Total pages in book: 148
Estimated words: 143870 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 719(@200wpm)___ 575(@250wpm)___ 480(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 143870 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 719(@200wpm)___ 575(@250wpm)___ 480(@300wpm)
There’s an undeniable charge in the air as we come down from what I just admitted. There’s no point in denying it. I’ve been letting him fuck me bare, pretending I could compartmentalize it. But we both know it was never going to be an accident.
I just can’t bring myself to say it out loud when he’s not fucking these confessions out of me. So, I deflect.
“We have to shower. Everybody’s waiting on us.”
He seems completely unbothered as his hands roam over me without any particular destination. “They’ll be fine for a while longer.”
Closing my eyes, I melt against him until eventually, he does actually take me to the shower.
I have every intention of getting him to brunch. But as I wash him, I register the full extent of his cuts and bruises, and I get emotional all over again.
After some more tears, he comforts me, which turns into sex against the wall.
Needless to say, I probably won’t be able to walk today, but it’s worth it.
As we’re drying off, my eyes drift to the geometric shape on his chest, and I remember what he said the first time I mentioned it. I asked him what it meant, and he said irony.
Now, I think I finally get it.
“It’s Corvus, isn’t it?”
Something dark and possessive flickers in his eyes as he nods. “So much fucking irony.”
I let that sink in, and I don’t know what else to say other than he’s right. It’s not even the fact that God apparently custom-printed me just for him, constellation and all. It’s how I chose Morrigan the raven goddess at Sanctum, and he knew all along. It’s how that theme has continually woven us together, even when I didn’t know it.
It took almost losing him for me to see everything so clearly.
And now that I do, I’m quite certain irony has never tasted so sweet.
31
CHANTEL
“God, it’s about time,” Michele groans.
The whole table turns to look at us, and a flush spreads down my throat when they notice the teeth marks there.
I guess they know what took us so long.
Nonna beams at the two of us together, her expectant gaze drifting to Cristian. “Quando possiamo aspettarci un bambino?”
“Ci stiamo già lavorando.” Cristian smirks.
Several pairs of wide eyes blink at us, and Rafe snorts. “Someone doesn’t waste any time.”
“Do I want to know?” I ask Cristian.
Amusement flashes in his eyes as he shakes his head and leads me to the table. We sit down, and Nonna promptly dishes up a heaping plate of food for Cristian.
“For your strength.” She squeezes his shoulders.
“Looks like he had plenty to spare this morning,” Michele muses.
“I’m still trying to wrap my head around this.” Valentina stares at us.
The brothers share a look, indicating they aren’t surprised in the slightest.
“So you all knew?” Abella raises a brow at her husband.
“Of course we knew.” Nonna grabs my plate, dishing up for me before I can protest. “It was very obvious.”
“Only to you, Nonna.” Mariella laughs. “I think you dabble in witchcraft.”
“Madonna.” Nonna holds up her pendant necklace, as if that explains everything.
By the time she’s finished adding things to my plate, I have a slice of frittata, potatoes, breakfast cake, fruit, some cold cuts, and a mozzarella and tomato salad.
“You’ll need your strength too.” She gives me a subtle nod as if she knows my sex life with Cristian will be a full-contact sport. “The Vitale men are very robust.”
“And potent.” Rafe snorts in Angelo’s direction.
“Tell me about it.” Abella cradles her pregnant belly.
“One more word out of any of you and I’m excommunicating myself from this family,” Mariella grumbles.
“Send us a postcard,” Michele teases.
“Now that we got that out of the way—” Romeo says dryly, casting a glance at Cristian. “Are you good?”
“I’m good.” Cristian’s palm finds my bare leg beneath the table.
I have a feeling he’s been thinking about it since he saw me put on this vintage black velvet summer dress. The first thing he did was pull me close, slide his hands up the back of my thighs, and cup my ass. So I guess that means he likes it.
I wonder how many of those dirty thoughts he’s harbored over the years while we were tossing insults at each other.
For such a reserved man, he has a filthy mouth on him, and I love that I’m the only one who gets to see that part of him.
The conversation around the table continues as we eat, and all of Cristian’s siblings steal glances at him, genuinely relieved to have him back.
The Vitales are as close as a family can get. They might argue at every meal and trade barbs like it’s their full-time job, but they will go to the ends of the earth to defend each other. And while the mood is lighter and everyone is happy, I haven’t missed the suspicion lingering in Angelo’s eyes when he looks at me.