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CHAPTER SIXTEEN

Enzo

I watch Matilda happily coloring, sprawled out on the floor. Baby Rosie sits beside her, joyfully tearing another paper into tiny shreds.

The fire roars behind them, making the living room cozy and warm, and for the first time in weeks, I let myself relax just a little.

Rafael passes Alfonso and me a glass of whiskey each and settles into an armchair.

Peals of laughter echo from the kitchen, and I smile, happy that Lenny and Lux seem to be getting along. My closeness with Lux was a small source of worry initially—I didn’t want Lenny to get the wrong idea.

They emerge from the kitchen, each holding a full bottle of wine with swirly straws sticking out of them. I raise my eyebrows at the scene.

“Don’t even say a word,” Lux scolds me. “It’s been a hard day for Valentina.”

“And what about you?”

“Women supporting women.” She shrugs and bounds over to Rafael, squeezing herself into the armchair with him. Valentina takes a more ladylike approach and sits in the remaining empty armchair. We sip our drinks as Lux launches into the harrowing story of how she and Rafael met.

“You’re a fantastic storyteller.” Valentina laughs as Lux describes their escapades. “Our story’s not nearly as exciting.”

“It was for me,” I say softly. I glance at her and catch her blushing, clutching her half-empty bottle.

“And I want to hear all the gory details,” Lux announces. “As soon as I get this little monster into bed.”

Alfonso volunteers to put Matilda to bed as well, much to her protests. When Lux declares she has the perfect pink princess room ready for her, she quickly reconsiders and sprints for the stairs.

“She’s a lot like you.” Rafael laughs as they head upstairs, leaving the three of us alone.

“The pink princess thing really sold it for you, huh?”

“I mean,” he pauses, throwing back the rest of his drink, “her mannerisms, her eyes, the way she talks like a little poindexter… it’s all you.”

“She’s a mini-Enzo,” Valentina confirms, her cheeks fully flushed now. “Too damn smart for her own good.”

“Have you told her the truth?” Rafael asks.

“No—” I start, ready to defend Valentina’s choices.

“Not yet,” she cuts me off, giving me a meaningful look. “But it’s going to happen a lot sooner than I planned.”

I grin into my glass like an idiot, filled with joy for the first time in too long. Somehow, over the course of the last few weeks, my walls have broken down—Valentina’s, too.

I can feel us growing closer as that inevitable bond tightens again and we allow emotion back into our lives. Nothing will tear us apart this time.

After a few more hours of stories, laughter, and far too many drinks, we decide to call it a night.

“Unfortunately, there are no more bedrooms in the main house,” Lux apologizes, stumbling to the kitchen with her empty bottle. “But we have the cottage!”

She points out the window to a miniature version of her home perched just a few feet away.

“I’ll show you the way,” Rafael volunteers. “It has its own security system, in addition to the general property system. You’ll be safe there.”

We wave goodnight to Lux and head out into the blustery winter night.

Inside the cottage, it’s warm and dry. A simple kitchen, bathroom, and bedroom frame a tiny living room with an electric fireplace. Perfect.

“Thank you for letting us stay here for the weekend.” Valentina smiles, glancing around the little gingerbread cottage. “It’s lovely.”

“Of course,” Rafael says, heading out the door. “Stay as long as you like.”

Right. Shit. I have to somehow tell Valentina that I’ve effectively kidnapped her and Matilda, and I’m holding them hostage here until this mess is sorted out.

“Enzo,” Valentina calls from the bedroom, breaking me out of my miserable realization. “I need cuddles.”

I laugh at her drunk state and catapult myself onto the bed, pinning her down and covering her face with kisses. When she begs for mercy, I force myself to pull back—although I could spend all day and night kissing her.

“That’s so sweet,” she slurs, pointing to the wardrobe. “Lux left us pajamas and toiletries.”

“Yep, that’s Lux.” I smile, glancing at the beautifully arranged basket of goodies. “She was born to care for others.”

“I see why Rafael became so obsessed with her.”

“Not nearly as obsessed as I am with you,” I whisper, pulling her into a deep kiss. She sighs dreamily and drapes her body over me.

We roll around, making out like teenagers until we’re both breathing heavily. She slides her hand down my body, landing on my very hard dick.

“We don’t have to,” I groan, savoring the warmth and pressure of her hand. “If you don’t want to.”

“What gave you that idea?” she whispers huskily, leaning into nip at my ear. “Was it my hand on your cock or that fact that I’m soaking wet for you?”

“You did drink an entire bottle of wine,” I whisper, pretending I didn’t hear her dirty little question. “I just want to make sure you’re making level-headed decisions.”

“Oh, Enzo.” She laughs, straddling me and whipping off her sweater. “Shut the fuck up, will you?”

“Roger that,” I moan as she grinds her hips against me. “Roger fucking that.”

I move to flip her over so I can worship her like she deserves, but she stops me. A devious little smile ghosts her lips, and she leans in close.

“Tonight is all about you,” she whispers, grinding on my cock again for good measure.

I start to protest, but Valentina is surprisingly strong. She pushes me back down and slowly slides her body lower, whipping my throbbing cock out of my sweatpants.

My eyes widen as she licks her lips, eyeing it with nothing but pure lust. Okay, maybe just for tonight, it can be all about me.

She keeps her fingers loosely wrapped around it as she kisses my abdomen, tickles my inner thighs, and generally drives me insane. By the time her lips have circled back to my belly button, I’m a tortured man begging for sweet release.

“Please, baby,” I plead. “I’m dying to feel you.”

“Mmhmm.” She smirks, stroking one finger up and down my cock gently. “Now you see how it feels? Being tortured like that?”

“Oh, it’s payback, is it?” I laugh, letting out a strangled breath.

“Yes.” She winks, smiling slyly. “But I’m much kinder than you.”

And with that, she wraps her lips around me, finally giving me the warmth and wetness I was craving so badly. I force myself to think of baseball and toboggans so that I don’t instantly explode in her mouth like a sex-crazed teenager.

She catches on to my pathetic plan and ramps up her game, moaning while pulling me in deeper and deeper. The vibrations of her throat set me ablaze, and I thrust my hips involuntarily, causing her to choke.

For a second, I panic, but then she moans a deep, sensual, feral sound and takes me all the way down. I close my eyes, the sensations so strong and potent.

My fingers wind into her hair, controlling her lightly, and she moans again, letting me know she’s enjoying it as much as I am.

“Lenny, Lenny,” I gasp, sensing the feeling building too quickly. “I’m almost there, let me…”

She grips my hips firmly, telling me that I’m not going anywhere, and meets my eyes. Her deep blue eyes sparkle with lust and desire and all things unsaid between us.

I let go, pumping into her mouth and emptying myself down her throat, and she takes it all.

“Like a good girl,” I moan as her lips finally let me go. Everything feels warm and fuzzy, the emotions so heady that I can’t tell the difference between what I’m saying and what I’m thinking.

“I’m not a good girl.” She smirks, working her way up to straddle me again. “I’m a very, very bad girl.”

My cock twitches, and I wonder how that’s even scientifically possible. I’ve never seen Valentina like this, and it’s doing something to me.

“If that’s how we’re gonna play this,” I growl, “get on top and start riding, bad girl.”

She laughs, a deep blush creeping into her cheeks, but does what I tell her to. I can tell she’s a little uncomfortable with the dirty talk, and honestly, so am I, but that’s not going to stop me.

Feeling that I’m only semi-hard, she pauses, glancing at me for guidance. I lean back, arms crossed behind my head, and decide I’m going to savor every single second of this.

“Touch yourself for me,” I command, and her blush gets deeper. “I want to hear how wet the thought of me makes you.”

She bites her lip and the blush spreads to her chest, but in true Lenny fashion, she throws her shoulders back and slides her hand down her body. When her fingers connect with that sensitive spot, she moans and starts letting go of her hangups.

What a sight.

I was a fool to let her go once, and that’s not a mistake I’m willing to make again.