Page 123 of Thorns of Desire

Cazzo, this was happiness—a heaven on earth. All was right in the world when I was with them, in our paradise.

“How was the trip?” Athena inquired, knowing that anything to do with Qian and Atticus was bound to eventually go to shit. “Everything went well?”

I pressed my forehead against hers. “As you’d expect it to be. But everyone came out of it alive.”

She smiled.

“That’s a bonus.” I brushed my fingers over our daughter’s thick dark hair as her eyes drooped. It was time for another nap. “Want to hold her for a bit, Papà?” I straightened, already reaching for her, and my wife chuckled. “You’re never that eager to hold me.”

“You’re wrong,” I told her, now holding my daughter with one hand and my wife with the other. “I’ll show you how much later,amorina.”

She tilted her face up to me. “I’m counting on it, husband.”

Yes, everything was so fucking right in the world.

I closed the nursery door as quietly as possible.

Putting Valentina to sleep was like strategizing a war. She was a handful compared to my nephews, turning our lives upside down, but I wouldn’t change any of it.

We took turns with her bedtime routine. Sometimes we even teamed up when Valentina got extra cranky, but myamorinaand I got through them together.

The first few months were rough. We almost forgot what it meant to get a full night’s sleep, but it was getting easier each day.

But this wasourfamily. The one I would protect with my life.

A set of dainty hands came around my waist and my wife’s fragrance wrapped around me.

“Are you ready to get freaky, husband?”

I turned around and found my wife standing in front of me… naked.

Cazzo.

She was the most beautiful woman I’d ever laid eyes on. It didn’t matter that I woke up next to her every day, she still took my breath away.

“I’m always ready for you,amorina.”

I scooped her up, heading toward our own bedroom, and shut the door behind me with my foot. Athena dug her hands into my shirt, giggling. Her cheeks were rosy and her eyes shimmered like emeralds. She looked so beautiful.

I loved seeing her playful and mischievous.

“How did I get so lucky?” I rasped, pressing my lips against hers. “I have the most beautiful wife and daughter in the world.”

“You knocked me up,” she teased. “Although, I think I got the better end of the deal. A handsome husband who inspires all my novels and who gave me the best gift of all with Valentina.” She skimmed her soft lips all over my face before kissing me deeply. “Now let me down,” she murmured against my mouth.

“Why?”

“Because I want you to fuck my mouth. And once upon a time, I promised you teabagging.”

I stifled my surprised laugh. Jesus, this woman turned me into a hungry beast, but her sex drive was as insatiable as mine.

I set her on her feet and she took my hand, flattening my palm on her beating heart.

Then she started to unbutton my shirt. Her throat worked around a swallow as she slid her hands down my abdomen until she reached my belt and undid it.

She lowered herself to her knees in front of me as her hands slid my pants and boxer briefs down.

A carnal lust for her hardened my dick and she smiled.