We do have time now but I want some delayed gratification. “We don’t have time now, you need to get ready.”
He licks me again, a low hum rumbling through the lips of my sex, and I know if I let him do that it’s all over. “Jules,” I say to snap him out of his instinctive trance.
He rolls me onto my back and lies over me, his strong arms holding his body off of mine. “I need you,” he whispers.
“You have me.” I smile up at him.
“Ne ho bisogno” (Translation: I need this.) His fingers rub over my sex through my panties. “Ti desidero da impazzire.” (Translation: I’m so fucking hungry for you.)
“Tonight.” I kiss him. “You need to get ready.”
His brow furrows and then he gets up and stands over me, his hands clench at his sides.
I smile up at him and point to the bathroom. “Shower,” I mouth.
“Fucking,” he mouths back.
I giggle and he bends and holds my hands above my head and kisses me deeply, his tongue taking no prisoners.
Oh…. The way he kisses me.
Seriously…fuck the date. Who cares about going out anyway?
No.
“Jules,” I remind him.
He lets out a disgusted growl, drags himself up and walks into the bathroom. I lie on my back smiling goofily up at the ceiling.
Life is good.
* * *
The ballroom is grand, there are waiters walking around with cocktails and champagne on silver trays. The crowd is dressed to the nines in their very best black-tie and everyone who is everyone is here.
Giuliano and I walk in and over to the seating board, I can hear people letting out soft gasps as they see the two of us together.
The protected princess daughter with the black sheep of the family. This mistress’s son, the darkness that nobody talks about.
I look over at my beautiful man, so handsome in his black tie. I have never been prouder to arrive on somebody’s arm as I am his.
The fact that he came is another testament to our commitment to each other.
“This way.” I gesture over to our table and he glances over and inhales sharply.
I smile and lead him over to our table and smile sweetly at my family.
“Hello everyone.” I smile, Giuliano raises an unimpressed eyebrow before pulling out my chair, I sit down and he sits down beside me.
My mother’s face falls, Lorenzo looks like he’s swallowed a fly and my two brothers’ eyes are wide.
“What are you doing?” my mother whispers in horror as she looks around to see who’s watching.
I smile triumphantly. “I think it’s time that Giuliano takes his place in society with the rest of the Ferrara’s…don’t you?”
Giuliano’s eyes meet mine and he gives me the best come-fuck-me look I have ever seen.
“Francesca,” she whispers angrily. “What the hell do you think you are doing?”
I pick up my glass of champagne and hold it up to her. “Celebrating.”
“Celebrating what?”
I smile and clink my glass with Giuliano. “Our paternity tests came back…Mother.” I sneer.
The blood drains from her face.
“You have twenty-eight days to confess…or I will.” I turn to Giuliano. “Do you want to dance, darling?”
Giuliano gives me a sexy wink. “You bet I do.”
17
Francesca
The dance floor is packed and Giuliano makes sure to keep a respectable distance and holds me at arm’s length. Well aware that to everyone in the ballroom he is technically still my brother. “What are you doing?” he asks as his eyes roam over the crowd.
“It’s time.”
“For what?”
“For you to come out of the shadows and step into the light.”
A frown flashes across his face and then disappears just as quickly as it came.
“Maybe I don’t want to be in the light,” he replies casually as we sway to the music.
“You were kept a secret for a reason, Giuliano.”
“And we both know why that is, don’t we?”
“This was never about having a secret love child, there’s more to it than that,” I say softly. “He raised you to take over Ferrara. To lead.”
His eyes hold mine as he listens.
“He has two other sons, Giuliano, and yet, it is you who he chose. When the time was right, he wanted you to come out of the shadows and shine.” I smile up at him. “And look at you,” I whisper. “He would be so proud of the man you have become.”
His nostrils flare and I know that I’ve just hit a nerve.
“You are more than shining, my love. Just as he always knew that you would.”
“And what about us?” he asks.
I frown in question.
“If your mother won’t admit the truth, where does that leave us? I’m not hiding forever, I’m happy to expose her right now.”
“We have to wait until the shock of this dies down.” I roll my lips as I try to think of the right thing to say. “She’ll come around and when she gets to know how wonderful you are, she will accept us and announce who I really am.”