Turn Towards the Sun Book Two: After the Rain

by Jennifer Domenico

  “I knew I should have told Enzo not to tell you what he got me for Christmas. You can’t keep a secret.”

  “Yes, I can, but I can still tease you about it.”

  “Except that I don’t care, not one bit. I already have everything I want.”

  She snickers. “No you don’t.”

  I have to admit that my curiosity is piqued. But, I really don’t want to know. “I’ll kill you if you tell me,” I warn her.

  “I won’t tell you, but you’re gonna love it.”

  “Shut up, Cass.”

  She blows me a kiss and laughs as we pull into my old apartment complex to collect our friend.

  “Hey ladies,” Gabby says, climbing into the tiny back seat. “Thanks for picking me up.” “No problem,” I tell her. “How was Sedona?”

  Her eyes glaze over. “It was so beautiful. Have you been there yet?”

  I shake my head.

  “Well, you need to go,” Gabby insists. “It’s gorgeous. All the rocks and hills are red, and it doesn’t even feel like you’re in Arizona anymore. We stayed at this adorable bed and breakfast place. We just spent the days walking around the town, shopping, eating and enjoying each other’s company.” Her voice sounds dreamy as she speaks.

  “So it was a good trip then. Things are still going well with Calvin?” I ask.

  “Better than well – I’m hooked on the guy.”

  “Aw, he’s a nice one,” I say. “I’m happy for you.”

  “So, another wedding?” asks Cassie.

  “I don’t know. I hope so. I don’t think we’re on the fast track though, like our friend Ava, here.”

  We all laugh.

  “At least it worked out for you, Ava. Could’ve been a disaster marrying a guy you knew for four months,” Cassie remarks.

  “I knew it was going to be okay,” I tell her, and I’m grinning as I pull into the parking lot of the restaurant. “Even though everything with us happened in a whirlwind, it always felt right. It still does.”

  “Yeah, completely,” Cassie agrees. “I would’ve stopped you if I thought you were making a mistake.”

  “You two were made for each other, that much is obvious. I’m glad I can be part of it,” Gabby adds, smiling, as she gets out of the car.

  “Aw, aren’t we just a loving bunch of bitches?” Cassie says, causing us to plunge into a fit of laughter.

  “God forbid you act too sweet for too long, Cass,” I remark.

  “I have a finite amount of sweetness, so I have to use it sparingly.” She laughs again.

  “That was a good one,” I reply. “Now shut up and let’s get some food.”

  “Yes, let’s,” she agrees. “I’m starving.”

  12 CHAPTER TWELVE

  “Buon natale, amore.

  I blink my eyes open to find Enzo leaning over me, brushing my hair off my face, and smiling in that so seductive way that sweeps me off my feet every time.

  “It’s Christmas?” Finally! I’m dying to share my surprise with him today.

  “It is. Are you ready to wake up?” He runs his hands up under my nightgown and caresses my breasts.

  I let out a small moan. “I’m ready for you.”

  “You’re my present today,” Enzo tells me. Pushing my gown up, he sucks a hardened nipple into his mouth. So good.

  He rolls on top of me and presses his erection into my leg. “Your body is so hot this morning, so moist.”

  “Enzo, please…” I squirm beneath him.

  “Please what?”

  “Please make love to me.”

  “Is that what you want? he asks.

  “Yes, you know that.”

  “Mrs. Milano, I do believe you’re becoming impatient again,” he remarks as he tugs my panties down.

  “Damn right. You woke me up, so now you need to take care of me.”

  “My, you’re feisty this morning.” Enzo dips his finger between my legs and swirls it around my clit.

  I grab his wrist and press into him. He is driving me crazy.

  “Mmm, amore, you’re so wet for me. I like this,” he says, dragging his finger up my body. Then he slowly licks it, keeping his eyes locked on mine. My whole body shudders.

  “You taste so sweet, bella, so sweet…”

  “You’re not playing fair, Mr. Milano,” I chide him.

  “What’s not fair?” he asks. “I’m just enjoying my tantalizing wife for a moment.” Leaning in, he sucks gently on my neck.

  “Ah, Enzo.”

  “What, baby?” he whispers.

  “I need you. I want you now.”

  “Oh, you do? Why didn’t you say so?” he teases me. Taking my hand, Enzo places it on his rock hard erection. “You feel this? It’s for you. I couldn’t sleep dreaming about the beauty lying next to me. You, my beautiful princess, are making me crazy.”

  Enzo pushes open my legs and slides into me. Ah, finally. He’s such a damn tease. He holds my face between his hands, staring into my eyes intently.

  “I love you so much, Ava. So much…”

  “I know, baby.”

  He doesn’t know it yet, but we are cruising unprotected. I didn’t start my new birth-control pack, so I could get pregnant at any minute from now. Enzo puts his arms around my back and holds me tight. We climax together, wrapped in each other’s love.

  “Merry Christmas, bella.”

  “Merry Christmas, Enzo.”

  For a while, we just lay there, alongside each other, silently taking in the morning. I want to give him his gift while we are still alone.

  “Enzo, I have something for you,” I say, sitting up.

  He smiles. “Good. I have something for you, too. It’s Christmas.”

  “Yes it is. I want to give you my gift while we are alone though.”

  “Okay,” he replies with curiosity in his tone. “Sounds like fun. Is it more fun than what you just gave me?” He rubs my stomach.

  “Yes, it’s more fun than that. How about a quick shower? Then I can give it to you.”

  “As you wish,” he says. “I’m very excited. You’ve got my interest aroused.”

  “I like when you’re aroused.” I wink at him and climb out of bed.

  My stomach is turning somersaults. I’m feeling so nervous that I can barely stand the suspense myself. I try to keep my cool.

  We hop in the shower and wash quickly. I brush my teeth and wrap my hair up in a bun. Enzo brushes his teeth while I run off to get his gift from the closet. When I come out, he is sitting butt-naked with a small box in his hand. I guess we’ll stay naked then. Sitting down next to him, I take a deep breath.

  “Why are you nervous, amore? You know I will like whatever it is, because you picked it.”

  “I think you’ll like it.” My voice comes out in a whisper and I keep the box in my lap.

  Enzo grins at me. “Can I have it?”

  “Um sure.” I pass it to him and hold my breath.

  He kisses my cheek and starts pulling off the ribbons. Opening the box, he picks up the package of birth control and looks at me, his head cocked to the side.

  “Read the card,” I tell him.

  Enzo picks it up and stares at the baby feet, and I watch with joy as his eyes widen. Opening it, he reads silently before quickly pushing the tissue paper aside and holding up the tiny infant outfits in his hands. I stare at him, waiting for some sort of reaction. When he looks up at me, my breath leaves me. His eyes are full of tears.

  “You’re ready? You mean it? You want a baby with me?” he gasps.

  “I always have, but I just wanted to wait for the right time. And that time is now. Well, to start trying for one. You didn’t know it, but we were trying a little while ago.” I grin at his surprise.

  “You’re not taking your pill anymore?”

  “No. I stopped right after my period was over.”

  He takes my hand in his and stares at the floor. “Ava, there is nothing better you could have given me.”

  “I didn’t
give you anything yet. We need to work on it, which should be fun,” I tease him.

  “Yes, fun. Maybe we should try again right now,” he says, softly.

  His eyes deepen to a shade of blue I’ve never seen. There is no smile on his face, only a lustful yearning that warms my body.

  “Again? Right now?” I ask him.

  “Yes, right now.”

  Enzo still isn’t smiling, and I know that he’s taking this very seriously. He bows his head and stares at the floor.

  He kisses my hand. “I’m going to make love to you every day from now on.”

  “You already do.” I run my fingers through his hair and slide down to the floor in front of him on my knees. “Enzo, look at me.”

  He continues to stare at the floor.

  “Enzo?” I tilt his chin up, so his eyes meet mine. “You seem sad when I was hoping for joy.”

  “Everything I’ve ever wanted is happening to me right now,” Enzo replies. “My career is thriving, I have a home I love, filled with friends, and I have a beautiful, loving wife who is going to give me a family. I’m just taking it all in. Sometimes, I can’t believe you came into my life. I can’t believe the feeling I have inside of me right now. I’m astounded. It’s very overwhelming.”

  This is an overwhelmed Enzo? He is possibly the calmest I’ve ever seen him.

  “Enzo, my love, my prince, all of this is for both of us,” I say. “I feel the same as you. I really do. That’s why I had to think about the timing of the baby. I was overwhelmed too.”

  He looks into my eyes and rubs his thumbs across my cheeks. “So beautiful.” His words are a whisper. “This is the best gift I’ve ever had. Thank you.”

  Enzo then bends down and kisses me, his gentle tears wetting my cheeks as he does so. I wrap my arms around his neck and hold him as tight as I can. Then he stands, lifting me from the floor, and puts his arms around my waist to carry me. He lays me down on the edge of the bed and presses his full weight against me.

  “I want to make love to you, bella,” he sighs.

  “You don’t have to ask.”

  “I’m not asking. I’m telling you.”

  I scoot back on the bed and open my legs to him, sliding my hands down to guide his erection towards me. “Then come inside, lover,” I invite him.

  He enters me, moving slowly, deliberately. Holding my face in his hands, he balances on his knees, my ass lifted off the bed.

  Enzo says nothing as he stares deep into my eyes. The expression on his face fills my heart with such intense love that I think I might explode from it. A slow, seductive smile forms across his lips as his hands glide up my belly, gripping my breasts between them. I wrap my legs around his waist in an attempt to get him deeper inside me. We exchange no words, only looks of pure love and raw passion.

  Happiness overwhelms me as my husband moves inside me. As he reaches forward and takes both of my hands in his, entwining our fingers together, he doesn’t have to say a word. I know how he feels about me and how happy he must be right now.

  I arch my back as the tight feeling of a climax starts to build in my tummy. Gripping Enzo’s hands, I rock harder against him, reaching for my orgasm. His eyes light up; the grin still fixed on his face. He releases one hand and presses his thumb against my pulsating clit. Oh, yeah, that’s exactly what I needed. I writhe beneath him, intent on bringing us both over the edge together.

  “Enzo,” I cry out; the only words spoken in a while.

  “Yes, bella… let it out…”

  We rock together, riding the waves of crashing orgasms, Enzo wrapping me tightly in his arms. After a few minutes, he lets me go, our bodies sweaty and hot, and we lay still. We lay quietly for several minutes, each recovering from our climactic finish.

  Enzo then rolls over and steadies himself on his elbow, flashing his brilliant smile. “I have something for you, too. It’s not as good as a baby, but I hope you’ll like it.”

  Climbing out of bed, he fetches the small, square box he was holding earlier, and gives it to me. I open it quickly, expecting a necklace or some other trinket. Instead there is a card with a hand-drawn picture of a house on the front. That’s all – a card with a house on it? I don’t understand and look up at Enzo for an explanation.

  “That, principessa, is the house I’m going to build you in Tuscany. I drew it for you, and I’ve bought the land already.” He grins at me, waiting for my response.

  I can’t do anything, but stare at the image.

  “Does it make you happy, amore, to have a home in Italy? We’ll go there as many times a year as possible.”

  I nod my head. Now, I’m astounded. I didn’t think there was anything he could do to blow me away more than he has already, but this is it.

  “Amore?” he presses me.

  “It’s perfect,” I reply, my lips spreading into a smile.

  “Our babies will play there,” he adds, reaching out to rub my belly.

  “Yes.”

  He raises me up from the bed with a smile. “This is the best Christmas of my life, Ava.”

  “Mine too.” I grin and it dawns on me that making love now has a whole new meaning. “Every time we make love, we could be making a baby. I just realized.”

  “Well, then, we should make love as often as possible,” he says, laughing.

  I giggle. “Thought we already did.”

  “I’m sure we have time for more,” Enzo remarks, leaning in to kiss the tip of my nose. “Oh, I almost forgot, I have one more gift for you, but you’ll have to put this blindfold on. I don’t want you to see it right away.” He takes a red silk tie from the dresser.

  “A blindfold? That seems elaborate. What do you have up your sleeve now?”

  His eyes twinkle. “It’s not up my sleeve. It’s in the living room, waiting for you.”

  Enzo ties the silk gently around my eyes and helps me into my robe. Then he leads me out into the living room, chuckling softly as we walk.

  “Enzo?”

  “Shush or you’ll wake Cassandra and Chris.”

  He walks me to a certain spot and stops me, turning me around by my shoulders. “Ready?” he asks.

  “Very.”

  The silk tie falls from my eyes. I gasp and clasp my neck with my hands. From somewhere deep inside, an unexpected but jubilant noise rises up, and I find myself jumping up and down, and screeching at the top of my lungs.

  “How did you? Where? Enzo,” I scream. “Oh, my God!”

  I turn and leap into my husband’s arms, pushing him back against the wall. He swings me around and around, laughing joyously. Maximus jumps up, barking around our feet.

  A half-asleep Cassie stumbles around the corner, looking groggy. “What the hell is…?” she starts and then stops. “Oh.” Then she actually begins to laugh. Chris appears alongside her, tightening his robe.

  Enzo strokes my cheek and sets me down. “My love, a little birdie told me this was something you’ve always wanted.”

  I cannot believe my eyes, before me stands a stunning, black grand piano. I’ve wanted one my entire life. Although I learned to play as a child, my parents could never afford a proper piano.

  “I can’t believe it. I just can’t believe it,” I whisper.

  Cassie puts her arms around my shoulders. “Believe it. This is yours. Enzo made this happen for you because you deserve it.”

  “You told him.” I cry, hugging her hard.

  “Yeah, sure did. I come in handy sometimes.” She laughs. “And now I’m going back to bed for a while. What freaking time is it anyway?”

  “It’s seven.” Enzo points to the clock on the wall.

  She rolls her eyes. “I’m definitely going back to bed. Chris?”

  “Right behind you, sweet cheeks,” he says with a laugh.

  I turn to my husband. “Thank you isn’t even enough. This is so incredible, Enzo.”

  “We can find a nice one for the house in Tuscany, too, I promise,” he replies. “I just want your happiness, Av
a. Any dream you have, I want to make it real.”

  “You’ve given me so much already. I still can’t believe this.”

  “I asked Cassandra if there was anything at all she could think of that would be a true surprise for you, a dream come true. She told me the piano story. So now, you must play for me,” Enzo insists.

  “I will, I promise, but when those two wake up. Keep in mind that I haven’t played in a few years though.”

  “I’m sure it will be perfect.”

  “How the heck did you get that in here without me knowing?” I ask.

  “Well, it required some work on my part. I had to get up in the middle of the night to let the movers in, and get it set up without you hearing a thing. Cassandra stood by our door in case you woke. Her job was to keep you in the bedroom. Fortunately for me, you sleep like you’re in a coma.” He kisses the tip of my nose.

  I laugh. “Nope, didn’t hear a thing. Amazing.”

  “You’re amazing.”

  “No, you are,” I argue.

  He laughs. “Let’s get coffee.”

  “Sure.” As we start to walk towards the kitchen, I grab his arm to stop him. “I love you,” I tell him, warmly.

  He smiles. “I love you back, princess.”

  Starting the coffee machine, I ask Enzo, “Any hints from Chris about asking Cass to marry him?”

  His eyes twinkle. “Maybe…”

  “Ah, so you know something. Spill it, mister.”

  “I’m sworn to secrecy.”

  “Come on, babe. Tell me,” I urge him.

  “I will not. I’ll give you a hint though.”

  “A hint?” I grin. “Is he going to ask?”

  “Yes.”

  “Today?”

  “No.”

  I cross my arms. “When then?”

  “That’s not a hint.”

  “Soon..?”

  He taps his nose. “Getting warmer…”

  “New Year’s Eve..?”

  “Hmm, that sounds familiar,” Enzo teases.

  “Ooh, New Year’s? Love it. And in Vegas, too,” I say. “How fun.”

  “Don’t you dare say a word,” he warns. “Cassandra kept my secrets from you after all.”

  “Yes, she did, and she kept my secret from you,” I agree. “Poor thing must have been about to explode. Cassie and secrets are normally not a compatible combination.”