Bound By Love (Born in Blood Mafia Chronicles 6)

“You still love me?” he asked, his expression unguarded. He wasn’t Capo in that moment; he was my husband, the man I loved and who loved me in turn.

“Of course,” I said. I didn’t think I could stop loving him. “And you? Do you love me?”

He laughed, a dark, raw sound. And he took a step closer, but then stopped himself. “I love you too much. It’s fucking painful. It’s killing me every second I’m not with you, every second of having to pretend that I don’t love you. I hate to see you being sick because of me.”

“I’m not sick,” I protested.

He gestured at my collarbones. “You have lost so much weight, Aria. I’m not blind.”

I shrugged. “It’s nothing I can’t handle.”

“Forgive me,” he got out. My eyes widened. He had never said those words before. A Capo doesn’t ask for forgiveness, nor grant it. That was one of his father’s lessons he had taken to heart.

His eyes weren’t cold or hard or wary. He let me in. He was back. My Luca was back. I started crying. And he bridged the remaining distance. “Aria?”

I peered up at him, at the pained look. “Of course, I forgive you, if you forgive me too.”

“How could I not forgive you?” He cupped my cheeks. “I love you.” He bent down and kissed me softly. I had been drowning and he was my air. He was my life, my love, my everything. His kiss was sweet. No possessiveness, only love. I parted my lips and his tongue tasted me. I’d missed this. I’d missed him.

I dropped the bathrobe and pressed my hands against his chest, feeling his heartbeat. His hands trailed down from my cheeks to my shoulders, then down my back and to my ribs. So close to my bump. He pulled away.

“Your ribs,” he said quietly. “Aria, you need to eat. I won’t let you starve yourself. Let me help you.”

I smiled up at him. “There’s nothing you can do, Luca.”

He got it wrong. His face twisted with raw fear. “Are you really sick?”

“God, no,” I said quickly. I took a step back but he only looked into my face, uncomprehending, and not at the small bump. I grabbed his hand and put his palm on my belly.

The look on his face was priceless. Utter shock. Disbelief. His eyes shot down to his hand on my bump. It wasn’t big yet and looked even smaller compared to his strong hand, but it was unmistakable.

“What?” he asked, his voice breaking.

“I’m pregnant with our baby, Luca.”

Slowly his eyes rose back to mine. He didn’t say anything.

Uncertainty filled me. “I’m sorry. I forgot to take the pill when everything was a mess because of Lily’s wedding to Brasci. I know you didn’t want to bring a baby into this world. That’s why I hadn’t told you yet. And that was the reason why Dante let me leave Chicago unscathed. I was pregnant then, and I told him. I’m sorry, Luca.”

With a low sound in his throat, he knelt down, startling me, his hand still on my belly. He leaned forward and pressed a soft kiss against my stomach, then rested his forehead against my naked skin, breathing harshly.

I exhaled in a shudder, and of course began crying again.

He raised his gaze to mine. “Oh, Aria. I will burn down the world for you and our child. I wish I’d apologized sooner. I wish I hadn’t let you go through this alone.” He got up and kissed me lightly. I deepened the kiss and slid my hands under his shirt and over his six-pack. I needed him, needed his closeness more than I’d ever needed anything.

He returned the kiss then pulled away. “What about the baby?”

“It’s okay. We can have sex. I talked to the gynecologist.” Then I hesitated. “Or don’t you find me attractive with a bump?”

Luca laughed. “You are the sexiest and most beautiful woman in the world, Aria, bump or not.” He lifted me into his arms and carried me over to the bed.

Luca put me down on the mattress and let his eyes take in the sight of me. “Oh fuck. You are so gorgeous, Aria.”

His fingers brushed across my trimmed curls but then he paused, expression uncertain, as if he was asking for permission. I parted my legs for him. He didn’t take his eyes off me as he slipped his fingers between my folds and stroked me expertly, knowing every touch and flick I enjoyed. My breathing turned ragged as I watched that strong, powerful man, my man, kneeling between my legs, his hands giving me pleasure.

He heaved a breath, expression darkening with desire as he lowered his head between my legs and my center tightened in anticipation. I gasped when I felt his tongue slide along my flesh. I was already so ready for him. It had been too long since I’d been with him. “Luca, I want you inside me.”