“How do you know?” I sucked in a breath. “Mother’s intuition?”
“Partly. But mostly because regardless of whatever happens between you and Nico, you’ve got Rossetti blood inside you now. Which makes you our blood, too. And we always protect what belongs to us.”
How had this magnanimous woman managed to turn one of the scariest moments of my life into one of the most hopeful? Val’s words gave me the fortitude I needed in order to face Nico and deal with whatever fallout this news might bring.
I can do this.
I would tell him.
Tonight.
I needed Lexi.
Needed to get my eyes on her, my hands on her, my mouth on her. I needed to hear her voice while staring into the blue of her eyes. Then I needed to stuff her full of nine inches with her mile-long legs wrapped around my neck until we both lost consciousness.
For the last three weeks, I’d been feeling that need with a singular intensity.
I whipped the Pagani Huayra into my garage and practically sprinted into the house. I fucking hated how late I’d been getting home to her recently. But I’d made the commitment to finally take over my share of the family business, and I wasn’t about to shirk on those duties.
We had several family holdings that needed managing, and Cris and I had decided to move some money around, so we’d been up to our asses in financial reports and acquisitional contracts. That was on top of my everyday dealings with my own businesses, as well as the extra load of trying to get a lock of Esposito’s whereabouts.
I was exhausted as hell.
But I would never be too exhausted for my wife.
In fact, as I entered the kitchen to the smells of her perfume and whatever meal she’d cooked for dinner simmering on the stove, I perked right the fuck up—along with my dick—with a sudden burst of renewed energy.
Lexi had been cooking regularly for the past three weeks. Some Russian fare, some American, and some Italian recipes my mom had given her. We were learning each other’s tastes, finding our food niches, through trial and error. It was actually starting to feel like a real marriage.
And I…fucking liked it.
Hey, no one was more surprised than me.
“Legs?” I called out as I shrugged out of my suit jacket.
When she emerged from around the corner, it felt as if my lungs popped like a balloon. I had never seen a more breathtaking, exquisite woman in all my life.
And somehow, I had the good fortune to call her mine.
In black leggings and an oversized burgundy sweater, she looked equal parts cozy and sexy. Her smile when she saw me was instantaneous and lit up her whole face, sending my breath shuddering all over again.
I tossed my jacket on the counter and crooked my finger at her.
As she sauntered toward me, I noticed her smile falter. There were also small bags under her eyes. “You okay?”
She took a moment to answer. “Yeah, I’m fine. Just a little tired. Didn’t sleep well last night.”
I lightly placed my hand over her throat, knowing the action always got her dripping wet. She loved it when I turned dominant.
Fingers skimming her jaw, I rasped, “I think that’s an affront to my performance last night, legs. I guess I didn’t wear you out enough.”
I pulled back just enough to see her pupils dilate right before her lids fell shut. “Oh, believe me, you did. I’m still sore.”
I bared my teeth in a smug smile. “Felt me every time you sat down today, did you?”
“Every time I moved at all, Nico. You were relentless.”
A growl rose up my throat. “I’m sorry, who was it that placed those dessert things on her own breasts and told me I could only eat them if I agreed not to use my hands? Because that sure as shit wasn’t me.”
“Is that complaining I hear?”
“Not on your life.”
She giggled. “Those desserts are called pryanik, and now I know they bring out the animal in you.”
I bucked my erection against her. “You bring out the animal in me. Mess with the bull, you’ll get the horns.”
She wiggled her pussy right over my hard ridge. “I’m only interested in one horn.”
I took her mouth in a wild, breathless kiss that had us both groaning. I couldn’t listen to her sensual voice for one more second without taking a hit of the opium that was her addictive flavor. I wanted her playful tongue dancing with