The Carrero Effect Trilogy

Chapter 27

Jake is watching me over a mug of coffee in the small café. My tears have finally stopped. I'm not heartbroken, just resigned and letting go of all that pent-up emotion; part of me is relieved. There are no other words for it. His eyes never leave mine, and his arms are aching to hold me, but he knows I need a moment to let my body, emotionally, mentally, and physically, settle. I want to get through this without any outside help. It's just something I need to do.

My Jake grounding me, always understanding what I need. He listens intently as I repeat every word from my encounter, holding my hand and letting me cry. He has wiped my tears and been the rock he always is.

"You don't want her at the wedding at all? No visits when the baby comes?" He's watching me closely, trying to understand my decision, wanting to affirm what and who I want in our future. I shake my head.

"No, as far as I'm concerned, both my parents are dead. I have my family, and its surname is Carrero." I link my fingers through his on the table and tug his hand closer to me, wanting him nearer now that I feel stronger. He lifts our linked hands to his face, tenderly running my thumb across his jaw, always so caring and there whenever I need him.

"You'll be a Carrero soon, Bambina. You're the daughter my mamma has always wanted. She told me." Jake's fingers rest on my bottom lip as I smile at him, and he smiles back. His adoring eyes locked on mine, mesmerizing me with their green beauty. I hope our child will have Jake's green eyes, the kind that draws you in and steals your soul with love, compassion, and kindness like his.

"I love your family, even Giovanni." I giggle to see Jake frowning at me, a look of 'really?' running across his face. He shakes his head as though I've seriously lost the plot.

"My father is … complicated." He sighs, looking out across the small café, still no closer to seeing his father in any other light than the man who hurt his mother.

"Of course, because I know nothing about complicated parents." I roll my eyes and giggle again when he tugs my chin forward, leaning over to kiss me across the table. The gentle brushing of his lips quells any lasting hints of sadness inside me. He sits back down but doesn't let me go.

"I know he's the strong silent type who thinks it's weak to show so many goddamn emotions, but he is allergic to any sort of affection." Jake frowns harder, a mild irritation passing over his sexy mouth. He doesn't like talking about Giovanni in any way. If anyone has any allergy, it's Jake and the topic of discussing his relationship with his father.

"I'm sure your mother disagrees; she was manhandling him under the table ten minutes before you proposed." I let out a stifled laugh at the mortified, gaping expression startled across Jake's beautiful face. He looks torn between being physically sick or hurting someone.

"No, she wasn't!" He shakes his head, frowning and grimacing to remove the image from his mind, then lets me go so he can use both hands to scrub his face. "I don't even want to know." His voice is ridiculously cute. He sounds like a child completely traumatized by catching his parents canoodling.

"More of your daddy in you than you care to admit, Mr. Carrero. Your mamma and papa are obviously still very young regarding their libido." I smirk at him wickedly, trying to contain the laughter in my throat at his obvious discomfort, and then jump when I see that mischievous grin coming my way. He rounds the table for me, and I high-tail it out the door. He is a little terrifying. We've already paid, so he catches up to me quickly in the street, swinging me into his arms.

"I'm taking you back to our hotel to wash that mouth out and apply some discipline for saying disgusting things." He's smiling, but I think I may have scarred him for life. He still has a rather pale hue and an unamused expression on his face. I hope he never actually witnesses any of his parents' shenanigans first-hand, or Jake will need to join Daniel and me in therapy; that would be cozy.

"What kind of discipline?" I lift an eyebrow, snuggling in closer, arms snaking around his neck and pressing myself close. This could be interesting. Jake's kinky side has been toned down since our reunion, but here's hoping it makes a grand comeback.

"Depends on how frisky you get between here and there … I could be persuaded to tie you down or maybe work you into some seriously aggressive, angry sex." The lust-fueled promise in those eyes has me squirming against him, unable to contain the way they light my insides on fire. Promises of lingering memories have me all out panting.

"Or both … you've never angry fucked me while I've been tied up." I grin naughtily as he turns from serious to boyish, chuckling, his brow lifting in surprise.

"I'm seriously starting to worry about what I've done to you, Miele. What happened to my sweet, naïve little ice maiden? When did you start calling it fucking?" He kisses me on the nose adorably, but I will not be swayed. I start kissing him seductively and sucking in his bottom lip with a bite.

"Keep doing that, and I'll fuck you right here in any fashion you want," Jake growls at me, and my inner core self combusts. I can't deny an invitation like that … and move in for a steamier kiss, wrapping myself around him tighter and higher. I don't care who is walking around us or that we're standing in the middle of a busy street. He has always taken my pain away, knowing instantly what I need to help ground me. Right now, I can't imagine anything I want more than a crazy angry release and a lot of kinky fun with him to forget about her and everything that coming here symbolized.

"Lucky I parked the car so close," Jake growls again against my mouth, sliding down to cup my butt and pulling me off my feet. Pinned to his taut body as he strides purposefully towards it, carrying me with him, not giving a crap about the heads turning our way.

* * *

I'm breathless, exhausted, and most definitely satisfied, staring at the hotel ceiling while Jake channel-hops on the TV aimlessly. He's sat up with his back against the headboard and a sheet at his waist, a little flushed and most definitely perspiring, showing signs of a lot of exertion for once. His hair looks ruffled for the first time ever because I ran my hands through it crazily when we had crazy sex. It is a good look on him.

"Your stamina seems to be failing you, Mr. Carrero." I grin at him, lying flat on my back and stretched out in the afterglow of an afternoon of kinkiness. I'm sprawled, luxuriating in how I feel right now. He smirks down at me and tweaks my nose.

"I've still got it, baby. You're just catching up to match me, took you long enough." He settles on some loud macho movie and slides back down beside me. "Want to order room service and stay here all night?" His fingers trace patterns on my collarbone softly as he leans over me on one arm.

"I wasn't aware we had other plans while in Chicago." I point out, snuggling into him, entangling our limbs under the sheets.

"I thought you could give me a tour of where you lived and grew up, but I don't want you here. I want you out of this place and back where you belong. Back in the Hamptons, getting our new house together." He places a hand on my face, stroking my cheek, bringing his nose closer to mine so we share air. Those hazy green eyes are coming to draw me in like they always do.

"I agree." There's nothing here for me in this city anymore, and the plan was always to stay one night and leave in the morning when I'd seen her, starting our journey to our new home directly from here. I am closing the door not only on her but also on this city and all its memories.

"Food, movies, and more sex … Sounds like my kind of night, Bambina." He kisses me slowly, then pulls back to look at me again. I can't resist the urge to reach up and tangle my fingers in his hair, tugging it a little, so he leans toward me, kissing me at the invitation.

"Better make the most of it. Soon our nights will be filled with feeding, crying, and a lack of sleep." I grin and watch as that filters through his over-sexed Carrero brain. The little flicker of a frown as he contemplates life with a baby.

"That's what grandparents are for, and often." He smirks again, and I can't be mad at him for that, as it's another thing I'm looking forward to. How loved my child will be in this crazy family of people. Not just Jake's immediate family but the extension of people who flock to the Carrero home every couple of weeks; cousins, in-laws, and all the others who live around too. Plus, our extended circle of friends will adore our little one as though they are blood relations.

"We really are going to be okay, aren't we?" I stroke his face gazing at those beautiful eyes, losing myself in them and daydreaming, bringing Jake's words back as a reminder that I should always trust him.

"I told you, didn't I? I would move mountains to make sure of it. You're my world, this …" he cups my stomach, "…is my world. I would move heaven and Earth to protect you both. You changed my entire life, Emma, for the better. I don't think you realize how much you've given me." The seriousness in his look and the way he's lingering over my abdomen sends a sweet ache into my soul, and my voice catches in my throat.

"I haven't given you anything but me, and you've given me all of this." I wave my arms around at the five-star hotel room, the ring on my finger, and then run a hand down my stomach. Finding his hand there, I entangle our fingers. "You gave me the fairy tale, the perfect sexy man, the crazy opulent lifestyle, and the happy ever after, Jake, all I gave you was some scared girl so afraid to love." Tears fill my eyes.

"That is the most amazing gift you can give anyone. Having you is more than all this combined. You saved me from myself, from an empty life of parties, fame, women, and booze, and driving myself into the ground with work. You gave my life meaning and feeling. You gave me a purpose and completion, Emma. I know it took a while to stop and realize that I had it all, but we're here now, and I promise this is only the beginning. This will only get better. We have much more to look forward to, and this baby will change everything."

I'm bowled over by the intensity of Jake's gaze and every word he's saying to me. His voice is husky with emotion, and I can't breathe with how much I need him now. "Miele, I didn't save you. You saved yourself and me in the process. I only showed you the way."

Tears prick in my eyes over the way Jake views what we are, but he couldn't be any more wrong. He saved me from me, emptiness and loneliness, and fear. He has given me the strength I pretended I always had, unlocking the doors to let me deal with my past. He gave me love in many ways; in return, it enabled me to love myself and heal. He truly is my world, and I have everything I could ever need or hope for in this room.

"I love you so much, so very much. I never want to hide or run or lose you again. I swear I'll always try my hardest to tell you everything I'm thinking and feeling and never shut you out or make you think I don't need you. I can't breathe without you." I sigh tearfully, and Jake's eyes mist up too, holding me close. My words tumble out in a way that I can't control, and I can't help but smile. I think back to PA Emma, she would have been verbally frozen, unable to say a word, but here I am, letting every single thought in my head pour out uncensored for him.

"I can't wait to marry you, to have you as my wife … I want you. I want the world to know you're mine and see how proud I am of you. I worship the ground you walk on, Emma. You're my everything." Jake kisses me hard, passion spiking between us. I can't say anymore. My throat is full of tears, bursting with intense emotion, and my heart is cracking under the pressure of so much love. I wrap myself around him greedily, holding tight and committing this moment to memory.

This moment is too precious for sex or talking, so we hold each other tenderly, stroking hands and kissing; erotic but slowly and sensually, heightening our feelings for one another.