Total pages in book: 78
Estimated words: 74035 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 370(@200wpm)___ 296(@250wpm)___ 247(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 74035 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 370(@200wpm)___ 296(@250wpm)___ 247(@300wpm)
He nods, walking to his side of the truck and sliding into the driver’s seat. “Yes?”
“What if we don’t have babies right away?”
He shrugs. “Then we don’t.”
“Won’t that affect your rank, though?”
“I’m not worried about that, not at all, babe. I like who I am. I like who you are. And when and if the time comes for us to have children, we will.” He reaches for my hand and squeezes it. “But I’m content knowing that you’re mine. And that no one can take that away from us.”
I stroke my thumb along the top of his hand and nod slowly. “Thank you.”
He kisses my fingers in response.
“Anything else on your mind?”
Now that we’re no longer in danger —for now, anyway, I’m not naïve enough to think that things are always sunshine and roses in our world — I feel like I can breathe. Probably for the first time in my life.
“There is.”
“And what’s that?” He takes a sharp turn, heading back to The Castle. We’re not far, and I have some packing to do. Marialena is helping, and she said that Rosa and Rosa’s little daughter Natalia are coming to help.
I have nieces now, and nephews, and sisters. It’s all still so surreal.
I clear my throat, draw in a breath, and square my shoulders. I have no idea how he’ll react to what I want to tell him next. I know very well how my father reacted, and how Sergio did, but Dario… Dario’s another kind of man than they were.
“I want a job.”
His brows draw together and he doesn’t respond at first. When he does, he seems a bit incredulous. “A job, Vivia? Why? You don’t need money.”
“All my life, I’ve relied on the money I’ve been given that belonged to someone else. I want money of my own, that I’ve earned with my own hard work.” I want to do things like donate to charity with money that’s all mine.
“That’s fair. Of course. We’ll have to make sure it’s safe and you have bodyguards with you.”
“I know, yes.”
“Then I see no problem with that.” My heart expands and I feel a silly smile creep across my face.
He gives me a sidelong glance. “I’m getting rewarded for that, aren’t I?”
I wink at him. “I think you should pull over right this minute so I can answer that question.”
His low, growling, all male response makes me shiver in anticipation while he does, indeed, pull the truck over to an abandoned side of the road where no one can see us. I slide off my seat and straddle him, kiss him until I feel his hardened length press into my ass, then push myself to the floor between his legs.
“Vivia,” he groans at the first feel of my tongue along the velvet heat of his skin. “We have to go pack — fuck.” I suckle while I knead his balls and he throws his head back with a groan.
We’ll have plenty of time to pack.
“Fucking perfection,” he says with a contented sigh a few minutes later, fully sated and relaxed as I slide into my seat beside him and buckle my belt. I love pleasing him. I love the taste of him on my tongue. I love the way his hands slide into my hair as if to anchor himself to me right before he chases his own climax.
I’m all tingly and warm from our brief but incredibly hot encounter.
“I guess you’re thankful,” he says with a teasing smile as we pull down the long drive toward The Castle.
“I guess I am,” I say with a sigh.
He makes me feel like a queen.
Dusk falls, as the lights around The Castle spring to life.
It looks like there are visitors.
“Evening, sir,” the guard at the gate greets us.
“Evening,” Dario responds. “Looks like company?”
The young guard, a new recruit barely out of college, gives Dario a half-smile. “Marialena’s up to something. That’s all I know,” he says.
“She’s always up to something,” I tell Dario.
He chuckles. “She’s the last of the sisters to marry,” I tell him thoughtfully.
“And that might happen sooner than later,” he responds.
“Oh, she’ll be such a beautiful bride,” I say wistfully, while a part of me mourns the loss of her freedom. I sigh. It happens to all of us.
We head to the second guard who does our second security check, then sends us off with a nod.
“Welcome home,” he says. “Both of you.”
I smile, leaning my head on Dario’s shoulder as we park the car.
Welcome home, I think to myself.
My home is wherever I’m by his side.