Page 129 of Dreadful
“It’s our flower,” I answer, not wanting to even tease him with the word that’ll make him slow down.
He falters. His eyes widen, and his face softens at my reply. For two slow, plunging strokes, it seems as though he doesn’t know how to react. But in a flash, a dark, feral need takes over his expression, and he grips my bruises hard enough to ache. The pain goes straight to my clit as he hits that spot deep inside me over and over and over. It all wraps up into bliss, and my nails dig into his upper shoulders, my legs tighten around his lower back, and my body is one vibrating sensation as all of me tenses and readies to explode.
“Open your eyes,dolcezza. Look at me when I make sweet Tallie come.”
My eyes flutter open to see him gazing down at me. “There you are. I’ve missed those eyes.”
His thrusts slow as the length of him slides in and out of me easily.
“They were only closed for a few seconds,” I moan low.
“Seconds without you is a lifetime. I’ve lived one without you once already, and I never want to again. Say you’ll come with me to Italy, Tallie. Say it, or I’ll kidnap you again and have no regrets.”
His face is completely serious, but I can’t help my giggle. “You’re not even trying to pretend like you’re joking.”
He shakes his head. “Because I’m not.”
My heart stutters as his gaze wholly captures mine. I wrap my legs tighter around his back and stroke my hands up the grooves and divots of his muscles, making sure to touch the stem and petals of the tulips on his sides before hooking my hands on his shoulders again. His cock glides along my channel in deep, powerful strokes, curving right where I crave him.
“You don’t have to kidnap me, Sever. I love you and I’m already yours.”
“Sei mia,” he growls. “You’re mine, and I’m yours.”
His rhythm increases again but stays at a tempo I can keep up with. Our bodies have always done the best talking and they take over now. His abs move like silk against my soft stomach, and his shoulders are strong underneath my grip. My nipples brush against his chest, peaking into diamonds again at the friction. In my mind’s eye, I can practically see that hill of euphoria I’m about to climb as my muscles strain and my lower belly tightens.
“Sever…I’m going to come.”
“Come for me,dolcezza.”
His hand moves to place his thumb over my clit. He pulses against the small bundle of nerves and speeds up his thrusts, sending me right over the edge. My nails carve into his flesh, and I pull him closer with the heels of my feet on his ass. I moan with him as he growls my name right before biting my neck.
The world falls away as my body jolts and trembles with the waves of my orgasm. His thrusts grow shallow until he seats himself inside me, stretching my hips around his broad waist. He moans beside my ear as he comes, jolting slightly with every bursting release inside me.
“Fuck, Talia.”
He collapses around me but catches himself with his forearms on either side of my head. Our breaths are in time with one another. He breathes in as I breathe out, then he breathes out as I breathe in. We settle into our quiet for several moments before he leaves a chaste kiss on my forehead.
“Let me take you to Italy,” he whispers before moving down to my mouth. “I want to hear you say the words.” I try to nip his lip, but he evades me. “No fangs,vipera. Not this time. Leave with me, baby. I’ll keep us all safe there. We’ll get married on a vineyard that doesn’t have any of our enemies buried underneath…”
I giggle, but he kisses me into silence before continuing, “We’ll drink good wine. You and Gio will bake me and our children cookies andcannoli al pistacchio.” I suck in a breath, and he smiles against my lips, knowing that he’s got me right where he wants me now. “We’ll give ourselves the happy ever after we deserve, just like your musicals.”
My heart soars. We knew what my answer was going to be before we even started this song and dance, but having him ask me like this? How could I ever say no?
I finally nod and grin with him.
“Take me to Italy, Sever. Give us our happy ever after.”
Epilogue
Talia
One month later
Sever kisses my hand as we wait on a nearby bench. The dawn sun is unseasonably warm as it shines on the cliffside of the small Italian village we just started calling home. It’s a spot that Gio insisted would be perfect for our purposes. He was right, and Sever and I are now giving him the time he needs alone before we join him.
He’s standing near the edge in front of the wooden barrier, gazing over the ocean with the porcelain urn in his arms. It’s heavy, and Sever offered to hold it, but Gio insisted on holding his husband one last time.
It’s been bittersweet living in Italy the past month. Not only have we been staying in a hotel for the time being, I can’t help but be plagued with the memory of Gio and Tony fantasizing about retiring here. Claudio stole so much from us. Too much. I’m grateful I was able to give thestronzothe same in return.
