Page 63 of Tragic Empire

But with how much better I’ve been feeling, and how secure Cassio has made me lately… I want to look.

Tucking my knees up, sinking deeper into the cozy living room sofa, I open the app and go to my profile. I get lost in notifications quickly. Finding unseen messages, tagged posts, comments and more. All the Moretti siblings have followed me, and Jade must have used my phone to make sure I followed back for appearances. I apparently liked her wedding post as well, which I assumed she handled for me.

I should send her flowers, or a fruit basket… or no, some kind of dessert basket. She truly thought of everything.

Scrolling through the multi-picture post from my wedding day, I feel my chest warm. Everyone looks so lovely. I wish I was more present in the moment, but I’m glad there are so many pictures to help me experience it again—without so many dreadful emotions.

Taking a screenshot of my two favorite images, I move to make my own post. The first being Cassio and I at the altar, our blue strings in place, just before our kiss. And the second, a picture of the whole family surrounding my new husband and me.

Tagging everyone, I quickly caption the photos and hold my breath as I hitpost. Within seconds, likes begin to filter in and I smile, closing my screen. I don’t think I’ve ever felt such a jolt of satisfaction after uploading anything on social media before.

“Mine?” a rumbling voice asks, inches from my ear.

A gasp catches in my throat, recognizing Cassio’s scent before I even process the sound of his question. He’s leaning over the back of the couch to speak to me, and I didn’t realize he’d come home.

His phone is suddenly presented in front of me, my one-word caption on display. He must have notifications turned on for my posts, because it hasn’t even been up for a full minute.

“Mine,” I agree breathlessly. “Problem?”

His freehand glides up the back of my neck, leaving a trail of goosebumps in his wake. He rests his hand there, holding me close as his lips gently press into my temple.

“No problem, Wife,” he whispers. “The sentiment is mutual.”

My head turns, putting our mouths only millimeters from brushing. I don’t need to make the first move this time. Instead, Cassio leans in, pressing deep. The kiss steals my breath and makes my toes curl. His thumb rubs circles under the back of my hairline, making me shiver. Kissing Cassio feels unlike anything I’ve ever experienced before. It’s utterly consuming, and I’m not sure I ever want to stop.

His hand flexes around my nape and a whimper muffles into our kiss.

“Fuck, forza,” he groans, pulling back and dropping his forehead against mine. “I need to take a shower before dinner, and if you keep making sounds like that, it’ll need to be a cold one.”

Before I can quip that it wouldn’t need to be cold if he simply asked me to join him, he kisses me twice more. Quick smacks of his lips against mine, but they still feel wonderful.

“Never mind,” he grunts. “Just looking at your pretty little flushed face is too much. Be back in fifteen.”

A protest dies on my tongue as he rushes toward the stairs and Armani and Colton saunter into the living room, Sirius trotting happily along with them. My sweet puppy joins me, flopping his head into my lap, and I chuckle, rubbing the top of his soft head.

“We’re chopped liver as soon as he sees you.” Armani pouts. “All those runs and all those treats, and it’s like we’re invisible now.

“Smart mama’s boy,” Colton coos, playfully pushing his friend to round the sofa first. “You can’t compete with theLa Jefabond.”

Armani rolls his eyes and reaches for the telly remote. “How’s it going, pretty girl? You look happy today.”

Iamhappy today.

“And what’s that blush for, doll?” Colton teases, flopping down on the couch. “Your cheeks are positively rosy.”

His question only makes my face warmer, but I don’t want to hide my newfound relationship to Cassio. And I think I would feel strange gushing to Jade about kissing her brother. That has to be odd, right?

And sure, Armani is his brother as well. But brothers talk about more with each other than they do with their sisters, don’t they?

“I kissed Cassio last night,” I admit shyly. “And he kissed me again just now.”

“Oh, did you now?” Armani asks with a wicked grin. “How scandalous.”

“Was there tongue?” Colton chimes, waggling his brows.

I gape at the two men. “Neither of you seem surprised.”

Colton chuckles, rolling his eyes. “Breaking news, husband and wife share kiss. In our next top story, fork found in kitchen.”