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Chapter seventy-nine

Samara

A rlo trails down the aisle with her baby cousin in tow, haphazardly tossing flower petals all around as she tries to balance the two of them. It’s simultaneously the scariest and most adorable thing I’ve ever seen, but it’s clear that growing up in an athletic family has helped her out. She’s got Gia clutched against her like a running back with a football.

When she makes it to the end of the aisle, we all release a relieved breath, and Cecily takes Gia, settling her onto her lap. Arlo runs to stand between her moms, who are standing next to me as we watch Kat make her way down the aisle.

She looks flawless. Her gown is a lace, sleeveless sheath with a V-neckline that’s modest but still makes her breasts look phenomenal.

Truly, she’s gorgeous, and it’s no surprise to me when I look across the aisle to find not just Ale but the entire row of De Laurentiis men with tears in their eyes and Kas outright blowing his nose between sobs.

I want to laugh so badly, but the moment is too sweet for me to risk ruining. I’ve never been a part of a family like this, but the feeling of having so much love and support is a little intoxicating, and I can’t bring myself to laugh at these men.

Even Angelo, the quiet, dutiful father and co-leader of the family, is misty-eyed.

When Kat makes it to Ale, they embrace and take their places on two small stools placed in front of Gloria. She’s seated in her wheelchair, ready to officiate this wedding.

The next twenty minutes are filled with tears, swoon-worthy moments thanks to Alessandro, who I’m realizing has the tendency to be a walking green flag in every aspect of his life, and of course, a few laughs along the way, mostly courtesy of Gloria.

“I pronounce you husband and wife! You may now kiss the bride!” Gloria shouts excitedly at the couple.

Alessandro grips Kat’s waist, dragging her to him as he dips her low in his seat and gives her a kiss that has me blushing.

When they finally come up for air, they stand and dance down the aisle toward the reception area. Each pair from the wedding party heads out after them, and when it’s Luca’s and my turn, butterflies swarm in my stomach.

He wraps his arm around my waist, and the feel of it sears my skin.

“We’ll get you a glass of water soon, big guy,” I joke.

His brows pinch in confusion, so I say, “You must be dehydrated from all that crying you did.”

“Real men cry, Samara.” He winks at me. His grin turns to a smirk, and a moment later, he says, “You think I’m big.”

I roll my eyes playfully. “You’ve got a big head, that’s for sure.”

“Keep telling yourself that, princess. What you don’t know is just how fragile my ego can be.” I know we’re joking with one another, but the way he says those words feels like a heavy blow to my chest, and it leaves me wondering just how true they are.

***

The reception hall is decorated in various shades of red and white carnations and peonies, gold accents, and loads of brass candelabras that line the tables. It’s elegant, unique, and everything I’d imagine Kat’s wedding would be like, even after just getting to know her these last few months.

After cocktail hour, dinner and more photos than I can count, it’s time for the first dances.

Alessandro takes a seat in the center of the room, and Luca follows behind Gloria, kneeling between the two of them.

My chest feels tight as I see what’s unfolding.

Luca meticulously straps his mother’s legs to his brothers. He helps stand them up and ties the last set of straps around them with Gloria’s feet settled over the top of Alessandro’s. Luca and Dante pull their chairs away and clear the floor for their mother-son dance.

The lights around us dim, and the ones on the dance floor grow brighter.

There are already tears brimming in my eyes before the music even starts, but the moment Gianni starts playing “You Are The Reason” by Calum Scott, the floodgates are officially open. 1

He masterfully plays the piano, even with a baby on his chest and Lark seated beside him with her head on his shoulder. We all watch in awe as Ale and Gloria share this dance together, swaying on the dancefloor.

When their song is finished, there isn’t a dry eye in the room.

Luca takes his time undoing the straps, and Ale helps set his mother back in her wheelchair, pressing a kiss to each of her cheeks and following her off to the side.

Just when I thought this family might stop making me tear up, Angelo heads in Kat’s direction, her brows climbing her forehead when she sees him extend his hand for her to take.

“It was a surprise since her parents aren’t around,” Luca whispers into my ear as he takes his place seated beside me.

“That’s really sweet,” I say, my words sounding watery.

Kat takes Angelo’s hand in hers and follows him to the center of the floor.

They sway back and forth, and at the halfway point in the song, Angelo twirls Kat. She’s less than graceful as she follows through with the movement to the best of her ability and lands straight in her brother’s arms.

Kas smiles down at his sister, helping her straighten before they begin to sway together. “They wanted it to be as special for her as possible. What better way than with her brother and father-in-law?” Luca whispers to me, his breath coasting over my ear.

When the song ends, there’s just one more dance that we have to get through. The one I’ve personally been waiting months for.

As Ale steps onto the dance floor, taking Kas’s place, he settles his hands around Kat’s waist and picks her up, placing her gently on his shoes.

He whispers something in Kat’s ear that makes her smile brightly, and they start their dance to “Conversations in the Dark” by John Legend. 2

Luca chuckles beside me. “Months of ballroom classes, and Kat was still dancing around like a drunk baby elephant.”

My cheeks burn from smiling so much, and at the end of their dance, when Ale lifts Kat off his shoes and twirls her out, she manages to stay upright as Arlo, Benny, and Sammy shoot gold confetti cannons at them. Everyone claps and cheers as Kat and Ale take their seats again, preparing for the speeches.

Luca stands, grabs the mic, and makes his way to the center of the floor. “We promised Kat to limit the number of speeches because they give her anxiety and, apparently, bore her,” Luca tells the room filled with their closest family and friends, which equates to roughly fifty people.

Everyone laughs, their attention focused on Luca, but I see Kat’s cheeks flush from her seat beside where he’s standing.

The more he speaks, the more my palms start to sweat.

“I think we’d all agree that I’ve never known two more deserving people in my life. I’m surrounded by so much support, love, and truly just the greatest people, so it’s with a lot of experience that I feel I can say that.” He chuckles, and everyone follows suit.

“Ale has always been the best example for my siblings and me. He’s kind, compassionate, and patient beyond measure. I mean, he sort of had to be growing up with me,” Luca says, shooting Ale an exaggerated wink. “He’s been the perfect example of the kind of man I want to be, and I didn’t think the day would come that he’d meet someone who matches him in every way. Truthfully, I never thought he’d find anyone deserving of him, but in walked Kat. Or, how did the story go? Oh, right!” Luca says, snapping his fingers as if he actually just remembered how they met. “Ale literally stumbled upon Kat, sleeping in the hallway of his apartment building.” The room is filled with laughter, clearly knowing the story too.

“I won’t take up too much time here for Kat’s sake. But I wanted to say what a blessing you’ve been, Kat,” he says, turning his attention to her. “Not everyone is lucky enough to experience the kind of love you two have, and I can say without a doubt that anyone who finds that…” His eyes lock on mine now. My breath gets caught in my throat as he finishes his sentence. “Well, they better not screw it up because it’s a once-in-a-lifetime sort of thing.” Luca lifts his glass, and everyone takes their cue. “To Kat and Ale, the most incredibly deserving people I know. May you live long, happy, healthy, and fulfilling lives, side by side in this lifetime and the next.”

“To Kat and Ale!” everyone shouts, clinking glasses with one another.

I bring my glass of champagne to my lips, my eyes still locked on Luca’s as he does the same, his eyes never leaving mine, even as he drags a long swig into his mouth.

The bubbles tingle on my tongue, and the warmth from the alcohol slides down my throat.

I know I’d already wanted to confirm how he felt about me, but now more than ever, that’s true. I’m realizing that my fear of getting hurt by Luca has never really been about him or how the media portrayed him but about my own insecurities.

Even at the airport, when those women were all over him, he didn’t return the flirtation at all.

And that makes me think, just how long has it been since Luca De Laurentiis has been seen with a woman who wasn’t me or someone in his family?

As Luca takes his seat beside me, I work to keep the questions from boiling over when Ale and Kat stand.

“Thank you, Luca, that was, well, that was really sweet,” Kat says, her cheeks flaming with a blush. That’s kind of her trademark.

“Since it’s our perfect night, a night we’ve been waiting for what feels like forever, we thought it would be the best occasion to share something equally, if not even more important to us.”

A woman dressed in a black pantsuit enters the room with a manilla envelope in hand. Kat addresses her. “This is Sarah Thompson. She’s been working with us for the last several months, and today, in front of all of our friends and family,” she says, her cheeks tightening as she holds back tears, “we get to sign the adoption papers for our son, Oliver. He’ll be joining our little family really soon, and we wanted you all to be here for this moment.”

“Fucking hell,” Luca says, choking back tears. “I swear to god, I’ve never cried this much in my life, and believe me, I cried a whole lot when Gia first got here.”

I place my hand on his knee, squeezing gently and trying to hold back my own tears as Kat and Ale sign the adoption papers.

Kat looks around the room again and says, “I’m not really a speech kind of person, as I’m sure you all know, but I just wanted to thank you all for welcoming me and Kas into your family. It’s been the most extraordinary and unexpected blessing of my life.” Her eyes meet Gloria’s, and a tear slips down each of their faces, as if in sync with one another. Ale wraps his arm around his wife, squeezing her tightly to his side and pressing a kiss to the top of her head. “Kas and I have only ever had Aiyana and her family for most of our lives, and our Lola, for not nearly long enough. So I know I can say with absolute certainty that while raising a child may take a village, I’m glad that you all are mine.”

A sob threatens to break free of my lips, but I suck it back in and focus on the place where Luca’s hand and mine meet.

When they’re done signing, Ale crushes his mouth to Kat’s, overwhelmed by the moment.

An ugly sob leaves me as everyone jumps up, clapping, crying, and smiling.

***

The last couple of hours have been filled with so much dancing and karaoke, I feel like my feet could fall off, and my throat has been rubbed raw. After the kids were all brought to one of the cabins to get settled in for the night, the adults all reconvened by the firepit.

As things start winding down, I’m feeling the opposite. The longer this night has gone on, the more desperate I am for a free minute with Luca so I can finally tell him all the things I’m thinking and to clear the air before it’s too late.

I get up to use the restroom and manage to make it the thirty feet away and down the gravel-laden path without breaking an ankle in these heels. I don’t regret wearing them because they’re stunning, but the terrain here was a little more than I’d been anticipating.

I make it to the bathroom, locking myself inside. I spend an eternity staring back at my own reflection.

My skin is dewy, and my eyes are somehow both wild and, well, wildly exhausted. I’ve dedicated so much time to pushing Luca away that now that I’ve finally started to come to terms with these feelings, every suppressed emotion is weighing me down.

I wet a few paper towels with cold water, blotting the back of my neck to cool my overheated skin.

There’s a light knock at the door.

“One second,” I call.

The knocking doesn’t stop though; it only gets louder. “Samara, let me in.”

My head snaps to the door.

“Luca?” I whisper in disbelief.

I pull the door open, and he doesn’t even wait for me to let him in before he barrels inside.

His large hands cover my cheeks, and before I know it, his lips are crashing into mine.

The kiss is frantic and full of passion, sending zings of electricity through me.

I melt against him, allowing him to snake his arms around me. He seats my ass on the edge of the bathroom sink, holding me close to him as our tongues tangle.

I feel like I’m being devoured.

My whole world is spinning, and if I’m going to fall off the edge of the earth, I want it to be with Luca.

He finally loosens his grip on me, pressing his forehead against mine as our lips separate. We stay here, panting and breathing each other in.

Luca’s bright eyes lock onto mine, and I’m a puddle in his arms.

“Hey, princess,” he says, sounding as out of breath as I feel.

“Hi.” I’m barely able to get the word out of my mouth.

“Does this mean you’re officially ready to stop fighting me and let me take you home?” he asks, and his swollen red lips turn up in a smirk.

I roll my eyes, feigning disinterest, but my hand snaps forward, gripping his burgundy dress shirt between my fingers and pulling him back into me.

This time, it’s me who takes the lead. My lips meet Luca’s, and sparks climb up the base of my spine. I nip his bottom lip, and when his mouth opens on a surprised inhale, my tongue dances with his.

His large hands grip my hips firmly, pulling me farther toward him. My thighs fall to the sides, allowing him to slip between them. His rough fingers snake down my legs, and I feel the satin gown slipping across my skin as he glides it up to my hips.

Luca’s lips remain on mine, but his thumb coasts over my center, pressing firmly on my clit over my lace thong.

A loud moan slips out, and I’m forced to separate my lips from his. He continues rubbing firm circles along my seam.

My head hangs back as my fingers dig into the porcelain sink. His hot breath skims over my neck and stops at my ear. “Does my princess want to come?”

“Yes.” I moan, pushing my center farther into his thumb.

“So needy all of a sudden,” he says with a chuckle. “All this from a woman who’s made it infinitely clear that she doesn’t need me… or anyone else for that matter.”

Unfortunately, I haven’t exactly had the time to tell him that I may have been wrong about that.

“Come on, princess, you’re gonna have to beg for it like I’ve been begging you for months.”

My eyes snap open, meeting his as I grit out my next words. “Please, Luca, make me come.”

His eyes dance as he smiles, pulling my panties down my legs and stuffing them in his back pocket. “That wasn’t so hard, was it? All you had to do was ask nicely.”

Instead of fingering me like I expect him to, given the current circumstances, he unbuckles his belt, which may be just about the sexiest thing I’ve ever seen in my life. Luca undoes his zipper and drops his black dress pants to his ankles. He reaches for me next. “Arms around my neck, principessa .”

Without a second thought, I do as I’m told, and he grips my thighs, pulling them around him. He hoists me up his body, and my legs wind tightly around him. Luca’s hands are firmly planted on my ass, supporting most of my weight, and when he slowly lowers me down his body, I feel his massive erection settling between my pussy lips.

“I think—” I huff out, my mind in a frenzy. “I think you forgot something,” I finally manage.

“The first time I fuck you won’t be in a public restroom at my brother’s wedding. Sorry to disappoint, princess.” My retort gets caught in my throat as he bounces me up and over him, the head of his dick creating the most delicious friction. He’s simultaneously thrusting into me from below, making sure not to enter me, but he maintains the perfect amount of pressure with just the head of his dick. I’m already so close to coming that when he adjusts his hands more inward, spreading me farther open to slip a finger inside me from behind, I’m barely able to hold onto him as I ride the wave.

“Yes, god, yes!” I shout.

“So gorgeous, Samara.”

“Luca,” I pant.

“Eyes on me, princess. Let me watch you,” he says as I continue to spasm.

Tingles ripple down my thighs, and when the tides have washed away the last of my orgasm, I can finally start to think straight.

“Alright, princess. Let’s get you back home so I can finish what we started,” he tells me, lowering me to the ground on unsteady legs.

Luca pulls my panties from his pocket, lifting my legs one by one and sliding them up my thighs and in place. He then takes the bottom hem of my dress, pulling it down and smoothing it against my thighs before fixing his pants and buckle, tucking his shirt back in.

He extends his hand for mine. I willingly take it.

He unlatches the bathroom door, and when we exit, there are about twenty of his closest friends and family seated around the bonfire, smiling gleefully at us.

Embarrassment sears through me, and my cheeks heat instantly. I feel like I’m on fire.

Suddenly, they all break out into a fit of excitement, clapping and whistling at us. “Finally!” Arielle shouts, and Dante just shakes his head beside his wife, wearing a small grin.

His entire family, save for Gloria and Angelo, just heard that, and they’re clapping.

“Don’t worry, Mom and Dad said, and I quote, ‘I’m glad they’re finally getting their heads out of their asses, but I have no desire to hear my son do the hanky panky,’” Charlie informs us, grinning ear to ear.

Luca wraps his arm around my waist, tugging me into his side, and presses a kiss to the top of my head. His warmth seeps into me, ridding the chill from my bones.

“Sorry, princess. Looks like I wasn’t the only one who’d been waiting for you to finally let me have you, even if just for one night .” The last part of his sentence rings in the back of my head like alarm bells, but I’m determined to get out of here so we can finally have the conversation I should’ve had with him the moment these feelings started to brew.

1. You Are The Reason — Calum Scott

2. Conversations In The Dark — John Legend