Total pages in book: 43
Estimated words: 39756 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 199(@200wpm)___ 159(@250wpm)___ 133(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 39756 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 199(@200wpm)___ 159(@250wpm)___ 133(@300wpm)
“Non possi or something like that,” I say over my shoulder, seeing him smirk as I butcher his Italian language.
“Non posso vivere senza di te. It means I can’t live without you.” Wetness clouds my eyes. I’d like to say it’s from the shampoo, except Nico has already rinsed that out. Conditioner is currently massaged into my ends, and my body is already washed thoroughly. Another part of the reason why the insides of my thighs are wet, and not from the water either. Nico felt it, too, when he was on his knees before me, one of my legs on the tiled built-in corner bench. My eyes were on his, watching him clean me then use his mouth, taking one long sweep with his tongue the entire length of my pussy.
“What woman needs to hear I love you when you use words like that? Dear God, Nico. I’ll never compete with you when it comes to hearing you say things like that. You’re right. Love isn’t a strong enough word to describe what you mean to me.” He cups my cheeks carefully, lips meeting mine in a soft and sweet kiss. It’s fleeting, not near long enough.
“Considering you’re the one who was in the hospital because of me, you’ll never feel like this is a competition. You win, hands fucking down, always and forever.”
“It wasn’t you who told Petrov to come after me. I’m tougher than I look. Plus, I was a classic idiot. The next time I don’t see Enzo standing by the car with the garage door open, I’m going back inside instead of being nosey. You know that whole “Curiosity killed the cat” saying, total dumb move on my part.” I try to make a joke of it, but hearing the k-word is not making Nico any happier. “Okay, bad use of words. How about you help me out and into bed? Maybe my husband can join me today?”
“I’ve got more than today for you, vita mia. I have a lifetime. Today is just one day of more to come.” He turns the water off and grabs the towel off the rack, a towel warmer he had installed after finding me in my condo frozen like an ice cube. I walked into the bathroom the next day, trailing behind Nico when he told me that it heats the towel once the shower starts running. Is it a little extra? Probably, but the meaning behind it is everything.
“Good, because I’m getting tired.” A yawn escapes me as Nico dries me off then wraps the towel around my body. I take over to hold it beneath my arms. He hands me another towel to wrap my hair up to dry for a little bit. I won’t have to worry about staying warm if Nico is going to lie down with me.
“Then it’s off to bed for the two of us.” Nico whisks the towel around his body. The gentleness he used on me is not how he treats his body. I hang my used towels back up and walk naked out of the bathroom. He must have turned the sheets down and closed the blinds to the huge panoramic doors that lead to a balcony off the room. It’s cold outside of the bathroom, the steam no longer billowing since I’m in our bedroom, but it won’t be for long, and I know it never will as long as I’m with Nico.
I slide beneath the covers, feeling my husband’s body right beside me. He situates us until I’m lying on his chest, neither of us putting any clothes on. Nico probably thinks this is a change for me, seeing as how I always go to bed in clothes, whether it be a silk nighty outfit or sweatpants. So, this is different, and I’m hopeful he’ll let me take advantage of him.
“Ti voglio bene, vita mia.” I lift my head, question in my eyes. “I love you, my life.”
“I love you, Nico. I didn’t need those words, but I love that you gave them to me nonetheless.” His hand moves to the back of my neck, pulling me close to his lips. This kiss is more than what we did in the shower, and judging by the grip he has on my hip, thumb sweeping lower and lower, I’d say the nap will come later. Much later.
Epilogue
NICO
Two Months Later
“Tell me again why we went along with this hair-brained scheme?” I ask Journey, holding her in my arms as we dance to a slow song, what should be our first dance as husband and wife. Things have settled down since the issue with Petrov. That doesn’t mean I still don’t have a guy on my wife at all times.
“Because the first time around, we got married away from our family. And remember it was you who opened your wallet for them. I would have put my foot down, but you were all ‘Oh, Journey, it won’t be that bad.’ Who was wrong and who was right this time around?” she responds in her smart-ass retort. “Plus, look at Delaney and Pierre hitting it off. That was worth it alone seeing as how my best friend is beyond stubborn and made me wait this long until he’d meet Pierre.” I shake my head. My wife thinks everyone needs to be happy, no matter the cost.