Page 33 of The Forever One
My body is alight with flames and a rush of electricity spreads through me as I let go, allowing all the sensations to pour out in a wave of pleasure. His warmth coats my insides and our breaths mingle together as he kisses me soft and slow.
“I love you, Husband.”
“I love you too, Wife.”
* * *
There are several of Marco’s soldiers dotted around the cemetery, watching over us as we visit Mr. Bobby’s grave. I bought a peace lily plant on the way and have lovingly placed it between his and his wife’s headstones.
“Do you want a minute, Tesoro?”
He may be protective and overbearing, but he also seems to know just when I need time to myself. I know he hates it, but he doesn’t begrudge me of it.
“Please.”
His grin is contagious and he winks at me, bringing my hand to his mouth and gently placing his lips against my ring finger in a soft kiss. It would be romantic as fuck if he didn’t then suck my fingers into his mouth, biting down with a lusty growl that promises many orgasms for me when we get home.
He doesn’t go far, walking over to stand with Sam, one of the only soldiers with us today whose name I remember.
I inhale deeply and return my gaze to Mr. Bobby’s grave.
“Hey, Mr. Bobby. It’s me, River.” I sit down, and pull out the Thermos of coffee Stefano made for me, putting two cups on the ground and filling them up. “It’s already Irish, just how you like it.” I pick one of the cups up and clink it gently to the 2nd one before taking a sip.
“There’s so much to tell you. I almost can’t believe it myself, to be honest, but I took your advice, the whole big picture thing. I’m a legit business owner now, Rapture is now mine. And I’m actually loving it. It’s hard work, but it’s so worth it to see the smiles on my customers’ and employees’ faces, knowing I’m responsible for being a cog in the wheel that makes that happen. Ooh, and I finally chose. You called it. He infuriates me, challenges me, and surprises me every day in all the best ways.” I have another sip of my coffee, holding the warm cup in both of my palms as I sit cross-legged. “What might shock you is my new heritage. Or I suppose it’s old, because I’ve always been Italian… apparently. Yeah, I know. Shocker. I’m Italian! I haven’t told Francesca. You remember her, right? Gods, I miss that pesto sauce she hid from everyone but her best customers.” With a quiet chuckle, I let the recollection bathe me in the soothing memories of a time less complicated, for sure, but also more lonely. My free hand plays with the overgrown blades of green grass, a smile planted on my lips. “Anyway, she’d roll her eyes so hard at my lack of knowledge for her culture—well, my culture now, I suppose. I’m learning, slowly, but it’s going to take some time, and I’m not going to lose the person I’ve become. Which is a mix of many things now. Honestly, I don’t think there are enough hours in the day to tell you about everything that’s happened, so I’m glossing over. You know, concentrating on big picture stuff.” I laugh to myself and finish off the coffee, then pour the other one over the grass in front of me.
“The main thing, though—and I think you and Miss Josie would be proud—is I’m just trying to live a life of happiness, and now I have Marco by my side, my very own devoted partner. I never understood it fully before, but love is fucking beautiful, you know? I love my family, and I loved yousomuch, always will, but the love that comes from a partnership is something special. And I think that’s maybe what you tried to teach me in your own way.”
A tear falls from my eye and slowly rolls down my cheek and I wish so damn hard that he was still here to give me all his worldly advice. Although, I’m not sure how he’d take all the mafia shit, which is why I’m not mentioning it. I mean, he knows, of course, but I don’t want to taint this special visit with all the madness.
“I’m going to make sure I visit you more often, hopefully things will calm down soon and I can do it without an entourage. But for now, I’m going to love you and leave you, Mr. Bobby. My friend.”
I screw the cap back on the coffee and stand, closing my eyes and taking a moment to breathe in the air around me. There’s something spiritual about being in a cemetery in the early evening dusk.
“Always looking at the big picture, Mr. Bobby. Until next time.”
Looking to my husband, I smile at the intensity of his gaze and his worried frown disappears as he begins to walk back over to me, immediately wrapping me in his strong arms and holding me to his hard chest.
“Let’s go home, my queen.”
CHAPTERSIXTEEN
MARCO
“That is not a boat.”
I look over to River and squeeze her hand, crushing my lips together to avoid laughing at her outrage.
“And what wouldyoucall it?” I follow her line of sight as we stand on the top step of the dock where my new acquisition awaits us for this day of celebration. I figured it would be nice to watch the fireworks from the Hudson after spending the day relaxing with her family and mine.
“A planet destroyer? A gas-guzzling fish murderer?” She holds out a finger at me when I try to defend myself before continuing her rant as the crew pretends they’re not amused by her antics. “Oh, a Pompous Ozone Sucker.”
I wait, watching her brows furrow every time her gaze slides across the impeccable lines of our new yacht. She’s not exaggerating its size, I may have gone a little overboard there, but my priority was to be able to fit everyone today without us being cramped on the decks. Who wants to watch fireworks from inside? No one, that’s who.
“She’s a yacht and she’s going to be very useful in our future.” With all the amenities onboard—swimming pool, jacuzzi, outdoor and indoor dining, a gym—I kept imagining all the ways I could fuck my wife throughout the tour. The upper deck with its massive sectional couch deep enough to fuck River from behind with the stars as our only witnesses is what sold me on it.
“She? Did you just refer to this hunk of metal as a woman?” Her fiery gaze bores a hole through my skull and I don’t think she’s ever been more beautiful than she is right now. With all her fancy clothes and well-learned class, it’s in moments like these that I remember River’s upbringing was a far cry from mine. In her soul, she’s a child of the land, a believer in things like magic and karma. Most of all, she’s a fierce defender of women’s rights and me equating a thing to a woman may have put me in the doghouse. Again.
“Tesoro,” I try my soothing voice, but it only makes her take a step back and cross her arms. “It’s customary, like a good luck thing.” I have no idea if that’s true, but every person involved in the sale, including the crew I hired, refers to all yachts as ‘she’. It would suck if this thing sank because I disrespected its existence.