LEANDRA
“Where are we going?” I ask Alexius, who looks dapper all dressed in black. Black suit, black shirt, black tie. I don’t think I’ll ever get used to what a beautiful creature my husband is.
“You’ll see soon enough,” he replies, his voice all low and mysterious.
“We’ll be home before midnight, right?”
“Of course, we won’t.” He arches his brow as if I had just asked the world’s dumbest question.
I shift in the passenger seat of Alexius’ car. “It’s my first time out since having the twins. You have to ease me into it. I’m already choking on anxiety here.”
“They’re safe with Mirabella. Plus, Isaia is around if she needs any help. There’s nothing to worry about.”
“I know. But I can’t help it. I don’t like leaving them. What if Aria gets hungry? You know she’s a fussy eater and hates the bottle.”
“She’ll be fine.”
“What if Alessio’s colic acts up again?”
“He’ll be fine, too. Stop worrying.”
I scoff. “It feels like I haven’t stopped worrying since they were born.”
“Which is why you need tonight. For the last ten weeks, you’ve been nothing short of amazing, being the best mother our babies can ask for.” He takes my hand while keeping his eyes on the road, lifts it to his lips, and kisses it tenderly. “But tonight, I want you to remember that you’re not just a mother and a wife. You’re a woman with needs and desires too.” A wicked glint in his blue eyes sends a shiver of excitement down my spine.
“What are you up to, Mr. Del Rossa?”
He places his hand on my thigh, his fingers slipping the red fabric upward and igniting a flush of goosebumps on my skin. “Reminding you that you and I, we’re meant to unravel.”
It’s like he flicked a switch, my body going from nervous tremors to fervent quivers within a split second.
It’s been a long time—too long—since Alexius and I indulged. We played it safe during the pregnancy, but while vanilla sex was satisfying, it didn’t quite satiate us fully. I’ve only recently recovered from a hard labor with the twins, who were born four weeks early. And I now finally got a green light from the doctor saying Alexius and I can return to our ‘normal’ sexual lifestyle. Normal. Alexius and I’ve never had a normal sex life. At least not according to society’s tight-laced tastes.
I glance out the windows as we take a turn down a long path, large oak trees skirting the sides of the road. It's a full moon tonight, casting its glow on the world and making the tree branches seem alive as it reaches through the light. There’s a thrilling energy in the car with us, excitement popping in my belly like bubbles of champagne as we pull up to a brass-plated gate that creaks open. A double-story, Victorian-style mansion comes into view, and Alexius circles around past the driveway, pulling up at the back of the building.
“What is this place?”
“Here.” He hands me a box wrapped in gold foil and gets out of the car. I smile as I open the box, revealing the same black lace masquerade mask he gave me the night at Mito in Italy. My heart stutters thinking about that night, about the ecstasy that lingered in my veins for long after we left that club. It was one of the best nights of my life.
Wait…is this…
My door opens, and Alexius gives me his hand, helping me out of the car. I find my footing and stare at the large building, my heart about to leap out of my chest. “Is this—”
“Welcome to Club Myth.”
“Oh, my God, are you serious?” I’m nothing but molecules of excitement, my gaze darting around every inch of the estate lit up by so many lights.
Alexius shoots me a roguish grin. “I am.”
“But you said you’d never bring me here.”
“I know what I said.” He removes my mask from the box, eases it over my eyes, and moves in behind me, gently tying it before clipping it into my hair. All the memories of that night in Italy come crashing back, and my body is set alight with anticipation trying to imagine what it is Alexius has in store for us tonight.
He snakes his arm around my waist, pulling me close, breathing along the shell of my ear. “There are rules.”
“Of course there are.” I bite my lip, my insides stirring with simmering heat.
“The club is closed tonight to anyone who did not receive an exclusive invitation.”