Ivo gave a growl of feral lust and was on her, biting at her skin, licking her juices from her, his teeth nipping at the soft mound of her belly. He slid two fingers into her cunt and Sofia gasped as he drew them in and out. His mouth fixed on her nipple, his teeth biting at her. His animal need for her turned her on so much she begged him to bite her, to hurt her, to fuck her so hard she screamed.
Tumbling her to the hard stone ground and pushing her knees to her chest, he slammed his cock into her so hard that Sofia felt her back complain as the stone grazed her skin. She didn’t care…she loved it when Ivo lost control and fucked her like a wild man. “Do it,” she urged, “hurt me, Ivo, make me scream.”
And he did, forcing her hands above her head, his cock pounding her cunt until they both came, shouting and crying out. As he recovered, Sofia slid down his body and took his cock into her mouth, sucking hard until it grew stiff again, tracing the vein, teasing the top. Ivo withdrew before he came and ejaculated onto her breasts and belly, Sofia encouraging him.
He picked her up and carried her to the table they’d had lunch on, pushing the crockery aside and bending her over it. Sofia, breathless with pleasure, moaned as he slid into her perfect ass and bit the back of her neck as he fucked her. “God, yes…yes…Ivo…”
Sofia woke up the last day of their vacation and snuggled closer to her sleeping husband. It had been wonderful, just eating and fucking and relaxing. They had definitely needed this break, to assuage some of their more animal needs. Ivo opened his eyes and smiled at her.
“It’s been incredible.”
Sofia nodded, her hands drifting down to his already erect cock. “It has. Utter bliss. And lots and lots of dirty sex.”
Ivo laughed. “I admit, Sof, after three kids, I forgot we could be like that.”
“Animals.” They both laughed and Ivo covered her body with his.
“You’re not wrong, baby.” He leaned in and whispered in her ear. “Open these lovely legs for me, beautiful.”
She did, a smile splitting her face as he entered her.
They made love tenderly, savoring their time together, and then showered. “I thought I would drive us into town for breakfast today. It’s about time we got used to the rest of the world again.”
Sofia grinned. “Sounds good to me…I have to come back down from the cloud I’m on.”
Ivo chuckled. “No, never do that. But yeah, we can stroll around the markets, maybe even see if we can get some details for some properties.”
“That’s a good idea.” Sofia giggled. “And we’ll probably have to replace some of the crockery we smashed too. I wouldn’t want the owners to think we’ve vandalized their lovely home. I have to say…I would love to live here. It’s just perfect.”
Ivo smiled but said nothing as they drove into the nearest town. They had a beautiful breakfast of light omelets, then they walked around the farmer’s markets, sampling the foods on offer. Sofia bought some large, juicy black olives and they ate them as they sat on the edge of a fountain.
“Look at this place.” Sofia said with a happy sigh. “So laidback, so chilled out.”
“It certainly is a haven.”
Sofia looked at him. “Could we go find some details on available properties? I really do love this area.”
“Of course.”
They strolled hand-in-hand as they located some realtor’s offices and picked up some listings. At a small café, black coffee in front of them, Ivo smoked a rare cigar while Sofia looked through the details. She made a face. “Some are okay—at least in the pictures—but nothing is standing out.”
“We’ll find more, baby.”
Sofia pushed the papers away and took up her cup. “How much of your childhood did you spend here?”
“Quite a long time. I was born here, and Mom would insist on me spending holidays here. I always felt more Italian than American, you know?”
Sofia nodded. “I know, and I’d like the kids to feel that too. Not that they’re American, the little French brats.”
Ivo grinned and leaned over, putting his hand on her belly. “And maybe we’ll have the next one here.”
Sofia smiled. “With any luck, she’ll have been conceived here this very week.”
“She?”
“I feel it in my bones we’re going to have a girl next, but I don’t mind either way.” She chewed her lip. “Maybe I should get a couple of pregnancy tests.”
Ivo stroked her hair. “You know, we have all the time in the world.”
“I know, but I just feel like we may have made a baby.”
“Do you have nausea, or any signs?” Ivo was surprised and Sofia grinned ruefully.
“Maybe it is just wishful thinking.”
Ivo kissed her. “We could get the tests, but don’t get down if they’re negative.”
Sofia leaned her forehead against his. “I won’t, I promise. Besides, the amount of fucking we’ve done this week, how could I not be?”
Ivo chuckled. “It’s certainly been a marathon. You’ve exhausted this old man.”
“Oh, ha ha.”
Later, on the car ride home, Ivo took her hand and brought it to his lips. “I love you, Sofia Amory Zacca.”
She placed her palm against his cheek. “As I love you, Mr. Zacca, and when we get home, I’m going show you how much.”
Ivo chuckled and there was merriment in his eyes that she didn’t quite understand. “What are you up to?”
He opened his green eyes wide. “What do you mean?”
“You have mischief written all over your face.”
“No idea what you mean.”
It was only when she stepped into their villa and she was assaulted by a cacophony of cheering and sound that she understood. He had been planning a surprise party all alone. Her entire family was there, their friends, and of course, their sons, who came running up to her, throwing themselves on their mother. “Mama, Mama!”
Close to tears, she scooped them up into her arms, showering them with kisses while her eyes shined at her husband. “You had this planned all this time?”
“Like a military operation,” Ivo grinned, taking the twins from her so she could hug Peony, who stood by shyly, waiting. Clemence was next, then Desiree, and Walter, Ivo’s movie star father, who kissed her cheeks and smiled at her. Penn and their friends from Venice, Elli and Indio Navaro, Maceo and Ori Bartoli had come as well as more of their Parisian friends. When Sofia saw Jonas, she did burst into tears and the step-siblings hugged for a long moment before she greeted his kids and his wife, Callie. Callie nodded at Ivo.
“Boy did good.”
Sofia giggled. Callie’s approval wasn’t often given, and Ivo and Jonas were both terrified of her in an almost-half-joking way. Ivo beamed and Sofia swiped his butt. “Good boy,” she whispered and he laughed.
Inside and outside, they had decorated the villa with strings of tiny white lights, candles guttered in mason jars around the patio and the pool, and a table of food lay covered, ready to be demolished. Sofia gaped at it all. “You did this in…” she checked her wrist watch, “four hours?”
“Like I said,” Ivo laughed, “it was a military operation. I was going to hire people to do it for us, but Peony and the kids insisted.”
Sofia felt close to tears again and she hugged the children. “You three are amazing, I love you so much.” She kissed their cheeks and the boys made disgusted faces and ran off, but Peony flushed with pleasure. She had always adored her step-mother, who had, after all, helped her mother give birth to her. Sofia adored her right back, telling her often that when she, Sofia, had a little girl, she wanted her to be just like Peony. Clemence encouraged their friendship—she and Sofia had grown as close as sisters in the years that had passed since Peony’s birth.
Sofia chatted to everyone, and when it came time to eat, they sat around the long table under the pergola and ate and talked and laughed. Sofia looked around the table at all the people she loved and felt so overwhelmingly luck
y that she felt the tears coming again.
“Hey, hey,” said Ivo in a gentle voice, but she smiled at him.
“Happy tears, I swear, baby. Thank you so much for this, for everything.”
Ivo kissed her. “I love you, baby, so very much.”
Sofia felt her emotions overwhelm her and she buried her face in Ivo’s neck to hide her tears. She heard an ‘aww’ go around the table and chuckled as she felt a laugh rumble through Ivo’s big body. She wiped her face. “Ignore me, I’m just hormonal or something. Thank you all for being here.”
“Speaking of which, time for a speech,” Ivo said and she looked at him in surprise. Her husband wasn’t one for public speaking, even amongst friends.
He raised his glass and took Sofia’s hands. “Today, we come together to celebrate your thirtieth birthday, baby. Nine years ago, I went swimming and found a mermaid.”
Sofia groaned and Ivo laughed. “Listen, wife, better get used to the cheese because there’s more of it coming.” He gave a discreet nod to Jonas, who smiled and left the table. “Sofia…you have given me the world, two incredible sons, and you also had a big hand—so to speak—in bringing our beautiful Peony into the world too.”
“Hear, hear!” Clemence raised her glass and Peony beamed at her step-mother. Ivo smiled at them both then turned his eyes back to his blushing wife.
“I could never have dreamed that I would be lucky enough to find someone like you,” Ivo said, the emotion clear in his voice. “That terrible day all those years ago, when I thought you were lost to me—to us—was like a living death to me.” His voice broke and he took a moment to gather himself. “But, of course, I should not have worried. You are a warrior, Sofia. A fighter, a survivor, and I love you so very, very much. Happy birthday, my darling.”
There was a chorus of ‘Happy birthdays’ as her family and friends raised a glass to her, and then Sofia saw Jonas lead in an elderly man she didn’t know. Ivo went to meet him and helped him walk towards Sofia. “Sofia, this is Giovanni Menti, the owner of this villa. Giovanni, my wife, Sofia.”
The elderly man smiled at Sofia. “I see young Ivo didn’t exaggerate your beauty, Bella. Happy birthday.”
She kissed his cheeks. “It’s wonderful to meet you, sir. Your villa has been a haven this past week.”
Giovanni shared a grin with Ivo. “I’m glad you think so.”
He nodded at Ivo and Ivo smiled at Sofia. “Darling, Giovanni’s come here today to help me with the last part of your birthday gift.” Giovanni handed Ivo an envelope and Ivo gave it to Sofia. She opened it and drew out some legal documents. They were written in Italian, and Sofia tried her best to make heads or tails of them. Finally she looked at Ivo, who grinned.
“Baby, these are the deeds to this villa. As of today, it belongs to you.”
Sofia’s hand flew to her mouth, so utterly shocked was she, and laughter broke out around the table. “Ivo…I…can’t believe it.”
She stood, rather shakily, and almost fell into his arms. He held her tightly. “I knew pretty quickly you’d fallen in love with the place so I called Giovanni. He was more than happy to sell it to me. It’s yours, sweetheart.”
“Ours” she said, and kissed him fiercely. “Thank you, thank you, thank you.”
Later, when most of their guest had gone, Sofia and Ivo showed the boys their new home. They quickly chose the bedrooms they wanted and were telling Peony about their plans. “And you choose yours too, Pea,” Sofia said. “And you can come whenever you want to, if your mom says it’s okay.”
Peony grinned and went off to explore. Outside, Jonas and Camille were trying to round up their brood, and Desiree was chatting with Clemence. Sofia stood at the window and shook her head as Ivo slid his arms around her waist and kissed her shoulder. She turned in his arms, gazing up at him. “You have given me the world, my love.”
“You are my world,” he said simply, and pressed his lips to hers. Sofia took his hand and pressed it to her belly, watching his eyes widen.
“I took four of the tests we bought,” she whispered softly. “Congratulations, you’re going to be a daddy again…”
And she kissed him, knowing that their family was complete.
The End.
The Midnight Club
A Billionaire Romance
Maceo Bartoli. Alex Milland. Lisander Duarte. Benoit Vaux. Seth Cantor. They are five of the most eligible billionaires on the planet—and they share a strange coincidence. All five were born at midnight on the same day in the same year. Friends and playboys all, they call themselves The Midnight Club and they have only one rule: to never let a woman come between them. But as they grow older, this rule becomes harder and harder to keep. And when they meet the women who could change their lives forever, they realize that it’s time for the Club to mature.
Despite the recent murder of Viola, Alex’s fiancée, the friends don’t know that any woman they meet from now on could also be in terrible danger. Because someone wants to keep The Midnight Club exclusive and will stop at nothing to do it. Does the threat come from outside, or is one of The Midnight Club a vicious and merciless killer?
Dusk Part One
Venice, Italy, March 14, a year previously…
Alex Milland was the first to arrive in The Floating City Galleria and immediately he went to find Maceo. The art gallery may have been small, but its position overlooking the lagoon afforded wonderful views across the city. One whole wall was glass; the rest of the walls were painted a stark white. The effect was to make the works of art hanging on them stand out. It worked.
Alex nodded to himself approvingly. He smiled to himself as he noticed a few harassed-looking but very attractive assistants scuttling around. He wondered how many of them Maceo was fucking. Dumb question, he said to himself. Maceo would have screwed them all at their first interview.
Maceo himself was in his office on the third floor. Alex knocked on the door and didn’t wait for an answer. Maceo looked up and grinned.
“Alex, how good to see you.” He got up and the two men bear hugged. Maceo, his green eyes a contrast to his dark curls and swarthy skin, studied his friend. “How are you? Really?’
Alex sighed inwardly. He would be getting this question a lot today. “I’m fine, Maceo. It’s been months since Viola died and, not that I will ever get over it, but I have to try and function. So I need this. I need to celebrate something good. The place looks incredible.’
Maceo nodded, grinning. Humility wasn’t in Maceo’s playbook. “Thanks, Alex. I admit, it does look spectacular. And you should see who we have exhibiting at the moment.” He rattled off a few names, and Alex was impressed. Some of the biggest names in modern art—he had to admire Maceo’s work ethic. He doubted anyone said no to the young man in front of him.
Young man. Alex shook his head, smiling. He and Maceo were the exact same age; Alex just felt like the grandad of their group. The club. The Midnight Club. In truth, he had always considered himself the oldest of them—except for maybe Seth. But then again, he and Seth were as close as twins. Maceo was the young puppy of the group— passionate, confident, a visionary.
Maceo gathered up a pile of papers and yelled, “Lucia!” A gorgeous blonde girl walked in and Alex smiled at her. She nodded back, friendly but professional.
“You have an intercom, Maceo. Don’t scream at me,” she snapped at Maceo, who grinned unrepentantly. She took the papers from him and, as she was walking away, she looked back over her shoulder. “I have to duck out for a couple of hours. Personal errand. Your other friends are waiting downstairs.”
Maceo hooted his delight. “Good! Come, Alex, let’s go see them.” And he bore his friend away back down the main gallery.
Orianthi Roy stood outside the airport arrivals, feeling lost. Lucia was late, and Ori wondered if she should hail a cab. Italy was new to her, and the flight had tired her out. Now she felt discombobulated as people pushed passed her, meeting their loved ones, loudly talking, and yelling everyw
here.
“This was meant to be a break. A quiet break,” she muttered to herself, then felt a flood of relief as she saw Lucia waving at her. Her friend hugged her.
“God, I’m sorry, Ori. The traffic was insane. Is that your case? Come on, I’ll get you settled at home.”
Lucia drove them back into the city. Ori was surprised. “I thought it was all canals?”
Lucia grinned. “Not yet. We’re still on the mainland. Listen, I have to tell you, my boss is having his grand gallery opening tonight and so I have to work. But I have arranged for you to be on the guest list—don’t worry, it’s an invite-only thing and won’t go too late. But I would really like you to come.”
Damn it, Ori thought, but kept a smile on her face. “Love to, Luce. Listen, I can’t thank you enough for letting me stay. I just needed to get away from all the craziness back home.”
Lucia looked at her with sympathy. “I knew it was bad, Ori, but I have to tell you, you scared me when you called me the other night. What has Janek done now?”
Ori felt sick at the mere mention of his name—Tyson Janek III, congressman and her stepfather. Recently outed by the mainstream press as screwing a lot of his colleagues’ wives, he had been forced to step down, but even now was working to retake his position. The fact that he was doing it by calling in favors from people who were less than respectable didn’t matter to Tyson Janek. He didn’t care who he stepped on or who he destroyed. When he had married Ori’s mother, Ori had been ten years old and in deep mourning for the father she had lost. Ori’s mother, Kathryn, after being disinherited from her father’s newspaper fortune , had married the charming and handsome Tyson and had given birth to Ori’s younger half-brother, AJ soon after. AJ was the best and only good thing about the marriage, as far as Ori was concerned.
Almost as soon as Tyson had married her mother, he started to abuse Ori. At first, it was insidious—the odd touch here and there that could be explained away. But on the night of her twelfth birthday, her mother was asleep when Tyson came into Ori’s room. That night he raped her for the first time. That night he threatened the life of her mother, her baby brother, and Ori herself for the first time. It didn’t stop until Ori left for college. She never returned home. Tyson persuaded her mother to write Ori out of her will, leaving her penniless.
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