Ti Amo (Battaglia Mafia Series) Page 12

  Even as her orgasm waned she chanted his name. Giovanni eased over her, covering her body with his. He raised himself with his elbows while grinding his erection down on the silky heat he stirred between her thighs.

  Mira gazed at him with half-opened eyes and noticed his ragged breathing, the way the muscles in his neck and lower jaw tightened with restraint. Her body braced for more. He brushed his lips over hers and then kissed her neck and went further. The tickles his beard gave her as his chin and jaw brushed down over her chest had her smiling. He sucked her left nipple until she was pumping her aching center up against his lower abdomen. “More, give me… some more,” she wheezed.

  He guided her legs around his waist. In one deft move he thrust rock hardness deep inside of her.

  “Yeeeessss…” she hissed.

  Mira moved her hips in steady timing, keeping up with his natural rhythm. Together, this way, was unbelievably sublime for her. He dropped on her and started to thrust harder and harder. He sucked her shoulder, then kissed his way up to her neck. He sucked harder and she could feel bruising pain mix sweetly with the pleasure shocks from his lunging cock deep between her legs. Rotating her hips and squeezing her thighs, she instructed him in the ways needed to bring forth the orgasm that he held from her.

  “Oh... oh... oh…” she panted when his thrusting became frenzied, and so fast she felt herself come apart. Giovanni sucked hard on her shoulder and unleashed. Weak, Mira slipped into submission and rode the wave of ecstasy. They both collapsed.

  “We aren’t done,” he said.

  “Yes we are!” she panted.

  He scooted them up the bed, and she summoned the energy to get under the covers. “It feels like I’ve never lost you,” Giovanni said.

  “You sound surprised.” She turned over and ran her hand over his sweaty chest.

  “I am. I don’t know. Being content is something I’m going to have to get used to.”

  “Yes. Let’s get used to it together,” she sighed. They lay in silence, and she drifted to the sound of his heartbeat.

  “I really made a mess of things, Bella,” he said and her eyes opened. “I’ve managed to alienate so many. Without Flavio I’ve done things I’m not proud of.”

  Mira wasn’t sure how to respond. It was rare that he lowered his guard and discussed his business around her. Should she listen or comment? She peeked up at him. His gaze was trained on the ceiling above. She decided to do both. Her hand slid up his chest and she reached to caress his scruffy jaw. “What is the problem between you and Lorenzo?”

  “He can’t be trusted, speaking out of turn to you is just the beginning. I wouldn’t be surprised to know he’s somewhere scheming and plotting now. I love him Bella. He’s my blood. But he’s disappointed me so many times. Fabiana would be alive if he hadn’t been so reckless, and then of course I wouldn’t have missed the birth of my bambina.”

  Mira rested her chin on his chest running the tip of her finger over his lips. “I do think he loves you too. But you men, especially you two, are very complicated in how you show your loyalties. I think he had motives in telling me what he did.”

  Giovanni nodded. “Yes. I can’t trust anyone.”

  “That’s not true, Giovanni.”

  He smiled looking down at her. “Of course I trust you, Bella. There is just so much we can share in this. Not because I’m excluding you out of my life. If I’m silent you have to know I’m protecting you from my life.”

  “I’m not talking about me. You can trust Domi. Isn’t he your consigliere now?”

  Giovanni heaved a deep sigh. “Domi’s young and inexperienced.”

  “What he lacks in age he makes up for in heart. He’s loyal, and he’s smart.”

  Giovanni laughed. “Listen to you. You don’t know Domi.”

  “I know him.”

  “Right?” Giovanni continued to chuckle. “So now you’re my consigliere?”

  She smiled. “I’m just making conversation that’s all.” She kissed his chest then rose.

  He watched her, curious. “Where are you going?”

  “To shower. Do we have clothes here?”

  He lifted on his elbows and felt himself stiffen again as he stared lustfully at her nude ass moving away. “Yes, but don’t put on any,” he called after her.

  She laughed and went to the back room trying to locate the shower. Lying back he put his arm behind his head. Dominic had been the voice of reason during many stormy days. His Bella was right. The phone near the bed rang. Giovanni sat upright. No one had the number besides Dominic and Catalina, a call couldn’t be good. He leapt from the bed and plucked the cordless from the base. Extending the antenna to make sure he picked up a good signal he answered it.

  Immediately he heard the loud screaming and crying of his bambina.

  “Ciao?”

  “Giovanni?” Catalina paced the floor holding a wailing Eve who kicked and howled in her arms almost causing her to drop her.

  “What’s wrong?”

  “I can’t find her pacifier, and she won’t stop crying. Where’s Mira?” Catalina asked.

  “Try singing to her, Catalina.”

  “I did that! I sung to her and I fed her, but she keeps saying ‘ninny’…‘ninny’…that has to be the blasted thing but I can’t find it.”

  He headed to the bathroom. “Put her on the phone.” He had to pull the phone from his ear from her cries. He tried to sing the lullaby to her. Eve screamed louder. He opened the bathroom door. Mira was nude in front of the mirror trying to find something to pin her hair up with. She looked up and smiled. “Something wrong?”

  “Somebody lost their ninny.”

  Mira accepted the phone. “Hello?”

  “Mira, thank God. Do you have an extra one of her pacifiers?”

  “Check the inside pocket of her baby bag. It should be with the rest of the bags that the men brought into Giovanni’s room.” She glanced at him and winked. “I mean in our room.”

  “I did it’s not there.” Catalina said.

  “I have a black duffle and there is a night case inside with my toiletries I think there’s one in a plastic baggie.

  “Okay hold on.”

  Giovanni slapped her on her rear and went to the shower. Mira shook her head at him. She made her mind up that on Miss Eve’s second birthday she was going to make her retire the pacifier. The tantrums she threw when she couldn’t locate it were extreme. Several minutes passed and Catalina came back on the phone. Eve was quiet.

  “Found it!”

  Mira laughed. “Are you okay? Do you need me to come back?”

  “We were fine until we couldn’t find the thing. My goodness, it took me ten minutes to figure out what a ninny was.”

  Mira nodded, “Well, she should be sleepy anyway. Give her some milk in her cup and she should go straight to sleep.”

  “I’ll take care of her don’t worry. You two have fun, ciao!”

  Mira pushed down the antenna and put the cordless phone on the bathroom sink. She headed straight for the shower. When she drew open the frosted glass door. The steam swirled in a hazy mist over him as he lathered his hair. Mira couldn’t wait to touch him. She ran her hands over his broad back mesmerized by the tattoo that reached from one shoulder to the other. She kissed and traced her tongue over the intricate design. Giovanni went forward, his strong arms outstretched and his palms flat to the tile wall. The muscles under his golden tan skin flexed and she traced kisses down his spine. Water cascaded in rivulets down his spine and back. He turned around and kissed her, drawing her directly under the warm spray. She cursed at getting her hair wet. It was too late to turn back now. She laughed wiping at her face, and he kissed the side of her neck. “Is everything okay?” he asked.

  “Yes. Eve’s fine, though I miss her. We should have brought her with us.” Mira said as he ran his hands over her thighs.

  “If we did, I wouldn’t be able to do this.” He lifted and placed her up against the wall. She giggled from
his strength. He pushed her up higher so he could suck lovingly on her extended nipples.

  “Mmm, you have a point.”

  Penetration of his invading cock stretched her below mercilessly. Every veined inch of his cock brought her closer to her peak. He licked her lips while working his thrusts until he was left grunting her name with desire. She tried to catch her breath. The heat wave caused by the warm jets out of the showerhead had her sweating and sucking down the hot air. Believing she could stand no more he slowed down his passionate thrusts to more loving ones while keeping her pinned to the wall. When she felt him nearing a climax she said a silent thank you to God that she survived it all.

  After he released her, they showered in silence, touching and kissing each other’s intimate spots. Mira throbbed between her legs. She swore she would do all that she could to make it through the next couple of hours without another love session. Her body couldn’t handle it.

  True to his word he had bathrobes for them, but he also had some of her things in the closet, the things she left behind when she fled Italy. “I can’t believe you kept my clothes,” she said. He didn’t answer. She tied the robe that he provided and it did fit her nicely. When she walked down the stairs she could again marvel at how modern and elegant the place was. “Who decorated this place?”

  “The owner had a lady decorator named Joanne Calauti who furnish the place. I decided to keep her on. She isn’t done. She worked as a head decorator from the previous owner.”

  “She?” Mira paused on the center step.

  Giovanni winked. “She’s a designer. Like you. Except she does other stuff.”

  “What kind of stuff?” Mira’s nose wrinkled. “Giovanni? What kind of stuff.”

  He picked up the glasses of wine he’d poured earlier bringing her one. “Decorating stuff. You understand. Of course you can redecorate it if you want. I’ll fire her.”

  She accepted the glass of wine. “I just might do that. I’m interested in creating again.”

  “Designing pretty dresses again? Do you miss it?” he asked.

  Mira shrugged. “It’s not the same with Fabiana gone. I make Eve’s clothes, but I’m not sure if I want to enter that world again.”

  He rubbed her arm. “Let’s change the subject. What do you want for Christmas?”

  She glanced up. With all the drama she forgot the holiday approached. “I think celebrating it alone with you and Eve will be the only thing I want this year.”

  They sat on the L-shaped sofa in front of the windows with the panoramic view of the Amalfi coast. The candles were the only lighting in the room and several had blinked out. A sharp smell of vanilla and melting wax permeated the air. She didn’t mind. It was somewhat soothing.

  “Family is always abundant during the holidays at Melanzana. In fact Rocco and Zia will return to meet Eve.”

  “I would love to see them again.”

  Mira sipped her wine remembering the old couple and their ride on his motorcycle through Chianti. She missed her grandparents at times. The idea of Eve having Rocco and Zia, made her feel hopeful that her child would thrive in Italy with a normal life. “Giovanni? Can I ask you something, and you won’t take offense?”

  “Of course, Bella.”

  “It’s about your childhood. Growing up here, with your father’s business and all the stuff with your mother, was it normal? What kind of life did you have as a kid?” She tried to read his reaction. His profile was void of emotion but the shadows of the night made it hard for her to read much more.

  “There were normal days, and times. We were a family. He treated Ma-ma like his wife and me like his son. He loved Catalina. He gave her anything. We had holidays and birthday parties. We took vacations.” He heaved a deep sigh. “Still I always knew I was different. I always knew my mother was… different. But I was loved, and happy as a child. None of it had any lasting effects on me.”

  Mira doubted him. In fact she believed his brooding nature and hot-temper were a direct result of his father’s influence. Now they were poised to raise a family together and she questioned what it would all mean.

  “There’s something I want to talk to you about,” he said his voice taking on a serious note.

  “Okay.”

  Mira relaxed. His arm went around her, and she snuggled his chest. Her legs curled up underneath her, the wine warming her, she felt so tired. But it was a nice sweet homey tiredness as well.

  “If things hadn’t happen the way they did, you would be my wife now,” he said.

  Mira coughed. She sat up, the wine sloshed in the glass. Giovanni patted her back as she caught her breath. “Wife?” she managed.

  “Is that a problem?”

  “Are you proposing?”

  He smiled. “Not this way. But we must discuss it. I want to marry. We have a daughter. She won’t grow up as a bastard.”

  “Don’t use that word.” Mira stiffened.

  “Why not? It’s what she is if you aren’t my wife.” The bitterness in his voice chilled her.

  “I have to be honest, Giovanni, I’ve never been big on marriage.”

  He chuckled. “That’s because you didn’t have me.”

  “Oh brother!” she hit him playfully.

  “What I’m trying to say is that I wasn’t either. Until I found you.” He clarified.

  Mira liked the sound of his explanation.

  “What are your reservations about going public?”

  Mira shrugged. “I’m safer this way.” She didn’t want to hurt him, but she preferred that his enemies not know about her and Eve until he settled the unrest around him.

  “You fear Angelo will come after you again?”

  “Don’t you?”

  “The only thing I fear is my life without you. I’ll never make the mistakes of the past again.”

  “Well I’m here now, baby. I don’t plan on leaving.” She sidled up even closer to him.

  He kissed her brow. He sat forward, and she sat up to accommodate him. He put the wineglass down. Mira lowered hers. Giovanni stretched out on the sofa sideways, and she lay with him. His arm draped over her waist. “When was my daughter born? How was she born?”

  “The old fashion way. I opened my legs and out she came.”

  He tickled her side, and she squealed kicking her feet. Once her laughter subsided she captured enough breath in her lungs to speak. “She was born January the 31st. Most memorable day of the year in Switzerland!” she proclaimed.

  “Why is that?”

  “It was like spring in the middle of winter, if that makes sense. Everybody talked about that day for weeks. I missed it, because she had me in labor for nine hours.”

  “My firefly. She’s just like a Battaglia. We do it grand.” He folded her up in his arms. She rolled into his chest and pressed her face there. Her thigh lifted and covered his causing her robe to part and reveal how sexy her legs were to him.

  “I was terrified.” She held him. “Kei brought the midwife, but I was scared and in so much pain. I thought of Fabiana. How she’d tease me. I thought of my grandmother and how she would comfort me. I thought of you too. I wondered where you were, what you would think of her birth. How you would receive our child.”

  “I should have been there,” he said sadly.

  “Yes.” She yawned. “You should have.”

  Giovanni rested his head on the pillow of the sofa and stared out at the night. She kissed his chest and settled back against him, pushing her breasts flat to his chest and her sex up against his thigh. Soon his lids grew heavy and together they drifted to sleep. However, it wasn’t for long. He woke to find her resting peacefully in his arms. He had intended to propose. He wanted to do it in the most romantic way. But each time he tried, he couldn’t find the moment. And to be honest, his fear of rejection held him back. Giovanni eased his hand down into the pocket of his robe and her leg fell off his. He retrieved the ring earlier from his trouser pocket when he came downstairs to get their wine.

  He
held up the antique white gold setting around a 2 ct., flawless, square cut diamond. He’d buy her a larger diamond if she wanted one, but he prayed she’d prefer to wear this one. His father never married his mother. However, after he came for them and brought them back from Ireland he put this ring on his mother’s finger. He never heard the word whore mentioned by anyone in her presence again. When Evelyn took ill she gave him this. She wanted him to give it to his wife someday.

  “Bella?” he whispered, but half the word lodged in his throat. He cleared his voice. “Bella,” he said again.

  She stirred a bit but didn’t wake. Giovanni reached for her hand. It was a struggle but he managed to lift himself so he could ease the family heirloom on her ring finger. As he slid it up past her knuckle her eyes opened. She blinked at him confused.

  “Mirabella. Ti amo. Will you marry me?”

  She stared at him for a long moment, and he wondered if she heard him. Slowly she lifted her hand and inspected the ring on her finger, sparkling in the darkness. “It’s my mother’s. She wanted me to give it to my wife someday. It means a lot if you will honor me and wear it.”

  “Marry you?” she repeated.

  “I know it seems sudden. But I lost you once. I-I don’t want to wait. Not on anything. I need you to be my wife.”

  She lowered her hand. “The world thinks I’m dead.”

  “But you aren’t dead. The first thing we do is reclaim your identity. You will have to convert to Catholicism. Eve and all of my children will be Catholics…”

  “Slow down sweetheart.” Mira touched his face.

  He couldn’t. He could see the answer in her eyes. She was going to reject him, and he couldn’t bear it. His pulse raced and his chest became so tight he felt his breathing stagger and go deep. “We can do this soon. Very soon. I have connections. Will you marry me?”

  She rose on her elbows and smiled. “I never wanted to get married. I never thought I could see myself tied to anyone…permanently. Now I have a little girl and her father to take care of.”