by Olivia Deici
Surprised, I asked, “When?”
“Now. Before I lose my nerve.”
I nodded and took out my phone. Marcelo literally dropped whatever the hell he was doing and was at the door in fifteen minutes. I went down and let him in. He followed me up the stairs. Once he reached the top, he stopped and looked into the living room.
Izzy and Marcelo stared at one another for minutes. His eyes softened and I thought I saw them moisten.
“I didn't know, Iza. I swear, I didn't know.”
Izzy began crying and started to hobble towards him. He rushed to her, bringing her into the circle of his arms.
“I'm sorry, gattina.”
He rubbed her back and held her. Not an ounce of jealousy was in me. I was relieved my Izzy had someone else in her life, another man, who would look out for her.
He pulled back. “Had I known, I would've killed him a long time ago. I tried to get through to Papà, but he wouldn't listen. He was too distraught over mom’s death.”
She nodded. “I ran. He said that he’d told Papà I would lie about being raped so I wouldn’t have to marry him. Then he said he’d done the same with all of you. He said you would never believe me-”
“I know, gattina. Roman told me. He's burning in hell now, I promise you that.”
Izzy looked at me and then to Marcelo. She looked like she wanted to ask something, but she didn't.
They sat down together and caught up on fifteen years of life.
Chapter 52
Izzy
Two months later
I settled back a little more comfortably on my couch, sighing in Heaven. My cast came off today and I was so happy about that.
“Why are you crying?”
I looked up at him as I blew my nose. I sniffed.
“Steel Magnolias.”
His face was hilarious. “What is that?”
I rolled my eyes. “It's like the best movie. You've never heard of it?”
Wow.
“Never heard of it. If it's so good, why are you crying?”
“Because the ending is sad.”
He looked confused. “Good. You're at the end. Not in the mood for a chic-flick, especially one that makes you cry.”
“No. I'm in the middle.”
He looked so utterly confused, I couldn't help but laugh.
“Then why are you crying? Is the middle sad, too?”
“No. It's hilarious. I love these Southern ladies.”
He scratched his head. “Baby, I don't understand. Why are you crying if it's not sad yet?”
“Because I know what's coming up. I laugh and I cry, and laugh and cry.”
“Jesus Christ, Iz. Then why watch it?”
He looked utterly dumbfounded. I laughed harder.
“It's the best freaking movie, I told you!”
He shook his head. “Did it just come out?”
I looked at him in shock. He really hadn't heard of this movie at all.
“It came out in the late 80s.”
“Baby, you really are stuck in a time warp.”
“Happily so. And seriously, this is coming from someone who has a freestyle music playlist on loop, as well as Tupac!”
He was in the kitchen and laughed. “I grew up in the 80s and 90s in Miami, Izzy. Freestyle is home here.” He looked at the screen. “Wow. Look at their hairstyles. Ring Ring.” He picks up his cell phone and holds it out to me. “Oh, it’s for you, Izzy. It’s the 80s, and they want their movies and music back.”
I snickered.
“Want something, baby?”
Dezi was on the floor near my feet, and Roman was in the kitchen.
“Milkshake?”
He grinned at me. “Someone likes my milkshakes. What flavor?”
“Roman flavored, please.”
He laughed. “You do love my milkshakes.”
My lips returned his smile. “But someone won't give me them. He prefers to have blue balls.”
Roman laughed as he started making me a shake.
“Chocolate. And I'm not going to break, I promise.”
His eyebrows rose as he looked at me. “We’ll wait a little longer, Izzy. Please. I never want to be in jeopardy of losing you ever again.”
How could I criticize that?
“I love you, Roman.”
God, I missed his dimples and he flashed them for me now. “I love you, sweetheart.”
He made the milkshake and was going to settle next to me on the couch, when his damn phone rang.
“I'll pause the movie.”
Laughing, he kissed my forehead. “No, really. You don’t need to pause it.”
I chortled and rolled my eyes.
He acted nonchalant but I saw the tense lines around his mouth. He went into the bedroom.
“Yea.”
A few seconds passed by.
“I told you, Marco. I don't trust it. No. No. Back down.”
A minute passed by.
“I don't want you stressing Pop out. What do Carlos and Diego say?”
Another minute.
“I don’t fucking trust Tony, bro. I've been over this shit. I don't care if he said he recorded a confession.”
Two minutes passed this time.
“Fuck! Marco! You're not even supposed be to be using this line! You're fucking breaking all the rules, bro.”
More silence.
“Yea. Well they're rules put in place to protect this family and you're going to fucking throw it all away, all our safeguards, on Tony’s word.”
A few seconds passed.
“The Zaitsevs. Is there an explanation anywhere in this theory? We've never had any beef with them.”
More seconds. I remained on the couch petting Dezi. This was stressing me out, I couldn't imagine how Roman was feeling.
“No. You're number two and when Pop is sick, you're number one. You gotta think long and hard about this, Marco. Do not get us into some shit here that we can't get out of.”
He paused. I heard him exhale.
“Alright, bro. Ok. Good, good. I'm glad you're listening to reason. I promise you, Marco, we’ll get them but on better and surer terms.”
He walked out and sunk down next to me. He rubbed his eyes.
“I'm sorry.”
He looked at me after I uttered those words. His hand came up to my cheek and his thumb caressed me.
“The only person in my life who doesn't cause me grief.”
My hand squeezed his.
“I'll always be here for you, Roman. You can always come home to me.”
He leaned in and kissed me. With his forehead against mine, he said, “You are home to me, Izzy.”
He kissed me again and I moaned and wrapped my arms around his shoulders.
“Chill, Izzy.”
Groaning, my arms tightened around his massive broad shoulders.
“Come on, Roman.”
He chuckled. “Baby, I told you I didn't want to hurt you.”
My palms framed his face. “Roman, I'm not going to break. If you don't make love to me now, I'm going to go out of my fucking mind.”
He laughed and I smiled. “I need you. I need you in me, making me feel like everything is good and right in the world. Making me feel like I'm special and loved.”
“You are special and loved, Izzy.”
I leaned up and kissed his lips. “Show me, Roman. Love me.”
He took my lips in a savage kiss. It was like the more than two months of celibacy weighed on him as much as it did on me.
“I missed you.”
His beautiful blue eyes locked on me. “That goes double for me. I just wanted to protect you.”
My smile was gentle. “You did.”
His kiss was tender but ravenous. His hands began exploring my body. Slowly, he took off my clothes and then his. When his naked body touched mine, we both gasped.
“Your skin, baby. Always so silky and smooth.”
He kissed a path from my mouth to my breast. H
e suckled them slowly, bringing a nipple into his mouth and then moving to the other.
“Roman…”
My hands fisted into his hair. He moved from my breasts to my belly button. His hand wandered down to my slit and massaged. I groaned and opened my legs wider. His lips trailed across my skin and he was headed for my pussy, but I just wanted him inside me.
“Not now, handsome. I want your dick inside me right now before I crawl out of my damn skin.”
Laughing, he positioned himself over me. “Demanding, aren't we.”
“Damned straight. Desperate times call for insistent measures.”
His lips touched mine again and our kiss turned carnal. Teeth, lips, and tongues fought for dominance but in the end he bested me.
And I loved it.
I loved when he dominated me.
“Fuck me.”
My voice was hoarse and raw. Roman lined up his cock at my entrance and surged inside. I gasped and arched my back.
“It's been so long. I need you, Roman.”
My fists grabbed his hair and brought him down hard onto my lips. He began moving and the more our lips and tongues wrestled, the faster he moved.
“You ok, baby?”
My neck arched. “Fuck, yes.”
He laughed and dove for my neck. He sucked hard and bit, making me tense.
“Faster, Roman.”
He bit me again as his rhythm increased.
“You feel so good. Harder. Harder.”
His hips snapped against mine and he was filling me up.
“God, yes!”
I grabbed his ass and my nails bit into his flesh. He growled and fucked me faster.
“So fucking tight, Izzy. So wet.” He groaned.
God, I missed this- the passion between us. It was electricity we each had that was heightened by each other.
“So good. Yes, Roman, I'm right there.”
“Fuck, Izzy! You feel so good.”
I whimpered, moving my pelvis upwards to meet his thrusts.
“Fuck, yes. Roman!”
I felt my walls begin to clench. He started to snap his hips with greater force, growling.
We came at the same time.
My walls clenched and spasmed as I felt his seed shoot in me. He neck arched back in ecstasy as I cried out, gripping his shoulders. Five heartbeats later, he looked down at me.
“I'm still whole. Not broken but stronger.”
He rested his forehead against mine.
“That's pretty amazing.”
“What is?”
His eyes studied mine.
“You described my soul since meeting you.”
The things this man said to me.
“We have a lot of catching up to do.” I grabbed his still semi-hard cock, and felt it begin to stiffen in my hand.
His sexy smirk made heart beat that much faster.
“I'm yours to command, bella.”
And that’s exactly what I did all night long.
Chapter 53
Roman
I had the biggest surprise planned for Izzy. Her recovery was going well. She still had some lingering pain in her right leg and arm, and was undergoing physical therapy.
She pranced over to me with her hands behind her back.
“You're looking fine.”
“Thanks, baby.”
I was wearing light colors. My pants were beige and the dress shirt I was wearing was a white guayabera, a traditional Cuban dress shirt.
“So where are ya taking me?”
Smiling at her, I reminded her that it was a surprise.
“Not even a clue?!”
“Nope.”
“What do I wear then? How do I know what clothes to put on?”
She smiled like she caught me and I would now be forced to disclose the location. I reached behind her and clasped my hands over hers.
“I laid out you're clothes. They're on the bed.”
She looked over her shoulder. “You did?”
I nodded. She got on her tippy-toes, and pecked my lips. Walking over to the bedroom, she looked over her shoulders and threw me a kiss. Laughing, I made my way over to the bedroom threshold.
“You gonna watch me change?”
“Nothing that I'd rather be doing.”
Her laugh made my lips spread. Fuck, I was a goner man. This woman had turned me inside out and I was literally head over heels in love with her. I never pictured myself settling down, but this woman made me want the full dream- house, white picket fence, and a basketball team of children running and screaming throughout our house.
“Why are you looking at me like that?”
“Because you're the most beautiful woman I've ever seen, inside and out, and I can't believe you're mine. I don't deserve you Izzy.”
In her bra and underwear, she walked over to me. She stood before me with the most intense look in her face.
“Roman Zambrano, you are the finest, best man I have ever known. You protect me, love me, and care for me. My heart is yours. I'm the luckiest woman because you’re mine.”
Her words touched me. I'd never been told anything like that before. It wasn't that I didn't feel loved, it was that I never felt appreciated. I never felt first in anyone’s life. My family loved me, yes of course they did, and I didn't doubt it. The thing was, I was never the problem child. Now, I'm not saying that I never got into trouble, but I always managed to get myself out of it without inconveniencing my parents. My siblings always required more attention, while I didn't. In those dynamics, sometimes you felt forgotten.
That's how I felt.
Izzy made me feel like I mattered for more than just what I could provide.
What I had planned for her tonight was so appropriate. I kissed her forehead.
“Get dressed, baby. Let's go. And we’re taking Dezi.”
That had her curious. She eyed me as she walked to the room.
“Dezi, too? Hmmm.”
I just smiled at her. A few minutes later, she came out wearing a white floaty and airy dress with sandals. She left her beautiful blond hair cascading in long waves down her back.
“Ready?”
She lifted a questioning eyebrow at me. “Yep.”
Laughing, we headed downstairs to the car.
Chapter 54
Izzy
I don't know what he'd planned but I was enjoying having a surprise. He'd surprised me with that night at the club and it had been fantastic. I knew that tonight would be, too, no matter what.
“Love it.” I was smiling ear to ear.
We arrived at the beach. The sun was beginning to set as we made our way to the shoreline. He led me down a path, and he noticed I'd slowed down. Dezi remained by our side, sniffing around.
“What's the matter, baby? Everything ok?”
I really didn't want to ruin our night.
“Nothing.”
He looked down at my legs and noticed me favoring my right leg.
“I got you, sweetheart. I'll always have you, my love.”
He picked me up and kissed my forehead. My arms wrapped around his shoulders. I couldn't help but rest my head on his chest as he walked the rest of the way.
“Roman…”
The sigh escaped my lips as I looked on in awe. It was a secluded spot on the beach. Large blankets were spread on the sand, and throw pillows were strewn about. Candles of all heights were lit on the ground surrounding our spot. Several were dangling from the trees around us in little glass votives. A fire was roaring a few feet away, warding off some of the night’s chill this time of year.
“Oh my God. This is beautiful.”
My voice was whisper soft as my eyes took in the beauty surrounding me.
There was a bottle of something being chilled on ice. Food was waiting for us to eat on gorgeous silver platters that glimmered in the flickering candlelight.
“We made it just in time to catch the sunset.”
He walked over to a spot on the sand, kicked his
shoes off, and placed me down gently on the blanket. He propped some pillows behind me.
“Come, Dezi.”
There was a spot for him to lounge at the edge of our haven. After sniffing a couple of times, he settled down.
I waited for Roman to sit down next to me. He poured us some moscato, and handed me a glass.
“My favorite.”
He winked at me. Roman moved behind me, and I settled against his chest. The sun was just starting to touch the horizon.
“Beautiful.”
He squeezed me. “Not quite as beautiful as you.”
We sat in silence watching the sun sink into the depths of the ocean. What remained was a gorgeous array of pink, orange, and yellow sky with delicate hints of blue and purple.
“Spectacular.” I kissed his arms that stretched across my chest.
He squeezed me again and I burrowed deeper into his embrace.
“This was such a thoughtful surprise.”
I felt his lips at my ear. “This isn't the only surprise.”
I looked back at him. “There's more?”
His dimples were deep. “Much more.”
I turned back to gaze at the beautiful hues the sun had left behind in the sky. We stared in silence just happy to be in each other’s presence. He moved after a while and brought some platters closer. He fed me some strawberries and I did the same for him.
“Feel up to dancing?”
“With the most handsome and thoughtful man in the universe? Absolutely.”
By this time, the sky had darkened and the stars were visible. This part of the beach was so secluded, the sky wasn't affected as much by the city lights.
Roman laid his phone on a rock after starting a playlist.
Journey’s Faithfully began playing and I looked up at him with a smile.
“I love this song.”
His smirk was sexy and cocky. “I know.”
The resonance of Steve Perry’s voice always touched me. Roman hugged me close and we slowly danced to the meaningful words.
“Your leg feeling ok?”
I nodded, unable to speak. I was so touched by all that he'd done for me. He pulled back a bit, and gently held my chin between his index finger and thumb.
“Are you ok?”
I smiled through watery eyes.
“It's just so beautiful. Everything you planned, everything you've done for me.”
