20. Chapter Twenty
Chapter Twenty
Luciana
Iwant nothing more than to warn Sienna about Gabriel’s plan but he made it clear I wasn’t allowed to tell her anything. He doesn’t want to risk her running and ruining his plan. His plan to marry her to a lunatic.
“I can’t stand for this,” I say after me and Matteo are back home. He’s doing a lot better after a few days in the hospital. My infection is completely gone and I’m feeling healthy again. I’m feeling like myself again.
“I know you can’t.” He leans back against the couch, watching me as I pace around the room. “Sienna is your friend. But Gabriel wants this and what Gabriel wants, Gabriel gets.”
I sigh and sink onto the couch. “It’s just not fair. It wasn’t fair when I had to marry you. When I was kept in the dark until the last possible moment.”
“I know. But it all worked out in the end, didn’t it? We love each other.”
“Because you fought for me. You showed me that you can be a good man. But Dante? He’s evil.
Pure evil. Sienna is going to break being married to him.
She’s already broken from her dad dying.
She was finally feeling better and when Gabriel tells her what she’s going to have to do… I’m worried. She might die, Matteo.”
He rubs my arm and I find myself leaning into his touch. Things have truly changed between us. “I know. I don’t know Sienna like you do. But you have to trust that your friend is strong enough to survive this. It’s either go to war with Dante or an arranged marriage.”
“I don’t know why Gabriel can’t just kill Dante. I don’t want you to kill him since I don’t want you to get hurt again.”
“I appreciate your concern for me, though it’s a little insulting you don’t think I’m capable of killing Dante. I promised I wouldn’t go after him. I don’t want to put you at risk again. So far, Dante hasn’t come for us and I want to keep it that way.”
“The sacrifice just has to be my best friend,” I mutter, crossing my arms. “It’s terrible.”
“I know. But there’s nothing you can do. All we can do is focus on our future together.”
I lean my head on his shoulder where it belongs. Where it feels right. “I know. Our future. I like the sound of that. I never thought we’d get to this point.”
“You were fighting with yourself for a lot of it.”
“I know,” I sigh. “And I’m sorry. I was torn between what I thought I was supposed to be and what I wanted.
But I just had to learn to trust you and now that I do, I know I made the right decision.
I’m happy with you, Matteo. I want us to continue this.
We still have so much more growing to do as a couple. ”
“I agree. Once we’re fully back to our health, I say we start again. A new chapter. What do you say?”
I look into his dark eyes – the eyes that used to intimidate me so much – and I smile because now, all I see is warmth there. “I say yes. I want that. I want to be free of my shame and feelings. I want to just be happy.”
“Then let’s be happy.”
“It’s hard with Sienna on my mind.”
“I know. But there’s nothing you can do. All you can do is focus on yourself. On us. What do you say?”
I know Sienna will always be in the back of my mind but I do deserve some happiness of my own. I just have to hope that Gabriel will change his mind and Sienna won’t have to marry Dante.
“Ok,” I answer. “Let’s focus on us.”
A new start, even if it won’t be easy.
Matteo and I begin our new chapter by spending the day at the botanical gardens. An indoor garden park that helps keep things cool during the hot day. It’s a beautiful place where I can feel some of the tension leave my body.
We hold hands. It feels like the most natural thing in the world.
“I like this,” I murmur as we walk around, gazing at the flowers. “I’ve never been here before. My life was always tea parties and getting my hair and nails done. I never bothered to explore the city much. There’s so much I was missing out on.”
“Me too. Work has kept me busy over the years. I need to make more time for us.” He presses a kiss to the back of my hand. “I love you, Luci.”
I can’t help but blush from his words. “I love you too. I’m still not used to hearing you say it though.”
“And I’m still in shock that you would say it to me after how we began.”
“But look at us now.”
Being with Matteo feels as easy as breathing.
I’m on a high from the gardens when we return home. But all of that is dashed when I see my father standing on our doorstep. We haven’t spoken since that day at his home.
“Dad?” I ask, slowly walking towards him. Matteo keeps back, either for his own safety or my father’s. I’m not sure which. “What are you doing here?”
“Can we talk? Please.”
“Of course.” The sight of my father is a hurtful one. I still love him despite everything but he betrayed me so much that that sting doesn’t just go away.
He walks closer to me and I can feel Matteo tense. But my father doesn’t pull out a gun. Instead, he pulls me into his arms. Tentatively, I hug him back. Being in my father’s arms makes me feel like a little girl again.
“I am sorry,” he says into my ear. “I never should have hurt you like I did. I was just so scared.”
“I know,” I whisper back. “I know, Dad. I know.”
“Please forgive me. I promise to never do anything like that again. I’ll give you the space you need. I won’t go after Matteo.”
“Did Gabriel speak to you?”
I can feel him nod. “He did. He talked some sense into me. I am so sorry, Luciana.”
“I know you were scared, Dad. But never do anything like what you did again.”
“I promise.”
“Then I’ll forgive you. Because I love you and I want you in my life. But if you ever betray me again, I’ll never speak to you again.”
He flinches but nods anyway. We pull back from the hug. “I promise. I am sorry, Luciana.”
“I have forgiven you.” I glance back at Matteo and then back to my dad. “Do you want to come in? It might be good for us all to clear the air.”
“I don’t want to bother you two.” He turns to Matteo and holds out his hand. “I am sorry. I never should have tried to kill you. I just want my daughter safe.”
“And she’s safe with me. I vowed to always protect her and I’ll continue to do so.” He shakes my father’s hand. “I know our life is a difficult one. It’s made up of sacrifices. But I will take care of your daughter.”
“Thank you.” My father backs away from us. I can already feel the distance but it’s for the best. “Please just be safe,” he says to me. “Always.”
“Always,” I promise.
With a sad smile, he gets into his car and drives away. The moment he’s gone, I break down into tears. Matteo pulls me into his arms and I rest my head over his heart, right where it belongs.
Matteo undresses my body. In the soft light of the bathroom, he looks even more handsome. More regal. My husband.
I stand before him naked, unafraid this time. No more hiding my body. No more shame. I know there’s nothing wrong with enjoying my time with Matteo. There could never be anything wrong.
My hands are steady as I undress him next. Being with Matteo doesn’t make me afraid anymore. It only makes me excited.
Once we’re both naked, we each take a moment to look at each other. His eyes darken as they wash over my body. My breath hitches as I gaze down at his cock as it hardens before my eyes.
Matteo holds my hand, helping me into the warm bath. I sigh as I sink into the water. He gets behind me, wrapping me in his arms. My head fits perfectly in the crook of his shoulder.
“Feels good?” he asks.
“It’s perfect.”
He travels his hand between my breasts and down my body. I gasp when his fingers part my legs and press against my clit. It doesn’t matter that Matteo and I have been intimate before. Every time he touches me feels like the first time again.
I part my legs wider and let him pleasure me. His fingers are like magic as they work over my pussy. I can think of the word without blushing now. I know it’s no longer shameful to enjoy this time with my husband. It’s one thing in our lives that is pure in a way.
He inserts his finger inside of me, making me moan softly. “I’m going to hear you scream my name tonight. Now that we’re both feeling better, nothing is going to stop me from taking you.”
“Yes,” I sigh, dropping my head back and fluttering my eyes closed. “Yes!”
His finger thrusts in and out of me. My inner walls clamp down on him every time. I need this – more than I realized I needed it. Being with Matteo feels like being whole. Fully complete. Nothing could make me happier.
While his finger moves in and out of me, his thumb flicks my clit. My hips jerk into his hand.
“Tell me how much you like this,” he says against my ear.
“I love it,” I moan, unafraid to make a lot of sound now. No more being shy. No more being polite for polite sake. I want to fully let go with Matteo tonight and nothing is going to stop me.
“I knew you would. You love it when I fill your pussy right up. Fuck, Luciana. You’re going to be the death of me, I swear.”
“I hope not. I don’t want you to die.” Not anymore. The thought of Matteo dying now fills my heart with so much pain that I can’t even stand to think on it a moment longer.
I love this man now and nothing can change that.
His finger presses right down onto my clit. My moan echoes through the bathroom.
“That’s it,” he murmurs. “Scream for me, Luciana. God, I need to hear it.”
“Matteo!” I let my voice go. Fully go for the first time in my life. It’s perfection.
The next time his finger flicks my clit, I find my orgasm. It washes over my body in perfect waves of pleasure. Matteo presses kisses to my neck. They’re soft and gentle but no less passionate.
I can feel his hardness underneath me. Ready for me like I’m ready for him.
Matteo picks me up into his arms and caries me into the bedroom. Neither one of us cares that we’re soaking wet. We can change the sheets later.
The moment Matteo sets me down on the bed, I grab his arms and pull him flush against me. The last thing I want is any space between us.