The Irresistible Bundle (109 page)

I haven't been nervous the entire fucking night, until now. My palms are sweaty. I rub them against my thighs hoping to settle the fuck down. In a way we both have a hard part. V's baring himself to everyone; completely exposing himself and allowing those most important to us to see him at his most vulnerable. I'm baring my heart and soul on this small stage. But what V and the others don't know is that Carina isn't the only one getting a ring today. When I'd pointed out the particular commitment ring to V and Carina's father Ignacio, it was with the intention to also order the matching ring set for me and V. Our rings would fit together like pieces of a puzzle. V wasn't expecting this. I didn't think he'd reject the idea but it still scared the ever-loving shit out of me.

"Hi everyone," Leti's soothing voice echoes throughout the oversized room, "Is everyone enjoying themselves?"

She waits for the boisterous shouts and catcalls before proceeding. I wouldn't put it past her to change things up if the party attendee's weren't enjoying themselves. The woman knows how to throw a party. She could abandon the estate and the nightclubs and make a killing providing party-planning services.

"Great" she smiles brightly at the room's occupants. Everyone quiets realizing that she's waiting for their undivided attention. "Marco is going to be performing tonight" she announces to a deafening roar. Shit. I know people enjoy having me as the main attraction but damn.... This kind of attention could cause a man's chest to swell double in size.

I climb up the makeshift stage and give Leti a hug and kiss before she hops off. All eyes lock onto me making my heart slam against my chest. Fuck. I'm not afraid to get in front of a microphone or call attention to myself. I've done scenes under this very roof in front of countless strangers. Why does this feel 100 times harder?

"Hey everyone" I lamely greet. Leticia already said something like that. If it was anybody else the crowd would've turned their backs and continued on with their conversations. "I'm dedicating this song to the loves of my life." Shit, did they hear that tremble in my voice? "I'll be singing John Legend's
All of Me.
Hope you enjoy it."

Desirae screams cheering me on; V positions Carina to face the stage while still holding her close. I ignore the shaking microphone and stare at the two most important people in my life. V thinks I'm only singing to Carina when in fact I'm singing to them both. The music starts and the words flow out of my mouth. I look at each of them when dedicating a certain part. Although they're interchangeable in the song I want Carina to know that I love her beautiful mind and smart mouth. I pour my love into the words as I let V know that he's my beginning and end. My eyes trace the outline of Carina's body as I sing about loving her curves and edges. Baby girl has a curvy body but she also has some sharp edges and I fucking love every part of her. I look at them both as I sing about giving my all while they mouth back that they're giving their all to me.

We could perform the song only, just like this, and it would've been perfect. So fucking perfect. It's the kind of performance Nic wanted from me during Valentine's Day but I refused. The estate wouldn't be getting an ounce of my love and devotion for V and Carina unless it was just like this.

V knows the bridge is coming right after the 2
nd
chorus. He digs in his pocket and pulls out Carina's heart-shaped ring; its 2-carats, a pink diamond. She might balk at the size but at least we hadn't opted for the 4-carat ring.

Had to talk V out of that one. Wasn't easy.

The ring looks relatively basic aside from the gorgeous diamond. The platinum band doesn't bare any other diamonds or gems. There are no inscriptions on the inside. We'd chosen it that way so that the day we make things official we can easily upgrade the ring or add one to it that blends beautifully with it. Truth is the ring truly is elegantly simple until you look at our rings. The rings I'd chosen for me and V were just as simple alone. Platinum bands with a carved out heart shape in the middle. The amazing part is if we wanted we could fit Carina's heart-shaped diamond into the open space and it would fit.

V turns Carina to him as I sing about laying all the cards on the table and showing our hearts. He's whispering to her as I sing the last part of the chorus. The song takes too fucking long to finish. I want to be holding both of them as he professes our love and commitment to her. The rings in my pocket weigh heavily against me but they'll have to wait. The room is dead silent as I finish the song. It's eerie hearing silence after a performance. Even a horrific one earns boos or heavy sighs of relief. Everyone watches Carina as she stares between V and the ring. She turns to me with tears shining in her eyes. I think I'm relieved but I'm still fucking terrified about how this night will end.

Carina motions for me to join them. I exhale loudly, not realizing that I too had been holding my breath. The span of those last few feet feel like fucking miles. V's talking. I should be listening. We practiced this like 100 times but all I can do is focus on my breathing and try not to faint like a pussy. The roaring in my ears leaves me deaf to everything. Someone could yell fire directly behind me and I wouldn't hear a damn thing.

Carina's smiling as tears trickle down her cheeks. That's good right? I can see Diego recording all of this from the corner of my eye. Suddenly the
click
of a camera snaps me back to life. What the fuck is wrong with me? I don't want them capturing me pale and panicked while V looks all dashing and confident.

"I love it" Carina whispers before throwing herself into V's arms. He manages not to drop the ring while catching her. They kiss hungrily, passionately. Baby girl pours all the love and affection into her kiss earning a resounding cheer from everyone around us. The little dirty bitch, Jealousy, rears her ugly head but I merely elbow the skank and she disappears. Ain't got time for that shit. We won't survive if she gets her way.

"I'm committed to both of you" Carina whispers turning to me. V slips the ring on her right hand before she pulls me in. Our kiss is no less magnificent. She presses her voluptuous figure against me. It's hard to ignore her nipples poking my chest; I'm sure she feels my eager cock pressing against her stomach. The kiss is slow, deep. She tastes of sweets and soda. Her thigh brushes against the rings in my pocket reminding me of the last step.

I motion to Diego to continue recording as I tuck Carina into my side. We face a beaming Valentino. He's so fucking magnificent. Handsome doesn't do him justice. Carina trembles beside me; all I can do is squeeze her waist because I feel it too. V is perfection in the realest form. It's in the way his smile blinds and his voice hypnotizes. There's power in those broad shoulders, tender touches, and warm eyes.

I take a shaky hand and slowly pull out the two rings burning a hole in my pocket. Carina's gasp gives me confidence to do this last part. It's the kind of gasp that cheers the knight to slay dragons. V's ring is bigger and easier to identify. I hold it out to him knowing he can see my trembling hand.

"You have all of me" my voice stays between the three of us. "Both of you." I turn to Carina gently kissing her forehead ensuring she knows. V extends his right hand out to me. It's shaking too. God I love this man. He exudes strength and confidence but opens himself so we can see his tender and loving side. We're both shaking but I manage to get it on him. The ring fits perfectly.

"We're missing pieces of our hearts" V chuckles as he admires his ring. He doesn't understand the significance and I'm okay with that. I take my ring and hold it up to Carina's slowly lowering it over the diamond heart. The photographer stands on a nearby table snapping away each microsecond. Diego positions himself below capturing our faces.

"On the contrary" I reply gently taking Carina's hand and aligning my ring to it. Gasps and whispers flurry around us as those closest can see how our rings piece together. The heart-cut diamond slips into the open heart shape on my band. "And yours fits too." I motion to V. He smiles brightly admiring our rings.

Carina takes the ring from my hand and places it on my ring finger. Our circle is complete. We each have a ring on our hand slipped on by one of the others. No one's left out and we all fit together.

V wraps us up in his arms and pulls us close. Their love and warmth seep into me filling every vacant space. Carina kisses each of our rings causing my heart to stutter. All I want to do is get lost in Carina with V.

"Enjoy the rest of your night" V bellows to the group. His dark eyes agree with me although he'd been the one to say no sex before or after. Desirae cackles with delight as he scoops Carina into his arms and plows through the crowd. I wave goodbye to everyone hoping they're not disappointed by our abrupt disappearance. I refuse to feel guilty though. They can continue celebrating while V and I have a private celebration with baby girl. Because we're one step closer to forever...

CAN'T WAIT

"She looks really happy," V points towards the group as they play water volleyball in the private pool. It didn't take much persuading to convince the group to take a vacation together for their spring break. A week on the beach on the island of Turks and Caicos was just what the doctor ordered for all of us. V, Nic, and I hadn't taken a vacation together since college and damn I didn't realize how much I fucking missed that. We always spent so much time together at the estate that it didn't feel necessary to get away. Wrong.

V and I opted out of the game. Technically we're the referees but they haven't asked for our judgment call yet. I'm guessing that they know we'll call anything in Carina's favor. I'm not risking pussy tonight for this violent game. Did I mention they've somehow turned this innocent game into a semi-aggressive dodge ball match? Rather than spiking the ball Desirae is flat out throwing missiles at the other team. Sati abandoned her teammates the moment she realized it was getting ugly out there. Can't blame her.

Carina, Jaxon, Griffin, and Leticia are on one team while Desirae, Nicholas, Andrea, and Diego are their adversaries. V made Diego and Griffin split up which only caused them to throw a fit like a bunch of toddlers so he compromised and split Carina and Desirae up. At least if the teams are cheating they're well balanced competitively to cancel everything else out. I've played all sorts of games and competed in team sports throughout the years and I've never encountered a worse group of poor sports in my life. Talk about being fucking sore winners and losers.

"We're all in a good place" the group's antics easily sidetrack me from our conversation. Desirae and Carina are animals. It's amazing their friendship survives the brutal rounds of competitive sports and vicious games.

"We are" V happily sighs. It's taken a while but everyone within our group is finding their place. Jaxon has Leticia. Diego ensnares Desirae a little more each and every day. Nic is content with Andrea; I don't think they're talking marriage and babies but they're both happy. Griffin and Sati aren't together and I don't see that happening. There's someone out there for them. In the meantime we're doing everything possible to ensure they feel included. Nothing worse than feeling like the third wheel; don't I know it.

V caresses the commitment ring on his right hand. He loves the damn thing and my stomach tingles every time I watch him make contact with it. He was beyond surprised and completely moved. He profusely thanked me that entire night and showed Carina and I how much he loved us. I think it was the first time both of our dicks felt like they were chaffed and about to fall off.

"I've been thinking" I confess. V smirks knowing I'm always cooking something up. I suspect he's been trying to find a happy median for our future and hasn't really come up with anything yet. We've both talked about the next steps in the relationship. Everything hasn't been communicated to baby girl and that's okay. She's enjoying her time in college and channeling her wild side under the safety of the estate's roof. The three of us cherish our time together and I don't take for granted my part in this.

"Go on" V encourages. The others are yelling at each other about a questionable call. Not once do they look our way; good 'cause I wasn't watching.

"I'd like you to be the one who legally marries Carina" V opens his mouth to protest but I cover it with my hand. He kisses the palm of my hand then bites it. I narrow my eyes in silent challenge. Two can play this game. I don't give a shit that we have an audience. I'll gladly yank his pants down and take him in my mouth.

"Focus" I playfully chide him. I love seeing this carefree side of V. For so many years he was focused on academics then building our business. Carina's helped slow him down. He takes the time to appreciate things. Vacation during spring break would've been inconceivable until she stepped into our lives.

"We'll find another way to make it work," V still cuts in. If I didn't love the man so much I'd twist his balls until he shut the fuck up.

"As I was saying" I growl daring him to interrupt again. V winks and blows me a kiss waiting for me to continue. "I'd like you to be the one who legally marries Carina here in the
States
." I emphasize. "And I'd like us to take our honeymoon in Italy where we can have
nonna
arrange for the family priest to marry us."

"
Us
being you and Carina" V elaborates.

"Yes" I don't know if V and I will ever get the opportunity to legally get married but this is a complicated union as it is.

"Love that idea" V grabs me by the nape of the neck and pulls me close. "I'd like you and I to exchange vows in that little church by your family's estate." I shiver under his touch and his words. It's my dream to exchange vows with my lover but I accepted that we'd just
know
. V wants something more than that. He dreams of what I dream.

"It might not be legal in the same sense" I warn. I don't want him doing this to appease me. I've never hidden or diluted my love or intentions. V knows I'm all in.

"It's important to me" he says against my lips. "It's important for us."

I melt against his hard frame as his tongue parts my lips. V grabs my hair with his other hand and deepens the kiss. Our tongues caress, seeking each other out before a groan escapes our throats.

"Get a room" the guys yell from the pool.

"We'll just watch from the open windows" Desirae the pervert catcalls.

V pulls away gasping for breath; completely ignoring the group. I can feel Carina watching us. I want to call her over but this is our moment. This entire time V has always been the one I followed but I wasn't entirely sure if he felt as deeply as I did.

"I can't wait to marry you in whatever capacity" he whispers against my neck. "Most people yearn for what we have. I refuse to take it for granted. When you gave me this commitment ring" V rubs my cheek with the back of his fingers ensuring the beautiful ring caresses my face. "I realized I'd assumed you knew how I felt." V presses his forehead to mine refusing to look away. I don't know if the group resumed their game or if they're silent watching us. Doesn't matter either way.

"I love you Marco. I never want to spend a day without you. There is no forever for me unless you're there too. You're no less loved or less important than Carina. If anything you and I share a bond and history like no other. I've never loved another man and I never will. You. Are. It. For. Me. Understand?"

My eyes burn with tears. V shows us he loves us in countless ways but rarely communicates it in more than a few words. From the moment I met Valentino DeLuca I yearned for a love I thought was unattainable. Not only did he reciprocate my love but we also had Carina who was a priceless treasure.

"I can't wait either" I whisper before kissing him again.