Page 40 of The Convenient Cosentino Wife

That evening as Clare lay in the circle of Rocco’s arm, she thought about the conversation at dinner, both Rocco’s reluctance to take Marius’s place, as well as Adriano’s eagerness to have his own papa. It was complicated but not, as they were all so comfortable and happy together.

Clare loved to watch Rocco and Adriano together. If they were walking a great distance, Rocco would swing Adriano onto his shoulders and carry him. Other times he’d walk holding Adriano’s small hand. At the end of the day when Adriano was tired, Rocco would carry the child and Adriano would slump against Rocco’s chest, sleepy and safe.

They looked like father and son, but of course she never forgot Marius, and she’d talk to him sometimes and thank him. She’d tell him they were doing well and that Adriano was happier than she’d ever known him.

Ever since Adriano’s birth, she’d tried to be both mother and father to Adriano, and there were times she thought she was succeeding, but whenever she saw Rocco hug Adriano, or crouch down to talk to him, or help him with something whether it was big or small, she felt Adriano’s gratitude, and could see how his big brown eyes would shine.

Adriano’s happiness gave her peace. She’d struggled making the decision to marry, but she was glad she’d chosen to give Adriano a father, and not just any father, but Rocco Cosentino, a man of integrity and strength. Rocco was a family man and he’d spent his life putting others first, including Marius. Could there be a better role model for her young son?

They had one more week on the island and then they’d return to Italy. Clare and Rocco spent several evenings discussing which home should be the family home. Rocco suggested the seaside villa because it was outside the city and there was little noise and traffic, but Clare knew Rocco had an office, a large office, and unlike her, he went to the office daily whereas she worked remotely, meeting with staff when necessary, preferring to hold most meetings online.

“Don’t you want to raise Adriano in the Cosentino family home? It’s where you were raised, and where you raised Marius after your parents died.” Clare curled her legs under her, very comfortable in the chair in the living room, the sliding glass doors open so they could enjoy the warm night.

“But it’s not really a home,” Rocco said after a moment, “not the way you think of a home. It’s huge, and so formal. It’s easy to feel lost in such a place. It’s why I’ve taken up residence in just one small part of the palazzo. That way I don’t have to deal with the rest of it.”

“It is a palazzo, but it is also where generations of Cosentinos have lived. I think it’s important for Adriano to know his past.”

Rocco shrugged uneasily. “Sometimes we can live too much in the past. Sometimes what we need is a break with the past—”

“Rocco! What are you saying?” She turned to look at him more closely. “Your past has made you who you are. You should be proud of your family. You come from a very close, loving family. I envy those family ties, and that commitment to each other. I’ve never had that. It was one of the things that drew me to Marius. His love of family. His love for you.”

Rocco’s brow creased. “Sometimes I worry that you’ve put me on a pedestal. You shouldn’t. Don’t forget that I once was cold and harsh—”

She laughed, interrupting him, and left her chair to settle into his lap. She put an arm around his shoulder and kissed him lightly, but the moment their lips touched, it was fire, the kiss becoming hot and explosive. Rocco’s hand slid under her blouse, under her lace bra to cup her breast, her nipple hardening against his palm. She gasped as he rubbed the tender nipple, her body instantly growing hot, her core tightening, body aching, wanting him, always wanting him.

“I don’t recognize that man,” she whispered against his mouth as Rocco caressed her, turning her on. He was always turning her on and then giving her pleasure.

Making her feel good, making her happy.

She couldn’t imagine being happier.

He carried her into the bedroom and stripping her clothes off, he licked and sucked between her legs until she was panting and squirming, drawing out the pleasure as long as he could, and she felt like clay in Rocco’s hands, she was his to love, his to pleasure, and he gave her such pleasure, bringing her to a climax so intense she cried out, shattering in the stars, becoming nothing more than diamond dust.

Later they made love slowly, and it was extraordinary the connection between them. If Clare hadn’t known better she would have thought they were made for each other. They came together so well, and satisfied each other so completely, that she felt gratitude and love—

Love.

Clare froze, startled by the realization that yes, she was falling in love with him and no, this wasn’t just a physical thing. She enjoyed making love with Rocco, but their relationship had become important to her; he’d become important. Rocco had found his way into her heart, and he’d taken up residence there.

She didn’t know how he’d done it. Initially she hadn’t wanted him, or needed him, but with time and patience and endless affection he’d melted her reserve and made her care. He’d made her lovehim.

CHAPTER EIGHT

THEYWEREBACKin Italy and they’d come to a compromise on where they’d live. During the week they’d be at the Cosentino palazzo and on weekends they’d go to her villa where they could relax.

It was a good compromise, Clare thought, and she was the one who’d thought of it. Rocco had been gratified that she’d want to move into his home, and to help her ease the transition, he’d had a suite prepared for her, one that would be fresh and bright with the latest in technology so she could accomplish everything she needed, or wanted, to do while at the palazzo.

The children’s nursery was on one of the upper levels of the palazzo, far from the wing where Rocco and Clare were most comfortable, and without even needing to discuss it, Rocco created a comfortable bedroom and playroom for Adriano—airy, colorful rooms sandwiched between the master bedroom suite and Clare’s new office suite.

Under Gio’s direction, Rocco had also upgraded palazzo security, adding in cameras and sensors, as well as other essential changes Gio thought necessary. All in all, life in their small portion of the palazzo was comfortable, provided they weren’t wandering through the rest of the enormous palazzo itself which had over thirty rooms all shrouded with sheets and covers to protect furniture, a vast ballroom with six Venetian chandeliers, and four hundred years of antiques and family portraits and mementos.

Rocco’s personal style favored a clean, modern design so Clare understood why he found the palazzo repressive, but at the same time, she was fascinated by the Cosentinos’ history, a history that wove together families and industries, making the Cosentinos powerful for hundreds of years.

Rocco rarely referenced the past, or any of his ancestors, focusing instead on the present and creating new memories for them. He was incredibly thoughtful, always trying to think of activities Adriano would enjoy, as well as romantic moments for just the two of them.

When Clare thought back to her first impressions of him, that he was hard and cold and unfeeling, she smiled, amused, because Rocco was warmth and passion, loyalty and devotion, and it amazed her now that she’d ever thought him so icy and harsh. And maybe Rocco could still be hard with the rest of the world, but he was impossibly gentle with her. He was nothing but thoughtful and patient, and kind. So kind. She and Adriano were lucky to have such a good man in their lives after all the grief and loss. She counted her blessings, aware that Rocco was a gift, a gift that she and Adriano loved without reservation.

Clare told him that night, in between slow, hot, intoxicating kisses. Adriano had been in bed for hours and she and Rocco had made love and then left their bed to get a snack from the kitchen, and they sat with their cheese and chocolate talking and talking and then he leaned over and kissed her, and they returned to the bedroom to continue there.

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