by Reilly, Cora
We all had something to lose. Wives, children.
Ines pulled back. “I’m happy for you and Val. I can’t wait to hold my niece in my arms.” She smiled bravely. “And what do I hear about you having political ambitions.”
“Not me. I’m not good at schmoozing others.”
“You prefer to give orders and have them obeyed.”
I tilted my head. “But we’re making efforts to establish bonds with the political elite.”
“It’s just another shark tank, isn’t it? Intrigue is their form of public torture.”
I smiled because Ines hit the nail on the head as usual.
“Dad, can Samuel show me how to shoot a crossbow?”
Val’s eyes widened. She always worried about Leonas but I was glad he was daring. “Sure.”
“Be careful!” Val added as Samuel and Leonas walked outside. Anna and Sofia followed curiously, their heads together as they whispered excitedly.
Val hurried over to me. “A crossbow?”
I chuckled and rubbed her side. “He’ll be fine.”
“Why don’t we settle on the porch and watch the spectacle?” Pietro suggested.
Val didn’t need to be told twice. She wanted to keep an eye on Leonas. We settled in chairs outside but Val practically perched on the very edge. “Don’t stand so close, Anna, Sofia!”
The girls took a few steps away from Samuel and Leonas but Val moved closer. Her pregnancy had made her even more protective.
“She’s overprotective,” Pietro said. “I’m surprised she agreed to have Anna go to school.”
“It was actually her idea. She wants our daughter to grow up normally, or as normal as is possible. And Santino will be with Anna at all times.”
Pietro’s gaze settled on Santino who sat with the other guards in front of their cabin. “I’m surprised you chose someone that young to guard your daughter.”
“He’s one of the best. An attacker will have a hard time getting past him.”
“Still. He’s a good-looking guy.”
I cocked an eyebrow. “He’s ten years older than Anna and she’s a kid. He’s good at his job.” Not to mention that he knew what would happen to him if I ever caught him looking at my daughter with more than professional interest.
Pietro shrugged. “Your age difference to Val is bigger. Danilo made his point very clear when it came to choosing Sofia’s bodyguards. They need to be my age, and he insists she’s being homeschooled, which we’d wanted to do anyway after the thing with…” He trailed off, pain flashing in his eyes.
“Understandable,” I said, allowing Pietro to gather himself. The wound of Serafina’s loss was still fresh. Maybe it would never heal completely. “Anna will probably be promised to Clifford Clark.”
Pietro looked surprised. “Really? His father agreed?”
“He’s open to the suggestion. His wife and father are in favor of the bond, and he enjoys spending the money we gave him as an incentive. It’s not going to be official for a while. We have to see how things go between us but it’s a possibility.”
“I never thought you’d consider marrying Anna to an Outsider.” It was a difficult decision, one I still wasn’t entirely comfortable with, but Val had made a valid point. Anna would be safe in a marriage with a politician. She’d grown up among Made Men, she’d be able to handle a mere Outsider and it would open many doors for her. She loved art exhibitions and music. As the fiancée of a politician’s son who would undoubtedly follow in his father’s footsteps as well, she’d have the opportunity to study art or music.
Anna laughed when Leonas missed his target by several yards and as usual, it filled me the sense of peace that had been absent from my life so often in the past.
Beatrice was born on the hottest day of the summer, in the last few hours of August. As with Leonas I had gone full term.
Returning home with our daughter filled me with relief and joy, especially when I saw Anna’s and Leonas’ excitement over the newest addition to our family. Leonas was relieved over not being the youngest anymore, and Anna was just excited about having a little sister she could potentially dress up.
“She looks like Leonas!” Anna said as she looked down at Beatrice in her crib. “Can I hold her?”
“Here,” I picked Beatrice up and showed Anna how to hold her. When Leonas had been born, she had been too young to hold him.
Leonas watched curiously but made no move to hold her as well. He glanced up at his dad almost questioningly. Dante only smiled but his eyes followed everything closely.
I handed Beatrice to Anna who cradled her carefully. “Oh, she’s heavier than she looks.”
Leonas rolled his eyes.
“Why don’t you hold her too?” I suggested.
He nodded slowly and came closer. Anna proudly demonstrated how to hold Beatrice before she handed her to her brother.
“My heart’s going to explode,” I whispered as I moved to Dante’s side.
“It’s something I never considered in my future when Carla died. I was willing to give up without a fight even if it isn’t in my nature to admit defeat. I’m glad you came into my life and showed me that love is worth taking risks.”
I smiled up at him. “I know you prefer to take safe gambles but I’m glad you bet on me.”
Dante chuckled. “A safe bet you aren’t that’s true. You keep me on my toes, Val. I’ve never met anyone who tests my patience more often than you do.”
I nodded toward Leonas. “Give it a few more years. I’m sure he’ll fight me for the position.”
Dante moved his eyes skyward. “Don’t tempt fate.”
“You don’t believe in fate.”
“I don’t. But Leonas having your temper can only be fate’s way to pay me back.”
“We all just want to keep you young and agile.”
Dante kissed my lips.
“Ewww, can’t you do that behind closed doors?” Leonas shouted, waking Beatrice who began crying. His eyes grew wide in shock.
Dante walked over to him with a stern expression. “Troublemaker.” He didn’t say it angrily and Leonas only grinned as Dante took Beatrice from him.
He rocked Beatrice gently while Anna hovered next to him. Dante kissed the top of her head then Beatrice’s forehead. “Can I call her Bea?”
“As long as she’s this small she can’t really say no,” Dante said with a chuckle.
Anna grinned, her eyes gleaming excitedly. “I can’t wait to dress her up. I’ve seen so many cute plaid outfits.”
“She’s not a doll,” Leonas said.
“You’re a dork.”
Leonas jumped at her and tickled her. She shrieked and tried to shove him off but he was almost her height.
Beatrice mewled. I opened my arms. “My cue to nurse her. You can play referee.”
Dante slid Bea into my arms. “All right. Can’t be worse than listening to Clark senior’s never-ending stories from his youth.”
Dante let Giovanni and Dario do most of the political schmoozing, but on occasion, it was required for us to make appearances, especially on social events. Working our way into certain circles proved challenging, mainly because we were still regarded as more of an oddity or attraction than a part of the scene. Yet, people were curious and that was better than suspicion.
Dante preferred our circles, the directness of them, our rules. He was doing this for our children, guaranteeing a safer future for all of them, especially Leonas, and I was grateful for it. He was a family man through and through, the best husband and father I could imagine.
Bea was down for her nap. At six months old, her naptime routine worked like a clockwork.
Anna and Leonas were in the library doing homework, which would keep them busy for a while.
I knocked at Dante’s office and slipped in without waiting for his reply.
Making time for ourselves had become a challenge with three kids and our social responsibilities, so I made sure to use every chance we got.
Dante looked up with a hint of annoyance then he leaned back. He knew the look on my face.
“How about we go upstairs for a bit?”
Dante pushed his chair back and motioned me closer.
Frowning, I headed toward him. “Are you too busy?”
When I was beside him, he gripped me, turned me around and pulled me down on his lap. He pushed up my skirt then spread my legs with his thighs. Pressing a hot kiss to my neck, he slipped his hand into my panties and shoved two fingers into me. My head fell back as he fingered me.
“What if someone walks in?” I gasped out, but my walls clenched tightly around Dante’s fingers, needing more. I hadn’t even locked the office and while the kids would never barge into our bedroom, they might do it in Dante’s office. His fingers slowed but didn’t stop and he nipped my throat.
“They always knock before they enter. Everyone follows my rules, except for you, Val.” The growly note to his voice made me shiver.
I opened my lips to protest, but Dante flicked his thumb over my bundle of nerves. Soon I was panting and grinding myself shamelessly against his hand and the erection digging into my backside.
“On your knees,” he ordered, pulling his fingers out of me before I’d come.
Stifling my protest, because it would only make Dante tease me more, I turned around and gave him a seductive smile before I sank down between his legs.
I didn’t take my eyes off him as I opened his zipper and took out his cock. Dante’s fingers tangled in my hair as I began blowing him. Dante’s breathing deepened.
Steps thundered down the hall before a half-hearted knock sounded.
My eyes widened and I jerked back. Dante pushed me under his desk and dragged his chair closer to hide his open pants.
“Dad, Anna keeps—”
“Didn’t I tell you to wait until I give you permission to enter?” Dante said sternly. I covered my mouth with my hand, worried my breathing was too loud. Even worse: a hysterical laugh wanted to burst forth, even if the situation wasn’t funny in the slightest.
“Yes, but—”
I stared at Dante’s erection right in front of my face and again had to fight down giggles. This was just too much.
“Is this a matter of life and death?”
“No,” Anna said. “Leonas is just—”
“Then it can wait. I’m working. Are you done with your homework?”
“No,” Leonas began and Dante cut in. “Then you should do that.”
“Where’s Mom?” Anna asked.
“She’s busy.”
I bit my lower lip, sure I’d lose it any moment now.
“In her office?” Leonas guessed.
“Do not disturb her. You need to figure out your conflicts by yourself.”
“Okay,” they said simultaneously. I didn’t understand how Dante could talk to them as if nothing was the matter when our kids had almost caught us in the act. I dug my teeth harder into my lip.
“Now back to your homework.”
“Okay,” Leonas grumbled.
Then steps sounded and the door clicked shut. I released a small breath then laughed quietly against Dante’s thigh. Dante’s fingers tangled in my hair as he pushed his chair back a bit to look down at me. “Keep sucking.”
“Dante—”
He gently pushed me closer to his cock. “Suck my cock, Val.”
With an indignant huff, I took him into my mouth and really worked him deeply. Soon my arousal returned full force, the almost blunder forgotten.
Dante’s hips twitched, a clear sign that he was getting closer.
“Enough.”
I pulled back and Dante got up, holding out his hand for me. I took it and he pulled me to my feet. “Bent over the desk.”
I began to shake my head but he walked over to the door and engaged the lock. I laughed, couldn’t help it. “That was close.”
He stalked toward me and kissed me hard. “Over the desk, Val.” Pulling my skirt up to expose my ass, I leaned over the desk then smiled coyly at Dante who rubbed his erection slowly. Exposed like this, I felt naughty and impossibly aroused.
He stepped close to me and began to rub his tip over my sensitive folds, up and down, parting me. A low groan rumbled in his chest when he pushed in slowly. I gripped the edge of the desk, my eyes rolling back.
Soon I had to press my lips together to keep in moans and Dante’s grunts became less controlled as well. I was beyond caring. The library was far enough from the office.
“Harder,” I begged, and Dante complied, digging his fingers into my hips. We were both getting closer when Dante moved back. “Turn around,” he said. I slowly rolled over until I lay on my back across his desk. We were creating a complete mess on his papers. I’d never cared less. Since Bea’s birth, we’d made careful love in our bed at night when the kids were asleep. This was the first wild fuck and I craved it like a drug.
Dante hooked his arms under my thighs and jerked me against him, impaling me on his length. He bent over me as he pounded into me and kissed me passionately, swallowing my moans. His jacket caged me in. God, nothing was sexier than Dante taking me fully clothed in his three-piece suit.
The photo frame tumbled off the desk and a pen holder rattled in the most annoying way. I pressed my heels into Dante’s back, arching against him as pleasure radiated from my center into every nerve-ending of my body. Dante groaned into my mouth and twitched inside of me as my walls spasmed around him.
“Wow,” I breathed.
Dante smiled.
Steps thundered down the hall once more, a knock sounded then the handle moved down, but the lock prevented a debacle.
Dante shook his head with an exasperated laugh.
The handle rattled. “Dad?” Leonas called.
“Is it locked?” Anna asked distantly.
Dante breathed into my ear. “Why did you have to hand down your aversion to closed doors to our son?”
I giggled into his shoulder, clenching around him again. He sucked in a quiet breath.
“Dad?” Leonas’ voice became almost indignant. Maybe he thought Dante was playing a prank on him. The handle jiggled again.
“Daadd?”
“He inherited your stubborn nature as well,” Dante said.
I gave him a look. He straightened and began cleaning himself with a few tissues. I did the same, trying to look halfway decent.
“Dad!” Now Leonas sounded almost angry.
I stifled laughter.
“He’s going to drive me to the brink,” Dante muttered as he smoothed back his hair and straightened his tie.
“How do I look?”
“Thoroughly satisfied.”
I pursed my lips. “Dante.”
“Your hairdo is messed up.”
I peered into the window and let my hair down. It was a mess.
Dante headed toward the door, and I perched innocently on the desk.
The moment Dante unlocked the door, Leonas stumbled inside. When he spotted me, his frown deepened. “Mom, why are you here?”
Anna’s eyes twisted with horror as if she had a suspicion. “Oh man,” she got out. She turned on her heel and stalked away.
Leonas watched her disappear with confusion.
“What’s so important that it can’t wait until I’m done with work?” Dante asked firmly.
“Anna’s done with homework and wanted to dress up Bea. I told her she can’t.”
“That was so important you tried to rip out my door handle?”
Leonas glanced at me. “Anna thinks Bea is her responsibility because she’s the older one, but I’m the boy. I will be the man in the house when Dad’s gone.”
“Already planning my early death?” Dante asked with a hint of dry humor.
Leonas’ eyes grew wide. “No! I mean when you’re out for business. I’m the man then.”
Dante touched Leonas’ shoulder. “When I’m not home, you’re supposed to keep an eye on your sisters and Mom, but that requires
that you follow orders, especially the guards’ orders as long as you aren’t old enough to protect yourself and our family. A man needs to know his responsibilities and right now yours is to make your homework.”
“Okay,” Leonas said reluctantly.
He trudged away.
I gave Dante a lingering kiss before I went in search of Anna to see how disturbed she actually was. I found her in Bea’s nursery, looking through outfits. “Are you okay?” I asked.
“Please don’t give me the talk again,” Anna begged, her cheeks turning red. “I just want to pretend you and Dad aren’t doing stuff.”
I bit my lip, stifling amusement. “All right.”
“I’m looking for a cute outfit for Bea for the afternoon. Luisa is coming over and I want to show her how cute Bea is in plaid.”
Anna was growing up so fast. Now her interest in fashion was almost as big as in art. Almost thirteen, my God. Time flew. Sometimes she already drove me up the wall with her first tentative teenage antics.
Bea began squirming in her crib. “I think you’re in luck.”
I lifted Bea out of her bed and she beamed up at me with sleepy green eyes. She had inherited Dante’s blond hair and my eyes, a combination that always got admiring glances.
“This?” Anna held up a plaid dress and a white romper with frills around the neckline. I let Anna change Bea’s nappy and dress her, then took over so Anna could put on a matching outfit.
She came out of her room in a plaid skirt and a beige cashmere sweater, beaming. She looked so grown up then, and absolutely stunning. It was strange to hold one baby girl in my arms while my first baby girl was ready to hit puberty with full speed.
An hour later, I stood on the porch, wrapped in a thick coat and a blanket around Bea and me while I watched Leonas, Anna, and Luisa engage in one of the most enthusiastic snowball fights I’d ever seen. They laughed loudly as they pummeled each other with snowballs. It had snowed all morning and our garden had turned into a winter wonderland.
Anna giggled then shrieked when Leonas’ snowball hit her butt.