Page 139 of The Proposal

We both lost our mothers at the hands of psychopaths, and the trauma that knowledge brings has only strengthenedour bond. We are simply two broken people trying to heal each other with love.

When she’s ready for me, I grasp hold of my dick, stroking it a few times as I line myself up with her opening. We both moan in unison as soon as I slide the crown of my cock into her tight heat.

I rest my forehead between her shoulder blades as I sink in the rest of the way. I’m forced to grasp her hips when her greedy pussy pushes back, trying to take me deeper.

Does she not realise how hard this is for me? My need to pound into that luscious body of hers is overwhelming, but I have to remain strong and keep my composure. I’m doing this for her …for them.

I fist a chunk of her long hair in my hand, tugging her head back slightly. “Behave,” I whisper into her ear before biting down on her earlobe.

Rest assured, the minute this baby is born, I’m going to fuck her so hard she won’t be able to walk for a week.

“Hey,” I say to Romeo when I answer the front door. “You’re here early. Did you wet the bed?”

“No,” he grumbles, which is very unlike him. He’s usually a nauseating bundle of sunshine. He’s been a bit off lately, and it makes me wonder if it has anything to do with Lucia and her cartoon-heart eyes that seem to follow him everywhere he goes. She can be a little intense at times.

“Do you want to talk about it?” I ask, placing my hand on his shoulder.

“Talk about what?”

“Whatever has climbed up your arse and turned you into a snarky little bitch.”

“I think we may have a problem.”

I arch an eyebrow. “What kind of problem?”

“I was at the club last night, and I got talking to one of our guys. You know, Fat Tony from the tobacco shop on Main Street?”

“Yeah, what about him?”

“He said some Italian guy—who spoke very little English—was in his store yesterday asking about you.”

“Me?”

“Yeah, but that’s not the worst of it.”

“Get to the fucking point,” I growl.

“He showed him a photo of a young girl and asked if he’d seen her around. I can’t be certain, but I think it may have been Lucia.”

“You think this has something to do with Salvatori?”

“Possibly. I was going to head into town and speak to some of the other store owners. See what I can find out … maybe look at some of the CCTV.”

“I’ll come with you,” I say, stepping aside to allow him to enter. “I’ll just let Arabella know I’m leaving.”

When I enter the kitchen, we find Lucia sitting at the table, her nose buried in one of those romance novels she’s always reading. The second her eyes land on Romeo, her cheeks flare bright red as her large brown eyes follow him across the room.

A grin tugs at my lips when his gaze turns in her direction, and she quickly lifts the book, hiding her face between the pages.

A low growl rumbles in the back of his throat as he shoves his hands into the pockets of his trousers and gives her his back. This thing between them is becoming awkward as fuck, but it’s still a source of amusement for me.

Arabella is standing by the stove, her hand resting on her back as she leans slightly to support her heavily pregnant stomach.

She’s always looked beautiful, but something about seeingher swollen with my child makes me feel an overwhelming sense of protectiveness towards her. The way her curves have softened over the past few months only heightens my desire.

What I feel for this woman is primitive at best … like a caveman staking his claim. I don’t even realise I’m staring until she looks over her shoulder at me, and her lips curl into a smile.

I stalk in her direction and come to a stop behind her, sliding my arms around her expanding waist. When I rest my chin on her shoulder, she turns her face and places a chaste kiss on my lips.

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