by L A Cotton
“I love you,” I mouthed.
“I love you too.” Her cheeks burned as Mom caught us.
“Oh, Michele, would you look at that.” She clutched her chest. “Our Matteo is all grown up and in love.”
“Okay, woman, let’s not embarrass the boy.” He got us both a beer and handed me one. “It’s nice to finally meet you, mia cara.”
“You too, Mr. Bellatoni.”
“Please, it’s Michele. I can’t be having my future daughter-in-law calling me Mr. Bellatoni, can I now?”
“Dibs on being bridesmaid.”
Caitlin’s eyes were the size of saucers as she gawked at my family.
“Welcome to the family,” I said around a knowing smile as I approached her.
“They’re very… welcoming.” Caitlin buried her face in my shoulder, laughing nervously.
“Hey.” I gently grabbed the back of her neck and steered her face to mine. “They might be joking, but I’m serious. I want that. One day, I want it all… with you.”
“Matt,” she let out a soft sigh, gazing up at me while my family continued planning our entire future around us.
“What do you say, Tink? Want to spend the rest of your life with me?”
“I… yes. Yes, I want it. So much.”
“Good.” I brushed my mouth against hers. “Because you’re mine now, Caitlin. And I don’t plan on ever letting you go.”
Epilogue
Matteo
Something fluttered over my hip bone, stirring me to life. “What the—”
Holy shit.
I must have died and gone to heaven because Caitlin’s mouth was on me, sucking me down like a popsicle she couldn’t get enough of.
“This is one hell of a wakeup call.” My hand slid into her hair as I thrust gently into her mouth, loving the way it felt.
“Good morning.” She grinned before flattening her tongue against my shaft and licking from root to tip.
“Fuck, Cait,” I breathed when she did some little tongue flick at the end.
“You like that?”
“I don’t like that, I fucking love that. But I’d love you riding my dick even more.” I pulled Cait up my body, and her legs fell to either side of my hips as she sat above me.
“Hi.” She smiled again.
It was a sight I would never grow tired of. Her green eyes alight with love, laughter, and happiness. Over the last month, our relationship had only gotten stronger. Everyone loved her: my family, my friends, me. God, I loved her so fucking much. She was everything I’d ever wanted, and I couldn’t wait for the rest of our lives together.
“Matt.” Cait rolled her hips, teasing me.
“Ride me, Tink. Show me how much you want me.” Grasping myself, I steadied one hand on her hip as she rose up on her knees slightly to work me inside her.
“Fuuuuck, that feels good.”
“Move, I need you to move,” she panted.
I gently thrust forward, finding the perfect pace while Caitlin circled her hips. She leaned down, kissing me. Hot, wet, dirty kisses that drove me wild.
“It’s official,” I murmured against her mouth. “You have permission to wake me up like this every morning.”
“More…” she cried. “Harder.”
Placing my feet flat on the bed, I really let her have it, fucking her faster, until our collective moans filled our apartment.
“Yes… yes!” Cait threw her head back, her thick red curls spilling down over her shoulders.
Sometimes I could hardly believe this woman was mine.
“Are you ready to come for me, Tink?” I sat up, sliding my hands under her arms and up over her shoulders, anchoring us together.
“Yes… God, yes…”
“Together.” I kissed her, plunging my tongue deep into her mouth as I guided her up and down on me, over and over. “Clench for me, Cait,” I urged, and she squeezed around me, milking me.
“Fuck… fuck!” The familiar tingling started at the bottom of my spine as I slipped a hand between us and rubbed her clit.
“Matt… I love you,” she cried, falling over the edge. I buried my face in her neck as my own release slammed into me.
“I love you, so fucking much.” Winding my hand into her hair, I gently tugged, forcing her to look at me.
“Hi.”
“Hi.”
“That was—”
“Incredible.”
“It was.” I smirked. “Give me five minutes and I might be good to go again.”
“We have to pick Bella up soon.”
“Ugh, that’s today?” I flopped back on the bed, taking Caitlin with me. She rolled off me and ran her nose along my shoulder.
“We promised her. It’s junior prom. She needs a dress.”
“Junior prom,” I grumbled. “She’s sixteen.”
“And you need to face up to the fact she’s no longer a kid.”
“She’ll always be my kid sister.”
“You’re impossible,” Cait muttered, pecking my lips. “I’m going to clean up and then make breakfast.”
“I could always eat you.” My brows waggled and she batted my chest.
“Behave.”
“With you?” I captured her lips again. “‘Never.”
Caitlin finally untangled herself from my arms and climbed off the bed, smiling back at me. “I’m really happy, Matteo. I hope you know that.”
She slipped out of our bedroom, and I stared up at the ceiling wondering how the hell I got so lucky.
Sure, we’d been through hell and back to get to this point. But she was worth it.
And I would spend my whole life showing her.
Caitlin
“What about this one?” Bella darted from rack to rack, pulling out dresses. Pink ones and black ones, one with sleeves and strapless ones. Her excitement was infectious, and I couldn’t help but get swept up in it.
“I could do your hair,” I said, observing her latest favorite gown. “Something intricate and sexy.”
“Sexy?” Matteo appeared out of nowhere. “I thought we agreed on innocent and demure?”
“No, you agreed to that. We overruled you and decided with sassy and sexy.” I threw Bella a conspiratorial glance and she smothered a giggle.
“Something low cut and short,” she added. “Like mid-thigh.”
“What?” Matteo’s eyes practically bugged out of his head. “No! No way is she wearing something mid-thigh with her… her breasts falling out all over the place.”
“Did you just say… breasts?” Bella exploded with laughter; so loud that we drew the attention of the store assistants.
“Is everything okay?” one of them called, and I smiled.
“We’re fine, thank you. But I think we’re ready to try on a few dresses.”
Bella clapped. “I want to do this one, and the two we chose earlier.”
“Good choice. Then we’ll think about shoes and accessories.”
“Accessories? Nobody said anything about accessories.”
“God, Matt, you’re such a drag.” Bella followed the assistant to the dressing room while Matt and I took a seat on the plush velvet couch.
“It’s nice that you’re doing this with her.”
“Let’s be honest, Tink. I’m just here to pick up the bill.”
“So dramatic,” I rolled my eyes. “Bella looks up to you. She loves you and this is important to her.”
“And I love you.” He swooped in kissing me deeply.
“Matt, we’re in public.”
“What’s the problem, Tink? Scared you can’t control yourself around me?” He winked playfully.
I liked this side of Matteo. Oh who was I kidding? I liked all sides of him. The last month had been the best few weeks of my life.
I’d moved into Matteo’s apartment immediately after everything happened. He’d offered to get me my own place, but I didn’t want to waste another second without him.
We’d spent an entire week barely coming up fo
r air. But life had to keep moving. Matteo had responsibilities to his family, and I found a part-time job helping with children’s dance classes at the VCTI where Arianne volunteered.
Nicco and Arianne had arranged for my mom to go into a drug treatment program and surprisingly she was doing well. Whether things would stay that way remained to be seen, but I could only hope she saw this was a real chance for change, now that she was away from Massimo. Things would never be the same between us, too much had happened. But it was a start.
Life was good.
Better than good, it was perfect.
And I thanked God every day that Matteo found me in that alley all those months ago and saved me.
“Okay you two, stop with the highly embarrassing displays of PDA,” Bella called through the stall door. “I’m ready to show you the first dress.”
“We can’t wait,” I said, elbowing Matteo in the ribs when he rolled his eyes.
“What do you think?” Bella stepped out and Matteo almost stumbled off the couch.
“Holy shit, pulce. Is that you?”
“Asshole,” she muttered.
“I’m being serious, Bella. You look beautiful.”
“I do?” She glanced down at herself, twirling slowly. “Caitlin, what do you think?”
“Matt is right, sweetheart. You look stunning.”
“I want this one. I feel… like a princess. Connor is going to die.”
“Connor. Who the hell is Connor?” Matteo stood up, frowning at his sister.
“Didn’t Cait tell you? I have a date.”
I jumped up, lacing my arm through Matteo’s.
“Isn’t that nice, Matt. She has a date.” I dug my nails into his arm, and he stuttered, “Nice, yeah, real nice.”
Bella snorted. “I already cleared it with Daddy, so you don’t get to sabotage this for me.” She stormed off toward the stall.
“A date?” He whirled on me.
“It’s junior prom. Of course she has a date.”
“Over my dead body.”
“Maybe we can find a compromise.” I pushed my body into his, running my hands up his chest.
“A compromise, you say. I’m listening.”
“I’ll go buy a set of that lingerie I caught you eyeing earlier, if you promise to play it cool about her date.”
“The black and gold set with the suspender belt?” he whispered, eyes hooded with desire.
“And the crotchless panties.”
“Fuck, Cait,” he groaned, running a hand down his face. “You’re killing me here.”
“Do we have a deal?” I cocked my brow, waiting.
“Get it in the pink as well and I think we can come to an arrangement.”
I smirked. “Men. So predictable.”
He leaned in, brushing his lips along the shell of my ear. “You won’t be saying that when you’re bent over the back of the couch with my mouth on your pussy.”
“Matt,” I breathed, shivers skittering down my spine.
He stepped back, winking. “Don’t start games you can’t finish, Tink.”
Bastard.
Bella appeared a second later, glancing between the two of us. “What’s wrong with you?” she asked me. “Why are you all flushed like that?”
“Me? I’m fine.”
Matteo caught my eye over her shoulder and shook his head with silent laughter.
“Your dress is beautiful,” I tried to change the subject, ignoring the ache deep inside me.
“Are you sure you’re okay?”
“It’s hot,” I said. “Don’t you think it’s hot in here?”
“I’m okay. Maybe you’re coming down with something?”
“Maybe.” I gave her a tight smile before suggesting we look for accessories. Bella was all too happy making a beeline for the rows and rows of purses.
“You okay there, Tink?” It was Matteo’s turn to smirk.
“I’m fine,” I said indignantly, brushing past him.
“We could always sneak off to a stall and I’ll help you with your little problem.”
“You’re a bad, bad man, Matteo Bellatoni.” Heat burned my cheeks, and he chuckled.
“Only for you, Tink. Only ever for you.”
After torturing Matteo with another couple hours of accessory shopping, we gave Bella a ride home and returned to our apartment to get ready for dinner with Arianne and Nicco, and Nora and Enzo.
We tried to get together as a group at least once a week. It wasn’t always easy, but family was important to all of them, and we tried our best to make it work.
“Wow, this place is—”
“Very exclusive.” Matteo kissed my cheek, his hand pressed to the small of my back as he guided me to the front of the opulent looking building. He threw his truck keys to the valet and jabbed a finger in the young man’s direction. “Look after her like she’s your own.”
“Y-yes, Mr. Bellatoni.”
“Seriously, for a truck?” I rolled my eyes.
“She’s not just any truck.” He leaned closer. “If you play your cards right, she’s the truck you might get lucky in on the drive home.”
“Do you ever stop?” My lips curved.
“Never.”
“Good evening,” the maître d’ greeted us.
“Hello, we’re joining Mr. Marchetti,” Matteo said.
“Ah yes, they are already at your table. This way please.”
The restaurant was beautiful. It had a curved window with panoramic views of the river. Everything was gold and black, giving the whole place an elegant feel. And everyone was dressed to the nines, Verona’s elite socializing.
It was world’s away from anything I’d ever experienced, but I loved it.
“Caitlin.” Arianne stood to greet us, pulling me in for a hug. “You look beautiful.”
“Thank you, so do you.”
“Cait.” Nicco kissed my cheek.
“This place is amazing.”
“Isn’t it?” Arianne patted the seat beside her. “We don’t come here often. Nicco doesn’t like all the fuss. But since we’re celebrating, I persuaded him.”
“Celebrating?” Matteo said. “Nicco didn’t mention we were celebrating.” He sat on my other side, resting his hand on my knee. I loved that he always insisted on having some part of him touching some part of me.
“So… what are we celebrating?” Matteo prompted, but Arianne glanced over his shoulder.
“Oh look, here’s Enzo and Nora.”
The two of them joined us and we all did another round of hugs and compliments.
Nora picked up her menu and let out a low whistle. “I hope you brought your wallet, babe.”
“Nicco invited us,” Enzo grumbled. “I figured he’d pick up the tab.”
“Classy, E, really classy.” Matteo snorted, taking a long pull of his beer.
I was used to being with them in public by now. The constant stares and whispers. Matteo and his cousins were well-known around Verona County. Even more so since Antonio had stepped down.
He had made a surprising recovery and finally been released from hospital a couple of weeks ago. But health complications had deemed him unfit to continue his duties, so he’d officially handed Nicco full responsibility.
Matteo didn’t go into much detail about it all, and I knew there would always be things he couldn’t tell me, but I didn’t resent him for it.
I loved and trusted him implicitly. His family were nothing like the monsters of my past. A past I rarely gave a second thought to now my life was full of people who genuinely cared.
“How is the job?” Nora asked me.
“It’s great. The kids are just the sweetest, and Debra, the dance teacher, is talking about handing me more responsibility soon.”
“That’s amazing. I keep thinking that maybe college isn’t for me, you know? I’m restless.”
“E not keeping you satisfied, Nor?” Matteo chuckled, and Enzo flipped him off.
“Says the guy who didn’t u
se his dick for eight months after he got ghosted by Caitlin.”
“What?” I gawked at Matt, certain Enzo was busting his balls.
“It wasn’t that bad, but it’s absolutely not something we’re discussing right now at dinner.”
I smothered the laughter bubbling in my chest.
“Anyway, what’s going on with you two?” Matteo changed the subject. “You said we’re celebrating?”
Nicco took Arianne’s hand in his and she nodded. “We have something to tell you,” he said.
“We’re pregnant.” Arianne beamed.
“Oh my God, babe, that is… oh my God.” Tears filled Nora’s eyes. “What… how… tell us everything.”
“Not everything, Boss. I don’t need to hear your sex stories.” Enzo smirked, adding, “Congratulations.”
“It wasn’t planned, so it was quite a shock,” Ari said. “But we’ve taken some time to think about it and after everything that happened with Antonio, we’ve decided we want this.” She gazed up at her husband as if he was the only man in the room.
“That’s amazing news, congratulations.” I hugged Arianne, emotion welling in my chest.
Matteo slipped his arm around my shoulder and pulled me into his side, dropping a kiss on my head. “One day,” he whispered. “One day that’ll be us.”
I wanted it.
More than anything.
I wanted the big white wedding, and two or three little olive-skinned, dirty-blond haired babies running around. But we had all the time in the world, and I didn’t want to rush a single second of it.
“Congratulations, guys. It’s amazing news.” Matteo lifted his beer in the air. “To baby Marchetti. May his—or her—life be filled with love, happiness, and super cool uncles.”
“To baby Marchetti.” We all toasted.
“Thank you,” Nicco said. “You’re the best friends a guy could have, and I’m lucky to call you family too.” He lifted his drink in the air and smiled. “To family.”
Matteo dropped his mouth to my ear again. “To family. My heart. My home. My everything. I love you, Caitlin.”
With tears in my eyes, I smiled up at the man who had saved me in more ways than he would ever know.
“I love you, Matteo Bellatoni, and I can’t wait to spend forever with you. No regrets?”
