Page 152 of Brutal Crown

Then, gently, he pushes me back until I’m lying back on the bed.

He grips my hips in both hands, pulling me tighter against him, bending down to bury his face in my neck. I feel the heat of his breath, and then his mouth is moving, trailing kisses along my skin until he reaches the hemline of my bra. Slowly, almost reverently, he lifts it off my body, tossing it aside carelessly.

“Fran…” I moan as his mouth takes one nipple.

My hands find his hair, gripping fistfuls while I arch upwards. His mouth trails kisses over my breasts, stopping occasionally to bite lightly before continuing to move downwards. I moan again as he nips gently on the underside of my breast. My stomach clenches tight, and I want nothing more than for him to slam right into me.

His kisses move down to my stomach. He looks up at me through hooded eyes as he pulls the material of my panties between his teeth.

“Take it off,” I say impatiently, and he smiles against my skin before ripping the flimsy material off.

My pussy clenches in anticipation as he rubs the head of his cock over my entrance. When he slides slowly inside of me, tears spring out of my eyes.

My tears are not from pain, but from everything else. The fear. The hope. The memory of fire, of stone, of the blood I gave to survive. The way his eyes hold me now. The way I never stopped loving him. The way he never stopped loving me, amidst everything.

We move slowly, like the world is finally quiet. Like we have nowhere else to be but here.

His hands splay over my belly, trembling.

“Our family,” he says hoarsely.

I close my eyes and let the sound of his voice settle into me like a promise. I grab his back, pulling him down to kiss me again. He moves slowly, stretching me out, teasing me with long, slow strokes before he begins fucking me fast and hard.

My moans get swallowed in our kisses. My fingers scratch his neck, his back, his shoulders. I’m sure he’ll have bruises tomorrow. I moan in pleasure as his thrusts continue in a fast yet steady pace. My heels dig into the mattress as pleasure ripples through my entire body.

“You’re mine, Lia,” he grunts, slamming repeatedly into me.

“I’m yours,” I cry, arching my hips upward.

My orgasm knocks into me unexpectedly, faster than I’ve ever come. His name leaves my lips in a scream as everything comes apart around me. After a few minutes, he comes too, his body trembling over mine.

And then, we collapse onto the bed, clinging tightly together. A wave of exhaustion crashes over me. His breathing starts to calm, and his hands rub my stomach soothingly.

“I love you, Lia,” he whispers softly. “More than anything in the world.”

I smile against his neck, tightening my grip on him. “I love you too.”

He shifts, turning to press his face into my side and wrap an arm around me. I feel the heat of his breath on my neck as his weight crushes me.

“I can’t wait for the family we’re going to create,” he says.

When he leans up to stare at me again, he’s smiling.

Another tear slips down my face. He wipes it with his thumb.

He lays me back on the silken sheets, pressing soft kisses on my forehead, my neck, and my stomach. His touch reverent. Worshipful.

“You’re mine,” he whispers against my throat. “Always.”

We fall asleep tangled in each other. Our limbs are knotted around each other, our breaths moving in sync.

And for the first time in a long time, I feel no pain.

40

FRANCESCO

Morning settles over the Romano estate like a blessing.