We turn the previous urge to make love into fucking mercilessly for all the days we’ve been without each other. We don’t stop at twice. We keep on going into the night until we’re beaded in sweat with all positions exhausted and our panting melting into one. Here on this bed, we drive each other to the most intense orgasms of our lives.
I smile at him in pure happiness, easing down as dusk turns to dawn around us.
Now. That. Was. Hot.
Giulio chuckles at our giddiness and kisses my forehead. Still wrapped in each other, we catch our breath. “This is the first dawn of our new lives together.”
“And I couldn’t think of any other way to spend it.”
“I love you so much, Lencia.”
“Love you more.”
“Impossible.”
Giulio
Holy hell.
Just when I thought I couldn’t fall any deeper in love with Valencia Giannotti I’m proven wrong. My heart hasn’t stopped exploding with joy since the moment she told me she loves me too. It’s one of the best feelings in the world—to keep another’s heart safe.
We made love into the early hours of the morning and now as I lie here beside her, I cannot be happier with my decision to trust life and hope for Addilyn. Trust life, just like my mom used to tell me.
These past days have brought everything into perspective for me. My mother will be okay. She will always be my guardian angel. Her death is irreversible but with Addilyn there is hope.
I know this now.
Valencia’s right. She’s been right about it all along. I’ve been so blinded within these last few months, attempting to protect myself from being vulnerable, when all along I should have believed. I could have been with my wife all this time instead of backing away. But I have her now and will never take advantage of our second chance. Never.
I’ve been staring at the dresser across from us for the past few minutes. Inside the third draw, pushed to the right corner is a teal box. It’s where our wedding bands rest. I feel so complete knowing that it’ll only be a matter of time before we’re back to normal.
Before she’s officially mine again.
A lump forms in my throat at what else is hidden at the back of the drawer…what Sandro gave me. Valencia has no idea, and until I need it…I’ll keep it that way. She will understand.
Silvery shapes of the moonlight slither across Lencia’s face, enough to make out she’s peacefully asleep. I snuggle her closer and my eyes trail to the night sky through the French doors. Our stars are further east from where the frame cuts off, but my heart warms just the same.
Our love will never fade.
“Thank you for making me believe,” I whisper. “Thank you for everything, Lencia.”
Sobs wake me and I immediately thank God for being a light sleeper. Pulling Valencia to me, I rub small circles on her bare back. Her pain is my pain. My heart is racing, pondering the first and worst thought in my mind.
Is she crying because of Addilyn or… is she crying because she regrets what we did?
Her breasts press against my chest, sending me a heavy reminder of earlier. I can’t see the alarm clock from where I am, but the red-covered dawn skies confirm it’s sometime past five o’clock.
“I’m sorry. I dreamt that Addilyn got returned to us and it…affected me.”
She doesn’t regret it.
Thank God.
“It’s okay, darling. It will happen in real life soon, I’m sure of it.” I kiss her forehead, the reassurance I give her cures a part of me too. Yes. In real life. In this life. “It’ll all be okay.”
Valencia is quiet for a moment before she says, “I want to go in the nursery.”
She hasn’t been since the beginning of the case as it evoked too many memories for her every time she attempted to step inside. I get it, but in these past few months without both my girls, that nursery has brought me a sense of comfort.
“You do?”
“I need to force myself. Have you been in?”
“Almost every night. I fall asleep in the rocking chair, only to wake up to a stiff neck and a heavy heart.”
She reaches forward to cup my tense jaw and when she does, there’s a soft smile among the tears. “Will you come with me?”
My heart is beating out of my chest. I analyze the havoc within her eyes and just how nervous she seems. I don’t want her flushed or anxious. “Of course I will, amore.”
I slip on my boxers and we retreat to the nursery door.
Lencia’s skin glows at the peeks of the morning light down the hall. I take her hand, ignoring the way her sculpted nakedness has me yearning to claim yet another one of her orgasms. Soon. Now is not the time.
Lencia’s fingers brush against the nursery door, but she steps back. There’s a resistance within her that wasn’t there before. Her boldness has worn off. There’s no way in hell she is backing out of this now. Not with me present. I told myself I was going to help her overcome the doubts that cluster her mind, and now is a perfect time to be proactive. She needs to do this for herself and I’m going to be right here to weather her storm.
“We’ll come out if it’s too much.”
She shakes her head. Trembling overtakes her body as she hugs her waist and steps back further. “No, I can’t do it. I thought I could, but now that I’m here I can’t.”
“Yes, you can.”
“No, no I can’t see inside.”
“Baby, relax.” I take her waist and kiss her softly. Her entire body relaxes in my hold and it’s exactly what she needs. “We’ve suffered through so much, and from experience, I know at times
