Married With Malice: An Arranged Marriage Romance
Married With Malice: Chapter 25

Her name is Margaret Brianna Connelly.

Margaret is Peggy’s full name. Brianna was selected to honor Cale and Luca’s father, Brian. She’s a seven pound, three ounce miracle born with wisps of her mother’s bright red hair and she’s captured her Daddy’s heart before she takes her first breath.

Cale is so busy being awestruck by his tiny, swaddled daughter that he doesn’t even notice when we walk into the room. She was born just after eleven p.m. last night and we were only allowed to peek in on her for a few minutes before a nurse chased us out and told us to come back in the morning.

We’re back and we’ve brought Peggy with us. Cale sits in a chair with the baby in his arms. Sadie, looking exhausted but luminous, waves from the bed.

“Oh, my precious girl,” Peggy says and to everyone’s shock, she’s sobbing as she runs to Sadie’s side.

Cale finally looks up and even though there are tired shadows under his eyes, there’s so much wholesome pride in his face it would be impossible to guess his former ruthless reputation.

We stopped by the gift shop to buy balloons and a pink teddy bear. There’s already an overflow of gifts taking up space on a narrow countertop and I fit in our offerings as best I can while Peggy hugs and kisses Sadie and examines her for damage.

“Haven’t you eaten anything today?” She roots around in a giant quilted tote and pulls out a pair of wrapped banana bread loaves that we baked first thing in the morning.

“First, meet your namesake,” Sadie insists and signals to Cale to bring the baby closer.

Baby Margaret yawns and opens her eyes. Right now her eyes are blue but I wonder if they will turn green like the eyes of her father. And her uncle.

Peggy needs to be persuaded to hold the baby. She tries to sniff away her emotional tears as she stares down into the face of Sadie and Cale’s daughter so we do her a favor and just pretend not to notice.

Luca gives his brother’s back a pat of affection and hands him a small duffel bag with a change of clothes. Sadie and Margaret will be here for another night and there’s no way Cale is going to leave his wife and baby girl for a second. We can take care of the ranch.

Gus stops by to fuss over the baby and deliver a wardrobe of tiny Halloween costumes. She’s not there for long before receiving a call about a Labrador that swallowed a salt shaker and needs emergency surgery.

I’ve already held the baby twice and Luca is the only one in the room who hasn’t held her at all. Sadie points this out and demands an immediate remedy.

“Go on, Uncle Luca.” I nudge his shoulder.

Cale vacates his chair and pretty much shoves Luca into it. He gently takes tiny Margaret from her mother’s arms and carefully hands her over.

The sight of Luca holding a newborn baby jolts my ovaries awake. They are now ready to party. I snap a photo with my phone.

Cale backs away to watch his brother meet his daughter. He ends up leaning against the wall beside me. Over on the bed, Peggy is feeding slices of banana bread to Sadie and then fluffing the pillows.

I inch closer to Cale and we watch Luca bond with his niece. She flexes a tiny hand and when she grips his finger he smiles.

Cale notices my proximity and gestures to his brother. “Know what? The only other baby I’ve ever held was him.”

He’s not a man who parts with his emotions easily. But I can hear the sentiment in his voice and detect his look of distress.

Cale is fiercely devoted to the little brother he’s spent his life protecting. And he blames himself for the predicament Luca is now in.

This is something I understand all too well, an unshakeable sense of responsibility for a beloved sibling you would gladly sacrifice your future for.

I keep my volume low to ensure we’re the only two people in this room who can hear. “I’ll help him, Cale. I won’t give up until he’s out of this mess. I promise.”

He doesn’t move, doesn’t even nod. I’m sure he thinks my promise is a futile one but I believe that together, Luca and I will find a way.

Margaret falls asleep in Luca’s arms. Sadie and Cale look as if they could use some serious rest as well. Peggy comes to this conclusion first and announces that the time has come for us to leave. She tracks down a hospital nurse and demands a portable cot for Cale. No one dares to argue with Peggy.

We leave the little family to enjoy some quiet time alone and return to Bright Hearts Ranch where there’s no shortage of chores to keep us busy until nightfall.

On the drive back to the ranch, Peggy is nestled between us in the cab of Sadie’s truck. Luca catches me looking over her head as I watch him. He grins and I’m filled with such a yearning to be with him, really be with him, that I can hardly sit still.

My yearning will have to wait. There are dozens of living creatures whose needs must be met before mine. But all day I’m making plans in my head and each time I catch a glimpse of my husband, I feel flushed and giddy at the same time.

It’s after dinner and the sun has long since disappeared when Luca finally conducts the last rounds to check on the animals, ensure that the heaters are working, and lock up. The skies are clear but the temperature is still below freezing and Luca insisted on dealing with all of this himself while I remain in the warm house.

When I finally hear the key turn in the front door, I tiptoe barefoot into the hallway and wait.

Zeus and Apollo, napping on the living room sofa, have grown accustomed to Luca by now. All they do is lazily lift their heads from their paws before settling back down.

There’s a low murmur of voices as Luca looks in on Peggy one last time. Then comes the heavy thud of his boots and the sound of him dropping them by the front door, one after the other.

My eagerness and anticipation kicks into high gear. A rapid pulse beats in my ears and heat crawls up my body even though I’m wearing only a pale pink satin chemise nightie and the house is far from toasty.

Every sound seems amplified and every second stretches too long. Luca double checks the locks. The rustling noise is probably him shrugging out of his coat.

I’m motionless as he turns the corner and stops short. His eyes roam the length of my body, lingering on my bare legs and sweeping back up to my face with a spark of desire.

Why wasn’t I ready with a comment? Something hot and inviting that meets the moment.

Instead, I croak out the word, “Hi” while my back remains flattened against the wall.

Then Luca smiles and the moment turns perfect.

His smile is sunshine landing on frost.

And I melt accordingly.

Luca reaches behind his neck and pulls his hoodie over his head. The black long sleeve shirt underneath is removed next, leaving only his magnificent bare chest.

His eyes lock on mine and his throat bobs as he closes in.

We’re both nervous.

It doesn’t matter that we’ve already had sex dozens of times. We’re very aware this time is different.

“Hey, baby,” he whispers. His arms circle my waist and pull me in.

Slowly, I run my hands over his muscled arms, forever enthralled with the powerful feel of his body. I’ll never want anyone else but him.

My breasts have collided with the solid wall of his chest. The left strap of my nightie slithers from my shoulder.

He tightens his arms around me, making sure I feel him, hard and ready. I press my lips to the center of his chest and revel in his shuddering exhale. My tongue flicks out to taste his skin and he lets out a low, desperate noise that declares his restraint is rapidly disappearing.

I kiss my way up to his collarbone, stretching on tiptoes to reach his neck, running my tongue along the pulse point. He lowers his head and our mouths connect in a heated dance. When I’m lifted up, my legs curl around his waist for the short journey to the bedroom.

Luca kicks the door closed. The nightstand lamp is on and I’m glad I can see him as he sets me down on the bed with care. There’s an almost pained gentleness written on his face, like he wants so badly to keep going slow even though it’s killing him.

Facing him atop the mattress on my knees, my fingers explore the sculpted contours of his chest. He sucks in his breath when I touch his belly and trail lower, tracing the swollen outline of his cock. He surges against my palm and an answering rush of warmth blooms between my legs.

His jeans are unsnapped, unzipped, his boxers dragged down, and then I’m holding him in my hand, stroking the length and teasing the tip with the pad of my thumb until he groans and drops his forehead to mine with a shaky exhale.

I’ve missed feeling him inside me. It’s only been weeks but it feels like forever.

Luca is breathing harder, rapidly reaching the point where he isn’t willing to hold back anymore. I let him hold my arms up so he can slide my nightgown over my head.

He finishes kicking his jeans and boxers off and eases me to my back. My knees instinctively separate to let him in. He lowers himself gently, keeping eye contact, and as much as I want to be even closer, I brace a hand on his chest.

“Wait.”

Luca freezes. “Do you want to stop?”

“No, I just…”

Trailing off and gathering my courage, I need a deep breath to complete the sentence.

“I need to tell you something.”

He pushes up on his palms and gazes down. “You can always tell me anything, honey.”

Maybe I need one more deep breath.

When I take it, the last of the shadows and doubts that have held me back are gone.

“I love you, Luca. I just want you to know that before we do this. I love you so much.”

He shuts his eyes and his head falls. A tremor of emotion moves through him.

“Say that again,” he begs, his voice slightly muffled.

I touch his neck and kiss the top of his head. “I love you, Luca Connelly.”

It’s far easier to say the second time. Maybe that’s how it will be from now on. The more the words are uttered, the more easily they fall from my tongue.

Luca raises his head. Incredibly, those vivid green eyes that vexed me for so long and now hold the keys to my heart, are misted over.

“I love you too, Annalisa. I don’t ever want to be away from you, not even for a day.”

My knees open wider and I arch my back to give him better access. “Make love to me. Please.”

Luca enters me slowly. Our eyes stay locked together. His thrusts are deep and he moves at a slow, deliberate pace until I begin to tremble. His hands slide under my hips, lifting me up. We remain joined as we sit face to face.

He pushes my hair aside and kisses me with slow tenderness. I’m aching to ride him hard, to relieve the mounting pressure and come. I know he is too.

We’ll get there. We’ll savor this first.

He touches his forehead to mine. “Marry me, Anni. Right here and now.”

We rock together in perfect sync.

“I’ll marry you anywhere, Luca.”

He tips his head back and stares into my eyes for a long moment.

“I, Luca Damiano Connelly, take you, Annalisa Constanza Barone, as my wife. I swear to love you, respect you and cherish you, and you alone, for the rest of my life.”

The feelings cascade through me. Tears squeeze out of my eyes and I won’t stifle them. For once they come with overwhelming happiness. I celebrate their arrival. They openly streak down my cheeks as I utter my most sincere promise to him.

“I, Annalisa Constanza Barone, take you, Luca Damiano Connelly, as the husband of my dreams. I will always love you. I will always honor you. It’s you and me, as long as we live.”

Our pledge is sealed with a kiss. A gossamer vine unfurls from my soul and links to his.

This is how it feels to belong to someone and know that he belongs to you. It seems impossible that we were ever meant to end up anywhere but right here.

As we kiss, Luca slowly lowers me to my back. He’s still inside me and I love the feel of his weight. We’re both ready to give in.

I lock my legs around his waist. He pumps faster, harder. The tide of sensations rises and I let it carry me away. There’s no such thing as being too close to him. He watches my face when I come and he waits until I’m finished crying out and quivering before he lets himself go. I tighten my legs around him, selfishly keeping him with me as long as possible. When he’s completely spent and finally withdraws, I let out a small whimper of objection. He calms me with a tender kiss before his head falls to my chest.

My fingers stroke his damp hair as my heartbeat returns to normal. Luca raises his head, kisses each of my breasts and rolls back, taking me with him so that our positions are reversed. He seizes a throw blanket and tucks it around me. His powerful arms form a protective cage as he cuddles me close.

I shut my eyes and let the other senses dominate for now but I won’t keep my eyes closed for long. I’m not ready for sleep and neither is he, not for a while yet. This night will be stamped on my heart forever so I want it to last and last.

This is what everyone wishes they had. This is complete happiness.