Chapter 18

Serena

I wake up to find myself with a hand full of her hair as I sleep. I can’t help but watch her, taking in every detail. She’s the most beautiful woman I have ever seen. For the first time in a very long time, I can breathe again. She’s finally with me.

“Wake up, beautiful,” I say. “I have a surprise for you.”

She grumbles, her eyes still closed. “Enough surprises,” she murmurs, pulling me back in for a cuddle. I explode with laughter. I missed our banter, her sense of humor, and those beautiful dimples when she smiles. I just missed everything about her.

“Come on,” I insist, kissing her forehead. “You’re going to love this one, I promise.”

She squints her eyes open, looking up at me with curiosity. “Fine,” she sighs, sitting up and stretching. “But this better be good.”

We get dressed quickly and head out, I steal glances at her, my beautiful wife. She’s been through so much, and yet here she is, still so soft and sweet. She didn’t let her trauma harden her like I did. She may not see it, but she’s so strong.

We arrive at the location, and I guide her through the doors of a newly renovated building.

“What is this?” she asks.

“It’s a charity,” I tell her. “It’s in your name. It’s meant to help people with eating disorders. I wanted to gift you something that makes you proud.”

Her eyes fill with tears. “Salvatore, I... I don’t know what to say.”

“You don’t have to say anything,” I reply. “Just enjoy it.”

She leans into me, trying to control her emotions. “Thank you,” she says, her voice choked with tears. “This means more to me than you’ll ever know.”

I can’t believe that I denied myself this for two years. I know that by lying to myself, by not giving us what we both need, I hurt her a lot. If I wasn’t such an ass, I would have noticed when she used to slip back into cutting calories and exercising obsessively. It’s something I will never forgive myself for.

We spend the rest of the day at the charity, meeting the staff, discussing the logistics, the reach, and goals. She’s interacting with everyone with such passion that it’s a joy to watch. She’s so knowledgeable on this subject, and anyone with a pair of eyes can tell that the staff are smitten by her, hanging on to her every word. The day ends, and we go back home.

As soon as we get through the door, we are on eachother. I push her against the wall, my hand going under her shirt to feel her smooth skin. My lips come down on hers, and I suck her tongue, not leaving a space in her mouth that I don’t lick.

We stumble our way to the bedroom, a trial of clothes following behind us. By the time we reach the bed, we’re both panting, not standing another second with me not inside of her. I lift her up, throwing her onto the mattress and following her down, pinning her beneath me.

I’m not afraid to admit that I’m obsessed with this woman, that I worship the ground she walks on. The world begins and ends with her.

Her eyes are dark with desire, her lips swollen from our kisses. “Salvatore,” she moans, her voice needy.

I grip her wrists, holding them above her head. She whines, and I’m feeling generous, so I release her hands for her to touch me. As I suck her pretty pink nipples into my mouth, her nails scratch at my back. The pinch of pain I feel mixes in with my arousal, making me crazy for her. I bite down on her nipples, pulling them hard with my teeth.

“Yes,” she gasps, arching her back, pressing her tits into my mouth. I cup her cunt, feeling how wet she is for me, her pussy dripping. I remove my hand, putting it to my nose, smelling how delicious she is. The scent of her will always make me rock hard. I suck my fingers that are glistening with her juices, looking directly in her eyes as I do so.

I slide into her with a single thrust, and she cries out as she adjusts to my size. I set a brutal pace, slamming into her fast and deep, her tits shake with every thrust. Her whimpers and moans are music to my ears.

“Salvatore,” she whispers. “I... I can’t...”

“Come for me,” I command as I play with her clit, my voice rough with need. “Let go, Serena. I’ve got you.”

She falls apart beneath me, her cunt convulsing around me as she cums. Her release triggers my own. I orgasm deep inside of her, painting her walls white. We wind down together, and I hold her close, our breathing slowly returning to normal.

“I love you,” I whisper against her hair, my voice hoarse. “I love you so fucking much.”

Her eyes soften. “I love you too, Salvatore.”

Lying in bed, skin against skin, I pull her closer. Her hair spills over the pillows, and her smooth legs tangle with mine.

"Serena," I begin, "I vow to always protect you, to never let anyone hurt a single hair on your head, not even yourself."

She watches me, her breath catching as she realizes what I’m doing. I’m giving her vows that are worthy of her, ones that aren’t veiled with ulterior motives.

"I vow to see you for who you truly are, not for who the world wants you to be."

Her fingers trace patterns on my chest as I speak. How she can still be shy after all we’ve done, I have no idea. "I vow to show you every part of me, no matter how dark, because they all belong to you. You own me, Serena."

My thumb brushes away a stray tear from her eye. "And most importantly, I vow to love you more than anyone in the world or in the skies, baby. My heart is yours, sweet girl."