Page 71 of Kidnapped By the Mafia

As I stand there, lost in thought, I feel a warm hand rest on the small of my back. I don’t need to turn around to know it’s Lucas. His touch is as familiar to me as my own heartbeat, steady and reassuring.

“She’s getting so big,” I murmur, my voice filled with wonder as I watch Sophia lean over the chessboard, her tiny fingers hovering over the pieces.

“She is,” Lucas agrees, his voice tinged with pride. “She’s going to be unstoppable.”

“She gets that from you,” I tease, leaning into him slightly, feeling the warmth of his body against mine.

“And from you,” he counters, his tone softening as he presses a kiss to the top of my head. “Come with me,” he adds suddenly, a mischievous glint in his eye as he tugs my hand.

I raise an eyebrow, a smile tugging at the corners of my lips. “What are you up to?”

“You’ll see,” he replies, that playful smile of his making my heart skip a beat, just like it did the first time we met.

54

EMILY

Ilet him lead me through the garden, away from the chess game and Sophia’s laughter, toward a secluded corner that’s become our special place.

It’s a spot surrounded by tall hedges and blooming flowers, hidden away from the rest of the world. Here, it’s just the two of us, just like it’s always been.

The sunlight filters through the leaves, casting dappled shadows on the ground, and the air is thick with the scent of jasmine.

It’s a place we’ve retreated to countless times before, a hidden corner of the garden where we can escape the demands of the outside world and just be ourselves.

He pauses, his hand still holding mine as he turns to face me. There’s a seriousness in his eyes now, a depth of emotion that I can feel radiating from him.

He’s always been the strong, silent type, but I’ve learned to read the subtle shifts in his expression, the unspoken words that lie beneath the surface.

“Do you remember the first time we made love in this garden?” Lucas asks, his voice husky as he traces the line of my jaw with his fingers.

“How could I forget?” I reply, my own voice thick with anticipation. “I was still getting over the morning sickness.”

“Helped, didn’t it?”

“Might have done.”

A soft laugh escapes my lips as I let him guide me down onto the soft grass, the warmth of the sun enveloping us.

He lowers himself beside me, his touch reverent as he brushes a strand of hair from my face.

He leans in, capturing my lips in another kiss, this one deeper, more urgent, as if he’s pouring every ounce of his love into it.

“You’re so beautiful,” he murmurs, his voice low and rough. The sincerity in his tone sends a warmth spreading through my chest, and I feel my breath hitch in response.

I smile up at him, my hand coming up to trace the line of his jaw. “You’re not so bad yourself,” I tease, though my voice comes out softer, breathier than I intended.

He chuckles, a deep, rumbling sound that sends a shiver through me. “Is that so?” he asks, his lips curling into a playful grin. “Guess I’ll have to try a little harder, then.”

Before I can respond, he leans in, capturing my lips in a kiss that’s both gentle and demanding, a perfect blend of softness and urgency.

His mouth moves over mine with a heated precision, coaxing a quiet moan from deep within me. I arch up into him, my body instinctively seeking more, craving the connection that only he can provide.

The kiss deepens, becomes more insistent, as if he’s pouring every ounce of his love, his need, into it. His hand slips beneath my shirt, fingertips grazing my skin in a way that leaves a trail of fire in their wake. I gasp against his lips, my fingers curling into his hair, pulling him closer.

“God, I love you,” he breathes against my mouth, his voice rough and thick with emotion. There’s a rawness to his words, a depth that makes my heart pound harder in my chest.

“I love you too,” I whisper back, my voice trembling with the weight of it. And I mean it—every single word. I press up into him, my body aligning with his, and he responds immediately, rolling us so that I’m beneath him, his weight settling over me in a way that feels grounding, solid.

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