31. Lucia

31

LUCIA

I never thought I would get to wake up beside Mikhail again.

The thought makes my eyes sting, and I snuggle closer to him, inhaling his intoxicating scent as I wrap my arms around his waist.

"Morning, kisa ," he murmurs as he tightens his arms around me. "Did you sleep?"

His voice is rich and gravelly as he rouses from sleep.

"Pretty good, considering the circumstances." I rest my cheek on his chest. "May I ask you a question?"

"Anything, solnyshka. "

" Solnyshka, kisa, what do those words mean?"

He kisses the top of my head and smiles. " Solnyshka means little sun, and kisa means pussycat."

Oh, my god, no way.

I burst out laughing.

He chuckles but sounds confused. "Lucia, what is it?"

"You have been calling me pussycat this all time?"

He nods, frowning. "Why? "

"Remember what I used to call you at the beginning?"

" Cucci -something?"

I nod, laughing. " Cucciolo. Do you have any idea what that means?"

He frowns harder, shaking his head.

"It means puppy! We have been calling each other pussycat and puppy while fighting like cats and dogs." I roll over with laughter.

"P-puppy? You were calling me puppy? What the hell?" But then he starts laughing too.

When we calm down, he kisses me, and I just take the moment in.

I'll never take a moment for granted again. With him or anyone else.

"Is there any update on my papa?"

"Elle's been with him, and she's been giving me updates, but there's been no change." Mikhail soothingly traces circles on my back.

"I want to see him today."

My stomach does the loudest rumble.

Mikhail nods. "You can, but first, you need to eat something."

I grumble as I push off his chest, but he wraps an arm around my waist and pulls me back down.

"Stay here, I'll bring you something to eat." He kisses me softly.

I roll my eyes but don't fight him as he climbs out of bed. I admire the powerful lines of his body and the intricate tattoos that cover his back as he pulls on a pair of shorts.

I think it's going to take a while for me to realize that this is not a dream, that I really do get to wake up next to Mikhail every morning .

While I wait for him to return, I lie back against the pillows and rest my hands on my abdomen.

How is it that in a few short weeks I've gone from being on the front page of every gossip magazine, spending my nights drinking and partying, to waking up in bed beside the man of my dreams?

When I used to look into the future, I never saw myself as having this sort of life. I think deep down it was because I wanted it too much, and I was terrified it would never happen.

I swallow the lump in my throat as I think of Mikhail and the child we're going to have together.

I never knew it was possible to be so happy. The only thing that would make it even better would be if my father were to recover, but that is out of my control.

I just have to hope that there's enough good karma left to bring him back to me.

Mikhail returns with a tray of food, and we lounge on the bed as we tuck in, though the thoughts of my father have somewhat killed my appetite.

"Eat, Lucia. You and the baby need nourishment."

"Are you going to be this overprotective throughout the entire pregnancy?" I grumble as I pop a piece of fruit in my mouth.

"I'm going to be this overprotective forever." Mikhail leans down to kiss the corner of my mouth.

"Great," I mutter through my mouthful of food.

"Don't pretend you don't enjoy it." Mikhail pinches my waist.

"The lounging in bed while a hot man brings me food is something I can get used to for sure." I wave my fork in the air. "But I'm curious how far it's going to go. For example, right now I need to go pee. Would you like to carry me to the bathroom?"

"Don't be a smartass." Mikhail slaps my ass cheek as I saunter past.

I scowl as I disappear into the bathroom and take care of my needs.

When I emerge, I find Mikhail sitting bolt upright as he stares at his phone.

"What is it?" I freeze in place as I try to read his expression.

"Massimo's awake." He looks up at me. "He's awake and talking."

"Oh, my god." My knees buckle.

Mikhail is at my side in an instant, wrapping an arm around my waist.

"Can we leave now?"

As we park at the hospital, Mikhail switches the engine off, but he makes no move to get out of the car.

"What is it?" I bounce my knees up at down.

I want to see my father, but whatever it is that's bothering Mikhail seems important.

"Before we go in, there's something I want you to know." Mikhail turns in his seat to face me.

"What is it?"

Mikhail's brows pull together in a frown, and I wait patiently as he gathers his thoughts.

"I found out who attacked you when you were fifteen."

I inhale sharply at his words.

That was the last thing I expected him to say.

"Igor's son confessed to it. "

"Igor's son?"

"Maxim."

I frown. It was so long ago, and I blocked out most of the faces of the men who came into the room where I was held hostage. Eventually, they all merged into one man. The one who haunts my dreams.

"Anton took him out." Mikhail reaches for my hand. "And I will make sure to take out the rest. You have my word, Lucia."

I nod, feeling at a loss for words.

I'm glad that Maxim is dead. He deserves to die for what he did to me. But I don't feel the overwhelming sense of relief that I thought I would have at the news.

"What is it, Lucia?" Mikhail reaches out to wipe away a stray tear from my cheek. I hadn't even realized I had been crying.

"After everything that's happened… I think I might need to speak to someone again," I admit, glancing anxiously at Mikhail. "It's brought up a lot of things that I thought I had gotten over, and I want to make sure I'm in the best possible mental state considering our new circumstances."

I place a hand on my stomach.

He offers me an encouraging smile before reaching over and kissing me tenderly.

"I'll arrange for you to speak to someone if that's what you need."

"I think it is."

"Then, it's done. Now, let's go and see your father."

I hold tight to Mikhail's hand as we make our way to my father's room. Part of me is terrified that there might have been a mix up, that I'm going to walk into the room to find him bleeding out?—

Mikhail squeezes my hand, as if sensing where my thoughts are going.

"It's all going to be okay," he says before knocking on the door.

"Lucia?"

The sound of my father's gravelly voice has me holding back tears as I open the door and peer into his room.

He's sitting up in his bed with his usual scowl on his face as he glances my way.

"Hey, Papa." I force a smile.

"No tears." He waves a hand. "I'm alive, and that's all that matters."

I swallow a laugh at my father's frankness. Even when it comes to near death experiences, he's still all business.

I cross the room and throw my arms around his neck.

"Don't ever die, okay?" I choke.

My father only grunts, no doubt hating how emotional I'm being, but his strong hand gently pats my back as I hug him tighter.

"Look who the cat dragged in."

I freeze at the sound of my brother's voice.

"What the hell!"

I straighten to find him standing in the doorway with a smirk on his face.

"You're here!"

I haven't seen him in almost four years, though he still looks exactly the same.

Where I inherited my mother's dark brown eyes, Federico inherited our father's piercing blue eyes along with his height. He looks exactly like Papa did when he was in his late twenties. The only difference being that my brother still has a full head of dark brown hair and isn't sporting a nasty scar along his jaw .

"Of course, I'm here." He gives me a cocky grin. "I thought the old man was going to croak it, so I hopped on a plane."

"Watch your fucking mouth," my father grunts.

"I needed to make sure you hadn't cut me out of the will."

I try to laugh, but it turns into a sob as I glance between my father and brother. Mikhail moves to my side and squeezes my shoulder, but his touch only makes me cry more.

The three men that I love most are all in one room together, alive and breathing. That realization almost sends me to my knees.

"Hello, Lucia." Federico crosses over to me, pulling me into a tight hug.

"You've not aged well," I mutter as I try to hold back tears.

"Nice to see you too." Federico laughs, the sound making his chest vibrate against me. "Still using humor to cover up your emotions?"

"Fuck off." I can't fight the smile that pulls at my lips. "God, I've missed you."

"I've missed you too, sorellina . Now, I need you to fill me in on what the hell's been going on. Papa said you were getting married? Where the hell was my invite?"

I glance at Mikhail and smile.

"You should sit down, this might take a while."

After I recount my story with Mikhail, minus a few shenanigans that I'd rather my father and brother didn't know, I finish by telling them our happy news. "I'm pregnant."

"Amazing!" Federico claps Mikhail on the back. "Congrats. "

I grin at my brother, so glad that he's pleased by the news. Though my father's lack of response is concerning.

"Papa? Did you hear me?"

"You're pregnant?"

"Yes."

His brow furrows even more as he looks at Mikhail, and I think for a moment that he might launch himself at him for defiling his daughter.

"Papa, if this is about us not being married yet, don't worry, it's still going to go ahead?—"

My father holds up a finger, his attention still on Mikhail.

"Do you love my daughter?"

"With everything that I am."

I look over to where Mikhail stands at the end of the bed, his eyes locked on me as he speaks, and my heart swells.

"And you promise me that you will look after her and my grandbaby?"

"I promise."

My father narrows his eyes, but to Mikhail's credit, he doesn't shy away from my father's stare. If anything, it makes him stand taller.

"Well, I guess I'll finally have an heir to carry on the family name." A genuine smile tugs at my father's lips, and I smile.

Federico scoffs. "What about me?"

"What about you?"

"I'm your son!"

"And?"

I turn to Mikhail who looks a little uncomfortable.

"You might want to go and get some coffee, they're going to be at it for a while." I chuckle.

We stay at the hospital for a few more hours, catching up with my brother and filling my father in on what he missed while he was unconscious.

I let Mikhail take the lead on that one, not wanting to relive the horrors of the past few days.

Eventually, my father kicks us all out, demanding that he needs some peace and quiet, so Mikhail and I say goodbye to my brother, who is spending the evening in the city, catching up with some friends.

"Come to dinner tomorrow night," I suggest, glancing at Mikhail who smiles. "I'm not done catching up."

"Don't worry, I think I'm going to stick around for a bit while Papa recovers. You're not getting rid of me that quickly."

"Good." I give my brother another hug. "I like having all my family in one place."

It's like a huge weight has been lifted off my shoulders as Mikhail drives us back to the townhouse. Not only is my father alive and well, but I also got to see my brother in the flesh for the first time in years.

I guess I really did have some good karma to cash in after all.

Mikhail barely puts the car in park before he's racing around to my side and opening my door.

"Oh, my god, Mikhail, I can walk!" I squeal as he lifts me into his arms.

"I know you can, but I still want to carry you."

"One day, you're going to regret giving me the princess treatment." I laugh as I wrap my arms around his neck as he carries me inside the townhouse .

"I doubt that very much."

"You won't be saying that if we have a girl, and you end up being outnumbered by two high-maintenance divas."

"If that's my future, then I can't fucking wait." He captures my mouth with his.

I melt at his touch, savoring the feeling of my fingers in his silky hair as I deepen the kiss.

We only pull apart once we reach our bed, and Mikhail gently sets me down before pulling his shirt over his head.

"Chef, chauffeur, personal stripper… Remind me again why I didn't want to marry you all those weeks ago?" I watch Mikhail shed his clothes.

"You always wanted to marry me, kisa ." He smirks. "Now, lie back and let me worship you."

I do not have to be asked twice.

As I settle against the pillows, Mikhail climbs onto the bed and hooks his fingers into my leggings.

He takes his time pulling them over my thighs, trailing kisses over my bare skin as he moves.

With each kiss to my thighs, my pussy grows wetter, so by the time he's pulling down my panties, I'm so slick and ready for him that I'm panting with need.

"Mikhail…" I sink my fingers into the sheets.

When his tongue licks along my core, I cry out, my back arching off the bed.

"Fuck, I've missed this," he grunts as he laps at my pussy.

I squirm as his tongue flicks my swollen clit. I'm so sensitive that with just a few licks I'm already about to come.

"What is it, solnyshka ?" Mikhail frowns as he looks up from between my thighs.

"I-I'm so sensitive," I gasp. "Fuck, I need more. "

I push up so that I can strip out of the rest of my clothes. The moment I unclasp my bra, freeing my swollen breasts, I collapse back against the pillows.

"So fucking beautiful," he growls as he watches me knead my breasts.

I look down at Mikhail, whose eyes are locked on me as he sucks my clit.

My skin is on fire from how intense the pleasure is.

This man is mine .

" Mikhail …" My thighs start to clench.

"Eyes on me, kisa ." He sinks his tongue inside me.

I let out a guttural moan as a rush of wetness floods between my thighs. I pinch my nipples as Mikhail pumps his tongue inside me once more before licking up my core and flicking my clit.

"Oh god?—"

I'm not sure if I'm screaming or crying as I come. It feels so damn good, and the pleasure doesn't seem to stop.

Mikhail continues to lick and suck at my clit as I ride out my orgasm, my thighs so slick with release that my cheeks heat.

From the glazed look in Mikhail's eyes as he watches me come, I have no doubt that he's enjoying every moment just as much as I am.

The moment my body falls limp against the sheets, Mikhail wastes no time climbing on top of me and sinking his cock inside me.

Our eyes go wide as we stare at each other, the pleasure washing over us as our bodies join.

"Lucia." He rests his forehead against mine.

He doesn't need to speak the words out loud. I can see it in his eyes, the agony mixed with pleasure .

We had come so close to losing each other, to never experiencing each other like this again.

"Mikhail." I cup his face and press my lips to his.

I gently stroke his cheek, letting him know that I'm here, that this is real.

He's still for a few more moments, both of us breathing heavily, before he slides his cock out of my pussy and thrust back in so slowly that my mouth opens in a silent cry.

Nothing has ever felt so good.

"I love you," Mikhail groans as he thrusts deeper inside me. "So fucking much."

"Mikhail…" My back arches off the bed.

"What do you need, Lucia?"

I sink my fingers into his hair and bring his mouth down to mine, needing to be as close to him as possible.

I part my lips, and Mikhail instantly slides his tongue into my mouth as he continues to move inside me.

His movements are gentle, as if he's relearning my body.

I let my fingers trail down his neck and over his back, memorizing every tattoo, every muscle.

"I love you," I gasp against his mouth. "I-I want to be your wife."

Mikhail groans against my mouth, his pace increasing.

"There's nothing I want more." He pumps his hips faster, his cock sliding so deep inside me that my eyes roll.

I want him to stay buried inside me forever, showing me with his body how much he loves me.

"Mikhail!" I cry as my release builds.

"I'll give you your dream wedding, solnyshka ." He licks at my neck, his breath tickling the sensitive skin. "Whatever you want, it's yours."

"I want you." I dig my heels into the hard muscles of his ass. "I need you. "

"You have me." His words send me over the edge, and I cry out with pleasure, my body trembling from the intensity of my orgasm.

"I'm yours, Lucia," Mikhail groans as he fucks me through my release. "And you're mine."

" Yes ."

"For the rest of our lives," he grunts as he spills inside me.