The next morning I woke up feeling a little disoriented and a slight tightness between my eyes, my tolerance for alcohol must have gone to nil if two glasses could give me a mini hang over. I go to check on the kids and see Maria in the living room. โGood morningโShe is already dressed in a purple top and a pair of black pants, healed pumps at her crossed feet โGood morning, sleep good?โI nod. Looking around before mouthing โNiko?โ I donโt know why Iโm whispering though. I must have been far gone dreamland when he joined me last night. Guess the men had lots to talk about.โGym downstairsโ I nod, he seems to be working out a lot these days. As the twins are still asleep, I decide on a shower to feel more awake. brushing my hair up into a ponytail.Iโm putting on some moisturizer when Niko enters the bathroom. โGood morningโ I look at him from the mirror.โMorning baby,โ he says, running a hand through his sweat damp hair, the longer strands are down now, falling into his eyes. I
Is this baby Niko? โHow freaking cuteโ Iโd know that face anywhere, it looks just like my son. I flip through two more laughing, how long has he had these? Pushing his chair back with one hand, I lower unto the chair as I slip the picture to the bottom revealing another, where he looks about five with his curly hair falling over his forehead."Oh my Gosh" Is it weird that this makes me want to have another mini Niko? That frown and chin?In the next picture, he looks to be about fifteen, fourteen maybe? Itโs a half shot, stopping at his waist, he wears a white shirt with a dull brown jacket over it, hands stuffed inside his jacket pocket. I flip to the next and another one after that, he's not smiling in any of the pictures, but the sight of them makes me smile. In the next one, he looks maybe eighteen, but it's a little hard to tell he as seems so tall already, He is in a tank top, cargo pants tucked into half-laced boots, all in black. His face is thinner but the eyebrow is the sa
My breath skips in my lungs, and I can hear my heart beating in my throat, is it strange that even after nearly two years, the thought of him still makes my heart beat faster, makes me squirm with butterflies like a fifteen year old with a crush? Swiping my tongue over my bottom lip, I lean back slightly. โI have a meeting in a few minutes, I came here looking for earbuds, I can't find mineโ In fact it should already be time as I've spent the last ten minutes looking at pictures and walking down memory lane. โTop right drawerโ He thumbs the underside of my ribcage, just beneath my breast and tingles spread down my spine. Getting ahold of myself I clasp the golden handle, dragging the drawer open, I immediately see the black case of his earbuds, snatching them up and making to slip out from under his arms murmuring a thank you. I don't get very far before I'm spun around fingers tighten around the back of my thighs and I'm deposited on the table, his lips claiming mine in a way th
When I woke up the next morning I changed and went down for a swim, either I missed Vincent or he didnโt show, by the time I came back and showered it was almost seven. When I go to take my phone from where itโs charging on the nightstand, I notice a black velvet box. A wide smile pulls at my lips. Iโm almost blinded by the sparkling diamonds when I pop it open, my breaths hitching in my lungs. Since the first time, whenever Niko travels he buys me jewelry, a pair of earrings, bracelets, necklaces, and hair adornments, never rings though, I once asked why he hasnโt gotten me any rings and he said; the only ones you need are the ones that proclaim you taken by me, anything else will serve as a distraction. Holding it up with one hand to the light I admire my new piece, wow. Itโs beautiful. Picking up my phone I call him. He answers on the first ring. โI saw your present, why didnโt you show me earlier?โ I asked grinning ear to ear. โI got distracted by other thingsโ he answer
โYes sirโ Maria abandoned the clothes she was still tending to and immediately disappeared in the direction of the nursery. His eyes are dark when he e holds a hand out to me โCome here.โ My heart skips in my chest but I keep dancing slowly as though I am unaffected by the tone of his voice and the look in his eyes. Stark hunger. I feel heat in my cheeks, spreading down my chest, making the tips of my breast tingle. Now that weโre alone I exaggerate the movement of my hips bending slightly to fold two more clothes before I turned to him, looking at him from beneath my lashes โWant to dance with me swetie?โ Any ounce of patie
Niko left moments after Caela calmed down that day, with him gone, I took a cold shower to calm down my raging hormones and made a note to inform Andrea to prescribe birth control the next time she comes by. For now, I placed an order for condoms. Scrolling to the bottom to click onextra largefeeling silly but something tells me Niko wonโt hearwaitthe next time he has me beneath him. Best be prepared. The children must be having it in turns because Calea is up napping while Angel seems to think his lungs need the exercises, It's Saturday and the ladies are here for a visit, Maria has taken Sebby to the kitchen for a snack. And I try
Upstairs, I get a bottle and glass from the kitchen before making my way to the bathroom, I start the bath while undressing. Tossing in some bath bombs and rose oils to help me relax. I put my hair up in a loose bun, shoving about half a dozen bobby pins to hold it in place, and pour a generous portion of wine before stepping into the hot water. My headache felt better almost immediately. I make quick work of that glass and pour another one, sipping slowly this time. My eyes fall shut and I lean back against the tub. I must have dozed a little because when I opened my eyes Niko was kneeling by the tub, one hand disturbing the now lukewarm water โSleeping inside the tub baby, should I ask Maria to start watching you again?โ I poke my tongue at him before picking up my glass and drawing a sip of sweet wine. โI didnโt mean to doze offโ โMaria tells me you werenโt feeling wellโ his fingers play with water but I'm so far away I dont feel anything.โJust needed a power nap is all.โ I shru
I grimaced, โMy goodness, was there an accident? I hope no one got hurt?โ Fires are nasty, I shuddered just thinking about one I saw on the news a few weeks back, another reason I donโt watch the news, itโs full of sad depressing things, and while I feel for the innocent people getting hurt, itโs a lot to take. I paused looking back at Vincent my heart pounds in my chest. โAn-and what does that have to do with Niko?โ I was just asking about him and Vincent mentioned an explosion my brain began to work ten steps ahead was he-did he- I blinked repeatedly trying to find my voice, I ask slowly โโฆYou think he was there?โNo longer trying to smile, Tommy takes my hands, his eyes sharp โWe donโt know, he was meant to inspect some shipments-โ His words do nothing to calm my rising anxiety, the floor moves from beneath me, only Tommy's hands on my arms around me or I'd have fallen, my stomach tightens and bile rises in my throat I pull from him โBut heโs not answering his phone, you think so
The second I was out of sight, I braced a palm flat against the nearest wall, my heart beating so fast behind my ribs, I felt like I was on the verge of fainting. I try to get my bearings. My hands tremble I have to bring my right to my chest. My knees knocked together and sweat beaded on my forehead. I licked my dry lips and focused on my breathing exhaling through my mouth. Iโd put on a brave face in front out there, that I wasnโt scared of Valentina. Truth be told, I am terrified of the woman. Iโd given the performance of a lifetime and the anger boiling in my chest gave me an edge. It had to be done and I donโt regret it. Valentina Salvatore is a bully. Plain and simple. I've known a few in my life, My aunt Sara and daughter Katherina to mention, and a few from my time at the academy. The only way to get them to back off is to stand up to them. She treats everyone as less than and expects us to fall at her feet. She was very harsh with Eva, the thought of it gave me
The entire family is waiting for me when I get back. โAre we having a family gathering? Why didnโt anyone invite me?โ I suppose they heard about my unplanned visit to Valentina and called a meeting. Tommy jumps from the couch, hands outstretched and I think he wants to come in for a hug, his hands clasped on my shoulders instead turns me to the right and then to the left, he draws back with a frown, โYouโre fineโ I watch his retreating back as he heads back to the couch, โShould I not be?โ โI heard you threatened my mother, please tell me that is true?!โ Matteo responds and then bursts into laughter. Niko glared at his uncle and then his eyes shifted to me. I read the annoyance in his gaze. โDonโt encourage her,โ Eva chastises him. โThat was beyond, foolish, I donโt know what to say to you right nowโ she scolded with a shake of her head. Still laughing he leans forward, โWhat I would I given to see it happen, Ivan did you at least sneak a picture of Motherโs face?โ Ivan sha
My lips stretch into a smile. โI have to disarm your menโ his voice is low, challenging. I hummed, waving my hand for him to have at it, I moved to step forward but Ivan held out his arm in front of me. I clear my throat, my polite smile dropping flat, the look I shoot him has him putting his arm down quickly. Valentinaโs man, Maxim, steps to the side, letting me walk through, Ivan and Rico coming in behind me. Tilting my chin up, I follow where the sound of the voice came from, my heels clicking on the marble floors. Valentine is sitting on her patio at the side of her house, overlooking a small garden. I step through the wide double doors, smoothing a hand over my hair, pulled back into a low ponytail, the ends of my hair sweeping over my spine as I walk. I wonder where her other men are, seeing none of them around, this will be easier than I thought. She is dressed in a soft blue sweater and a long cream coloured skirt, pearls at her throat and ears, and her ever pre
I push out of the water breathing hard, I wipe water from my eyes with a hand, climbing out of the pool ungracefully. My arms shaking, lungs burning. I had hoped I would feel better after the workout. I donโt. I go to bed angry and I wake up frustrated, Iโve been to the shooting range every day for the past three days, shooting a few rounds, Iโve gotten more familiar with my weapon and my hands donโt shake anymore. The recoil and loud bangs donโt make me jump. My aim has also gotten better. My life is falling apart, the mansion is as tensed and quiet as a graveyard I donโt know how things are with Eva and Matteo as I havenโt been able to reach either of them, Tommy has been MIA, Niko isnโt speaking to me, I know he felt bad about pushing me away the other night but not enough to make peace, itโs all that witchโs fault. Everything changed the moment she arrived. Everyone has asked me to steer clear of VValentina. Matteo, Eva, Tommy, Maria, now, even Niko. He assures me that
When most women upset their husbands, as punishment their credit cards get taken away, some other of their favorite things, or he can new mistress brought to the house to show the woman her place and that she isnโt irreplaceable. My husband fucks me into oblivion. A strange feeling wakes me, I turn my head, trying to get a sense of myself, was it the kids, did I hear a sound? Breathing deeply, my lashes flutter, and with sleepy eyes, I notice a dark form just beside me on the bed, watchingas a large hand glides up my thigh.โNikoโฆ?โ I swallow, blinking away the fog of sleep from my mind, my eyes travel around the room, behind him, and it's dark in the room, only a soft glow from a bulb at the far end of the room. When he remains quiet, โDid something happen?โ he looks fine, excluding his silent demeanor. I wasn't expecting him after he left me in bed this afternoon. โAre you hurt?โ He pushes off his jacket and crawls onto the bed and over me throwing off the blankets as he goes.
โOh my, yes!โ I gasped. โNikoโฆโMy core clenches at the onslaught of pleasure gathering between my legs. I scream his name when the wave comes, my head trashing, hair flying about at the intensity. He doesnโt stop, just keeps pounding into me as I ride my orgasm.A broken sound leaves me, I blink back more wetness in my eyes.โOhโฆโ I squirm beneath him, rolling my hips up into him, knowing I'll have a rug burn on my back but I need more of him. It gets too much, looking at his face eyes dark with pleasure, I tug on my wrists, โPlease let me touch youโ โNoโ he punctuated that with a particular vicious thrust and I screamed he repeated the action, hitting a sensitive spot inside me again and again intense pleasure swirled from my hips spreading over my limbs and I felt like I might disintegrate.โOhโฆfuckkkโ I stand right at the edge, on the precipice as my orgasm crests, about to fall over when he slips out of me. My entire body quakes, my pussy clenching around nothing, as I blinked,
โHm-not muchโ I stammered, my eyes jumping around nervously, I wondered what he would do if I made a swift escape, in his current mood, probably chase me. His head tilts to the side in silent challenge. โWe didnโt get to the gun part-" I decide to add "But he said to shoot to killโ Niko nods in agreement, walking around me, he says, โHeโs right about that, donโt pull your gun unless you have every intention to use it.โ I follow him with my eyes, my feet still rooted to a spot. Whenever he gets like this, anyone with the right sense will find a place to hide. โAnd if you do, aim to killโ Now behind me. โWhat else did your friend teach youโ I winced at the way he gritted the word friend. My... I really fucked up. I didn't plan any of it, the thought of learning how to shoot came to me this morning and the more I thought of it, the more it seemed like a smart idea. The mansion is guarded like Fort Knox, but like I told Miguel, one day I might be the only thing standing between my
Angelo is sleeping on my chest, just months ago his little body could ball up on my chest but now his hands and legs hang over my sides, his head resting on my breast. They are growing up so fast. To imagine that a year ago they were inside me. My hand drops to his back.โCaelaโ I called softly. She turns to me, lips parted and struggling with Angelo's toy car happy to be alone with it, the both of them were fighting over it before Angelo had given up, deciding on a nap instead. Caela would have fought over her beloved giraffe until next year before letting someone have it. When I smile at her she turns back, slamming it on the couch and giggling by herself. โCaelaโ I called again and she turned immediately, eyes wide. I shake my head with another smile. When she turns away from me I say โValentina?โ Waving the car in front of her, she tosses it to the other end of the couch then struggles unto her hands and knees, crawling towards it. โVale?โ I try again. Nothing. โIsadora?โ T
The door opens a head with brown curls peakes in before he enters the room fully, followed by a low whistleโ Was this you Eva? Damnโ Tommy eyes the destruction with keen appreciation. His long legs eat up the space easily and before I know it he is lowering down to the couch beside me. I take note that Eva and Matteo are no longer touching. โAre you all planning on how to get back at Nonna? Why did nobody call me?โ at my surprised look je pushes his hair from his eyes with a careless shrug, โShe wants to take my girl, thatโs more than enough offense in my bookโ โWe arenโt planning to get back at Valentina, I was just telling Lola to avoid her, you will do the sameโ โBut whyโฆโ he practically whined, throwing his large arms around my shoulders in a hug. โI donโt think thatโs necessary, Niko said no so we should be goldenโ โIt's cute that you think thatโs enough to stop Valentina,โ Tommy says with a pat on my head. "Pretty sure she sacrifices virgins every night and drinks their b