Filed to story: No Escape From The Mafia Kings Embrace
I chuckled, “That’s a good thing, because you’d still be mine, whether you liked it or not”, I informed her, before leaning in and capturing her lips with mine.Mara’s eyes were still closed, when I pulled back. She sighed and hung her head to flip through her drawings. “Are all of these yours?”, I questioned.
“Yeah”, she answered softly. “Mio Dio (My God), you’re a fucking artist too?”, I muttered, taking a few of her drawings from her hand. “Uh, wait”, Mara protested, trying to take the stack back from me. “Ah, ah”, I stopped her.
The first picture took my breath away. It was a gorgeous grape vineyard, with the sun setting in the background. Wait, that’s my grape vineyard. Wow, the way she captured the moment is incredible.
The second was a field of sunflowers, set under a full moon. The way the light from the moon shined off the petal, you could see dew drops. She even added in the little fur on the stalk. I can’t believe she has this ability.
The third picture took my breath away. It was me, leaning against the door frame in our bedroom, with my arms crossed over my chest. I was wearing my gray sweat pants and was shirtless. You could see each detail of my tattoos and the defining dips of my muscles. She had etched a smirk onto my lips, highlighting my dimples.
“Marabella Rose”, I whispered, in awe. Mara had her face hidden behind her hands. “This is absolutely amazing, piccola. Where did you learn to do this?”, I asked, curiously. I took note of the details on the wall in the picture. She had captured the pictures that hung on the wall, and the trim design as well.
“I just practiced”, she shrugged. “Wow”, I breathed. “Now, I’m really curious, where is the drawing you want as a tattoo?”, I asked. Mara handed me a sheet of paper. I stared at the patch of sunflowers that had a crescent moon surrounded by shooting stars and planets. This is the second picture with sunflowers under the moon.
“What’s the significance, bambina?”, I asked, intrigued. She tilted her head at me in question. “The significance between the moon and sunflowers”, I clarified. Mara smiled as she looked down at her hands. “Everyone knows that sunflowers grow toward the sun, correct?”, she asked. “Yes”, I nodded. “Do you know what they do when the sun goes down and it’s night time?”, Mara questioned. She lifted her eyes to mine and quirked an eyebrow in my direction.
Huh. “No, principessa (princess), I don’t. Tell me, what do they do?”, I countered. “They turn towards each other”, she answered, matter-of-factly. “Do they now?”, I pondered. “Yes. They store energy throughout the day. When night falls, they turn toward one another for energy to survive the night. Until the sun rises the next morning”, she explained.
“Sunflowers show us, that even in the darkest of times, there is still light to be found”, she mumbled. “That’s beautiful, bambina”, I said, handing back her drawings. “Thank you”, she muttered, shyly. She put her drawings away and looked back up at me with doe eyes. “Why don’t we pack up and go home”, I suggested, stroking her bottom lip with my thumb.
“Did you finish what you needed to, here?”, she asked with furrowed eyebrows. I chuckled, “No, but it can wait”, I answered. “No, Luca. Finish what you need to. I’m okay, I’m just…”, she trailed off and shook her head, “Emotional, I guess”, she shrugged. “It’s okay, piccola. We really don’t have to stay”, I said gently, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear. I just can’t keep my hands off her. “I know. It’s okay though. I’m okay right now”, she said, taking a deep breath and releasing it.
Her eyes were puffy and slightly red. I studied her hard, she’s trying diligently to hold herself together. Her emotions are running rampant through her mind, but she presents herself as calm. Is this a defense mechanism she has learned? “Bambina?”, I murmured. She arched an eyebrow at me, “Yes, Luca?”, she asked. “How do you do it?”, I questioned. “Do what?”, she uttered. “Hold yourself together when so many emotions flow through your head?”, I whispered.
Mara looked surprised by my observation. “You”, she answered. “Me?”, I asked, confused. “You calm me. When I’m with you I know I can let it go. A good cry usually helps, too. Releasing some of those emotions so that I can take more in”, she explained. I frowned, that’s not healthy at all. I cupped her face and held her close. “I want all of your emotions, Mara. I want you to tell your very stubborn brain that I’m a safe place to release at”, I told her.
“I’m learning that”, she grinned. “Good girl”, I purred, leaning in and kissing her hard. Marabella returned the kiss with the same fervor. Fanculo (fuck), I love the way this woman tastes.
“Wait, you can’t just go in there, Mr. Barello is busy”, I heard Sandra saying from a short distance away. “Nonsense, Luca is never too busy for me”, I would recognize that voice from anywhere. “Fanculo (Fuck)”, I muttered, right before my office doors were flung open.
Luca’s POV
Mara jumped back, started, as I causally turned my head in time to see Sandra following closely behind, like she would get another show. I noticed Levi Calaver’s eyes instantly cut towards my wife, making me growl. “Why didn’t you lock my door on your way out?”, I asked, turning my eyes back to Sandra. “I’m sorry, sir”, she said, flustered.
“I see Sherry Marcio got you as well. How much did she do you in for?”, Levi asked, making my eyes snap to him. “Sandra, out”, I ordered. Sandra fled the room, closing the door behind her. I stood from my spot on the coffee table, and turned toward him, cutting his view of my wife. “What do you want, Calaver?”, I questioned, crossing my arms over my chest. “Honestly? I don’t remember anymore. I’m too focused on how you managed to get the gold prize. And you’ve tamed her too”, this stupid mother fucker.
