Page 160

I shake my head.

“It’s because you’re here, and I feel safe and loved and cared for. You’ll never know how much it means to me that you came by. I told everyone in my family I wanted to be alone, but the truth is that I didn’t want to take away the attention my brothers were going to get from their wives and kids. They need to be loved and doted on. None of us wanted anything to happen to Marilyn, but her death is as complicated as her living was for us. They need the distraction and all the love they can get.”

The tears rolling down her cheeks shatter my heart into pieces.

“But you need your family too, mi amor.”

She nods. “I did, and you guys showed up right when the loneliness was starting to get to me.”

The lump on my throat grows and thickens. I have to breathe and then swallow to be able to say the words. “And we’re always going to be there. We’re a unit, the three of us.”

She closes her eyes, and there are so many emotions dancing in her face at that moment. When her gaze is on me again, the intensity makes my heart tremble.

“What is it?” I ask.

“I want us to be more than three. I want a big family, with all the craziness, and kids that love each other like crazy. Give me three more of Ayla, and I’ll be happy.”

I’m shocked into silence and can only nod. “Okay. Let’s work on the first one and see how we do.”

She nods. “Now, we’ve been apart too long, and I need you. Show me how much you love me, Oliver. I need to feel it.”

EPILOGUE

Lux

The next spring

Oliver removes the blindfold, and I have to blink a few times. I know exactly where we are. I heard about this place, and it’s been on my list of places to try. I never thought it would be this beautiful.

It’s a garden with tall cherry blossoms in full bloom, surrounding a glass igloo. There is a bench outside and peonies everywhere. The igloo is lined with cushions and pillows. There are curtains inside, but they’re open, allowing me to see everything. And I already see us tangled on that floor, naked with our lips on each other.

My hand tightens around his. “You planned a lot.”

His eyes glow like red-hot embers in the night. He takes a step back and goes to lock the gate.

“It locks? You really planned for everything…” I laugh.

“You’ve talked about this place and even put it on your vision board. I want to give you beauty, Luciana.”

“Then, let’s go in there and take me high as only you can while I stare at the sky and the pretty flowers.”

His smile is so big and loaded it should melt everything off my body. He takes my hand in his again, and we go inside. It’s warm, with the sunlight covering every corner. The sensual scent of flowers mixed with spices infuses the room.

His lips are still on mine, and he shrugs my shawl off my shoulders. I can see everything so clearly, his brown skin, the honey tones in his eyes, the desire that rattles my core.

“Wait, don’t you want to draw the curtains?”

He kisses his way down my neck. “No.”

“Anyone can see us?”

“Well, if I close them, you won’t be able to stare at the flowers while I fuck you like a sucia.”

My stomach drops. “Dirty?” I repeat.

His hand sneaks between my legs. “Yes. I’ve been fantasizing since I saw the photos on your board, and there’s no other way.”

I grind my pussy on his hand and bite my lip as the sensation floods me.