived at Artem’s cabin the air was fresh and crisp, a welcome change from the city.
Finally I had her all to myself. Just me and her, no training, no family, no business shit to deal with.
After lighting the fire, I settled myself on the sofa beside Bella.
When she snuggled into my side I handed her a hot chocolate, hers with extra marshmallows, mine with extra whisky.
“So, are you finally going to tell me why we came skiing when I can’t exactly ski?” she laughed.
“Because you love this place, skiing or not. That and I’m sure we can occupy ourselves in many other filthy ways.” I winked as her eyes lit up with wicked thoughts.
“What did I do to deserve you, hmm?”
“You exist, princesa .” I said, taking a sip of cocoa. “You up for a walk tonight?”
“Yeah, but I need to unpack first.”
“The unpackin’ can wait,” I said, putting our mugs to one side and pulling her to her feet. “I want you to make love to you, Bella.” I whispered against her lips. Everything south of my waist tightened as her bright blue eyes widened.
“You want to make love?” she blushed, running her fingertips over my chest.
“Yes,” I smirked, backing her up against the wall.
“Don’t get me wrong, I love fuckin’ you senseless, but I also have this ache…
” I murmured, unbuttoning her cardigan. “I love you so much, mi hermosa .” Her skin pebbled as I slipped my fingers under the straps of her dress, pulling them over her shoulders.
The moment her dress dropped to the floor she pulled my mouth to hers.
“I love you too, London Boy.” Her voice was breathy with need.
Being around this woman made me primal, and today I would take my time with her.
Cupping her breast in my hand, I let my tongue slip across her skin.
A sharp intake from above told me she loved each and every touch.
Grinning, I slipped her nipple into my mouth and trailed my hand over her growing bump, stopping at her pussy.
“Oh, hermosa ,” I groaned, “you’re already so wet for me.”
“Mhm…” she moaned as I slid a finger inside her.
Her fingers tightened on my shirt, as I teased her, making her ache to the core.
Her pussy clenched around me tighter as I slid another finger into her.
The best part of pregnancy? Seeing how insatiable it made Bella.
No number of orgasms was enough for her, and I loved it.
Slipping my hand away from her pussy, I stood to capture her lips with mine and guided her towards the bedroom. She tasted like chocolate and sin all wrapped up into one. When the back of her knees hit the mattress, I gently pushed her to lie down.
“ Eres tan hermosa, ” I whispered against her neck, breathing her spicy yet sweet perfume deep into my lungs. “ Eres mi mundo, mi todo. ” Decorating her neck in gentle kisses, I thrived off of the sweet sounds she was making. “ Me vas a matar con esos ruidos, Bella. ”
“Take off your clothes, Arturo. I want to ride you,” she whimpered against my lips as her hand palmed my cock.
Rising to my feet, I did as I was told, removing my clothes.
I was already hard, and the wicked smirk on Bella’s lips told me just how much she loved it.
As I laid back on the bed, I gripped the back of her thigh and squeezed.
“Ride me baby.” Blushing softly, she straddled my lap gripping the hands I held up.
She lowered her pussy onto my cock inch by slow inch. A gasp leaving her lips.
“Fuck…” she moaned, gripping my hands tight.
“You take my cock so fuckin’ well, princess. You were fuckin’ made for me.” I rasped, burying myself deeper inside her.
Her hair fell around us like a veil, blocking out the miserable world and locking us in our own.
She swivelled her hips in slow, sensual movements, making me moan.
I couldn’t take my eyes off her. I wasn’t used to giving up control but having her riding my cock like the damn goddess she was, felt so good.
“Fuck.” I moaned, taking her nipple in my mouth. I gripped her hips, my fingers digging into her skin as she slid up and down my cock, slowly driving me insane. My heart hammered in my chest. We were so connected, so in sync, it was damn near perfect.
“Is this what my man wanted?” she whispered, her lashes fanning my cheek.
“Yes,” I breathed, her rhythm never faltering. “Lean back and hold my knees.”
She did as I told her, arching her back as her hands gripped my knees, her face was one of pure ecstasy as her cheeks flushed and her lips parted.
“I’m close, Arturo,” she moaned, her whimpers teasing my orgasm.
“Then come for me,” I demanded. “Fuckin’ soak me.” As soon as I slipped my thumb against her clit, her body quivered and her pussy choked my cock.
“Fuck!” she managed over her whimpers and moans. “Arturo, come with me, please,” she pleaded, tightening her hold on my hired hand. She didn’t need to tell me twice, with a deep moan I filled her pussy with everything I had.
Her head dropped forwards, resting against my forehead. The warmth of her breath tickled my lips as she slowly came down from the high.
“I love you, Bella.” I managed through laboured breaths, rising up to capture her mouth.
“And I love you.”