Theirs to Protect - Julia Sykes Page 0,52
cookies, and we could watch unicorn kitten videos all day, every day while you heal up.”
“I don’t know,” Joseph said, uneasy. “How many days did the doctor say it’ll take you to heal? I love unicorn kittens as much as the next man, but all day, every day is a bit much for me.”
“Maybe just one video a day, then,” I compromised, grinning like a fool at the two people I loved more than anything else in the world. “The doctor says I should be okay to fly home in a couple days. Then bed rest for a few weeks.” I brushed away the last of Ashlyn’s tears. “I’m sorry we never got to take you to Pompeii, princess. We’ll come back for a visit this summer.”
Her eyes lit up with the innocent excitement I found so entrancing. “Really? Oh, that would be amazing!” She squeezed my hand and leaned against Joseph. “But I’m ready to go home now. I want to be in our bed. With both of you.”
Joseph kissed the back of her hand and winked. “If that’s where you want us, then that’s where we’ll be.”
“I don’t know,” I mused. “I liked the new suspension hook in the gym. We should consider repurposing other rooms in the house.”
“Sure, maybe we should remodel the media room,” Ashlyn said drily. “All those video game controllers and big screens really aren’t sexy.”
I hooked my arm around her waist, capturing my naughty girl. “Are you saying we spend too much time playing video games and not enough time playing with you, princess?” My lips twisted in a crooked grin. “Joseph, I think our greedy girl has been feeling neglected.”
He wrapped his arm around her from the other side, caging her between us. “Is that true, angel? Are you feeling neglected?” He leaned in to whisper in her ear. “Do you know how many orgasms you had last night? If you can give me the correct number, you’ll get a reward.”
“That’s not fair,” she said breathlessly. “You know I don’t know the answer.”
“That’s too bad,” he mused. “I guess I’ll just get to torment you instead.”
She giggled and flushed the most adorable shade of pink. Our wicked games delighted her. She truly was made for us. We all fit together perfectly. Our family.
Epilogue
Ashlyn
Three Months Later
The July sun over Italy was almost unbearably hot, but nothing could ruin this perfect day. A light breeze stirred the humid air, and I couldn’t resist doing a happy little twirl to release some of my buzzing excitable energy.
“Happy, princess?” Marco’s voice was rich with amusement.
“I’m back in Sorrento!” I squeaked, stretching my arms as though I could embrace the enormity of my joy.
Joseph lifted his phone and snapped a photo of my antics.
“That was sneaky,” I accused.
He grinned, unrepentant. “Marco will want to draw it later. I’m being helpful.”
I let out a long, blissful sigh and turned my attention back to the vista that’d appeared in my dreams dozens of times in the last few months. The view from the terrace of the Excelsior Vittoria hotel was even more stunning than I remembered. I wasn’t sure if my mind was capable of properly storing such a memory.
Marco came to stand beside me, slipping his hand into mine.
“You know how you love that devil’s food cupcake from Amelie’s bakery?” I asked him.
He glanced at me, puzzled. “Yeah.”
“Do you think that your memory of how good it tastes ever compares to that first hit of chocolate icing on your tongue? There’s the knowledge that it’s delicious, but that’s nothing compared to the reality of the flavor.” I drew in a deep, awed breath. “That’s how I feel about this place. It just feels…magical.”
He beamed at me. “I’m glad you feel that way, babygirl. I think Joseph’s glad, too.”
He tilted his chin, directing me to look to my right. All the air left my chest in a rush.
Joseph was down on one knee, a black velvet box in his hand. My heart soared and stuttered. I glanced at Marco. “But you…” I couldn’t find the right words. This scene was like something out of my wildest fantasies, but Marco had to be part of it for it to be perfect. I didn’t want a life of pretending to be Joseph’s wife while Marco hid in the shadows. He needed more than that. He deserved more than that.
He reached for me and pressed a red velvet box into my hand. “I got one for you too.”
He didn’t get down on