Epilogue
EPILOGUE
MANUEL
One Year Later
I entered the foyer with Umbrio at my back, relieved to be back in my castello and eager to see my loved ones.
“You’re awfully happy to be back home,” he remarked dryly. “You rushed us so much that we had to travel around the world in twelve hours.”
“Damn straight.” He was just cranky because we didn’t stay behind in China after our meeting so he could sample some of its fruits. “I have a wife and a baby I missed like hell while playing diplomacy.”
He chuckled. “As if Qian would risk pissing off his sister, or Danil for that matter.”
I let out a sardonic breath. “That’s where you’re wrong. The man would risk everyone’s wrath for Nicki.”
The aria registered and I followed the tunes through the house, Umbrio tracking along and nagging. I tuned him out and focused on the beautiful voice that belonged to my wife who somehow managed to tear me apart with it and put me back together every single time.
Did it make me a wimp? Maybe. I didn’t give a flying fuck.
Another few steps and I found my wife and daughter among the vineyards and lemon trees.
I stopped abruptly, Umbrio almost running into me. Shooting him a glare, I made it clear if he let out a sound, I’d shoot him. He rolled his eyes and made himself scarce while I returned my attention to the most beautiful welcome-home sight a man could wish for.
Wearing a simple yellow dress and standing barefoot, Athena held our daughter, swaying her hips and rocking her to sleep while singing soft opera tunes. Valentina, our beautiful baby girl, stared at her mamma with such an innocent and trusting expression that it hit me right in the chest.
These two were my entire world and I’d wage a thousand wars to protect them and keep them both happy. Just as I promised my young wife.
And I knew she was happy.
In the past year of our marriage, I learned that when Athena sang arias, she was at her happiest. When she was anxious, she hummed. When she was mad, she got silent. But when she was furious, which only happened if someone threatened our baby girl or me, she set the world on fire.
Athena’s voice faltered and a smile spread over her face.
“My two favorite people in the whole wide world,” was my greeting.
“Look, Valentina,” she murmured as she rushed over to me, her bare feet silent against the grass. “Papà’s home.”
I met her halfway and wrapped my hand around her waist, bringing them both into my embrace. Pressing my mouth against hers, she opened up, letting me devour her. It didn’t matter how many times I’d had her, I never tired of her. I was completely addicted to her and under her spell, but she was under mine too.
“I missed you,” I rasped against her mouth.
“We missed you too.” Athena lowered her gaze to our daughter, a soft smile playing around her lips. “Didn’t we, Valentina?”
A soft coo sounded from our daughter and I bent my head, pressing a kiss on her little forehead.
“Papà missed you too, my little treasure.”
Cazzo , this was happiness—a heaven on earth. All was right in the world when I was with them, in our paradise.
“How was the trip?” Athena inquired, knowing that anything to do with Qian and Atticus was bound to eventually go to shit. “Everything went well?”
I pressed my forehead against hers. “As you’d expect it to be. But everyone came out of it alive.”
She smiled.
“That’s a bonus.” I brushed my fingers over our daughter’s thick dark hair as her eyes drooped. It was time for another nap. “Want to hold her for a bit, Papà?” I straightened, already reaching for her, and my wife chuckled. “You’re never that eager to hold me.”
“You’re wrong,” I told her, now holding my daughter with one hand and my wife with the other. “I’ll show you how much later, amorina. ”
She tilted her face up to me. “I’m counting on it, husband.”
Yes, everything was so fucking right in the world.
I closed the nursery door as quietly as possible.
Putting Valentina to sleep was like strategizing a war. She was a handful compared to my nephews, turning our lives upside down, but I wouldn’t change any of it.
We took turns with her bedtime routine. Sometimes we even teamed up when Valentina got extra cranky, but my amorina and I got through them together.
The first few months were rough. We almost forgot what it meant to get a full night’s sleep, but it was getting easier each day.
But this was our family. The one I would protect with my life.
A set of dainty hands came around my waist and my wife’s fragrance wrapped around me.
“Are you ready to get freaky, husband?”
I turned around and found my wife standing in front of me… naked.
Cazzo.
She was the most beautiful woman I’d ever laid eyes on. It didn’t matter that I woke up next to her every day, she still took my breath away.
“I’m always ready for you, amorina .”
I scooped her up, heading toward our own bedroom, and shut the door behind me with my foot. Athena dug her hands into my shirt, giggling. Her cheeks were rosy and her eyes shimmered like emeralds. She looked so beautiful.
I loved seeing her playful and mischievous.
“How did I get so lucky?” I rasped, pressing my lips against hers. “I have the most beautiful wife and daughter in the world.”
“You knocked me up,” she teased. “Although, I think I got the better end of the deal. A handsome husband who inspires all my novels and who gave me the best gift of all with Valentina.” She skimmed her soft lips all over my face before kissing me deeply. “Now let me down,” she murmured against my mouth.
“Why?”
“Because I want you to fuck my mouth. And once upon a time, I promised you teabagging.”
I stifled my surprised laugh. Jesus, this woman turned me into a hungry beast, but her sex drive was as insatiable as mine.
I set her on her feet and she took my hand, flattening my palm on her beating heart.
Then she started to unbutton my shirt. Her throat worked around a swallow as she slid her hands down my abdomen until she reached my belt and undid it.
She lowered herself to her knees in front of me as her hands slid my pants and boxer briefs down.
A carnal lust for her hardened my dick and she smiled.
“Someone’s eager,” she purred.
She freed my cock, her hands wrapping around it, and her tongue darted out to lick the tip. My fingers dug into her dark hair as I groaned.
“You like this?”
“ Cazzo , I do.” She stared up at me, still stroking me up and down. “Forget the teabagging and suck me.”
It was just like my wife not to obey, but I loved that about her too. Instead, she swirled her tongue around the crown, lapping at the droplets of pre-cum.
“Mmm. Are you going to fuck my mouth, husband?”
She opened her mouth, taking me to the back of her throat. The hum she made vibrated through me and almost made me burst right there and then. She knew exactly what to give me.
She relaxed and let me use her mouth, her breath hot around me.
Tears welled in her eyes, drool dripping down her chin, and the sight made my cock swell painfully.
I pulled out of her wet heat, and she took an audible breath.
“You like having your mouth fucked?”
Her answer was to open her lips and dart her tongue out.
Gripping her hair tighter, I pounded inside her mouth, my rhythm increasing.
She reached a hand between her thighs, touching herself.
“Are you wet for me?”
Her movements quickened between her thighs, the sound of her slick flesh and my thrusts mixing.
“Mmm.”
I pulled out of her with a groan.
Athena licked her lips. “Why did you stop?”
I lifted her up and threw her on the bed. She landed on her back with a delighted squeal, but before I could do anything, she flipped us over and straddled me.
Her hand stroked my hard cock and slowly guided me inside her opening.
Her head tipped back with a moan as she lowered herself until I was fully sheathed inside her swollen pussy. She bit her lower lip, lust and adoration shining in her eyes.
She arched her back and started moving slowly, lazily.
She felt like home. Fuck, she was home.
She rotated her hips, riding me just how I liked, the bliss etched on her beautiful features.
Her breasts bounced, and I reached a hand out and pinched them, making her moan.
My cock thickened inside her and she let out a breathy moan. Grabbing her by the hips, I started thrusting into her from below, driving into her fast and hard.
Her erotic sounds reverberated through the air, urging me on.
“Oh, Manuel… yes… yes…” she cried out as she fell apart around me, milking me. I followed her right over the edge, my own pleasure exploding at the same time.
She fell forward, sprawling over my chest, and I roamed my hands over her body.
“I love you,” I rasped, stroking her hair. “So fucking much.”
“I love you too, marito ,” she sighed, running her fingers over my chest.
“Your pronunciation is getting better each day,” I praised.
She laughed softly. “I’ll have to keep up with my little hellion one day.”
I wrapped my arms around her. “I have a feeling Valentina is going to keep us both on our toes.”
We locked eyes, her love staring back at me. And I knew the future that awaited us would be blissful. I would spend the rest of my life showing her exactly how much she meant to me.
THE END