Captivated

Angelina

When we reached the bedroom, they checked me over to ensure all my wounds had healed. My skin was unmarked, which was a miracle after all the bites and scratches I’d endured. We cuddled together under the covers. I realised I owed them an explanation. I snuggled closer to them, kissing one then the other before gathering my thoughts.

“After everything I’ve been through, I wanted some time alone. My only thoughts were to dance to some heavy metal beats and get blind drunk. The last thing I ever wanted to do was hurt you.”

I paused. The only sound I heard was their gentle, even breathing. The warmth of their skin close to mine gave me the courage to continue.

“I’ve lost my best friend, my gallery, my paintings, and my home. It’s… it’s been so much to cope with that I feel like I’m going out of my mind.” My tears started to fall, and I placed a gentle kiss on their lips. “And then I almost lost you. Both of you because of my reckless act. Then something scared me even more…” I couldn’t finish and wept again.

“What scared you more, bella?” Luca’s beautiful, soulful eyes fixed to mine and my heart almost broke.

“I thought you hated me. My heart couldn’t take it if I lost you too. When you closed off your minds to me, I’d never felt so low. You see, the reason it hurts more is because… I’ve fallen so deeply in love with both of you. Equally. Unequivocally.”

There, I’d admitted it. Put my heart on my sleeve and told them the depth of my feelings. Life without Luca and Salvatore would be meaningless. In that moment, I knew what I wanted. Looking from one to the other, I took a deep breath.

“Make me yours. Now. I don’t want to feel afraid of Viktor hurting any of us ever again. I want him dead for what he’s done. But more importantly, I want to be yours for eternity.”

* * *

Salvatore

Angelina’s heartfelt declaration made my heart beat faster than it ever had before. Emotions so strong threatened to swallow me whole. That woman was everything we’d ever wished for, and now she was ready to fully commit to us.

“This is it, Sal. We’re finally going to be together forever.”

“I feel fucking stupid. I don’t know what to say to her.”

“You don’t have to say anything. Just make me yours. Bring me fully into your world.”

She leaned across and took my lips with hers. It was slow and gentle, cementing our love. When she turned to kiss Luca, it was with the same tender loving care. With our minds melded, the emotions were almost too strong to bear. I got up from the bed to put on clothes.

“Where are you going?”

Her expression was adorable. I sat back down. “One of us has to let Diane and Michael know they can’t enter the house for the next forty-eight hours.”

“Why?”

I grinned. “You tell her, Luca.”

He tilted her chin up, fixing his eyes to hers, and I stroked her wealth of auburn hair. “This is an extremely emotional ritual. Making love this way will probably be… very noisy.”

“Oh.” Her cheeks turned a deep crimson.

I turned her to face me. “Then we have to help you through the next twenty-four hours. There’s no easy way to say this. It’s going to be extremely uncomfortable for you.”

She rolled her eyes. “Oh, great. Thanks for leaving out the sugar coating, Salvatore.”

Even though she joked, I could sense her apprehension. I got up to leave and turned back to see Luca holding her safely in his arms. Then I headed for the window.

“It’s the middle of the night,” she called out.

“I know, but when I let them know what’s happening, they’ll both be very excited for us.”

Without another word, I opened the window, unfurled my wings, and headed for their cottage. Michael opened the door after a few minutes of me banging on it. I could have gotten inside easily enough, but that would be an invasion of privacy as far as I was concerned. Diane was close behind him.

“Salvatore, what’s wrong? Is it Angelina?”

Diane’s concern for our mate was heart-warming. “Everything is okay now. She had a run in with Viktor again earlier, but that’s not why I’m here.”

“Come inside, son.” Michael stepped aside and let me in.

“Why are you here at such a godforsaken time?” Diane asked.

I was shocked to feel my cheeks heat at her question. Diane and Michael had witnessed the many women who’d passed through and shared our bed with us. This was a whole new ballgame. This was forever. A love which could never be broken. At my obvious silence, she let out a whoop of delight and hugged me with love.

“I guess I don’t need to say more,” I said after untangling myself from her embrace.

“No,” she whispered through her tears. Michael went to her, smiling. “Tell us when it’s done. Now go.”

After a hug from them both, and a tearful kiss from Diane, I left and headed back to where Angelina and Luca waited.