“I’m having the greatest pleasure of my life and fighting not to move while my sweet little bird is in pain.”
“Really, I’m okay,” I tell him. “But the ache is back. Fix it for me, Renato. Please.” Somehow, I know that ‘please’ will be his undoing. I’m not wrong. A rumble leaves him, and he lets go. He begins to drive in and out of me. I moan at the sensation. It’s so much different this time.
“Maddie.” He groans my name. “You feel too damn good. So damn tight.” His words and the groans coming from him make me feel sexy. “Need you with me.”
“I think I am,” I get out. His thrusts grow harder. I’m about to come again. I’m so close.
“Don’t think, little bird. Just feel me.”
“You’re all I feel.” His hand slips between us. His fingers go to my clit. That's all I need. I scream out his name as the orgasm hits me. This one from deeper inside.
It cascades through my whole body. Renato is with me. He groans my name, his warm release spilling. He thrusts a few more times, another groan leaving him.
It’s so hard to feel where he begins and I end. We’re so connected. I never want to let go.
15
Renato
Once my little bird is sleeping soundly next to me, I slip from the bed and dress quickly. I hate to leave her, but to keep her safe, I need to address Oscar’s threats head-on.
Downstairs, Antony, Claudio, and Payton are sequestered in my office. Payton is on the floor playing with the kittens while Antony and Claudio argue about the best course of action.
“It’s a clear threat. He’s going to do something if he hasn’t already.” Claudio grimaces.
“If he does, it’s war. He should be old enough to know better than to start something he can’t finish.” Antony plays with Gingero, letting the kitten perch on his shoulder.
“He’s already set something in motion. I can feel it. We’ll probably get fucking blindsided tomorrow.” Claudio groans. “I know I keep saying it, but damn, I’m not cut out for this.”
They all stare at me as I walk in.
“What?” I pour myself a whiskey and sit at my desk. Honestly, I’ve never felt this relaxed in all my life. Even though Oscar is trying to bring a deadly confrontation to my doorstep, I’m fucking happier than I’ve ever been. It’s all because of the little bird sleeping peacefully in our bed.
“You just um…” Antony checks his watch. “You’ve been gone all night. We thought you’d be back a little earlier–”
Payton snickers. “What are you trying to say about Renato, my love?”
Antony’s eyes open wider. “Oh, no, I didn’t mean you wouldn’t last or anything like that, I was just–”
Claudio barks a laugh as Payton breaks into giggles.
“I don’t kiss and tell, but I can say that Maddie is fully satisfied many times over.” I can’t help but smile when I think of all the pleasures we just shared. “And in many different ways.”
Claudio whistles and gives an appreciative nod.
“I had zero doubts.” Antony shoots his wife a cross, yet playful look.
She gives him a sly shrug in response, then turns to me. “She’s for real, isn’t she? Maddie?” Payton snuggles a kitten under her chin. “I could tell the moment I met her. You didn’t marry her just for the will, did you? I don’t think so. She’s the one.”
“She is.” I agree with hesitation.
“I think your father knew exactly what he was doing when he included that provision.” Payton’s always had intuition about her. It’s why she’s perfect for Antony. He’s more of a surface sort of guy, in the sense that he takes all problems head on. Payton evens him out with her thoughtful approach.
“How’s that?” Claudio asks. “Because he wanted grandkids?”
“Well, I think your dad saw how hard Renato worked, how he spent every waking moment trying to strengthen this family and the business. He saw it, and maybe he realized that would be Renato’s life. An avalanche of work, a ton of success, but no one to share it with.” She turns to me. “Maybe he didn’t want that for you.”
I see the truth in her words. My father never shied away from hard work. We both poured our lives into building an empire that would last, but he didn’t do it alone. When my mother was alive, she worked right alongside him. They were an unbreakable pair. But she died young. Claudio and I were still children when she passed, and my father led a solitary life after that.
“I think we saw Dad without Mom for so long that we …” I tap the side of my glass as I think it over. “I think we forgot how much she gave him. She did so much. He wouldn’t have had any of the success he did without her. And I think he was still so broken by her death that he couldn’t bear to talk about her. You know? And it’s not like we forgot her.” I look at Claudio. “We could never do that. But she sort of fell to the background from disuse, if that makes sense. It hurt Dad so much to even bring her up that we shied away from it.”