“I want out of all this,” he said. “I want to do good business. Charitable business. I want to help the half of New York that my family owns, not hurt them, Julia.”
“I know,” I said as I brushed a droplet of sweat from his brow. “I believe you.”
“You do? You really believe me when I tell you that?”
“I do,” I said. “I can see it when I look into your eyes how much you mean it. And I want to help.”
His brow furrowed as his cock slid out of me, and I already missed his closeness.
“You want to help?”
“I do,” I said. “More than anything. I want us to be a family, Romeo. I want you to know your son.”
His hand brushed away a stray piece of hair before he cupped my cheek.
“I want to know him, too,” he said.
“Then let’s do this,” I said. “Let’s clean up your family’s act.”
“It might not be that simple.”
But I cut off his sentiment with my lips.
“I meant when I said I’m in your corner, Romeo. Whatever it takes, I’m here. And when it’s all said and done, and your family’s legacy is bright, Matteo and I will be standing there right next to you,” I said.
The smile that crossed his face felt like something from the past. Full of innocence and light and hope. It all seemed so far away, yet it was still there. Then, Romeo’s phone ringing ruined the moment.
He peeled himself away from me, and I cleaned myself up and got dressed. I took stock of his naked body one last time, watching as the slope of his ass fell to a pair of beautifully-strong thighs. His back muscles were gliding underneath his taut skin with every movement he made, and I sighed as I slipped my feet into my shoes.
He turned toward me and walked over, his hand wrapping around my head. He brought my forehead to his for a kiss, and I smiled up at him before he reached for his door.
“I’ll talk with you soon,” he mout
hed as I stepped out.
Then I shut the door behind me and left him to his plans.
CHAPTER 23
ROMEO
“Thought you’d never show up,” I said. “Thanks for meeting me, Langley.”
“You did my family a solid when my wife was in labor. I’m glad to be able to repay the favor,” he said as he sat down.
“How’s your wife doing anyway? Did she recuperate nicely?”
“Thanks to the doctor you flew in, she did. And thanks for the therapist recommendation. It got her through her postpartum depression.”
“Watched my mom go through it with Antony. It’s no joke,” I said.
“We’re looking at adoption for the second one,” he said with a grin.
“Holy shit, congratulations,” I said. “Boy or girl?”
“We’re thinking another boy.”
“That has to make you proud.”