Page 119 of Ruthless Guardian

“I’m not sure I can put up with you for much longer than that.”

I dig my finger into her sides, and she wiggles on top of me, rubbing up against my cock. “Well, you better get used to it because I’m not going anywhere.”

She stills, a slow smile spreading her lips.

“I never thought I could love after Laura, Isa. I never wanted to open myself up to that sort of loss again. It’s literally fucking terrifying. But with you… it’s a risk I can’tnottake. You know how hard I tried to fight this, and now you know why. Still the idea of losing you—” My throat swells, the ache from only a week ago still too raw.

“You’re not going to lose me, Raf.” She frames my face with her warm hands, drawing me so close our noses nearly touch. “I’m not sure if you noticed, but I can hold my own. I love that you want to protect me, but I’m kind of a badass myself.”

A wicked grin splashes across her face, only bringing out my own.

“Yes, you are,principessa.” I press a gentle kiss to her lips before I dig my fingers into her sides once again. “Except against me of course. You’re powerless to stop me from getting what I want. And what I want right now, is you.”

She starts to laugh as I tickle, but the smothered fire from earlier starts to build again. I lift her hips and drop her down on my erection. She’s so wet I slide right in, and we groan in unison as I fill her up.

“Oh, Raf,” she moans, her hips starting to grind against me.

“I want you to have my baby,” I murmur as I thrust.

Her eyes grow wide, but she doesn’t stop the tempting roll of her hips.

“I want you to be my wife, Isabella Valentino, I want you by my side forever. It took ten impossibly long years for my heart to start beating again, and I never want it to stop again.”

“Are you proposing to me,SignorFerrara? Because I don’t see a ring.”

A deep chuckle vibrates my chest. “No, not yet, but it’s a promise, a vow I intend to keep for as long as it takes for you to say yes. Anyway, I figure your father would cut off my cock if I didn’t get his approval first.”

“You’re not wrong there.” She smirks.

I sit up, wrapping my arms around her back and bringing her body flush against mine. “So we better enjoy this moment then, just in case.”

“I’ve been enjoying every minute with you, Raf.” Her lips claim mine, softly at first, but in a second the blazing firebetween us ignites. With one hand on her hip, I reach for the open jar of Nutella on the nightstand and stick my finger inside. It’s become my new favorite morning treat when paired with my favorite, Isabella. I fist her hair, tugging her head back to expose that neck and run my chocolate-dipped finger down the length of her body. I lick my way down to her collarbone then toward the full swell of her breasts. She moans as I thrust deeper, her head falling back in pleasure.

“You’re mine, Isabella Valentino.”

“I’m yours, Raf.”

CHAPTER 58

FOR AS LONG AS I DRAW BREATH

Raffaele

One Month Later

The jet door slides open, and a rush of warm, dense air engulfs me. Welcome back to JFK. ThankDio, it will be fall soon, and we won’t have to withstand the oppressive heat of the city for much longer. I step off the jet onto the tarmac with Isabella at my side, and a wave of Valentinos and Rossi’s crash over us.

There’s a lot of squealing and hugging and an onslaught of “I missed you so much!” I take a step back to allow Isa to enjoy the long-coming family reunion. Then I move beside her new bodyguard, Andrew, who’s watching as she’s swallowed up by the mob of cousins, aunts and uncles. Her new guard has been decent, but despite my tireless training, he’s not quite as good as me. Yet. Andrew has enormous shoes to fill, so I can’t quite blame the guy. At least with both of us on Isabella, I’m confident she’s protected.

Isa and Serena gush about their time in Italy while Vinny and Matteo watch intently, eyes bright, while the twins, Alessandroand Alessia simply smile and nod. A hint of jealousy flashes across Alessia’s face as she regards her cousins. She tries to hide it beneath a plastic smile, but I recognize it for what it is. I’m hyper aware of the way anyone looks at myprincipessa. From what Isabella’s told me, it’s an interesting dynamic at play between the Valentinos and Rossi’s but at least they make it work. And in spite of the family drama and bickering, they seem to truly care about each other.

Unlike my own family.

After I burned my father’s villa to the ground, I attempted to reach out to Antonio. Not that he’d extended me the same courtesy ten years ago, but now he was the one alone, in exile from the paltry remains of our family. I never heard back. Not a single call or text. I imagine he must be busy, having inherited the Ferrara empire, the new prince to the throne.

I have no doubt my brother will succeed as the newcapo.Papàgroomed him for the role since before he could walk. I’m just happy to be far away from Rome and the dark past the eternal city conceals. I finally have everything I’ve ever wanted in Isabella.

She cants her head back over her shoulder as if she’s overheard my mental musings. Her eyes sparkle as she regards me, the depth of emotion in that glimmer enough for my heart to trip on a beat. She throws me a smile before continuing her conversation with Serena.

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