Page 57 of Ti Amo

His hand, with its strong calloused fingers and large palms, became soft and gentle when he traced the line of her arm and then slipped underneath to stroke her stomach as he kissed her shoulder. Mira pressed her lips together and pretended at sleep, but she sensed he knew better. He pushed his semi-erection into her backside. “Not now, I’m not in the mood,” she said.

Giovanni pulled up the front of her nightdress and drew her hem to her waist. She was bottomless. He tugged on the short pubic hairs over her mound. The light sting made her push back into his erection, and he groaned into her ear. Warm pleasure spread over her, and with the nudge of his strong muscled thigh, her upper thigh shifted so his erection could slip between her butt cheeks. Mira sighed. His hand went up her flat tummy to her breast, and he pinched her nipple. He again kissed her shoulder moving behind her. Without any thought of objecting, she relaxed and he slipped inside of her. His steady thrusts opened her and she arched her neck giving in to the feeling. Giovanni cupped her breast and kept moving in and out of her. She gripped the edge of the bed to withstand it. Breathing through her nose, she licked her lips and savored how delicious he felt. When he withdrew, he rolled her to her back. She parted her thighs, and he entered her again with a single thrust.

“Look at me,” he said.

She turned her head away, moving her hips to grind her pelvis up into him.

“Look at me.”

Mira returned her gaze to his. Giovanni kept loving her with his eyes fastened to hers. She reached up and kissed him, wrapping her legs around his waist, squeezing tightly. The lovemaking grew intensely sweet, and she clung to him, riding wave after wave of pleasure. They rolled and she was on top. He held her hips, and she braced her hands on his chest. Not once did she look away from him. She worked her hips back and forth and dug her nails into his chest, moving faster and faster. Giovanni’s lids fluttered, and his control slipped. Mira seized on his weakness and punished him with her bottom maneuvers before rising and falling on his cock to their natural rhythm. Eventually, he cried out for release. When she collapsed and gave into her climactic ending, she felt free.

He held her that way for a long time. Neither spoke. Mira didn’t cry. She didn’t question him. She lay still and waited for sleep to come.

****

Lorenzo kicked the door in. The man on the sofa dropped his beer just as the bullet from Lorenzo’s gun pierced his skull at the center of his eyes. His head split like an axe taken to a melon. The other man ran out of the kitchen firing. Carlo took him out after kicking in the back door and firing through the dark kitchen.

There was no time to hesitate. Lorenzo sensed rather than watched the kill. He had one mission. Get to Calderone and end him. He forced the door open to the back bedroom and a woman screamed. Inside was darkness, which departed by the bright flash of gunfire, before he even heard the blast. The cut of wind near his face clued him in to how close the bullet had passed. Lorenzo returned fire. There was cursing and shouting, but it didn’t blast at him as loud as the screaming voices.

“Out, Angelo. This is it.”

“Vaffanculo!”

“Have it your way.” Lorenzo unloaded. The woman stopped screaming, and Angelo stopped returning fire. Lorenzo found the light switch on the wall. He flipped it up. What he saw before him confirmed it. The Calderone/ Battaglia feud was officially over.

Chapter Ten

Mira looked across the breakfast table at Giovanni. He again tried to feed Eve. Her daughter resisted. She pushed the fork away, reaching for food off his plate. Mira swept her gaze to the left. She focused on Catalina who seemed a bit cheery for the early hour. Suddenly she was overly talkative, chatting everyone up as they arrived at the table. Dominic however, had a cold congested look of anger on his face, and it was directed at Franco. The tension hovering between the men shifted when Nico arrived and announced the visitors. Giovanni immediately lifted Eve out of her chair. She followed them out of the terrace where they normally dined to the front of the villa. The familiar face of Uncle Rocco stepped into view. He wore overalls and a plaid shirt under a large tan jacket. His weathered cap was pulled down over his balding head. She hadn’t seen him in years, and he looked the same.

One look at Eve in Giovanni’s arms and Rocco stopped. Zia Carlotta shuffled in behind him. Her dark scarf draped over her shoulders, and her gray hair was pulled into a tight bun. Loose strands hung around her face.

“Benvenuto! Benvenuto!” Catalina hurried out. She kissed her aunt and hugged her uncle. “Finally, you’ve come.”

“Guardi il bambina bella. L'angelo piccolo prezioso,”Zia approached Eve. Everyone stood in silent observation. Mira stepped to Giovanni’s side, and Zia’s gaze cut sharply over to her. The exchange left her a bit confused. She didn’t know if Zia was happy to see her or offended by her presence. Eve glanced to her father then to Zia. Without any encouragement, she reached for the old woman. Giovanni had to help in transferring her over to Zia, but to Mira’s surprise Zia proved to be quite strong. She held Eve up with little assistance. Eve hugged her neck and several people clapped and laughed. Mira smiled.

“Non abbiamo bisogno di questo bambina, zia abbiamo qualcosa più meglio per voi,”Zia said taking the pacifier from Eve’s mouth. She told her that she didn’t need it any longer. That Zia had something special for her. Mira braced for Eve’s reaction. Her daughter just blinked and stared at the pacifier. Then she snatched it from Zia’s hand and stuck it back in her mouth.

Zia and Giovanni laughed. Eve had won round one. Zia put Eve on her hip and shuffled over to Mira. She touched her face. “It is good you come. Welcome,” Zia smiled.

Mira nodded graciously. Everyone started off toward the back of the villa to return to breakfast. Giovanni reached for Mira’s hand and held it, forcing her to remain. They’d said very little to each other this morning. Even after their lovemaking they just lay together in silence.

“Are you okay?” he asked.

“No.” She said truthfully. “But I’ll get over it. I have no choice.”

He cupped her face. “Don’t be cross with me. I don’t like it when I disappoint you.”

Mira shook her head. “Let’s join the family.”

He pulled her to him. “I was going to say earlier before you left our bed that I want to marry. Soon. Are you willing to go public?”

Mira’s gaze lifted to his. “No. I don’t think we should tell the world I’m alive now. Giovanni stop, I can’t talk about a wedding now.”

“I want you, all of you. It’s my dream for you to be my wife. Soon Mirabella,” he kissed her brow. He eased his arm around her waist. They walked together side by side.

Lorenzo and Carlo entered the house. Both men carried the filth of the night on them. They had rooms of their own in Melanzana and clothes to change into. Discreet and tired they made their way to the back west wing avoiding the family. Lorenzo heard Dominic and paused while Carlo kept on. He observed Dominic as he approached Franco.

“Are you leaving for work?” Dominic asked.

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