CHAPTER ELEVEN
“Damn, you feel good,” Rocco breathed into the darkness, his voice thick with desire. Every inch of his heated skin and the sculpted lines of his body pressed against me, stirring me. His low groan vibrated by my ear, and he whispered, “You smell good, too.”
“Rocco…mmm.” The feel of his erection against my ass sent a shiver down my spine.
His fingers slipped beneath my hair, gliding along my scalp, and I couldn’t help but moan. “Mmm, I love that.”
“I know,” he said and tugged gently, angling my head back toward him. I gasped as his lips traced a slow path along my neck and up to my ear, where his voice dropped to a velvet whisper. “I want you.”
My confidence swelled, my pulse racing as desire chased away any remnants of sleep. Dinner at Villa Caro Hotel had stretched into the early morning, and we went to bed when we returned. But waking up for sex with Rocco was something I didn’t want to turn down.
“Rocco…oh…”
His hand gripped my thigh, guiding it over his. “Only you, Bella, can steal my sleep.” He slid himself between my legs, not entering, just teasing, the thick head of him gliding against me, making me ache for more. Heat flooded through me, and I trembled, lost in the sensation.
Ohh. It feels so good. “Mmm…” But…
“Yes, fuck. You make me so hard when you moan.” He gripped my thigh tight and pushed inside of me with a torturous slowness, but not all the way, and a guttural sound rose from my throat. My inner muscles clenched tight, desperate to draw him deeper.
“Your pussy’s sucking it in.” His laugh was low and wicked, reverberating against my neck, sending tingles through me as his hands slid up to rest on my hip.
The ache was excruciating; every nerve in my body was roused and wanting.
All I had to do was press back, and pleasure would be mine, and oh, how I wanted it.
“Hmm. You playing hard to get,” he rumbled as he caressed my thigh, and I shivered, eyes closed, pushing back onto his hard length. “Ohh, yes.”
Rocco groaned, triumphant, gripping my waist and driving deeper, his hips swirling, his cock stirring inside me. The roughness of his stubble against my neck, the softness of his lips, and the friction inside me sent a wave of pleasure so fierce I cried out. “Ahh.”
“Yes…fuck, moan for me again.” I inhaled sharply and exhaled a long moan as he slid his dick in and out. “You feel so damn good, Bella.”
“Ohh, Rocco.”
He slid his cock out again, then pushed in deeper, and I quivered in bliss.
There was no resistance left, only surrender. Am I bad?
“You are a bad girl. You’re my bad girl,” Rocco answered, letting me know I had said it out loud. He sucked deep on my neck and moved a hand between my legs, rubbing my clit and sending shocks of pleasure as he moved his hips, pushing his cock in and out of me harder.
“Oh my God,” I cried, my body coiling tight as Rocco pulled out completely. I clenched, aching and empty, swollen with need. All I wanted was release. Eyes closed, I reached back, wrapping my hand around his cock, slick and throbbing with my desire.
“Squeeze it,” Rocco commanded roughly. I tightened my fist until he let out a groan. “Fuck.”
I stroked him slow and deliberately, feeling him grow impossibly harder in my grip. “Let me suck it.”
“Mmm, tempting, but I need to fuck you.” He took my hand away, rolled me over, and moved behind me, gripping my waist and pulling me to my knees.
I braced myself, clutching the sheets as he thrust deep inside, and pleasure spilled from my lips. “Ohh. Ohh, it feels so good.”
“Fuck.” He stilled, grasping my body tighter, then rolled his hips, swirling deep inside me. A hot rush of pleasure tore a moan from my lips, my breath coming fast. I surrendered completely; nothing mattered but the feeling of him inside me.
My inner walls clenched, and he groaned, plunging in deep and going still again.
“Mmm…Rocco.” My moan rose above our heavy breaths.
Rocco held himself in and tightened his hold, then swerved his hips, grounding his cock inside me. The pleasure shook me, sending a shiver down my body. “Ohh, ohh,” I cried out breathless.
“Come hard on my cock,” he demanded, his thrusts growing wild.
My body tightened, surrendering to the rush, and I came hard, my inner muscles spasming and pulsing around him.
He held me, moving out of rhythm and roaring as he flexed deep inside, his release throbbing through me.
I closed my eyes, clinging to the overwhelming sensation. Pure ecstasy.
Rocco’s hand traced down my sweat-slicked back, and we both groaned as he slipped out. I rolled onto my back, and he settled beside me, our breaths tangled in the hush. The afterglow left me floating, unable to push back thoughts of all of our worries.
“You all right, Bella?” Rocco asked, breaking our silence. He trailed his hand down my arm.
“Uhm…yes. Yes, I am.”
“You seem far away. Come over here so I can hold you.”
Tears pricked my eyes, and I turned over, and Rocco drew me close, tucking me into the curve of his arm. He kissed my head. “That’s better. Don’t you agree?”
“It is.” My answer sounded more like a question.
His chest expanded. “I think it is, but I know you. You’re worried about something.”
“I am? How do you know?”
“I know you, Bella. You worry and overthink at times.”
“Do I?”
“You do. It’s like you carry so many burdens around you. But you don’t have to anymore. You have me, and I love you. Tell me so I can help you.” His tone was full of empathy, his hand on my arm rubbing soothingly to comfort me. All of it brought a tightness to my chest, and I swallowed hard.
“Yeah…well, uhm…I don’t know where to—”
Ding. His phone sounded. He cursed as he reached over to the nightstand, grabbed it, and checked the screen and went quiet.
“What?” I asked.
“Fuck.”
“What is it?”
“Just more bad news. Our production in London was temporarily halted due to a violation, and that means more delays. If that wasn’t time-consuming enough, the board members want to review more of the stipulations set by Luca and Marini Trust. More meetings with lawyers, and I have to get up…
probably now if I want to take care of it before the Milan photo shoot. ”
“I’m…I’m sorry, Rocco.”
“I’m not; I’m just glad we took some time to enjoy ourselves. So? What did you want to tell me?”
“Uhm, nothing important. It can wait.” My voice was even, but I held my breath.
“Hmm. Okay. We’ll have time to talk again. You can come with me to Milan.”
“I can?” I asked with excitement in my voice.
“Yes. I won’t have to work, hopefully, the whole time.”
“Oh. Okay. Thank you, Rocco. I’ve never been.”
“That’s one of the reasons I want you to see it.”
“And what’s the other?”
“I just want to be with you.” He kissed my palm, and my heart skipped a beat.
“I want that, too,” I said, my voice scratchy. If I go, I could still see a doctor and talk to him. There was no way I’d rest peacefully until I told him. Soon.
“Good. Last night was great. I want more nights out together. Wasn’t it amazing?”
“It was. I mean, Bianca’s incredible, and well, so is Lorenzo, but her performance was the best I’ve ever seen.”
“She’s one of the greats. I didn’t believe she could top her Rinaldo in Rome, but she did it.”
“Oh, you saw Rinaldo? I love that one.”
“Yes, I did. She sang ‘Lascia ch’io pianga’ and brought the house down though the performance was controversial.”
“Why?”
“The whole cast performed with painted-on clothes.”
“Like, nude?”
“Painted clothes. So, almost.”
“Really? That must’ve been weird seeing your cousin’s wife almost naked.”
“Nudity’s natural. It’s not a big deal unless you’re attracted. And I’m not.”
I turned and propped myself up on my arm to face him, though the coming sunrise gave us light. Something about his answer and the mention of the Shakespeare adult event earlier had me curious. “Have you seen someone else I know?”
He guffawed. “Adelina.”
“What? It’s only a question.”
“Women never just question. Why are you asking?”
“Why won’t you answer?” I countered. “You’re being vague, and I’m curious is all. Did you attend a Summer Nights-like party before?”
“Yes, but it’s not a typical orgy with people fucking everyone. It’s…more like a select few trusted couples having or watching sex.”
I gasped. “Oh, my goodness. Who’s at these parties? Weren’t you scared you were filmed?”
“No. It’s highly selective and exclusive. We all have something on each other, so to speak. No cameras. Are you asking because you’re interested?” His tone held amusement.
I grimaced. “No…no way. I mean, I don’t judge others who like it, but I’d feel too self-conscious.”
“You might surprise yourself.”
“Doubt it. I don’t like watching porn. It always looked fake to me.”
“Yeah, some of them; but watching people fuck in front of you is a completely different experience.”
“Well, I never spent too much time on sex.”
“Why?”
“Because I knew I had to stay a virgin to marry well.”
“I detest that. You were forced into a role before you even had a chance to live. It’s unfair.” He placed his hand on my waist and pulled me close. I moved so he could lay on his back and rested my head on his uninjured shoulder.
“I don’t think of it that way.”
He kissed my forehead. “Why not?”
“Because I think our way is better. A real commitment.”
“Not all arranged marriages work out—”
“I know that. My parents taught me that. I just meant I don’t need to sleep around to feel fulfilled.”
“You feel that way because we are good together, but we could’ve been sexually incompatible or too young. My parents were too young. Speaking of my dad, he’s lost his mind.”
“Yeah, I know. Isla told me he tried to break into our house while we were gone.”
“Oh, good. I wanted her to tell you. He actually yelled at Maggie.”
I realized I hadn’t called her and planned to. “Is she okay?”
“Yeah, Maggie’s tough—”
“I don’t want her to be tough, Rocco. I want her happy with us. He’s been bugging me, too.”
“Oh, really?” His tone turned coarse. “Tell me about it.”
“I found him snooping in the house before, and he kept calling me to look for a gift Luca left for me.”
“Why on earth didn’t you tell me?”
“I-I didn’t think—”
“You’re my wife. No one mistreats you—”
Knock knock.
“Yes?” Rocco yelled out.
“It’s me, Magda. I have something for Adelina.”
She had never come to the room before, so it must be important.
“Rocco?” I asked him questioningly.
“What is it, Magda?” he called out.
“A package for Adelina. Isla said to give it directly to her the second I received it.”
“So, it’s here now,” Rocco said.
“I’m coming,” I called out. Rocco held my hip, and I playfully pulled away to climb off the bed. After collecting a robe from the closet, I opened the door. “Yes?”
Magda smiled brightly. “I’m sorry to wake you, but this was just delivered.”
I opened the bag. It was Luca’s package. “How?”
“Isla brought it over and said it was flown in a couple of hours ago. I’m leaving for my niece’s wedding in Arizona soon. She said it’s been lost before, so I had to bring it into your hands.”
“Thank you, Magda.”
“Thanks, Magda,” Rocco called to her. “Have a great time.”
“Thank you, Rocco, Adelina.”
“You’re welcome. See you again soon.”
I closed the door and walked over to Rocco. “Isla had it all this time? It really irritates me when she doesn’t tell me about things.”
His phone dinged. “It’s a text from Isla about the package. She told me she moved it so my father wouldn’t bother you at the awards show. He apparently called her, too—”
“That’s not what she told me. She said she was looking for it, not that she moved it. I feel like a fool.”
Isla often kept things from me. I understood she was Rocco’s assistant, but I thought she also worked for me.
“I told her not to ruin the evening. I’ll speak to her.”
I pursed my lips. “No, forget it. It’s here now, and I’m glad.” I brought the package to a table and set it down.
“Aren’t you going to open it?”
I frowned. “Right now? It’s so early.”
“Yeah, I’d like to see what the fuss is about, but it’s your gift, and it’s up to you.”
“I think I’d like to look at it by myself first. Luca used to send me packages, and this is my last one. Our goodbye…” I covered my mouth.
“Of course. Come here, Adelina.” I went over to the bed, and rested my head on his heart. “I miss him, too. Now that he’s gone, I hadn’t realized just how much I called him for advice.”
“Yeah,” I rasped. “He always had something to share.”
“He…he raised me. He was closer to me than my father. Sometimes I see Nico as my older brother.”
My heart hurt as I remembered what Olivia had shared about Nico. He didn’t think he was good enough to raise our kids because he feared they’d end up like him. “I believe he loves you, Rocco.”
“He does, but Luca was—”
“Extraordinary,” I offered. “A walking historian, a thesaurus.”
“He was also extremely nosy,” he mused, and we both laughed at that. “Yeah, that was him. Don’t get me wrong, I do love my dad. I just dislike some things he does, especially how he treats you. It’s crazy.”
“I think I understand where he’s coming from. I come with baggage. Of course, he wants better for his children.”
“No one’s better than you, Adelina. You’re loving, kind, strong, supportive, and even more than that, I feel like I can talk to you, and you listen. You’re honest.”
My stomach twisted in knots, and I closed my eyes. Rocco meant well, but I struggled with the pressure to always be perfect with everyone in my life.
He rubbed down my arms and the goosebumps on my skin. “You okay?”
“Uh, yeah. Just… ”
“Worrying. Stop, okay. Everything’s fine. I’ve a meeting at Marini Corporate later this morning. Why not go over to Luca’s house—well, it’s ours now. You can spend some time there and look at the package. I’ll meet you there to pick you up on our way to Milan.”
“Yeah. I’d like that.” Visiting Luca’s house, now my house, was something I’d longed for since learning he had left it to us.
The estate was grand, but his country home truly felt like mine.
Luca had once asked what a house would look like in my dreams. I described a remote home with a library full of books and a garden full of flowers and fruit.
When I arrived that night with Rocco to see him, I believed Luca lived a life of my dreams. He gave it to us and made me certain he wanted us to live it.
He kissed my forehead. “Good. Who knows? Maybe there’s something in it that could stop the legal fight over the will. ”
Olivia saying that she was aware of her father’s new will could only make things worse. However, the package had been prepared around the time of our wedding. Maybe Luca changed his mind?
“Yes. We can go over it when you pick me up.”
“Good.” I so wanted to know what was in the package, but I also wanted this time with my husband. Hoping it wasn’t the calm before the storm.