Total pages in book: 78
Estimated words: 75616 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 378(@200wpm)___ 302(@250wpm)___ 252(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 75616 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 378(@200wpm)___ 302(@250wpm)___ 252(@300wpm)
Just like that, I did, biting my lip to keep from crying out as he fucked me through it, dragging it out, then slipping out of me, and groaning as he came on my ass.
We both jumped into recovery mode as we heard little feet down the hallway.
Aurelio yanked my panties into place, and I felt a wicked little thrill at feeling his release on me still as I got onto my knees.
Aurelio tucked himself away and shot me a devilish little smirk when we were both presentable enough as Judah came into the bedroom.
“Mama? Relo?” Judah called, coming closer, then struggling to reach the doorknob.
Aurelio gave him a little help from the inside, and the door slid open to reveal a triumphant Judah.
“Found you.”
“You sure did, little man,” Aurelio agreed, getting to his feet. “Why don’t we go get a little snack?” he asked, shooting me a wink as I crawled out of the closet, then made my way into the primary bathroom to clean up.
I finally got myself dressed for the day, then found myself staring at my reflection in the mirror.
The bruises were almost completely gone, just a bit of a yellow tint when the light hit my skin just the right way. And I had to admit there was a bit of a light in my eyes that hadn’t been there in, well, maybe ever. And a brightness to my complexion. Then, not to mention, a bit more fullness in my cheeks and collarbones, evidence of the good food Aurelio was constantly cooking.
I was almost afraid to admit this feeling that was inside me.
Not just happiness.
Though, obviously, that had been there, and had been expanding over and over again.
It was something bigger than that.
Something that I wasn’t sure I’d actually ever felt for someone outside of the platonic, familial sort.
Love.
Sure, I thought at some point that I’d loved Warren. Looking back, though, it was just the desire to be loved by someone else. Mingled with a little infatuation because he was so different from what I’d been used to.
Now, though, I knew for sure that what I felt for him hadn’t ever even hinted at love.
Not if what I was feeling for Aurelio was what love truly felt like.
It wasn’t the juvenile butterflies in the belly, the skittering of nerves.
It was something deeper, more comfortable. Something I could bury down into. Something that gave me peace, not anxiety.
I longed for him the way love was always talked about. The urge to be close to him, to feel him, smell him, and hear him was overpowering at times, leaving me following the urge to move toward him until he was touching me again.
I desired him in a way that I’d never experienced before. Like I was always ready to have him inside me.
And I just… enjoyed him. As a man. As a person. The way he talked about his mother with so much respect for having to raise five kids on her own when her husband passed. How he talked lovingly about his siblings, even when he was telling funny stories about them. And, yes, how he talked about his dreams for his future. With complete certainty about having a wife, having a house full of kids, growing old with someone, spending time with his grandchildren.
The difference between Aurelio’s desire for a family and Warren’s desire for an heir was simple. There was no ownership in the way Aurelio talked about future children. He wanted children because he loved kids, because he wanted his life to be full of them. Not because he wanted to shape and mold them into his exact image, to force them to carry on some family tradition.
I could see Aurelio with Judah. Teaching him to ride a bike, to throw a baseball, to cook. Then, as he got older, how to treat girls and women, how to be a good man.
If Judah just so happened to grow up to be a lot like Aurelio, I would be a happy mom.
But I was getting way ahead of myself.
It was easy to get caught up in the sensations, in this budding relationship. Since there was nothing else going on at the moment.
The fact of the matter was, though, that we hadn’t even talked about what was going on with us, what either of our intentions or hopes were, if this was even anything more than something physical.
It was foolish to keep getting so far ahead of myself.
“You alright in there?” Aurelio asked, tapping his knuckles on the partially open door before pushing it all the way open. “That’s a heavy look,” he said, brows pinching. “You okay?”
I nodded, but ducked my head, knowing he would see the lie if I didn’t.
“Where’s Judah?” I asked.
“He wanted to go in his bed. He’s worn out,” he said.