Page 31 of Vita Mia

“You think it’s funny?”

He bit her chin. Mirabella forced him to his back. It was her turn to take charge. She was now the one on top. She eased down on his erection and arched her pelvis during the receiving. Giovanni’s hand slid a line up her belly and chest, until his palm gently cupped her breasts. She rode his dick nice and steady with a bump and grind, clench and twist, up and down motion that was all control by her inner thigh muscles, her tight pussy walls, and jiggling buttocks. Tonight, was the first night since the birth of their daughter she could have sex with him.

A reunion that was good for their soul.

The roots of her hair were damp with sweat. The temperature in the room felt hotter than hades. It must have been him. It must have been this love of theirs that survived mafia wars, the birth of children, destruction of friends and families. This love that continued to grow in spite of it all. He felt so good to her she gave into every carnal lustful surge from her powerful man. His dick thrust into her from his bottom maneuvers and she felt him reach the limits. She smiled.

And then she smelled something.Smoke.

Mirabella stopped moving. Giovanni grabbed her hips trying to force the sexual rhythm to continue.

“Gio? Wait.”

“Don’t, Bella, keep going,” he groaned. He grabbed the back of her neck and forced her down to lick her mouth as he turned her over to her back. He kept with his rapid dick thrusts and she lost her train of thought. What women could continue to think with a Titan between her thighs. She grabbed his arms and rolled her hips so his crushing passion could be met with the sweet softness of her vaginal walls in the way he loved her most.

It was undeniable. She smelled smoke.

Giovanni kept thrusting and panting. He dropped on her. Mirabella looked up at the ceiling. Was she going crazy? Smoke? Smoke? She smelled smoke.

And then a loud crash was met with the scream of a woman and they both froze.

***

AFEW MINUTES EARLIERCecilia flushed the toilet. She was so full of happiness she kept bursting into laughter. Pregnant? After all the failed attempts, and all the prayers and fasting, she was going to give her big teddy bear the one dream he always had. She was going to make him a father. The Donna called it the year of the babies. And it was the Donna that told her that she too would be a mother, like everyone around her. Tears welled in her eyes. She loved the Battaglia children, but she asked in her soul to be able to hold a baby of her own to her breast, to be able to mother and love her own child. She had no siblings, no father, just a mother who too had a difficult life. Those days were over. Life was the future, and the future was bright.

***

YESTERDAY THEY VISITEDthe doctor. Nico had no idea why she insisted he be there for the appointment but Cecilia knew. She’d missed her period for the first time in her life. It was the best news. She’d been trying to get pregnant since Nico proposed. When the doctor confirmed her suspicions, everything changed. What Nico didn’t know is she planned to quit her job as a nanny. She wanted to spend the precious time of her pregnancy in Sicily, by the sea. She would devote all her energy, love, and affection to one child. Her child.

***

CECILIA TURNED ON THEtap. She began to wash her hands. A burnt odor overcame her. She paused and sniffed. There was definitely something burning. She was certain of it. Her gaze lifted to the mirror. Particles that were very thin almost like drifts of snowflakes rained down on her. Cecilia slowly looked up to the ceiling. Her mind didn’t register the horror she saw. Above her a dark black circle spread and at its center it burned orange and red and flickering flames bloomed. She was almost certain she screamed just as the ceiling and fire crashed down upon her.

***

AFTER MAKING LOVE THEYdrifted to sleep. When he opened his eyes his vision wasn’t clear. Leo blinked and opened them again. There was smoke. The room was filled with it.

Bee? Wake up! Wake up!”

“Whaa—?” Belinda sat up.

“Oh shit!” she gasped. “What’s burning?”

“Get dressed!”

Leo was already pulling on his clothes. He had on his pants and shirt but not his shoes. She barely got her pants up before he was at the door.

“Wait! Leo? Is it a fire?” She pulled on her shirt and hurried. It was indeed a fire and the closer to the door they went she felt the heat. Leo snatched the door open. To their horror little Eve stood in the hall. She was crying, coughing and staring at something Belinda couldn’t see. The pup was in her arms, listless. Belinda was about to ask what it was that Eve saw. What had brought her to the furthest end of the hall? But the smoke came in dark and thick and she gagged on the toxicity. Leo acted immediately. He swept the little girl into his arms only minutes before her collapse.

“Close the door. Hurry!” he said.

“Hurry where? Is that... is the house on fire?” Belinda looked into the hall and it was as if they had plunged into hell. She remembered the depictions of fire and brimstone in Sunday school none of it compared to what she actually saw.

“The entire floor is on fire. How Eve got to us I don’t know,” Leo said.

Belinda closed the door.

“She’s burned,” Leo said.

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