*Lucia*
Three weeks passed by in the twinkle of an eye. Everything seems to be a dream. Bruno and I would have been married if it wasn’t for Steve’s unwelcome visit and me getting kidnapped. Sigh. It was a tough one. And I think I was affected by the kidnapping. We had decided to push back the time for our wedding. We haven’t discussed the particular date but I hoped it was soon.
I twitched my lips, staring out my bedroom window and getting lost in thought. It seemed like it had only been yesterday when Steve had stormed back into our lives and I’d been kidnapped, Bruno and I would have been married if it wasn’t for Steve. I shivered just remembering everything I’d gone through being away and alone for so long. I couldn’t even walk around the house without looking to see if anyone was walking behind me. Not to mention, I’ve also been feeling extremely nauseous lately. And I wasn’t even on my. . .
My breath stopped.
I felt my heart pound as I rushed to the nightstand to pick up my phone. I swiped it open, opening my calendar app and staring in horror at the date I’d last seen my period. A gush of air escaped me as I forced myself to take a deep inhale and exhale. I massaged my temple with my fingers, trying to bring myself together. It couldn’t be what I was thinking. There were thousands of reasons my period could be late. There was no way I was. . .
No.
I held my phone tightly, walking out of the room and heading towards the other side of the house to at least talk to Rave about it before I lost my mind. Thankfully he opened the door on my first knock. I brushed past him and stepped inside the room, pacing lightly as he shut the door and came to stand in front of me. I looked up, feeling more in control of my emotions now that I was no longer by myself. “I need you to get me something.” His eyebrows creased worriedly. “I think. . . I think I’m expecting. . .”
He stilled, and then his face lit up as he caught my meaning.
“I’m not sure yet,” I said in a hurry, stopping him from speaking. “I just need to confirm-” He raised a hand to shut me up, dashing out of the room before I could figure out what he was up to. He returned a few minutes later to my room with a pregnancy test kit. I met his gaze anxiously as I took the kit from him and closed the door with a soft click. I tore the tiny box open, holding the content with shaky hands. Taking in a steadying breath, I stepped into the bathroom, brought my panties down and peed on the stick.
I mumurred a prayer beneath my breath after I was done, not even sure myself what it was for. My gaze dipped down to the stick in my hand before I thought too much about it. My heart crashed against my chest. They were there. Two bright red lines. My chest rose and fell as realization dawned on me. It wasn’t a suspicion any longer. It wasn’t a fear. It was a fact this time. The stark truth.
I was pregnant.
Rave was leaning against my bedroom door when I pulled it open. His question was clearly written in his eyes as he searched my face. A tear ran down my cheek as I nodded, showing him the stick. His whole body deflated in relief before he pulled me into a tight hug. “Congratulations Lucia,” He murmured, kissing my head. He pulled away from me, a wide smile on his face as a laugh escaped him. “I can’t believe I’m going to be an uncle.”
I nodded, smiling through my tears. I couldn’t believe I was going to be a mom. I had a potential living breathing human inside of me. It was equal parts exciting and terrifying. I wiped the tears off my face, choosing to be happy instead. “Please don’t let Bruno know yet,” I whispered shakily. I had to be the one to break the news to him. I already knew he loved kids. He spent time with the kids in the orphanage for him to not like them.
But that didn’t mean he was ready to be a father yet.
Rave sobered up, nodding. “I won’t,” He promised. I watched as he stalked back to his room, shutting the door behind me. I wasn’t sure how long I stood in front of my room, wondering how on earth I could possibly raise a child, until footsteps sounded a heartbeat before Bruno walked into my line of sight. I hurriedly moved my hand behind my back, acting casual but feeling my heart pick up all over but for different reasons this time.
Had he already seen the pregnancy stick?
He arched an eyebrow, probably finding it weird that I was standing right outside the door but he seemed to brush it off. He walked closer, touching his lips to mine. “We have somewhere to be, sweet girl.” He said in a murmur, catching my lower lip between his teeth and tugging lightly. My knees buckled beneath me. “Get dressed,” He ordered.
His breath fanned my face as his gaze ran down my body. He pinched my nipple through my clothes, tugging it harshly and watching with satisfaction as it hardened beneath his gaze. I shivered, a responding tingle starting between my legs. He kissed my head and headed downstairs before I would drag him into the room and beg him to take me.
I walked back into the room, pushing the pregnancy stick to the bottom of my purse where it wouldn’t be discovered so easily and then getting dressed. I applied some makeup on my face, feeling a little giddy he had thought about me while he’d been out. I walked downstairs, my eyebrows jumping when he steered me towards the stairs leading to the rooftop. “Where are we going?” I asked in shock, breathless when I caught sight of the helicopter waiting for us.
He took my hand gently in his, walking me to the back seat of the helicopter. His dark eyes met mine. “You’ll see,” He said simply, closing the door and walking around the helicopter to sit beside me. He helped me strap the seat belt and put on my headphones before giving the pilot permission to fly the chopper. It took us a few hours before we eventually landed. I couldn’t believe my eyes when I realized just where he’d taken me to.
Las Vegas.
***
I hugged Harper the second I laid eyes on her at Bruno’s vacation house. Bruno and I had been here a few times in the past and Harper and I bonded really well. She treated me like I was her daughter and it made me see her the same way I would see my own mother. I asked if she knew about the surprise he was planning but she kept her lips shut and shook her head. The smile she was desperately holding back gave her away. There was no way she didn’t know what Bruno was planning. I shot her a feigned hurt look as she ushered me up the stairs to my room.
My blood tingled in my veins in anticipation as I pushed the room door open and stepped in. I let out a shocked breath, my mouth falling open at the sight in front of me. I wobbled slightly, gripping the door jamb for support as I took in the magnificent wedding dress expertly designed with over a million rhinestones, laying neatly on the bed. I was still recovering from my shock when Harper stepped into the room.
I turned to her, tears blurring my vision as she pulled me into a hug. “Congratulations dear,” She whispered, rubbing my back and confirming the suspicion I was too stunned to come to terms with myself. Bruno had planned a surprise wedding for us. She gently let go of me, wiping the tears that were rolling freely down my face as I cried silently. “I’m so happy he chose you.” She whispered, her voice teary with affection as she laid a soft kiss on my forehead.
She helped me into the dress after I’d finally been able to control the surprised tears. I was surprised when she sat me in front of the dressing mirror to do my makeup. Even more surprised when she did it almost professionally. I hadn’t been aware she had any makeup skills whatsoever. When I got downstairs, I found Bruno patiently waiting for me by the door, all dressed up in an expensive black tuxedo, a gold Rolex resting nicely on his wrist.
Our gazes collided. I could see all the joy and admiration I felt mirrored in his eyes. He dragged his gaze down my dress, looking so smitten by me, I could have sworn I fell in love with him all over again. “You planned all this?” I breathed, as we walked towards each other. He gave me a small smile that showed in his eyes, giving me a firm nod the way he always did whenever I left him speechless. He was looking at me like I was everything he’d asked for. He made me feel beautiful. Wanted.
Loved.
Fuck, I was finally ready to marry this man.
I let him entwine my hands and lead me out of the house. We got into his limo, and the driver took us to a five star hotel I’d heard about only in the news, where I was currently about to get forever hitched with the man I loved more than life itself. I let out a startled laugh when I caught sight of Rave standing beside Harper as Bruno and I walked down the aisle. They were the only guests present at the wedding and I couldn’t have asked for it any other way. I couldn’t even muster the strength to glare at Rave because of how happy I was.
I should have known he was in on the entire plan.
The priest smiled at us when we got to him. I smiled back before turning to meet Bruno’s heated gaze. The rest of the world faded at that moment and it was just him and me. And that baby he was yet to know about. I heard the priest’s words but it all seemed to be coming from a distance. “Do you, Lucia Miller, take Bruno Valent-”
“Yes,” I cut in hurriedly, everyone letting out a chuckle at how impatient I sounded.
The priest nodded, turning to Bruno. He kept his gaze pinned on me, his expression equal parts happy and sober. He was staring at me so intently, like he would fall to the ground and die if he took his eyes off me. We both heard the priest clear his throat but like before, the sound seemed so distant. “Do you, Bruno Valenti, take Lucia Mill-”
“Yes,” Bruno answered, sounding just as impatient as I had. I let out a relieved breath, years silently strolling down my cheeks as the priest pronounced us husband and wife. “You may now kiss the bride,” He concluded, taking a step back to give us some space. At first Bruno and I remained still, our gaze simply locked in place as we both silently acknowledged we’d finally tied the knot despite all odds. The air between us crackled with so much current and tension, I felt like this was the single most intimate moment of my life.
And we weren’t even fucking.
Almost like we’d been pulled by an invisible string, we closed the distance between us and crashed our lips together. I locked my arms around his neck, pulling his hair lightly and kissing him like my life depended on it. Because I was pretty sure it did. He tilted my head to the side with one hand, gripping my hip firmly with the other. We drew apart after a few minutes to catch some air.
Rave made catcalls as Harper and the priest clapped their hands, the corners of their lips lifted so high up as they grinned at us. Bruno picked me up and carried me bridal style past Harper, Rave, the priest and a few of his staff. He video-called the kids when we got back into the limo, they were happy for us. Bruno asked the driver to take us back to the vacation house. We kept our eyes on each other the entire ride back home.
His hands were on me the second the door closed behind us and the bolt had been latched. He slammed me gently against the wall, gripping my wrists and pinning my arms above my head. His lips came down on mine and he kissed me like he couldn’t get enough of me. He let go of my arms to hold my chin in place and I took advantage of his actions to push at the buttons of his shirt.
He stepped away from me to take his clothes off, watching as I expertly unzipped my wedding dress, letting it fall to the floor and stepping out of it. He devoured me with his eyes, slowly dragging his gaze down my body, letting the image of me in a lacy red bra and thong get ingrained in his memory. Goosebumps dotted my arms when he muttered a curse beneath his breath, and stepped out of his trousers.
I had just a second to get an eyeful of him in just his boxer briefs before he swept me off my feet and carried me up the stairs to our room, bridal style. He kicked the bedroom door shut with his foot, letting me slide down, our bodies rubbing in all the right places. He reaches behind my back, swiftly unsnapping my bra and throwing it blindly at a corner of the room. “Brun-” I started when the silence became too intense, releasing a shocked exhale when he ripped my thong off me, stepping back and running his eyes down my naked body.
He got out of his boxer briefs, his cock springing out, precum already leaking from him. I felt a trickle of wetness run down the inside of my thigh as I watched him fling his briefs in a random direction. I wasn’t staring at my boyfriend any longer. I was staring at my husband. Almost as if he’d read my thoughts, Bruno reached for me, bringing our naked bodies flush together and meeting my lips harshly. We kissed. Our tongues wrestled. He bit down on my lower lip, soothing the pain with his tongue.
I moaned into his mouth.
He steered me backwards, his lips never leaving mine. The back of my leg made contact with the bed and we both tumbled on the sheets. The next few hours passed in a blur. We were a mess of tangled limbs and loud moans, each trying to feel and touch and taste as much of the other as possible. I dug my fingers into his back when he entered me, his hips moving madly as he rammed into me. He growled, squeezing my boobs and fucking me so hard, the bed squeaked under our weight. I whimpered as I floated towards the edge. He reached down and pinched my clit.
I moaned.
I screamed.
I.
Fucking.
Exploded.
I sucked on his tongue, scraping his nipple with the tip of my finger and taking him over the edge with me. He let out a guttural groan to match with my moans, the sounds bouncing off the wall. He collapsed on top of me minutes later, our hot bodies rubbing, limbs entwined. We played with each other, taking the time to catch our breaths before we repeated the entire process. Slower. Softer. We took the time to touch and kiss each other everywhere. We made each other breathless all over again. We made love. On the bed. In the bathroom. On the floor.
Again on the bed.
When we finally lay down beneath the sheets, completely sated, he pulled me to him and threw his leg over my body, placing butterfly kisses wherever his lips could find. “I love you so much, Lucia.” He murmured, kissing my head. I felt my eyes sting at the raw emotion in his voice. “You’re the one thing I care about most in the entire world.” He confessed, pulling me even tighter and giving me a small squeeze. A tear rolled down my eyes as I kissed his palm and brought his hand down to my stomach.
“And this will be the second.” I whispered.
“What? I’m going to be a dad?”
“Yes,” I said, with a smile.
Tears gathered in the corner of his eyes. He pulled me into his embrace, hugging me tightly. He kissed me.
“You just made me the happiest man alive. I love you.”