Chapter 37

Chapter 37
37

Jennifer

This was my home, in my hands, babbling for food. Could I ever get tired of looking at him? This adorable face took away all my pain the moment I laid my eyes upon it for the first time. I could admire him all night if I needed to. Sometimes, when I gazed at him, I prayed the second to freeze for eternity so that I could sink this little being's features down my chest. But then, he wakes up and cries for my nipple to be in his mouth and everything becomes more beautiful.

It felt priceless to feed my baby but I couldn't enjoy it alone as my contracted husband had been beside me all this time. This was my very third time feeding him while being driven back to The Bernardi Mansion from the hospital. Right now, Luciano was driving his car, not allowing his chauffeur because I was feeding Luca and he gave too much fucks about someone watching me in this state.

I was sitting on the passenger seat, beside him. Luciano glanced at my breast occasionally to make sure if perhaps I was handling him fine or he was giving me no trouble. His caring nature gave me mixed feelings; I enjoyed his tender side but at the same time he made me nervous too because I was aware of his first side too.

You have to forgive him, Jennifer, you have to forget the past or else you will lose a genuine lover with your rigidity and cold behaviour. Let bygones be bygones. My subconscious expressed as if it got tired of lecturing me for the hundredth time.

But yet again, it sounded right for the hundredth time.

I had to give Luciano a chance. My heart kept screaming it for months but I maintained my distance and gave Luciano my cold shoulder whereas he stayed totally opposite of my irrationality. He was devoted to me in every way—from this kid to my emotional baggage.

Yes, he did things to me that were unethical and sick but he crossed every limit to make up for his mistakes. It was obvious with the way he saw me with his eyes blooming in affection, the way he spoke to me apart from the times I annoyed him. Still, those small points were worth-taking my notice and I could not be biased with him when I, myself, had a mindset of forgiving a sinner when he repented his mistake.

"Luca is our good boy, isn't giving mama much trouble, hmm?" He broke the chain of my thoughts. I looked at him, finding his forehead ceased in tension, he seemed utterly concerned but in a cute way.

"Uh, yes. He is behaving well, like his mother," I said, punningly. Turning to look outside to the blurred view as he was speeding fast, I resumed the debate of my heart and stubborn head.

But I didn't miss Luciano's light chuckle, I glanced at him again, he gave me the warmest shade of his eyes and made my heart awed by him. I inwardly giggled at the reaction my heart gave.

"He is a steadfast lion like his father and a definition of beauty like his mother. Overall, he is our cub who will be the King of his father's realm," He stated, taking a sharp turn on the hilly road.

Luciano's hand extended to brush Luca's cheek. The gesture made me blush and sent me to the day when I selected my baby's name. It was a miracle that Luciano gave him the same name that I was about to recommend to him; I didn't discuss it with him earlier because I was apprehensive. Luca would stay with him all his life so Luciano had the right to pick the name, not me apparently.

But, God listened to my prayer and I was beyond thankful.

Luca stirred in his sleep and I pulled down my shirt and cleaned the edge of his lips, curving a smile.

As ten minutes passed, we reached the mansion and Luciano pulled the brake in front of the main door to help me. He stepped out, walked around and opened my door. He extended his arms and took Luca in his hands after I wrapped him properly.

"Be careful, strawberry," He said as I stepped on the ground.

I smiled at him and signalled him to lead the way. He put a hand beside me and began walking. As the guards opened the main door for us, we were welcomed by a confetti bomb's blast, earning a scream and jerk from me. "Surprise!" I raised my eyes to look at the culprit who earned that reaction from me but then my eyes turned to the people excitedly welcoming me and then, changes made for Luca's welcome.

There were white and blue balloons everywhere. It was a huge arrangement with a boyish theme and decoration done up to its matching. "Oh my God," I put a hand on my mouth and hid my surprising scoff. "This is amazing..." I turned to Luciano who was already looking at me.

"Like it?" He said but I couldn't reply to him as Natasha came to hug me and his cousins attended the new addition in Luciano's arms. Everyone was around him while he slept peacefully. Luciano's uncle's son; Domenico, took him in his arms and played with him while others pushed us inside at the dining table.

Everyone was present except for my father-in-law, one sister-in-law and brother-in-law.

Wait, what did I say?

"Jennifer, my darling," I got cut as Grandmother walked into the dining area and straightly hugged me. She took me to sit beside her while I glanced nervously at Luciano whose eyes never left me alone, he looked agitated for me for some reason.

"Kaleida, begin the serving," Grandmother ordered the servant who seemed the oldest member of all. She bowed and began uncovering the dishes on the huge long table.

And my holy God, I was shocked to see the number of dishes on the table and the types of food were unexplainable. Some of the dishes were completely unknown to me but they felt like heaven in my mouth. I wish I ate them before in my life. Everyone was enjoying each other's company and most of the time, everyone played with the little guy. It felt like a perfect family gathering.

But in a snap, I was reminded my real family was missing. I wondered if anyone told them about Luca's birth.

This thought took away my smile for a second and I was sure Luciano noticed it as I found him staring down at his plate for a minute and afterwards, he took his phone and excused himself. I shook my head and pushed those thoughts in the back of my mind for now and came back to reality.

Overall, the lunch went nice and we all gathered in the living room for tea after it. His cousins told me stories about their family and I keenly matched their participation. The time went well hearing all of them arguing cutely with each other over a small topic. Their choice of topics for an argument couldn't let me stop laughing for even a second.

They were guessing who was my superhero in my teenage years or which chocolates I liked as a gesture to get to know me better.

"Come on, sister-in-law, break the suspense," Lorenzo; Luciano's aunt's son whined, I smiled tenderly.

Everyone began cheering until I felt my shy-meter gaining the highest record, "Alright, alright, guys!..." Everyone started hooting and I was left giggling. "My favourite chocolate is Ferrero Rocher and I hate sodas... and my favourite superhero was superman and still is," I replied and everyone started laughing and booing the other cousin; Ginevra, who was behind the guessing of my likings.

"What else do our sister-in-law like?" Lorenzo asked again, teasingly, side-glancing at Luciano. Luciano rolled his eyes and beamed a faint smile.

Luciano stole a glance at me and I was sure he could see the burning colour of my cheek. The boys-team cheered again and demanded an answer from me that had to be Luciano but as I was about to open my mouth, my ears heard Luca crying.

I turned in that direction and saw Adelina approaching me. She gave him in my arms and I excused myself, taking him to Luciano's chamber to change his diaper.

I didn't notice Luciano was following me until I reached Luca's room adjoined to Luciano's room. I put Luca on the diaper-changing bed and took a diaper from the machine. Luciano came forward to help me and I let him clean Luca.

"I actually wanted to ask you two things," Luciano said while I was taking out lotions. I turned around, finding his back on me.

"Those are?" I enquired, walked and stood beside him, putting the lotion on the holders.

I took the lead on the diaper and he turned to me. "Do you really want your parents to not know about Luca?" He put out the first question, clutching my chest.

I took a deep sigh, "Yes, I don't want them to know about him. It's better if we keep hiding it and besides, I'll go to meet them when this bump will reduce in size and you won't stop me," I kind of used my dictated tone for him to understand how much I missed seeing them, hearing them on calls wasn't enough.

"No one can dare you to stop, my lady," Luciano curtsied and I couldn't hold back my chuckle. "I won't dare..." He added and I was shaking my head, grinning.

"Alright, what's the second thing you wanna ask?" I questioned, composing myself back.

I wasn't sure if I was right but I saw Luciano going blank for a second but he successfully masked it. "Ah... there're arrangements for us tonight and I want to give you a surprise, will you care to go on a dinner date with me—just you and me?" Luciano's eyes become warm and polite.

I tamed down my grin and put on a smile. Thinking for a second I only nodded. "Hmm, I'll go. Tonight?"

"Yes, tonight," He said as if there was a double meaning behind it and I exactly knew what it was; offer for a welcome sex.

"Okay," I said and went to the bathroom to wash my hands.



I was blindfolded, being taken somewhere by Luciano. He promised I would love this place so I had to wait. "Come on, Luciano, I have been out of sight since we left home, where are we going?" I asked as he kept making me walk somewhere. The cold breeze hit my shoulder and gave me a shudder.

"We are almost here," The air pressure increased and I could guess it was somewhere besides the sea. I was already in love with the idea my mind pictured.

Suddenly we stopped. "Are we here?" I couldn't help but ask.

"Yes, seems like we are," I felt his hand untying the knot. Just as my eyes got free of the cloth, I witnessed a beautiful view. Dinner beside the lake on a wooden ramp with fancy lighting and rose petals welcoming us.

"Oh my... this is beyond beautiful," I unknowingly said those words and Luciano made me walk ahead and sit on the fancy chair. While he was settling on the chair, I looked around and found a beautiful modern-style hut connecting with the route of the ramp.

My breath got heavy thinking I could end up rushing inside because I also felt sex-deprived and I badly needed it. I inwardly prayed that he take me to the bed tonight.

But, he did bad to you. A voice buried deep inside me screamed and made my stomach churn. I hated when such reminders spoiled my mood.

"Strawberry, I have already ordered meals for us that you will love," He mumbled softly. I nodded with a gentle smile, but in the back of my mind, I began debating with the malicious voice that was keen on spoiling my mood.

A few seconds passed and a butler brought food to the table while I quietly let him serve us. I knew Luciano was noticing me but I couldn't help my uneasiness. The butler stood steps away and I began eating, the first morsel earned a moan from me. This taste was divine. I lost myself in the food until I finished it and the wicked thoughts invaded again.

Luciano also stayed quiet as if he was up to something. We had our dessert courses and he got attentive to me.

I joined my eyes with his and waited for him to speak. "I can tell you loved the food," He started with this but I knew he was desperate to highlight something.

"Yes, it was one of the best meals I ever had," I answered back, honestly. He looked satisfied with my answer.

"I see. Do you want more?" He asked again but this time I wasn't sure what he was asking. Food or...

"It's on you," I didn't realize what I spoke until it was out but Thank God I didn't say what was on the edge of my tongue. Gosh, I was too much dying for sex. Was it the aftershocks of pregnancy?

"Actually, I have a gift for you, after all, you bore the pain and gave me an heir, I am sure you deserve a small compensation," Luciano fetched something from his breast pocket and it turned out to be a ring-box.

The box brought a faint smile to my face. Luciano opened the box and turned to me. My eyes fell on it and holy cow, it was the shiniest thing I ever laid my eyes upon. I took the box from him, "Oh God, this is... amazing..." I took it out, "It must be expensive," I asked him indirectly because I really guessed it was worth more than I ever earned in my life.

"You should not care about it," Luciano said and took my hand and slid that ring in my wedding finger.

"This is such a beauty..." I muffled under my breath and turned to him. "I really want to know how much it costs so that I wear it accordingly," I asked curiously.

"You won't take it out," He seemed to be avoiding my question.

"Tell me, please," But I was Jennifer; stubborn and persistent.

"It's worth 3 million dollars, all you have to do is guard it and don't lose it ever for yourself," He said and I nearly broke my neck in stupefaction. 3 million!? Fuck, I could not wear this three million on my finger and guard it against thieves at the same time. And besides, I was clumsy, what if I would ever lose it? Then!?

"I hope this small compensation made you happy," Luciano shooed away my broke thoughts. Just as I heard him saying that, my horny side took over my senses and pushed everything aside; including my shame and dignity.

"This compensation is not enough, I want more," I said with my eyes changing the shade to the darkest tone. Luciano observed it and raised his head a little.

"You are one ask away," He said confidently.

"I don't know, maybe I am looking for something real... something that can stick to my brain and I can enjoy remembering it after this night..." I indirectly put on my demand on the table, tilting my head to read the shades of his face.

"I can think of thousand ways to make you remember this night, but I'm not sure which way will be right for you..." He said it with a confident jaw and leaned closer on the table to have a strong effect on me, "And for that, you need to make yourself clear which way you want it to go," There. There it was an open invitation for me to put our mutual thoughts in words.

I knew what we both were thinking was mutual.

How?

Because that's what his eyes told me exact, burning in pure need. I knew he waited enough for me and so did I, to experience the pleasure of sexual intercourse before we fall apart.

I tilted my head to my right side, giving him space to lust after my sleek neck. "I don't know why but I'm feeling hot, maybe on purpose. Maybe I need something to cool down my body..." I bit my lower lip seductively, his adam's apple gulped a thriving desire and I took it as a green signal to say, "Maybe I am needing my husband to help me," My smile turned into a smirk and I knew exactly he got my point.

It was out. I was sheer clear now. And through his facial expressions, I got sure of one thing.

Sure as hell that I was going to get sex tonight.