Aria gripped my shoulders, opening her eyes with a look of desire. “Please fuck me, Luca. I need you.”
Our mouths clashed and I pitched my hips forward. Aria wrapped her legs around my hips, bringing us even closer as I started to thrust into her, deeper and harder, until we were both panting and sweating. Neither of us lasted long, coming at the same time, overwhelmed by the sensations. Afterward, I held her in my arms, trying to catch my breath, but my cock had a mind of its own and so did Aria’s fingers as they trailed down my abs…Aria and I picked up our children two hours and another round of sex later. It was strange how much more relaxed Aria appeared, and I, too, felt less stressed. We’d have to make sure to arrange time for ourselves even with two small kids.
When we entered the apartment to pick up our children, Gianna looked as if she’d done a nosedive into a paint box. Her bright red lipstick extended to the skin around her mouth, giving her a grotesque smile, and her eyes were surrounded by so much color it was difficult to make out her actual pupils and irises. “Marcella decided to do my makeup for me today,” she said.
Aria laughed.
“She looks pretty, right?” Marcella said, beaming.
Aria stroked Marcella’s head with a nod before she took Amo from Matteo.
“Yes, Luca. I look pretty, don’t I?” Gianna piped up, batting her lashes the same way Marcella always did. She looked like a murderous clown doll.
Matteo chuckled and I gave him an exasperated look.
“I remember a time when your name was whispered in fear…” he said.
“I’m satisfied with the list of people who fear me.”
Marcella came up to me and wrapped her arms around my leg. “Dad, why do people fear you?”
Gianna snorted. Marcella’s eyes darted toward her aunt and she dashed toward her. “Tell me, why?”
I tensed, worried what Gianna would say. She motioned toward me. “Look at him, Marci. He’s a giant. Everyone’s scared of giants, right?”
Marcella regarded me for a moment before she nodded gravely as if truer words had never been spoken. A smile pulled at her mouth and she rushed back toward me. “But I’m not scared of you, Dad!”
I lifted her. “Good.”
Aria shook her head with a grin then pressed a kiss to Amo’s head. “Thanks for taking care of them.”
“I hope you two lovebirds had time for some lovin’.” Matteo wiggled his eyebrows.
“Bye, Matteo,” I said as I stepped into the elevator. Aria joined me with a wave toward her sister and my brother.
Later that day, we settled on the sofa with our kids. Aria read a picture book to Marcella who sat on her lap while I leaned against the backrest with Amo in the crook of my arm. I rubbed his belly gently and was rewarded with a toothless smile and a few leg kicks against my outstretched palm. “You are a strong boy.”
Amusement flashed across Aria’s face before Marcella asked another question about the butterfly featured in her book. They both focused on the image with a small frown and pursed lips, looking so much alike in that moment, my fucking heart throbbed harder. I kissed Amo’s forehead then murmured, “When you’re older, you need to help me protect your sister and mom. They’re too beautiful for this world. We’ll have to kill all the boys who think they are worthy of your sister.”
“What did you say?” Aria asked curiously.
“That I need to invest in more weapons to keep you all safe.”
“I think you and Matteo own enough weapons, not to mention soldiers, to invade a small country. No need for more weapons.”
Marcella tilted her head, her black hair curtaining half of her face and contrasting strongly with her blue eyes and pale skin. Then she smiled.
I raised Amo above my head. “Definitely more weapons, right, Amo?”
He gave me another toothless grin.A stepbrother forbidden mafia romance(Love in Lockdown Charity Anthology, 2020)Stella is a forbidden fruit Mauro isn’t allowed to taste.Not only because she isn’t promised to him but also because she’s his stepsister.She used to be his annoying shadow, the little girl he needed to protect and babysit. Now she’s all grown-up and he can’t stop noticing. Being locked into a panic room with her might be the ultimate test of his self-control…Mauro has always been her protector and ally until she starts to see him as more. Afraid of his reaction, she hides her attraction. But can she keep doing so when they’re trapped in a small room all alone?MauroThe mafia world was built on rules.
Rules never to be broken. They’d outlasted generations, resisting the ever-occurring changes of modern society. They were like the Colosseum. The foundations of our traditions remained steadfast even as we adapted to our surroundings.