Bianca had once been his wife.

His history.

A year of his life.

And still, when she became a threat to what he loved now, Luca had ended it. For him, she had become the line nothing crossed and lived.

"I can hear you thinking, Bambola," Luca said. He dropped his glass on the bar with a soft clink and walked back toward her.

"It’s nothing," she said.

Luca’s expression told her he did not believe that for one second. Still, he joined her on the sofa, lowering himself beside her and kicking off his shoes. Vee shifted closer, and his arm came around her.

"I’m just glad you are back home," she said.

His thumb brushed idly against her arm.

"I was thinking," Vee said carefully, "we have a small reception party to celebrate our wedding with family in Italy."

Luca looked at her. "You want Val to see Marco."

Vee sighed. "You see through me too much."

"I enjoy the view."

"I really do want us to celebrate with the family," she added.

Luca saw the hope in her face. She wanted healing. She wanted their marriage to be marked by something other than war. "Anything you want."

"But not right now," he added. "Italy is... well... let’s just say, Italy is currently hot."

Vee’s smile faded. "Isn’t your mother there?" she asked in concern.

"Yeah, she is," Luca said. "But she will be fine. You think Don would let anything happen to her?"

"Yeah, you’re right." Vee sighed.

"Don’t worry." Luca’s hand moved slowly along her spine. "We will have a party. Once all of this is over."

"Will it ever be?"

"It will be." He said it like a fact already settled. "You will be safe and we will be happy." He lifted her face to his and kissed her, his hand sliding to cradle the back of her head. When he pulled back just far enough to speak, his thumb traced her lower lip. "I really missed you," he murmured against her mouth.

"I saw you at the precinct. Talking to Voss. You were so beautiful. So perfect. Thank you."

"Anything for our family," she said simply, and kissed him again. She leaned forward, guiding him back against the cushions until he was lying beneath her, and climbed over him, settling her weight against his chest. His hands found her hips, steadying her there.

"Vee... I have to—" he started.

"No. No pills. Just feel." She said softly, against his ear, and felt him go still beneath her. She bent low, kissing the shell of his ear, trailing down the line of his neck, her fingers already working the buttons of his shirt loose one by one. Her thigh shifted, rocking slowly against his cock and she felt his breath catch.

"Vee," he said again. His hands tightened at her hips.

"Luca...it’s me. There is nothing to be shy about."

He held her closer, steadied by the conviction in her voice. The thought of failing her slid silently behind the love he saw in her eyes. His fingers moved up the line of her arm, hooking beneath the straps of her dress, drawing them down slowly. She shrugged free of it, the fabric pooling at her waist, and bent to kiss his chest before her hands found his belt.

His heart was loud in his own ears. He didn’t want her to see this version of him, unable to answer her without the pills doing the work his own body wouldn’t.

She unzipped his pants and he caught her hand, his eyes finding hers, asking a question he didn’t have words for. She smiled. There was nothing there that worried her. She drew his pants down the rest of the way, let them fall to the floor, and climbed back over him — straddling his hips, settling herself so he was positioned right at her entrance, soft against her.

She began to move. Flesh against flesh, her hips rolling against him in waves, no pressure, just her body finding a rhythm against his and trusting it would be enough.

Luca groaned, his hands finding her hips. He let her guide him — let go of the fear sitting in his chest and simply followed where she led, his fingers tightening at her waist, helping her find the pace, helping himself find his way back to her, one slow movement at a time. He could feel her wetness sliding against him with every movement. Vee moved with complete abandon now, her body chasing the rhythm she’d built.

He reached up and cupped her breasts, thumbs finding her nipples, rolling them gently between his fingers. She arched into the touch, a soft sound escaping her.

She wasn’t in a hurry. It didn’t matter that he wasn’t inside her — what mattered was that he was still here, still hers, still able to feel her against him exactly like this. She felt the shift in him— his muscles drawing tight beneath her, his breathing changing. She held his hands against her chest, keeping him there, watching his face.

"Fuck..." He swore as his whole body went rigid, his cock pulsing against her as he came, spilling between them.

Vee smiled triumphantly.

"Don’t look so smug," he said, his mouth curving in a smile.

"You’re always going to be mine, Luca." She leaned down, lips brushing his ear. "Your body will always answer to me."

"Arrogant bitch." He pulled her down against his chest, wrapping his arms around her, and kissed her slowly.

When he finally broke away, he glanced behind her, a faint, wry smile tugging at his mouth.

"I do hope we are alone in this house."

"Yeah..." Vee said. "But I’ll get the staff later to prepare something."

Luca held her against his chest, his fingers moving lazily through her hair. With Vee tucked against him, there was a stolen peace.

Her cheek rested over his heart, and he wondered if she could hear how hard it was still beating.

"My perfect Donna," he murmured.

Vee smiled against his skin. "That’s me."

(Brought to you by Mar King 2/2)