Page 72 of Brutal Vows

“Yes.”

And I bet it’s the same piercing that had Ivan in a fucking rage. I gently disentangle her from the duvet and my arms and lie her down. The way she looks at me, trust laced with uncertainty, makes me want to earn it even more. “I’ll take care of it, princess. As you’ve seen, this isn’t my first rodeo.”

“Okay.”

I touch her hip as I settle next to her and tug at her panties. She helps to pull them down, and suddenly, this seems so fucking intimate, I want to pause. Me. Her. A moment where we can’t go back. I’m fooling nobody. We crossed the bridge and burned it down hours ago.

A soft stroke to her leg makes her splay open and I close in, gently parting her sex. Her scent, the wet arousal still lingering, begs for my tongue. I glide my thumb over the piercing, looking for where it’s been soldered.

“I’d be able to deal with this for you, but it would be better to bring in a pro to replace it.” Someone I trust.

There’s nobody I really trust. Not when it comes to my wife’s safety. But I don’t want to think about it now. I want what I wanted from the start. And I’m going to take it. Not because I’m that fucker, but my taking will give her something she’s never had before. Worship. Dedication. Love.

I home in and kiss her inner thigh, closing my eyes to block out the visual of the two skulls staring at me with empty eyes, and as I circle her pussy with my tongue, I slowly find my way to her center.

“Luca,” she moans, arching into the sensation, widening her legs and burrowing her hands into my hair. “Oh my God, Luca⁠—”

I can’t get enough. Fuck, I’ve never wanted someone more. I touch her, feel for every scar, every proof of what she’s endured and survived, and some intense feeling of pride balloons in me. This woman has withstood every trial, quiet, fierce, so freaking strong against all odds, knowing what she had to protect. A child. An innocent. Hers. And mine. All of her is mine now. Including this child.

She grinds against me, and I don’t give her any reprieve. I want her to come, release all the tension in her body, let it flow into me so I can help her carry it, be the husband I promised to be, to cherish and protect her. I reach up, stroke my hand underneath her sweater to her breasts, finding a hardened nipple. I want to be everywhere, all over her, constantly, her pleasure being mine.

And I feel her give in to me as I slip two fingers into her, upping the pressure, licking her slower, grinding my tongue and knowing the piercing will do the rest.

She pulls her legs up, moaning her release as I curl my fingers, pressing against her inner wall. “Luca…oh fuck…Luca.”

And still she comes and it slicks my fingers, salty sweet on my tongue. Her hands fall away as she just lies there, pulsing, and fuck it’s beautiful, the way she’s opened up and given herself to me in this moment.

She comes down, and I’m careful as I extract my fingers. She looks up at me with dazed eyes as I lean over her.

“What was that?” she murmurs, cupping my cheek, running fingertips over my mouth.

I smile down at her, wanting her to relax and not spiral again over what happened in the past. This is the moment I start building our future. I’ll need to make a plan to get her and Annushka out of this mess, and I don’t know how I will, but I’ll do it, even if it costs me my life. A quiet vow to myself as I try to find the words to make her smile.

“Some call that dessert, princess, but we haven’t even eaten dinner. You stay here while I go make you some.”

“Okay.” She smiles. “Can’t wait to see what your idea of an entrée is, but don’t you want to…”

“Nah.” Entrée, hmm? I smirk, but it hides my real thoughts. Whatever this is, it isn’t going to be tit-for-tat transactional sex between us. “I wanted to take care of you.” With that, I tuck her in and press a soft kiss to her hair. “I’ll be back.”

On my way out, I dim the lights. When I return with a sandwich fifteen minutes later, my sweet, darling wife has fallen asleep. Thank God. Let her sleep. I put the plate and glass of juice down on the nightstand, find my phone, switch off the lights, and close the door.

For a long while, I hover, indecisive.

Fuck knows I need to think about how I’m going to deal with this situation.

I don’t want her to wake up alone though. I search my phone and dial the one person I know who will keep quiet and toe the line.

“Luca?” Rosalia answers. The strain in her voice tells me she’s abreast of everything that’s happened today. “What’s up?”

“Where’s Burley?”

“He’s with Matteo and Benedict. Dominic went home to be with Ariana about ten minutes ago. I don’t know what they’re up to.”

“It’s okay. Can you slip out and come to my place? It’s okay for Burley to know, but I’d prefer if nobody else does.”

“Okay. But why?”

“I need to go for ride, Rosie, a long one. I need to think, and I don’t want to leave Milana home alone. She’s sleeping. I bet she’s out for the night. I just want someone to be here, in case.”