Holding Hope Word Doc NC (6 page)

“And there’s nowhere
else?”

“I’ve explained that
our security force’s compound is there, not just my family home. It’s the
safest, most secure place you could be.”

“And you’ll stay with
me? You won’t leave me?” Ella couldn’t help the worried shiver in her voice.

“I will never leave
you. We’ll be together always now and I’ll be able to show you our home. Each
of us, Madden, Gage and I have a home in the compound so we can stay close to
our parents.”

“That’s not what I mean.
I don’t want you to leave me in a room with people I don’t know.”

“I won’t do that
either. I’ll be by your side until you get so tired of me, you tell me to go
away,” Lucas promised, placing a kiss on the top of her head and smiling. She’d
calmed down and it was obvious by Lucas’s reaction that she’d conformed to his
plan.
Goddess help
her, she was going to put on her
big-girl panties and meet her new family.

“What was in the box?
Our food usually comes in the reusable bags,” Ella inquired, curious now that
her mind had cleared from her other worries.

He stepped back out of
her embrace to see her. “Anton sent clothes for you. He thought you’d prefer to
meet everyone in something a bit less casual.” They both looked over her
current attire of leggings and Lucas’s shirt and laughed. Though she was
comfortable, she wasn’t presentable for meeting new people.

Blushing, Ella nodded.
“That’s a good thought. I suspect I’ll like Anton.”

“Everyone likes Anton.
He’s been our family’s assistant for years though it’s a bit different now that
he’s also Madden’s
Tre Adoro
,” Lucas
confirmed.

“Right.
So your brother Madden is mated with Layla and Anton. Everyone is all right
with this?”

“It’s a sacred bond,
not found very often at all, so yes, everyone is thrilled about it… and the
baby on the way.” Lucas grinned and raised his eyebrows.

“A baby? We hadn’t
talked about how that works in your culture.”

“It’s our culture,
mi
amo
. After
a couple completes the Claiming through the Pronouncement–the sacred blessing
much like a human’s wedding-and they’re fully blood bonded, it can happen at
any time. Sometimes it takes years but Layla got pregnant right away.”

Ella furrowed her brow
in thought. Then she bit at her lip before asking, “And it’s Madden’s child?”

Lucas grinned. “In a
Tre Adoro
coupling, the resulting child
is a combination of all three.”

Her eyes widened.
“That’s amazing,” she paused, again thoughtful, before deciding to ask her next
question. “Do you hope for children someday?” Ella worried her lip and moved
towards the box to sort through her clothing options and avoid his gaze.

“Someday.
For now, I’m still counting my blessings that I found you. I couldn’t ask for
anything else to make me a happier man.” Lucas turned her to him again and ran
his fingertips down Ella’s cheek. “But if we don’t get moving, we’re going to
miss being at the rendezvous point on time.”

* * * *

As
they drove into the gated compound where his family lived, Ella’s stomach was
in knots. Yet as much as she wanted to flee, she knew where she’d most like to be
is anywhere–even here-with Lucas. She only wished they could’ve stayed hidden
from everyone.

“This
is our home,” Lucas’s deep voice startled Ella.

He’d
stopped the car in front of an Italian-style villa like the one she’d seen on
her visit to Italy before she’d been captured. Turning her head, there was a
larger estate in the short distance that also resembled the Italian deco-style
homes.

“The
Santucci Casa, that’s the name of the compound, has four buildings. My parents
live in the primary estate that you see off across that field.” He pointed to
the larger home she’d seen in the distance. “Directly in front of us, is our
home and down the lane further are two others, one for each of my brothers,” Lucas
explained. “I won’t give you a tour today. I’ve sent word ahead that we will
visit with everyone tomorrow. Mama has planned a family dinner for tomorrow
night. Today is all ours.”

Ella
beamed at her mate. He’d made those arrangements for her and she imagined with
an Italian mother who kept her children within her compound that keeping her away
had been quite a feat. “Thank you. You are so thoughtful. I don’t know what I
did to deserve you. In all of this, you’ve been my light.”

“You,
Ella, are my salvation. With you, came hope back into my life.” Lucas smiled at
her before getting out of the car and coming around to her door.

She
allowed him to help her up and embrace her before she looked around again.
“It’s beautiful.”

“It’s
yours now. Everything that belongs to me now also belongs to you.” Lucas turned
Ella back to face him as he spoke. He placed one of her hands over his heart
and used his other hand to raise her chin up so their eyes could meet.
“Everything I have is yours. Everything I am is yours.
Sei
tutto
per me
.”

Ella
couldn’t speak and she couldn’t fight the tears escaping down her cheeks this
time. She looked up at their beautiful home and imagined their life together. They
would be strong like the stone pillars that framed the huge wooden door of
their home.

“Come
on, I’ll show you around your new home.”

Ella
remained silent as she followed him, strolling from room to room. The décor was
obviously done by a designer. It could’ve come straight from a magazine.
Neutrals colors accented with a spectrum of blues reminded her of being by the
sea. She could already see herself happily living here. When they finally
stopped in an open sitting area at the top of a large staircase, Ella said, “It
reminds me of an ocean home.”

“I
like blues and always wanted a home on a beach,” Lucas confessed.

“But?”

“But
my parents prefer to have us nearby so they purchased this large compound when
we were younger.” Lucas shrugged. “My mother brought in a designer to make this
home more suitable for a woman once I was of mating age.”

Ella
nodded even as she continued looking around. She ran her fingers along the
wooden banister and discovered the most magnificent view of a vineyard out the
large window. For miles, all she could see were grape vines. It was quiet here
and Ella was surprised that she’d not once been afraid since arriving here.

When
she didn’t respond, Lucas added, “You can change anything you don’t like. It’s
all yours now. Mama wouldn’t expect us to leave it all as it is.” Lucas looked
embarrassed at his mother’s involvement in designing his living arrangements.

Ella
shook her head and shrugged. “I wouldn’t change a thing. It’s beautiful.” She pivoted
in a full circle to view the room in which they stood. She was standing in her
home with her mate. It was a whole new world.

When
her gaze landed back on Lucas, Ella saw him smile. It was breathtaking, a full,
wide grin revealing dimples in both cheeks. His eyes glittered with flecks of
green and yellow as he reached his fingers down to stroke along her jaw and spoke,
“You are beautiful, Ella. My
bella
donna
.”

Blushing
but now feeling the distinct warming feeling in her center, Ella turned from
him to peek into the second floor doorways. There were two small bedrooms and a
bathroom but she suspected their room would be the one on the end with the
ornate double doors so she walked forward. She knew he was behind her without
turning to check. She could feel his presence like an embrace whenever he was
close.

Ella
pushed open the doors and sighed. The room was soothing in light shades of sand
and blue with most of the room taken up with a large canopy bed. Drapes decorated
the bed, loosely flowing from the top and creating a shelter. Dozens of pillows
topped the bed and made it look sumptuous. It called to her and she reached out
to touch its softness.

“Are
you tired? This is the longest you’ve been upright since the procedure.”

“Yes
but I’d also like to be with you.” Ella reached for Lucas’s hand and tugged him
to her.

Lucas
allowed himself to lie next to her without crushing down on top of her. “Lie
down and let me get you comfortable.”

“What
if someone comes?”

“I
promise no one will be coming today. Anton had the house stocked with food and
anything else we could possibly need. There aren’t many people here and
everyone else at the compound has been warned to stay away.” Lucas tilted his
head and considered her. “Now let me care for you.”

Lucas
pulled her shoes from her feet and massaged them. Ella moaned in delight, her
muscles growing relaxed under his manipulations. There was no question just how
perfect Lucas was for her. As he removed each piece of clothing from her body,
Ella knew Lucas was holding back for her. He could’ve used his powers to remove
her clothing but instead, he drew out their times like this. He worked her
muscles until she felt like mush. Never had she been so relaxed.

Her
eyes sprung open at the wet lick she felt along her thigh. “Lucas,” she purred.

“Yes,
little vixen,” his words were only a breath against her skin as he moved closer
to her core, spreading her legs apart and breathing in her arousal. His tongue
licked along her moist folds and brought her from her relaxed state into full
awareness.

“Lucas,
I can’t move.” Her muscles were still relaxed despite the tightness building at
her core. Her pussy clenched at the fingers she felt entering her ever so
slowly.

“You
don’t need to move. Just let me care for you.”

“Yes.”

Ella
felt Lucas smile against her thigh.
“Very good.”

He
increased the pressure of his fingers as he licked the edges of her core with
his tongue. His gentleness was torture. Ella wanted more. No, she needed more. This
overwhelming lust was nearly too much to bear.

“I
need more.” Ella should’ve been embarrassed by the pleading in her voice but
she was too needy to care.

Removing
his fingers, Lucas’s tongue pumped in and out of her pussy just as she imagined
his cock could do as it stretched and filled her. Ella was panting. Her muscles
were shaking with need, and she was so wet that she could hear Lucas lapping
her juices.

“Do
you trust me, Ella?” Lucas asked as he sat up and replaced his tongue with his
fingers. He toyed with her clit even as he expected her to focus.

“Y-
Yes.”

“Will
you trust me to enter your body here?” Lucas wet his finger and drew it
backwards to her nether hole.

“I’ve
never.” Ella shook her head.

“I
know, and now I want to breach this final barrier. You trusted me to care for
you in the cabin. You trusted me to claim you. You trusted me to bring you
home. Now I’m asking you to trust me with this final barrier and nothing will
be between us.” Lucas rubbed small, gentle circles around the bud as he spoke
and Ella couldn’t resist him.

“Yes.
I want to share everything with you, every part of myself,” Ella accepted the
request.

Lucas’s
relief was audible as he breathed out a sigh. “I’m going to stretch you with my
fingers first but know that your body was made for mine. You will be able to
accommodate me. The stretching will just make it easier.”

Ella
nodded. The lump in her throat prevented her from using her words as his finger
continued to move her juices around the bud. Lucas applied more pressure until
he breached the circle of muscle and Ella let out a gasp.

“Breathe
through it. Take a few deep breaths.” Lucas’s voice was steady and calm. Ella
envied him as her own heart was leaping into her throat. Still, she followed
his directions as he added another finger and slowly worked them in and out.
When she tightened again, Lucas used his other hand to stroke her clit.

“Lucas,”
she called out. “I’m going to come. It’s too much. I feel – I feel so full.”

“Damn.
Hold on.
Oca
!
Give me just one second.” Ella watched
then as Lucas undressed using his powers and flipped her onto her stomach. He
placed two pillows below her hips and she knew she must make such an obscene
vision like this. With her head to the side, she could just barely see him
behind her.

“You’ll
feel pressure,
mi
amo
.
Just push against me. We’ll take it slowly but I know you’ll love this.
Goddess, you are perfection.” Lucas talked as he positioned himself and pressed
forward. The pressure wasn’t painful and the heat it shot through her core had
her gulping for air as she worked to hold off the impending orgasm. She didn’t
want this to end so soon.

Lucas
stopped and looked down at her. He grinned when he sensed just how aroused she
was. “You like this, little vixen.”