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Mia

Two months later

I’ve been counting down the days until Dom’s return, my heart fluttering with both excitement and trepidation. Two long months apart have felt like an eternity, even though I fully understand the gravity of his mission to rescue Vincenzo’s sister from the ruthless Leon Popov and the Bratva.

As I stir the hearty vegetable soup simmering on the stove, I can’t resist doing a little happy dance at the thought of having my husband back soon. I open a packet of Italian seasoning to add an extra burst of flavor, but the pungent aroma instantly turns my stomach. I barely make it to the sink before retching violently.

Gasping for air, I steady myself against the counter. Could it be…? My hands tremble as I hurry upstairs to our bedroom and frantically dig through my drawer until I find the pregnancy test I impulsively bought a few weeks ago, just in case.

With shaking fingers, I tear open the package and rush to the bathroom. After what feels like an eternity, I finally glance at the little window. Two solid pink lines stare back at me, confirming my hopes and fears. I’m pregnant!

A wave of emotions crashes over me – joy, terror, love. Dom and I had discussed having children one day, but with his dangerous life of revenge and violence, the timing was never right. Until now. Tears of happiness stream down my cheeks as I imagine our baby growing within me, a new chapter beginning for us both.

***

One Month Later

The shrill ring of the doorbell jolts me from my sleep. My heart leaps – it’s the special ring only Dom and I use. He’s here! I quickly rub the sleep from my eyes and race downstairs. As I fling open the door, there stands my husband with a bouquet of flowers and a bottle of wine. His intense eyes drink me in like a man emerging from a desert.

He drops the flowers and wine and takes me into his arms as his lips hungrily claim mine. His hands roam my body possessively, as if trying to commit every curve to memory after our long separation. A low growl rumbles in his chest as he walks us backward into the house, kicking the door shut behind us without breaking our passionate kiss.

“God, I’ve missed you so much, amore,” Dom rasps against my lips, his voice thick with desire. I melt into him, my fingers tangling in his dark hair as I drink him in like a woman parched.

The rich aroma of my cooking suddenly hits my nose, jolting me back to reality. “The pasta sauce!” I gasp, reluctantly tearing myself from Dom’s scorching caresses. I dash to the stove and quickly turn off the burner, avoiding a culinary disaster by mere seconds.

Before I can catch my breath, strong arms encircle my waist from behind as Dom presses himself flush against me. “Let it burn,” he growls, nipping at the sensitive skin below my ear. “I need you, amore mio. I can’t wait a moment longer to be inside you again.”

I shudder at his heated words, desire blazing through me like wildfire. Turning in his arms, I loop my own around his neck and meet his smoldering gaze. “Then take me,” I whisper against his lips. “I’m yours.”

The hunger in his eyes sends a shiver of anticipation down my spine. With a swift motion, he bends me over the counter, lifting my dress to expose my bare butt to the cool air. I shiver, not from cold but from anticipation. I gasp as I feel his mouth on me, his tongue traces a path that leaves me breathless. His fingers dig into my hips, holding me in place as he feasts on my most sensitive spot.

A low moan escapes my lips as his tongue works its magic, swirling and sucking until my knees buckle. Only his strong grip keeps me upright as a million sensations flood my body. He adds a finger, thrusting gently at first, gradually increasing the pace and depth until I’m writhing and pleading for more. His tongue laps at my clit, seeking every drop as my pleasure builds and builds.

“That’s it, amore,” he murmurs between kisses and licks. “Let me taste you. Fucking beautiful.”

I want to scream his name, but the words catch in my throat as I’m overwhelmed. My fingers curl against the smooth countertop.

He pulls my hips back, urging me to arch them toward his face. I oblige, desperate for more, and he plunges his tongue deep inside me, fucking me with it as he continues to flick his finger across my most sensitive bundle of nerves.

“Dom… oh God, please… I’m so close…” My voice is hoarse with need.

“Come for me, mia regina,” he commands, his voice sends vibrations through my core. “Let me feel it.”

His words push me over the edge, and my release crashes over me like a tidal wave when he calls me ‘his queen’. My cries echo through the flat as I surrender to the exquisite pleasure, my body trembling uncontrollably. With each throbbing pulse, I feel Dom’s mouth still on me, lapping up every last drop as my legs turn to jelly.

I melt into the sensation of Dom’s tongue on my sensitive flesh, his fingers gently stroking me. But as I begin to descend from my climax, I’m startled by the sudden intrusion of something much larger. My eyes fly open as Dom slides into me, my body tensing instinctively at the invasion.

He fills me up completely, stretching me to accommodate his thickness. A cry escapes my lips, half pleasure, half surprise. Dom’s hands tighten on my hips, holding me firmly in place as he withdraws almost entirely, only to plunge back into me with a swift, powerful thrust.

I cry out again, louder this time, my head falling back as he repeats the motion, before establishing a relentless pace. The force of his thrusts pushes me forward, making the smooth countertop dig into my skin.

Dom grips my hand and brings it behind my back, holding it prisoner as he claims my body with his. His dark eyes burn into mine, his breath hot on my neck as he moves within me with fierce possession.

With each thrust, he pulls almost all the way out before slamming back into me, taking me on a relentless journey of pleasure and pain. I moan and scream uncontrollably, caught in the throes of his fierce passion, my body clenching around his with each stroke.

“You like that, amore?” he grunts, his voice hoarse with his own need. “You like it when I pound into you, deep and hard?”

“Yes… please… don’t stop…” I beg, my voice breathless and wanting.

He groans in response and his pace quickens. The countertop offers little cushion against the force of our lovemaking, but it only adds to the delirious pleasure.

The intensity builds again, coiling tightly in my core. The friction of Dom’s body against mine sends electric shocks through my nervous system, pushing me closer to the edge.

With a few more powerful thrusts, he reaches that sweet spot deep within me, and my whole body shivers with the force of my release.

I feel spent as my climax ripples through me, but Dom is still rock hard inside me, his need nowhere close to being satisfied. I feel the slap on my butt before I hear it, and the sharp sting only fuels my desire.

“Again,” I moan, surprising myself with the depth of my own voice.

“Ask nicely,” Dom teases, his breath hot on my neck.

I swallow, the sultry mood taking over me. “Please, Domenico. Spank my ass again.”

The second slap lands just as hard, and I yelp in a combination of pleasure and pain. He pulls my hips back to meet his demanding thrusts, gripping my hair as he continues to pound into me relentlessly.

I want to lose myself in the sensation, but part of me is aware of how incredibly debauched we must look, taking each other passionately on the kitchen counter. My hands scrabble for purchase as Dom’s fingers dig bruises into my hips, his movements becoming more frenzied.

The delicacy of our earlier explorations has dissipated, replaced by an urgent, primal need. This is raw, uncontrolled passion, fueled by months of separation and the constant threat of danger.

Dom’s groans fill my ears, mixing with my own shameless cries. He grips me tighter, his cock twitching inside me with each powerful thrust. “You feel so damn good, Mia. Tight around me. Your pussy grips me so perfectly.”

His words spur me on, every nerve ending alight with sensation. I ache to feel him explode inside me, to have him mark me as his own. I’m close to the edge again, riding the wave of pleasure that Dom’s sensual assault creates.

“Cum with me, amore mio,” Dom rasps, his voice strained with effort. “I want to feel you squeeze me as you fall apart.”

His words are all the encouragement I need. My core clenches around him as I spiral into another climax, my cries echoing in the enclosed space.

“That’s it, mia regina. Suck it all out of me.” Dom thrusts into me even harder, his hands bruising my body as he pursues his own peak.

I can feel his swollen length pulsing within me, each twitch sending shards of delight through me. I’m conscious of his ragged breathing, his sweat-slicked chest, the faint scent of his cologne. All my senses are alive as our bodies move in perfect sync, our hearts pounding in rhythm.

As the tension rises between us, a glowing heat spreads through my core, signaling another imminent release. My inner walls clench around Dom’s hard length, milking him.

With a roar, Dom spills himself inside me, his thrusts becoming erratic as he surrenders to the intensity.

I bask in the euphoria of our simultaneous release, savoring the way our bodies are still connected, our hearts slowing to a steadier rhythm.

Dom leans over me, his lips grazing my shoulder tenderly as he catches his breath. “You drive me wild, Mia. You’re all I thought about all the time.”

I turn my head, pressing a soft kiss to his sweaty brow. “I know. I thought about you too.”

Carefully, he withdraws from me, and I feel a twinge of loss at the emptiness. But the contented smile on his face as he turns me around to face him tells me that this isn’t over.

I slip boneless to the kitchen floor, my legs still trembling from the intensity of our lovemaking. Dom’s eyes smolder with satisfaction as he takes in my disheveled state.

He presses a soft kiss to my forehead before rising and leaving the room. I listen to the sound of his footsteps retreating, fighting the urge to chase after him. A few minutes later, he returns holding the bouquet of deep red roses that we discarded in the throes of our passion and an expensive bottle of Amarone della Valpolicella.

He kneels beside me, offering me the velvety blooms with a crooked grin. “For you, amore mio.”

I can’t help the blush that colors my cheeks as I accept the roses, inhaling their rich perfume. “They’re beautiful, Domenico. Thank you.”

I place the flowers carefully beside me, and watch as he skillfully uncorks the wine bottle.

I beam at Dom, his brow furrowed in concentration. The familiar motions are so endearing, a glimpse of the domestic life we could have if not for the darkness that still clings to us.

“You know, I was thinking we could have this with dinner tonight,” he says, holding up the bottle with a roguish grin. “Maybe pair it with some handmade pasta or a nice steak?”

I shake my head, unable to suppress the giddy laughter that bubbles up from my chest. “As tempting as that sounds, I’ll have to pass on the wine for now.”

Dom’s expression turns quizzical as he sets the bottle aside. “Is everything okay, amore mio? I thought Amarone Della Valpolicella was your favorite.”

Suddenly feeling almost shy, I duck my head, my cheeks flushing. How to put this into words? After everything we’ve been through, the violence and tragedy, this new path terrifies me as much as it fills me with hope. I have been dying to give him the news for the past month but I wanted to do it in person, to watch his reaction.

Wordlessly, I rise to my feet and make my way upstairs, hearing Dom’s footsteps behind me. In our bedroom, I open the nightstand drawer and retrieve the small plastic stick, cradling it in my palm like a precious treasure.

When I turn back to face Dom, his eyes are alight with curiosity and concern. Rather than speak, I simply extend my hand, offering him the proof.

His brow furrows as he takes the test from me, studying it intently. Realization slowly blossoms across his chiseled features as he registers the two distinct pink lines.

“Mia…” He breathes my name like a prayer, “Are you…?”

I nod, biting my lip to keep the sudden surge of tears at bay. “I’m pregnant, Dom. We’re going to have a baby.”

In an instant, his arms are around me, crushing me to his chest as his lips claim mine. I can taste the salt of his tears mingling with my own as we cling to each other, united in this new, uncharted territory.

When he finally pulls back, Dom is grinning from ear to ear, his eyes sparkling with a happiness I haven’t seen in too long. “How? When did you find out?”

“I found out about a month ago but I wanted to tell you in person,” I manage, laughing through the tears streaking my cheeks “It must have happened right before you left…”

He shakes his head in wonder, cradling my face in his work-roughened hands. “My fierce, amazing wife. You never cease to surprise me, do you?”

“I wanted to tell you in person,” I explain softly.

Dom’s warm eyes study me intently several emotions play across his ruggedly handsome features – joy, wonder, even a hint of anxiety.

Finally, he speaks. “Mia, amore mio, this is… I don’t even have words.” He cups my face reverently, brushing away the happy tears that streak my cheeks with the pad of his calloused thumb.

I lean into his touch, covering his hand with my own. “I know. Believe me, I was just as shocked when I found out.” I manage a watery chuckle, my heart so full I feel it may burst. “But also… I’ve never felt more sure about anything in my life.”

Dom’s brilliant smile is like the sun emerging from behind rain clouds as he pulls me into a fierce embrace. We remain that way for long moments, swaying gently together.

Dom brushes a stray lock of hair from my face, his expression tender. “What do you think about moving back to New York for a while, amore mio? So you can be closer to your family again.”

My breath catches in my throat at his words. To see my mother, father and sister again, to share this incredible news with them in person… it’s more than I dared dream.

Tears prick my eyes anew as I nod fervently. “Yes. Oh Dom, yes, I would love that more than anything.”

Dom’s shoulders sag with relief, as if he’d been holding his breath. “You’re sure? Because after everything that happened there… I would understand if you never wanted to go back.”

Reaching up, I trace the line of his strong jaw, my heart swelling with affection for this man who has sacrificed so much for me. “New York is where I met you, Domenico. It gave me a second chance at life, at love.” I rise on my tiptoes to brush a tender kiss across his lips. “It’s our home.”

He presses his lips to my forehead in a tender kiss. “Then it’s settled. We’ll make arrangements to head back to the city soon.”

“Thank you,” I whisper fervently against the steady thump of Dom’s heartbeat. “For never giving up on me. On us.”

His arms tighten around me protectively. “There was never a choice to make, Mia. You are my heart, my everything. As long as I breathe, I will never stop fighting for the life we deserve together.”