Bound By Duty (Born in Blood Mafia Chronicles Book 2)
Bound By Duty: Epilogue

I lowered myself into the hot water in our bathtub with a sigh. Anna had finally fallen asleep in her crib and Gaby would spend the night with her in the nursery to make sure she was alright. Dante had a meeting with my father down in the office. Though I suspected the sudden increase in short meetings was the result of my father’s eagerness to see Anna as often as possible. He definitely didn’t share Fiore Cavallaro’s disappointment over having gotten a granddaughter instead of a grandson. It had been only five weeks since I’d given birth to our daughter and I could already hardly imagine how it had been before her. But tonight I needed some time for me…and Dante. Luckily, Anna had hit a phase of long stretches of uninterrupted sleep. She sometimes slept for up to five hours without a hitch.

I leaned back in the tub and closed my eyes, relaxing for the first time today. My fingers itched to slip between my legs to alleviate the tension there, but I didn’t. It had been months since Dante and I had been intimate and tonight I wanted that to change. Dante had been nothing but patient but I didn’t miss that he always took a long time in the shower. I didn’t have to guess what he was doing. Now that my scar had healed I couldn’t wait to be with him again. Only this time it would be different. For the first time, I’d know he loved me while he’d make love to me, even if he’d never said the words aloud. The way he looked at me and Anna was worth more than all the spoken declarations of love in the world.

“Val?” Dante called as I heard him enter the bedroom and a moment later the bathroom. His eyes lingered on the swell of my breasts, mostly covered by bubbles. He looked devilishly handsome in his dark gray vest and pants. The top two buttons of his white shirt were open and the sleeves were rolled up, revealing lean muscle. “I checked on Anna. She’s asleep. Gaby is singing to her.”

“That’s great,” I said with a smile. Like Dante had suggested, we’d moved the nursery to the room he’d shared with his first wife a long time ago. Considering that it was three doors down from our bedroom, I wouldn’t have to worry that Gaby might hear us. Dante’s eyes were practically transparent with lust but he just stood in the doorway. His self-control was marvelous, and a bit frustrating.

“You look tired,” he said carefully. “Do you want to get some rest?” His body said something very different. The growing bulge in his pants was hard to miss.

I shook my head with a smile and straightened, letting water and bubbles trail down my naked body as I stood before Dante. His gaze left a scorching trail on my skin as it slid down to the apex between my thighs. My hand came up to cover the narrow but angry red C-section scar marring my lower belly. I’d always found a way to hide it from Dante’s view so far. The doctor had said it would fade to white in time but it would never go away completely.

Dante stalked toward me and gently pulled my hand away, revealing my scar to him. “Don’t hide yourself from me.”

“I wasn’t sure if you’d be turned off by the sight of my scar.”

Dante laughed, a rough sound deep in his throat. He gripped my waist, eyes hungry and possessive. “You look like a goddess, Val. Your scar doesn’t make you any less desirable for me. Or do you replace my scars repulsive? I have plenty of them.”

“No, of course not. But you are a man. It’s different for women.”

Dante lightly stroked my scar. “This makes you even more beautiful to me because I know why you have it.”

I put my hands on his shoulders, soaking his shirt, but Dante didn’t seem to mind. His eyes kept roaming over my body. I leaned forward and kissed him. “I need you, Dante. I need you so much.”

Dante’s eyes flashed with desire. “Are you sure? Have you recovered enough? I don’t want to hurt you.” My heart pounded with love for him. It meant a lot that he asked me when I could tell how much he wanted to throw me on the bed and have me. One of his hands had already found its way to my butt, stroking the globes in a gentle but very distracting way.

“You won’t,” I said. “As long as we take it slow, we should be okay.” The last thing I wanted to do was take things slow. I wanted to rip off Dante’s clothes, lick every inch of his skin and have him slam into me over and over again.

Dante didn’t say anything, but he helped me out of the tub and wrapped me into a fluffy bathrobe. He massaged me through the thick fabric until my skin was dry and my breathing was coming in quick puffs. Dante lifted me into his arms and carried me toward the bedroom where he lowered me on the bed. My toes curled in anticipation as he looked down at me. He slowly crawled on the bed and reached for the belt holding my bathrobe closed. With a tug it came apart, laying me bare to his eyes. “So beautiful,” he said roughly. “I missed your taste.”

His words alone made arousal pool between my legs and I bucked my hips in silent invitation. A smirk curled his lips before he lowered his head and kissed my breasts, first the left then the right before he kissed his way down to my stomach. I stiffened when his lips brushed my scar, not because it hurt, but Dante didn’t retreat. My flinching seemed to make him even more determined to pay special attention to this part of my body. His eyes flitted up to me as he pressed another kiss against the scar. His eyes were unrelenting until my muscles finally loosened under his lips. After another quick kiss, he moved lower, pushed my legs farther apart and then dipped his tongue between my folds. I cried out, already so close to the edge that I could feel my leg muscles tense in anticipation. After a few more strokes and gentle nibs, my release gripped me. “Dante!” I shoved my fingers into his hair, holding him against me as I succumbed to the pleasure he was giving me. Dante lifted his face and pressed a kiss against my inner thigh before sitting up. I did the same, my hands going for his vest, pushing it down his shoulders before moving on to unbuttoning his shirt with shaking hands.

“Get up,” I ordered in a breathless whisper. Dante complied, a surprised twinkle in his eyes. I half tore his pants down his legs, letting his hard length spring free. I peered up at Dante as I took him into my mouth, tasting the salty pre-cum on the back of my tongue as he slid to the back of my throat. Dante groaned. He glided in and out of my mouth a few times before he took a step back, out of my reach. “As good as that feels, I’m going to come if you keep it up. You don’t know how much I fucking want you.”

Dante held out his hand and I took it without hesitation, letting him pull me to my feet. Dante pushed the bathrobe off my shoulders; it pooled at my feet, and then I was already in Dante’s arm, pressed up against his firm, warm body. He moved us back until the back of my legs hit the bed and I fell down onto the soft mattress. Dante lowered himself beside me. My brows scrunched together in confusion as he turned me on my side. “What are you doing?”

He slid up behind me, pressing his chest against my back, his erection digging against my thigh. “We’re going to try a new position. It’ll make things easier for you, and my weight won’t rest on you.”

“Okay,” I said, my voice shaky with excitement.

“Your pill is already working?”

I nodded quickly.

Dante nuzzled my neck as his hand traveled over my breast, then trailed down my stomach until it slipped between my legs. He dipped one finger, then a second into me, making me moan.

“You’re ready,” Dante growled. I was more than ready. I needed him desperately. My entire body ached for him. Dante moved his hand along my inner thigh before hooking his palm under my knee and lifting my leg until my foot was flat on the bed and my legs opened in a wide V. He pulled me even tighter against his body, spooning me, and guided his erection toward my opening. He slowly eased his tip into me and I squeezed my eyes shut at the stretching feeling. Dante’s palm cupped my breast as his lips kissed the spot beneath my ear and pushed inch by inch into me. My breath caught in my throat when he filled me to the brim. He let out a harsh breath. “God, you’re so tight, Val.”

It had been too long and my tight channel had to get used to his size again. Dante paused, our bodies merged together, his cock stretching me. He stroked my side and stomach. “Are you alright?”

I glimpsed over my shoulder at him, then claimed his lips for a kiss before pulling back and whispering. “I missed this.” Dante trailed his fingers down to my folds and gently started drawing circles on my sensitive nub. “Please move,” I half begged in between moans. And Dante did. He eased almost all the way out before sliding back in. When my inner muscles relaxed he settled into a slow, delicious rhythm. It felt like we were one as we moved against each other. Our breathing quickened and so did Dante’s thrusting but he kept me in his embrace, his lips nibbling on my throat. I wasn’t sure how long we made love like that, the pleasure slowly building until I dug my toes into the mattress, desperate for release, and when it finally claimed me, my clenching muscles took Dante right with me and he spilled into me with a hoarse cry.

Afterward he didn’t immediately pull out. Instead he wrapped me even tighter in his embrace, our bodies still joined together. My breathing was slowly coming down as Dante left a trail of kisses along my neck until he cupped my earlobe between his lips. I moaned and arched against him as his fingers took up their playing between my thighs again.

“How about another round?” he said huskily. I couldn’t do more than nod as his other hand tweaked my nipple and I felt his cock starting to grow hard in me again. He pulled out of me, causing me to glance at him in confusion. He rubbed my ass lightly as he sat up and opened his arms in invitation. “Another new position?” I asked excitedly. Dante’s cock was so hard it rested against his firm stomach. I crawled toward him and squatted over him before I slowly eased myself down on his length. I wrapped my arms around Dante’s neck, bringing our chests close together and pressed my mouth to his. Dante’s hands cupped my butt and guided me up and down his erection. “Look at me,” he demanded hoarsely. My eyes flew open, meeting his heated gaze. “I love seeing your eyes when I’m in you.”

We kept our gazes locked as our breathing quickened and my movements turned jerky, and even when I cried out my release, followed by Dante’s own raspy groans. His gaze was all the declaration of love that I needed as we clung together, unwilling to separate even now that we were spent and satisfied.

Dante slowly lay back, taking me with him, so I was stretched out on top of him. A silly smile spread on my face as I peered down at Dante. His messy hair, the shadow of stubble, his unguarded expression. I buried my face in the crook of his neck, whispering, “I love you.”

Dante’s arms around me tightened and he pressed a kiss against the side of my head. I closed my eyes, listening to the cacophony of our pounding hearts.

We lay like that for a long time. I never wanted to move but eventually we slipped under the shower.

Afterwards, we crept into the nursery. Gaby was sitting in the rocking chair reading a book but quickly got up when she saw us.

“You can go,” I whispered. “We’re going to watch her the rest of the night.”

Gaby nodded and slunk away, closing the door without a sound. Anna lay in her crib, her tiny hands curled to fists and her face peaceful. She was still small but she’d grown a lot since we’d been allowed to take her home from the hospital two weeks ago. I tiptoed toward her bed and rested my hands on the edge, itching to stroke her rosy cheek, but I didn’t want to wake her. I loved watching her in these quiet moments. I never felt more peaceful. Dante came up behind me and wrapped his arms around my waist, leaning his head against mine. “I’ll never let anything happen to you or Anna. I’ll protect you until my last breath.” I knew he would.

It had taken a while and we’d encountered some bumps along the road, but finally I had what I’d always wanted: a husband who cared deeply about me and a beautiful baby we both loved more than anything else in the world. It felt as if I’d finally arrived where I was supposed to be.