Epilogue
GAbrIELA
The midday sun casts a warm glow over the alfresco dining area, where Nonna Vitale has laid out a brunch fit for a queen. Technically, in our world, I suppose it is.
The girls and I sit together, sharing food and conversation while the Vitale men occupy their primal habitat, the outdoor gym. They were dealing with some kind of Mafia issue all night, so they got a late start.
We have a don’t-ask, don’t-tell policy regarding the details of their business.
But since Angelo has taken over as don, I’ve surmised that most of what Romeo does for the Cosa Nostra takes place on his computer.
Occasionally, he’ll disappear to the woodshed, and he does what’s necessary to protect his family.
As long as he comes home safe, that’s all I care about.
He might be slightly unhinged, but I wouldn’t have him any other way.
I catch myself staring at him as he uses the parallel bars, lowering his insanely hot body into slow, controlled dips. Every inch of his inked chest is on display, while my favorite pair of black sweats hang low on his hips.
My eyes trace a path up his corded arms, over the prominent veins, all the way up to the tendons in his neck. The way his abs contract sends a shiver through me, reminding me of when he comes hard, the contractions pulsing through those ridges of muscle.
We’ve both been busy this week, and I’m eager to get him alone for an entire Sunday. But that will have to wait until tomorrow.
After graduation, I launched an independent label—Sunshine x Storm. Thanks to an invite-only show for IVI members, my twelve-piece capsule collection sold out as soon as it dropped. Now I’m working on expanding into some local boutiques and have also started taking on custom commissions.
I spend my days in my home studio, losing myself in hours of creative work. I love what I’m doing, and Romeo tells me often how proud he is. He even attended the show, which earned him more than a few curious glances.
At one point, one of the attendees cornered him, making no secret of her interest. Much to my annoyance, I’ve realized this is a common occurrence when your husband is god-tier hot.
It doesn’t matter how dark and stormy his moods might be, it only seems to attract even more sidelong glances and flirtations.
He has one response on those occasions. Do you want to tell her, baby, or should I?
It makes my heart melt every time, and I do, in fact, tell them that he’s mine.
Sometimes my voice still shakes, but with practice, I really am getting better at using it. True to his word, Romeo is always behind me, his presence giving me the courage and strength I’ve always needed.
I haven’t heard from my family since their visit to the island, and in a weird way, it feels like they don’t even exist anymore. At least not in my head, criticizing my every move.
This is my family now, and they’re all I could ever want or need. We always show up for each other, and today is proof of that. This afternoon, the entire family will gather to honor their don, his queen, and their legacy.
Chantel casts a glance at the outdoor gym, her eyes lingering on Cristian a moment too long before she lets out an annoyed sigh.
“I bet they all fuck like gods.”
Abella and I exchange a look, each of us suppressing a laugh.
“Well, I can only speak for mine,” I say. “But can confirm he definitely does.”
“Same.” Abella rubs her pregnant belly. “How do you think I got myself into this mess?”
“What did you expect when you married a man with a breeding kink?” Chantel smirks.
“We know far too much about each other’s lives,” Mariella mutters.
“You’re welcome to spill your dirty little secrets,” Val replies. “We know you have them.”
“A woman has to keep some mystery.” She gives a little shrug.
“Mmm-hmm.” Chantel takes a sip of her mimosa, nearly choking on it as she glances at the gym again.
We all follow her gaze to find Romeo watching me with that predatory expression I know all too well.
“He looks at you like he wants to eat you,” Chantel says.
“Does he?” I smile. “Never noticed.”
“That man doesn’t see anything but you,” Abella muses.
I don’t deny it, because it’s true. Whenever we’re with company, Romeo always has at least one of his hands on me somewhere.
If he can’t physically touch me, his eyes are on me.
And when he kisses me, he does it like we’ve been apart for years, rather than hours.
As a husband, he’s intense, possessive, and crazy protective, but I love every second of it.
As if he can sense what we’re talking about, he strolls across the patio, a mischievous glint in his wolf-like gaze as he closes in on me.
“Excuse me, ladies.” He cosplays the perfect gentleman until he bends down and scoops me out of my chair, tossing me over his shoulder. “I need to borrow my wife.”
“What I wouldn’t give to have a man look at me that way.” Chantel sighs as he stalks off with me.
“Where are we—” The words die in my throat as he sits down on the bench in the gym and shifts me around, one hand beneath my ribcage and the other around my thigh.
“Remember what I said about distracting me during my workouts?” he asks.
“Yes, but I wasn’t really staring,” I protest. “It was just a quick glance.”
He lays back, and I let out a little yelp as he bench presses me into the air. “Now you have to help me finish.”
“And the innuendos just keep coming,” Michele says dryly.
Rafe chuckles. “If Romeo had it his way, he would too.”
Nonna steps out onto the patio, pausing to look at us. “What’s this move?”
“It’s called the Neanderthal powerlift,” Rafe deadpans.
She nods, as if that makes sense, then goes about her business.
I sigh like I’m really put out. “You know they have weights for this?”
“I prefer this view.” Romeo smirks.
“Does this count as my workout for the day, too?” I ask as he does another rep.
“Nah, I’m giving you that later.”
“Get a room,” Cristian grumbles.
“Fuck off,” Romeo fires back.
“Gladly.” Cristian chugs a bottle of water before he, Rafe, and Michele take their leave.
Romeo finishes his reps, using me as his weight. When he rolls me onto the floor mat beneath him in one fluid motion, I let out another yelp.
“I think you like making me do that,” I squeak.
“You’re just now figuring that out?” He lowers himself into a pushup, brushing his lips against mine.
I let out a soft exhalation, and he suppresses a groan.
“You left me alone in bed.” He pushes himself back up slowly, his arm muscles distracting me from the conversation.
“I had to get ready for brunch. Abella’s baby shower is today, remember? You said you’d come.”
He lets out a dry breath. “You’re the only person in the world I’d do this for.”
“You say that about everything.” I laugh. “It will be fun, I promise.”
“Only if I don’t have to talk to anyone else.” He lowers himself back down, giving me another kiss.
“Is someone cranky?” I murmur.
“I don’t like waking up without you.”
“I know.” I offer him an apologetic smile. “Want to touch my boobs? Will that make you feel better?”
“Yes.” He kisses me a little rougher and with more heat, pressing his body closer until I feel his erection. “If we’re going to this baby shower, I need to fuck you first.”
“Okay,” I answer breathlessly.
He lowers his voice, ghosting the words against my ear. “You want the princess treatment, or do you want to get fucked hard?”
My thighs press together as a shiver rolls through me. This is the part of Romeo that nobody else ever sees. Around everyone else, he’s quiet, and they have no idea how dirty he talks. It’s our little secret, and I love it.
“How about a bit of both?” I suggest.
“If that’s what my wife wants—” His voice dips, edged with dark promise as he lifts me up and smacks me on the ass in front of everyone. “That’s what she’ll get.”
I glance over his shoulder to find all the girls watching us as he carries me off, and I give them a little wave.
“Be back soon.”
“Not likely,” Romeo says.
We make it as far as one of the guest rooms before he tosses me onto the bed and has his way with me—twice.
As I lie there in the afterglow, lazing against his chest, everything else fades away. In that moment, the love I have for him hits me all over again.
“Thank you.” I wrap my arms around him, holding him tight.
“For what, baby?”
“For giving me forever with you.”
The End.