Total pages in book: 153
Estimated words: 148962 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 745(@200wpm)___ 596(@250wpm)___ 497(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 148962 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 745(@200wpm)___ 596(@250wpm)___ 497(@300wpm)
“Come here, handsome boy!” Chantel calls out for Beppe after I unclip his harness.
He darts over to her, soaking up her attention as she lavishes him with love. After a million little kisses and some ear scratches, he curls up on her lap for a cuddle.
It’s hard to miss the fact that she’s ready for an evening out in a black dress and heels. Chantel could make a pair of sweatpants look hot, but when she dresses up, the male species doesn’t stand a chance. She’s the kind of drop-dead beautiful that leaves men slack-jawed as they pass her by.
“Aren’t you supposed to be at work tonight?” I ask her.
She bites her blood-red lip and shrugs. “I had a thing, but it didn’t pan out. So here I am, at your disposal for the evening.”
She’s trying to play it cool, but there’s a familiar note of disappointment in her voice, and a glance at Valentina confirms my suspicions.
“She had a date with Lord Dickhead tonight,” Val explains. “He canceled last minute.”
“Val,” Chantel whispers, stealing a glance across the room.
Cristian just so happens to be Lord Dickhead’s best friend, and when all our gazes swivel in his direction, he’s staring right at Chantel.
“Sorry, not sorry.” Val smiles sweetly in his direction. “Your friend is an idiot.”
Cristian’s jaw tightens, something unreadable flickering through his dark eyes before he turns away, severing the connection.
“Anyway—” Abella, sensing Chantel’s discomfort, changes the subject. “Lucia and Serafina wanted me to tell you they’re sorry they couldn’t be here. They had a charity gala tonight.”
“It’s okay. I’m just glad you’re all here to help me get settled in.”
“We’ve got your back.” Mariella smiles at me. “Always.”
Over the next hour, we lounge around, catching up and eating pizza. When baby Nella wakes up, she gets passed around the room from one person to another until my turn comes around. I hold her awkwardly, not really sure what to do, and the girls laugh.
“You look terrified, Gabs,” Mariella observes.
“That’s because I am,” I admit. “What are you supposed to say to a baby, exactly?”
“Whatever feels natural,” Abella answers without patronizing me.
“Hello, tiny human.” I study her as she squeezes my finger with her fist. “Did you know baby sharks are called pups? Some can swim and hunt on their own as soon as they’re born, and depending on the species, they may even eat their siblings in the womb.”
“Okay, maybe we steer clear of the shark facts.” Val steals her away from me.
She holds her up and makes Nella smile like it’s the easiest thing in the world.
“I think I’m missing that chip.” I frown.
“Well, you’d better start practicing.” Val shudders. “Riccardo has mentioned more than once that he wants kids.”
The conversation falls dead silent, and Val shoots me an apologetic glance. I know she didn’t say it to upset me. This is just the reality of our world. We marry who our fathers tell us to, and the men decide our futures. That’s how it is, and there’s no point sugarcoating it.
Truthfully, I haven’t given much thought to having kids. I’ve always known that, like everything else, it wouldn’t be up to me. I won’t have a say in that or most of the things that happen in my life. I think that’s why, despite the risks, it’s so important for me to make at least one major decision myself.
I’ll have to marry who my family picked, but I want my first time to be with someone I choose. I want at least one experience I enjoy before I’m forced to endure Riccardo. If I’m lucky, maybe that memory will hold me over for the rest of my grim life.
I’ve already told Abella and Mariella about my plan, and they both support me. Mariella gave me birth control off the record, and before I graduate, I hope to find the person I can share the experience with.
The thought has crossed my mind more than once that it could be Eros. Our interactions have long since moved past innocent flirtations into darker territory. We’ve had explicit conversations about the things I want to try, like being chased, captured, and dominated by a masked man. We’ve exchanged GIFs and clips from horror films, and we’ve even discussed the boundaries I’d set in those hypothetical scenarios. It makes me believe that, if we ever met in person, we could take it to the next level.
The only thing is, he’s never asked me to meet, and I’m not sure why.
“I suppose we should probably start unpacking,” Abella says, interrupting my thoughts. “Before it gets too late.”
I nod, stifling a yawn before I stand up.
“I think that’s our cue to leave,” Rafe says.
Angelo comes over to kiss his wife, brushing her hair aside with so much tenderness I can’t help but blush. I don’t think I’ve ever seen two people more in love. And after all the hell they went through, they deserve every bit of happiness.