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“PLEASE!” Her moans are becoming high-pitched.Soon.

Her body begins convulsing. At that precise moment, I insert my already-hard cock into her. She comes immediately, her pussy vibrating against my shaft as I fuck her like it’s the only thing that makes sense in the world. I wrap my arms around her asshetakes the reins, moving her ass back and forth with dirty little words coming out of that perfect mouth as I hit the deepest part of her.

With a barely restrained groan, I turn her around, lying back down as she straddles me, her hips swaying and bucking wildly as she rides my cock. Her hair flies around her as she bounces up and down, head lifted up, lips parted in a long moan. It’s that sight that makes me come once again, and I pull her down, holding her to me as I thrust myself into her.

“Yes,” she groans as my heat matches and floods hers, as she shakes and trembles and clenches against my cock, her pussy drinking every last drop of my cum.

When it’s over, she stays like that. And I hold her, breathing hard.

That was spectacular.

“Wow,” she whispers against my chest. “I have no words.”

For a change, I’m not sure I do either.

She slowly moves away and sits down on the bed beside me. I cup her chin lightly. “You should get some rest.”

“What are you going to do?” she asks evenly.

Interesting question. I’m going to think about things.

“Work,” I say firmly. Rising from the bed, I stride to the closet, pulling out an oversized t-shirt. Tossing it to her, I say, “Put it on. It’ll keep you warm.”

She catches it, her movements hesitant, her gaze lingering on me for a beat before she nods. “Can I freshen up before I sleep?”

I flick a hand toward the ensuite. “Go ahead.”

She pulls the shirt over her delicate frame, the fabric swallowing her, making her seem smaller, softer. With carefulsteps, she moves toward the bathroom, her body tentative, as though testing its limits. She disappears behind the door, and the sound of the lock clicking echoes faintly in the now-quiet room.

For a moment, I remain still, watching the closed door. Then I turn and leave, stepping into the courtyard. The cool night air hits me like a whip, sharp and unapologetic, but it doesn’t cool the storm brewing inside. My body thrums with a controlled power, my mind sharpening like a blade.

The darkness wraps around me. I rake a hand through my hair, tension coiling in my muscles as I force my thoughts into order. Valentina’s presence lingers—her scent, her breath, her body. She’s in my veins now.

I move through the courtyard to the spiraling staircase leading down to the main hall on the ground floor. I cross the expansive main hall without pause. The heavy doors leading to the gardens groan softly as I push them open.

The night is alive here—crickets chirping in the distance, a faint rustle of leaves carried by the breeze. The air smells of earth and blooming flowers, rich and sharp against the cool night. I walk along the stone path, flanked by perfectly manicured hedges and towering trees that stretch into the darkness.

Ahead, Donna Maria sits like a shadow, her form hunched in a worn rocking chair. The faint creak of wood and the tap of her cane against the stone ground are the only sounds in the courtyard. Her presence feels heavier than the night itself.

“Donna Maria,” I greet, my voice low and guarded.

Her gaze lifts, sharp as a hawk’s. “Luca,” she replies, her tone colder than the breeze whipping around us. “You’ve tied yourself to a fire you cannot control. And for what? A woman with a pretty face and no spine to speak of?”

I stiffen, fists curling at my sides. “Valentina is more than you think. She has strength, and she will grow into this life.”

Donna Maria snorts, leaning forward on her cane. The firelight flickers across her weathered face, highlighting every line etched by years of wisdom and cruelty. “Strength doesn’t come from waiting for a storm to pass, Luca. It comes from walking into it. She hasn’t walked through anything. You married a girl who doesn’t even know the weight of her own name.”

I clench my jaw, the words cutting deeper than I want to admit. “She’s learning. She’s mine, and she’ll adapt.”

“She’ll break you,” she spits, her words venomous. “Mark my words, boy. You’ll lose sight of who you are, of what this family demands, and all for a woman who will never understand the blood in your veins. Your father?—”

“Don’t,” I growl, stepping closer. “Don’t bring him into this.”

Her mouth snaps shut, but her eyes burn with defiance. The silence stretches, heavy with all the things neither of us can say.

Finally, she leans back in her chair, her voice a low murmur. “You think you can mold her? Test her all you want, Luca. But if she runs, what then? Will you chase her? Or will you remember where your loyalty lies?”

I stare at her, the weight of her warning pressing down on me. I want to argue, to tell her she’s wrong, but the doubt festers, creeping like a slow poison. Is Valentina strong enough for this life? Strong enough for me? Or am I setting us both up for failure?