CHAPTER 4

Luca finished reading Brian's message and relaxed in the roomy, comfy leather armchair behind his desk, a long sigh of relief escaping from his full, seductive lips. All's well that ends well, at least for the time being, he said to himself. The hardest part, explaining the reasons behind his actions, was yet to come for the librarian, who was going to need all the support he could get.

Brian's revelation about the crisis in his parents' marriage gave Luca a lot to think about, making him take an in-depth look at his and Martino's relationship as a married couple, especially after he came back from the self-imposed captivity in Ottavio's claws. Like never before, he wondered what his young husband felt back then, when he left like that, without offering an explanation or kissing him goodbye.

And then, not long after his husband, the man he wanted to grow old with, left him like that, Martino found out he was carrying the said man's child. It must have been frightening for him, Luca said to himself, guilt washing over him. Sure, he had Donna Lucrezia, Brian, Bart, and all the others, but it was not the same.

When he found out Martino was pregnant, right after his memories came back and the librarian told him his husband hadn't moved on, Luca didn't doubt, not even for a split second, that the baby was his. However, sometimes, late at night, when he couldn't sleep, the man tried to imagine how afraid the poor soul must have been that the one he was married to could reject the fruit of his womb.

Luca never asked Martino what he thought and felt over the months he was in voluntary captivity, gathering evidence against Ottavio. He thought it was like opening the proverbial can of worms and didn't want to do or say anything that could have a negative impact on the pregnancy.

When Martino was pregnant, Luca showered him with affection, expressing the love he had for him through words and gestures. The situation continued after Gianluca was born; the man didn't let a single day pass without bringing small gifts or flowers to his husband, kissing his hands, forehead, and temples, telling him how beautiful he was.

However, since Luca came back from the self-imposed exile and got his second chance at happiness with Martino, the two didn't have a single lunch or dinner out, like they used to before. Besides, when they went to bed, the two of them were either too drained of energy to do anything, or it was only a passionate, but short encounter, with almost no foreplay.

That morning, after getting Brian's message, Luca decided it was time for a change; he called one of the newly opened restaurants in the city, popular among his business partners, who also recommended it to him, and made reservations for the same day for lunch. Once that matter was taken care of, a smile playing on his lips, the man texted his husband, telling him to dress up and leave little Gianluca in the care of Donna Lucrezia, who was more than happy to help.

Lunch was great; the restaurant was beautiful and welcoming, the food delicious, and the service on point. They had their own private area on the terrace away from prying eyes, and the chef, who was also the owner of the place, came outside, introduced himself and welcomed the couple.

A walk on the paths of the small, but very beautiful park not far from their home was a logical continuation of Luca and Martino's day out. They enjoyed the quietness of the afternoon and held hands, fingers laced, stopping from time to time to stare into each other's eyes and drink one another dry from their beloved's lips.

The evening came before they knew it, and after a light supper at Donna Lucrezia's, where they were greeted by a giggling, well-fed, happy Gianluca, Luca and Martino finally went home. The younger of the two men put the baby to bed, kissed him goodnight, then the other spent some time in his son's company, reading to him from a nursery rhymes book.

While Martino went to use the bathroom, Luca made sure the baby monitor was on and then joined him, grabbing his toothbrush. When he finished, his husband was already in bed, smiling as the Sicilian lifted the covers to climb in. The young redhead was naked, and his husband slipped out of his boxer briefs as well.

Luca leaned over Martino, placing an elbow on either side of his head and began kissing a trail from the top of his head, down to his right temple, around his ear, down his neck, crossing over his Adam's apple to the other side. He kissed the same trail up the other side of his husband's face.

"Luca," Martino breathed. "Make love to me." His voice had a needy sense of urgency to it, and the other man let his hips drop down lightly onto those of the redhead, rubbing them just enough so their shafts rubbed against each other.

"Like this?" Luca whispered, letting their hips grind a little harder together.

Martino hummed his answer, and his husband moved his lips down his forehead and over his waiting mouth, which opened slightly as his breathing increased. Kissing his beloved was always amazing, but now, in their second chance, as Luca mentally called the period following his return from Ottavio's captivity, it was even better.

What the two of them had now was stronger than before. It was love, not lust, and that was very evident in all their interactions, but most profoundly when they were together. Sharing the responsibilities coming from raising little Gianluca made the connection between the two men even stronger.

"Luca, I love you," Martino moaned. "I love you so much." Luca opened his eyes, and the other man was looking directly at him, with such sincerity, it felt like his eyes were looking deep into his soul. Before the young redhead, no one had ever looked at the man the same way, which took his breath away.

"I love you, honey. I've never loved anyone the way I love you." Luca hoped his voice could convey his words as deeply as he felt them. He knew he said that to his husband dozens of times since they got back together, but it still would never be enough; he had to make sure the other one knew.

Martino lifted his head to capture Luca's lips in another kiss, and he swung his body so that they rolled over and he laid sprawled on top of his beloved. His kisses became more fervent as he rolled his hips over his husband's, who thought the redhead was even more sexy when he was in control, and he enjoyed to the maximum every instance when his man took the lead.

Luca trailed his hands up Martino's sides as the younger man moved his mouth down his partner's chest, kissing, nibbling, dragging his tongue or teeth over his skin. The other laid back and just enjoyed it for a few minutes, and let out a deep groan as the redhead sucked one of his nipples deep into his mouth and let his teeth bite down gently on the elongated bud.

You have the best nipples. Martino moaned the praise as he moved to the other one, letting his tongue moisten and prepare it for his ministrations. A jolt of what felt like electrical energy traveled from the nub as his teeth bit straight down Luca's chest to his groin, and he flung his hips up into those of his husband.

"Did I wake up the lion?" Martino mumbled seductively, a small joke the two of them shared together.

"Yes, and he's ready to pounce," Luca answered with a warning growl, rolling them back over.

Martino let out an effortless laugh, which left a wide grin that spread over his face. The other man placed languid kisses all over the redhead's face and slowly made his way down his chest and over his stomach. Luca's lover groaned in frustration as the man took his time exploring his belly button, then upper thighs, purposely avoiding his swollen shaft springing up towards his face.

Before Martino got to the point of vexation, his husband surprised him by quickly consuming his cock deep into his mouth, until he felt him pushing at the back of his throat. The redhead shouted in surprise, and Luca hummed humorously, letting the vibrations reverberate through his partner's wanting erection.

Breath hitching, Martino begged the other man to not make him cum, as he wanted both of them to orgasm in sync. With an almost imperceptible nod, the redhead's husband slowed down his pace, letting himself enjoy the taste and feel of him against his tongue, the soft, pale skin over his thick, hard, pulsing cock.

Martino had a soft side and a very strong side, stronger than Luca imagined when he promised before Don Giovanni Sforza to protect the delicate, incredibly beautiful boy all those years earlier. The older man admired that strength, but he downright loved that side when it manifested by the redhead's lack of inhibition in their intimate moments.

Maybe he also learned a thing or two from Bart , Luca thought, amused, sitting up and letting Martino pop out of his mouth, as the other's breath seemed more labored and he was getting closer and closer to the edge. Two half-lidded, dark-green eyes watched him as he reached over to the nightstand and pulled a bottle of lube from the drawer.

Martino adjusted his hips and closed his eyes as Luca ran his fingers over his hole, spreading the cool gel. He let out a gasp as his husband pushed his finger inside and pressed his walls in a circular motion, stretching and preparing him. His back arched and his hips pushed against his lover's hand as a second finger was added.

Please, Luca . A needy whine escaped from Martino's luscious lips as the other removed his fingers, poured some lube on his hand, and palmed it over his erection. In a smooth, reassuring voice, the man told his red-haired lover to relax; he was there and was going to take good care of him.

Martino raised his hips up as Luca pushed in and they were soon joined together, a symphony of rolling hips and instinctively choreographed movements. Their bodies worked together so naturally and organically; making love to each other always was for the two such a profound and divine experience, something all the dictionaries in the world didn't have words to describe properly.

Martino's moans became more desperate as he got closer to his peak, and Luca increased his pace, pulled in like a quickening maelstrom. His legs wrapped around the other's waist, changing the angle and allowing him in even deeper. Putting the bulk of his weight on his elbows, the man on top sped the movement of his hips. As the room filled with the sound of their fast breathing, the redhead's desperate whines and the slapping of their skin.

Luca slid a hand between them and gripped his husband's shaft as Martino tightly held onto his shoulders. Pumping his lover's cock in pace with the pounding of his hips quickly brought the Sicilian mafioso and his partner closer and closer to the edge, until they both, reaching the apex within seconds of each other, cried out as they shuddered against one another.

Martino's release erupted all over the other's stomach and chest as Luca filled the redhead with his own release. An inexplicable feeling came over the older of the two men as he emptied himself into his soulmate, a feeling so primal and so sating that he wanted to mark him like a feral wolf and show the world he was his.

Instead, Luca let his body rest over Martino's and placed soft kisses over his neck as they caught their breath from the exertion. He was in no rush to pull out and savored the feeling of their connection. I would stay like this forever if it were possible, he said to himself, a small smile playing on his lips.

"I love you," Luca whispered into his husband's ear. "I would never be able to say it enough to come close to the depth of how I feel."

"I love you," Martino replied, running his fingers through his man's hair and pulling his head to his face.