Page 71 of Indulging Temptation (Tempting the Heart #1)

As they let go of each other, I overhear Carlo mumble something to Tino, that makes him look once again like he’s seen a damn ghost. Curious as to what he said, I’m about to ask, but Tomás stands up to finish the speeches, then Dante, and before I know it two hours of food, conversation and happiness has passed us.

I rise from my seat, ready to help with the clean- up when Tino stops me.

“Dessert?” he asks with brows lifted, seeming excited…eager.

Confusion grips me seeing as we just had dessert.

In fact, we had multiple desserts. Between the cookbook coming out with a bunch of dessert recipes and the bakery we’re hoping to have open within the next couple months, once renovations are complete, Tino has been hard at work cranking out desert recipes.

“But we…”

He leans closer to my ear, whispering in it, interrupting me. “Come on mama, you can’t possibly think any of this can satisfy my sweet tooth the way you can.”

Fuck me.

How did I get so lucky?

SANTINO

As if dinner at Cielo + Cibo tonight, with everyone together, including my father, didn’t have me already in my feels, as I turn the key into what will become Cielo Bakery hopefully sooner than later has me flooded with emotion.

And it has nothing to do with the fact I won the property that feels like a remnant of my childhood, or that it’s finally coming together after months of renovations.

It has everything to do with the surprise I have in store for Lorena.

A line neither of us have crossed yet, but I hope we can cross only once… together.

Nerves consume me as we walk through the door. I had Marty come by while we were on our way to help prepare everything, and from the looks of it, he did an amazing job.

Hibiscus flowers – real ones – fill the space.

These past few months, as I’ve been repairing my relationship with my dad, Lorena, in between traveling with me and taking online fashion design and marketing courses, has been speaking to a therapist to help her process her unresolved grief.

And for the first time ever, she started purchasing real flowers to display both at home or wherever we’re traveling.

Vases line the floor, the tables, every surface that can hold a vase has one, accompanied by the new candles I had delivered from Judith Lynne’s.

These are similar to the ones at Cielo + Cibo made of vanilla, jasmine with a hint of coconut, except these candles include a blend of earthy cedarwood with a splash of citrus.

Her scent and mine, blended to come together as one.

Lorena stands in the middle of the otherwise barren space, taking it all in.

With her back turned to me, I do what I came here to do.

“Tino, what is this?” she asks, voice full of admiration. When I don’t respond she turns around and tears immediately fill her eyes as she sees me down on one knee.

“Tino.” Her lips pout. “Papi, what are you doing?”

“What I’ve wanted to do from the moment you said you loved me back. Make you mine.”

“But I already am yours.”

I reach for the small jewelry box in my back pocket. It’s a miracle Lorena didn’t notice my dad slip it in there, when he finished hugging me at the restaurant.

I’m glad she didn’t. It was a feat in and of itself to maintain my composure during the drive from SoHo to the Bronx. If she had seen in the restaurant and started questioning me, I don’t know what I would’ve said to her to keep her off the trail.

“I know that. But you can’t blame me for wanting to make it official.”

My hands shake as I open the ring box with my mother’s engagement ring inside.

“Lorena Juanita Ramos,” I begin, voice trembling.

In one swift movement she falls to her knees, bringing her hand to my arm, caressing it as I find the words to continue.

“You have inspired me in ways that words can never truly express. You’ve brought sunshine to my cloudy days.

You’ve filled me with purpose when I was convinced my life contained none.

Just to be in your presence is a gift. One that I will spend eternity trying to repay you for.

You’re the love of my life. My soulmate.

The reason I want to work hard and the reason I want to go home after a hard day’s work.

Will you please do me the honor and become my wife? ”

“I will, under one condition.” A mischievous look overrides the tears filling her eyes.

“Yes, mama, of course. Anything. What is it?”

“Well, two conditions technically,” she begins, as I stare at her with bated breath, awaiting her response.

“The first is that if we ever decide to have children someday, and something should happen to one of us, you have to promise me that we won’t fall apart.

We won’t run to vices. We won’t hold in our feelings.

We won’t run away from our emotions, we’ll accept them, we’ll honor them, and we will show our children that even in loss, love is worth having.

And please, mi amor, I want you, no, I need you to love yourself the way that I love you.

Feel worthy of the love we have. You deserve it.

We deserve happiness. I may be your cielo, but you’re also mine.

You saved me the same way I saved you. You don’t need to repay me for loving you, just accept the gift of our love and remember you’re worthy of having me become Lorena Juanita Ramos-Amato. ”

A smile beams across my face. “So that’s a yes?”

Lorena chuckles, leaning over to kiss me. “I literally just told you I’m hyphenating my last name to take yours, what do you think?”

Elation overtakes me as I slip the ring on her finger. A perfect fit. It’s like it was made for her.

Our lips crash into one another’s and it only takes a few seconds until her fingers are busy at my belt trying to unbuckle it.

“Wait!” I pull back, breaking the seal of our kiss. “We can’t.”

“Umm, are you meaning to tell me that I can’t fuck my soon to be husband to celebrate our engagement?”

My head hangs low, as I shake my head, fighting back the shit eating grin trying to break through.

“Santino Amato,” she scolds.

Belt unbuckled and hands on my zipper, I look to her and allow the grin I’ve been holding back to explode onto my face.

“I like when you say my name. Even more so that you’re about to share it.”

“What did you do?” Her brows perk up.

I begin to unzip my pants. “Just a little improvement.”

She inches closer, intrigued. “You’re already hung like a god and pierced three times over. You don’t need any improvements. What you need is to be inside me, now .” Lorena stomps her foot, adorably so.

“Well, thank you mama. But I just couldn’t resist getting this. I take down my pants so they rest at my thighs enough that she can see my new bright fuchsia tattoo nestled at the base of my cock.

Admiring eyes inspect it as her lips part. “No, you didn’t. Is that my…”

“Your beautiful, perfect, pouty lips pressed in a perfect kiss mark? Yes, it is. I snuck a quick picture the first time you gave me head, because I thought what better way to decorate myself, than with a permanent reminder of who owns my cock.”

Her lips, still painted in her signature hue fall victim to her teeth as she chomps down on them seductively. “That’s the hottest thing I’ve ever seen.”

I shake my head at her as I pull up my pants, before instructing her to lay on the table centered between the flowers and candles, so I can make good on my promise and eat my dessert.

She shimmies out of her skirt, blessing me with the panty-less view of her perfect cunt I’m starving for, following my instructions by laying down and spreading her thighs for me.

Peppering kisses slowly up and down her thighs, I murmur against her skin. “You sure about that?”

“Umm, yes,” she breathes with skin prickled and back arched.

“Hotter than your soon to be husband devouring you with every intention of breaking our streak?”

That gets her attention.

Propping herself onto her elbows she peers down at me.

“You mean you’re…”

I plant a tender kiss to her pussy, and she lays back down.

“Yes, I mean I’m going for five.”

“In a row?” she gasps.

Dragging my tongue up her slit, I respond. “Mhm. I’m going for five.”

Lick.

“Delicious.”

Lick.

“Orgasms.”

Lick .

“In a row.”

Lick .

“Who knows, maybe six.”

“Tino,” she whimpers, need ripe within her voice. “I don’t know if I can come that much.”

My hands holster themselves on either side of her hips, kneading them in my palms, locking her in place.

“Seeing as I can’t afford to get my new tattoo wet, my tongue and fingers are the only chance at making this work. But you know me, I like to eat maybe even more than I like to cook. You know what? Fuck it, let’s go for seven. I’m feeling extra greedy.”

Lorena squeals as I suck her clit into my mouth.

“Seven?” She asks, voice barely above a whisper, sounding breathy and relaxed.

“Seven.” I declare with confidence, moaning into her pussy. “I’m starving for you.” Same way as I’ve always been. “So, how about you indulge me?”

“Yes, Chef. Anything for you.”

No, mi cielo. Anything for you.

THE END