The Heartbreaker Series: Books 1-3 (32 page)

Jill’s eyes flutter open. She looks at me and smiles before grabbing Nicola and pulling her close to place kisses on our girl’s chubby cheeks. Her happy squeals are music to my ears.

Jill looks up at me and smiles. “Good morning.”

I meet her in the middle and give her a soft morning kiss.

“Good morning,
bella
.”

I tell her I’m going to order us some breakfast and start the coffee before jumping in the shower. We have a bit more sightseeing to do before we head home.

When I get out, I find Jill setting up breakfast and Nicola playing on the floor. Just the sight alone makes my eyes burn. I sit down on the end of the bed. I could’ve had them from the beginning, but I let my addiction, fears, and hang-ups ruin everything.

Jill’s melodic voice travels into the bedroom and makes the burning intensify. She’s such a wonderful momma, but what kind of father am I? Yes, maybe things are going better now than I could have ever imagined, but if I were a good father, I never would’ve hurt her, hurt them.

“Are you okay?” Jill’s standing in the doorway with Nicola pushing past her to get to me. “She loves her papa.”

I pick Nicola up and set her on my lap. I kiss her chubby cheeks and inhale her baby scent. I swear her scent has calming properties because the burning in my eyes immediately stops.

“I’m okay. Just thinking about stuff.” Jill sits down next to us. “I love you, Jill. I hate that I hurt you, not once, but over and over again. You mean so much to me, and I just hate myself for letting what Ava and my father did shape the man I became. When she told me she was pregnant, I was so happy. I wanted to be a daddy so badly, especially with her, but when I found out that the baby wasn’t mine, it killed something inside of me. When you told me you were pregnant, at first I wanted to believe that the baby wasn’t mine. I didn’t want to get my hopes up and have you pull the rug out from under me, because I don’t think I would’ve survived it a second time. I realized that I love you more than I ever loved her.”

He clenches his hands. “Maybe that’s why I stayed so detached after you told me about the baby. That’s no excuse, and I’m not asking for you to forgive me for that, but it was just something that I kind of figured out while I was in rehab. It was just easier to keep myself separated so I couldn’t get hurt again.”

Jill wraps her arms around my waist and our daughter’s wiggly body. “Nico, you need to stop. What brought this on?”

“I don’t know. I got out of the shower and saw you two together in the sitting room, and I just can’t believe I let so much time we could’ve spent together pass.”

“Hey, none of that talk. We’re looking toward the future, not looking back. We can’t change anything about what happened back then. Stuff happened, and it was bad, but good stuff happened too.” She kisses Nicola’s head. “Nico, I don’t regret any of it. Even the bad, as bad as it was.”

She takes our daughter and tells me to get dressed so we can get going. A small smile forms on my mouth as I watch her retreating back. She thinks she can boss me around. So many delicious thoughts go through my head as I throw my clothes on. Maybe tonight I’ll have to show her who’s boss.

She’s right, though. I need to stop beating myself up. If she’s not going to throw it in my face, then I need to let it go too.

Chapter Eleven

Jill

We pull up in front of my hotel, and Nico lets us out to go to the park. He says he’ll grab the bags for me.

We had the best day today. I finally got to see the Leaning Tower of Pisa, which was amazing. We ate lunch at the cutest café on Lago di Bilancino, the largest artificial lake in Tuscany. We pretty much did a lot of driving.

As pleasurable as it was, I’m just glad to be back. On the drive back to Perugia, we called Martine on speakerphone. Her voice was hoarse, but she said she felt good and the meds they gave her were helping control some of her symptoms.

After hanging up, I stared at the scenery as we passed by, Nico’s hand in mine. After our little talk this morning, something in him seemed to have changed. He’s more playful. His eyes are just a bit brighter, and he’s been a lot more touchy-feely with me. It feels like I have my old Nico back, but without that black cloud that always seemed to follow us around.

Nicola did so much better than I thought she would do on our trip home, but Nico made sure to stop frequently and let her toddle around a bit so she could burn some energy. We took lots of pictures, both of the three of us and the scenery.

Nico walks back toward us with an arm full of bags and a smile on his face. We got presents for his mom and sisters, my parents, and for Gabe, Jasmine, and Gabe Jr. The only time we fought on this little trip was when it was time to buy gifts.

I insisted on paying, but he refused to let me, so I said I was paying half, which, again, he refused. His stupid male pride wouldn’t let me do it. We went back and forth for a while until, finally, he wrapped an arm around my waist and kissed my lips hard. Suddenly, I couldn’t remember what I was mad about.

We make our way up to our room. I can tell Nicola is tired. She’s rubbing her eyes and sucking her thumb.

“Are you tired, baby?” I whisper against her forehead. Baby girl mumbles in her baby voice around her thumb, about what I’m not sure. As we step into our suite, Nico sets the bags down and takes Nicola from me. Minutes later, I hear the water running in the bathroom. Nico must be getting ready to bathe her.

I grab the bags and set them down on the table. I separate everyone’s gifts and then pull out my new leather tote and matching wallet. They’re so beautiful that I’m afraid to touch them too much, but I have to smell them because I love the smell of fine leather.

First, I hold the wallet to my nose and inhale. The scent reminds me of Nico—rich, smooth, and woodsy. I set it down and pick up the tote. Like the nerd I am, I hug it to my chest. It’s beautiful and something I’ve always dreamed of owning, but with a child, I just couldn’t afford unnecessary purchases.

I need to do something awesome for Nico to thank him for the trip, the bag, and all of the gifts from us to everyone else. I need to do something special.

I set the tote down and then go in to check on Nica and Nico. Ugh, why did I think naming her something so similar to her dad was going to be a good idea? I wonder how many times I’m going to get them confused.

I shake my head and step into the bathroom. The sight before me makes me stop moving. Nico is in the shower with Nicola in his arms. My baby is holding her hands up to the water spraying down on them, laughing her little belly laugh.

My eyes drift down. I smile when I see he’s in his boxer briefs. I find the whole scene in front of me sweet.

I decide to join them. I strip down to the modest bra and panty set I’m wearing. As soon as I step inside the stall, he turns to me, a smile gracing his face. My smiley girl tries to launch herself at me, but Nico holds her tight.

I reach out and take her into my arms. Nico moves closer to us, grabs the bar of soap, and then wipes the washcloth across Nicola’s body. We get her rinsed off, but before I can get out to get our towels, he wraps his free arm around me and hugs me close. The three of us are locked in a hug, and it brings happy tears to my eyes. I rest my head on Nico’s shoulder and smile at how right this moment feels.

“Oh my God,” I squeal a second later.

“Is that what I think that was?” Nico says, his voice laced with laughter.

“She totally just farted.”

I plug my nose because it totally stinks. I look up at Nico and smile when I see the totally disgusted look on his face. Quickly, the look is replaced with laughter. I join him in laughter as I step out and wrap a towel around myself. I grab one for Nicola and Nico.

After we’re all dried off and in our pajamas, Nico rocks baby girl to sleep and lays her down in her cot. While he does that, I grab my water and head out to the balcony. He joins me a few minutes later.

I scooch forward on the lounger so he can squeeze in behind me. I lean against his back and sigh. Even though the night air is chilly, I’m perfectly comfortable. Nico’s body heat feels good and keeps me warm.

At first, we sit in a companionable silence. We listen to the night sounds and the occasional laughter we hear from one of the other rooms. His fingers drift up and down my arm and causes goose bumps to pop up all over my skin. I rest my hand on his thigh and turn my head so it rests in the crook of his neck. His skin is warm and bristly. My eyes drift shut as I feel his hand slide down and up under my shirt.

Neither one of us says anything as he gently strokes my skin and moves up and up my stomach until he reaches my breasts. I took my bra off after our shower earlier, so there’s nothing in the way of him reaching my nipple. He immediately pinches it between his fingers. I moan against the skin of his neck as he moves his other hand so they’re both under my shirt. He massages both breasts and tweaks my nipples, working me into an aroused state.

I tip my chin up and kiss the underside of his chin. Then he moves so I can reach his lips. I run my hand around the back of his neck as I hold on for his kisses. They’ve always had a drugging effect on me and always will. Nico has always been such a phenomenal kisser that he can turn me on with the simplest kiss. I open my mouth to him and our tongues meet in the middle, dueling each other.

I whimper as one of his hands leaves my breasts and slides down into my bottoms. With practiced ease, he slides his fingers over my clit and then further down to my entrance. “Oh,
bella
, you’re wet for me,” he whispers against my lips.

I cry out into his mouth as a finger enters my pussy. Nico works it in and out of me and continues to fuck my mouth with the same intensity and passion. It doesn’t take long for my orgasm to build, but he pulls his finger out of me before I can detonate.

“Not yet,” he says. Somehow, in seemingly one quick movement, he picks me up and turns me so I’m straddling his hips with his hard dick pressed right where I want it.

With the same urgency I feel myself, Nico shoves my shirt over my breasts and sucks one nipple into his hot, wet mouth. I writhe against him and bite my lip to keep from moaning loudly since we’re practically out in the open. Our fire has died down to glowing embers, so darkness has swallowed us.

He lets go of my nipple with a pop and switches to the other. I’m almost ready to come. I start riding him, but again, he stops me with both hands on my hips.

“Do not come, Jill.”

I pull back enough to look at him. It’s too dark to see him clearly, but the vibe he’s giving off is one of pure animalistic sex. My pussy clenches just at the thought of what’s going to happen soon.

I squeak when Nico picks me up. I wrap my legs around his waist. He moves us quickly into the bedroom and then to the bed. It’s even better when Nico lays down right on top of me, attacking my mouth like he’s never tasted anything better. He takes his time to savor it.

I grind against him, my thighs hugging his hips. In seconds, both of our shirts are gone. His lips travel from my lips down to my neck, then to my breasts, where he licks and nips at each nipple.

I try to hold his head there, but he grabs my arms and pins them to my sides, which is really fucking hot because I’ve always loved when he overpowers me in bed.

With my hands still pinned, he works his mouth down my stomach and then finally between my legs. My breath leaves me in pants when I spread my legs wide for him. He moans when he sees how wet I am already. I feel his hot breath against my pussy, and out of nowhere, my orgasm rips through me. I moan so loud, Nico has to cover my mouth with his hand.

He starts speaking Italian and looks at my pussy like it’s covered in gold. The dirty talk goes on forever, especially when his mouth finally meets the place I most want. His tongue coaxes out aftershocks that rock my whole body and cause my eyes to roll back in my head.

He lets me go to stand up and strip out of his pajama bottoms and t-shirt. Before he puts the condom on, I fly up off of the bed, drop my knees in front of him, and engulf his cock with my mouth.

“Fuck! Oh, Jill.”

Nico groans as my tongue swirls around the tip. He is the only man I’ve ever been with that’s been uncircumcised. Pre-come leaks from the head of his cock, and I savor the tangy, spicy taste as it coats my tongue. I hollow my cheeks and sink further down on him, working myself down and up, down and up.

“Baby, stop, or I’m going to come in your mouth,” he mutters.

That only encourages me to move faster, but then he pulls me off of his dick. He picks me up and tosses me back on the bed. Nico flips me over until I’m on all fours. He quickly puts the condom on and settles between my legs. In one thrust, he’s buried to the hilt. I bite into my fist to quiet my moan. His groan vibrates against my back as he grabs onto my hips, roughly pulling me back and forth against him at a punishing pace.

God, he feels so good inside of me. He’s hitting a spot so deep inside of me that it borders on painful. I know I’ll have bruises on my hips, courtesy of his hands, but I don’t care.

His hand creeps into my hair. He pulls my head back, and our lips meet in a frenzied kiss. Our lips mash together, our tongues dueling as he drives into me with brutal strokes. The orgasm building deep in my belly scares me. It’s building too fast. His lips leave mine, and he grabs my ear with his teeth.

“Come for me, baby.” He nips my earlobe, and I explode around him. My vision blurs, and my pussy clenches his dick so hard that he groans in my ear.

I collapse with my face in the mattress as he pounds into me with erratic strokes until he freezes and groans long and loud. He collapses on top of me. Only our noisy breathing and my rapid heartbeat fill the room. When the orgasm fog clears, he kisses between my shoulder blades. I whimper as he pulls out of me and falls onto the bed.

He gets up and disposes of the condom. Then, he climbs back into bed with me. I snuggle against his chest, kissing him over his heart. He hugs me tighter to his chest.

“Thank you,” I whisper.

“For what?”

“For the trip to Florence, the shopping, just everything. This has been the best couple of days I’ve had in a long time.”

He pulls me up so my face is in his. Our lips meet in a slow, sensuous kiss.

“
Prego, bella
. It’s been the best couple of days for me too. Let’s get some rest. I’m not done with you yet.” He kisses me one more time before we both drift to sleep.

***

Nico

As we drive back to my mom’s house, this morning’s activities drift through my mind. It must’ve been around four or five in the morning. I woke up with my dick hard and snug up against Jill’s ass. I reached around and dipped my fingers into her pussy, which got wet almost immediately. She came awake slowly from there and rode my fingers until I knew she was ready.

I sheathed myself and slowly entered her from behind. I lifted her leg up and back around my hip. Her cries were soft as she came around my cock. I followed shortly after, wishing that there wasn’t a condom between us, but the knowledge that someday we may get there made it better.

We pull up in front of my mom’s place. I climb out of the car and grab Nicola out of the back. “Come, my beautiful little princess.”

Nicola gives me that beautiful toothy grin of hers and wraps her arms around my neck. We meet Jill, who has the bags of gifts, on the other side.

My mom meets us at the door. She looks at the three of us and starts to cry. I know Jill can’t understand it when my mom speaks Italian, but I know exactly what she’s saying. “I prayed for this. I prayed for my boy to be reunited with his family. God listened to my prayers.”

Her words get me a little choked up. I wrap my arm around her. Jill joins in the hug. When we finally break apart, my mom grabs Nicola from me. I place a hand on the small of Jill’s back and we head inside.

After we watched my mom and sisters open their gifts, Jill helped my sisters make lunch.

Now my mom and I are alone with Nicola, playing on the floor with some blocks. “I love seeing my boy smile,” she says to me. “This is all I wanted for you. You and Jill are meant to be together.”