A Lifetime With You by Athrhteera

ena They room went quiet, and I thought they were going to throw looks at me. What happened next surprised me because they were smiling and began speaking in Italian. Most of them came to hug me and cup my cheeks but I didn't know how or what to respond

because I couldn't understand what they were saying.

"Don't scare the poor woman, Barbara!" Maria said, shaking her head.

"Oh, I've heard a lot about you. Your pictures didn't do you justice. You're prettier than in those pictures. Where did you meet your wife. Matteo?" She continued to speak, eyeing my features and my body.

Well. I heard about Italians, but I didn't expect to surprise myself when I came to meet them. Matteo wasn't like them but maybe because he was a man, and these were women. They were in their late forties or early fifties, and they surely had their fair share of gossip. "Come on, give her some space. Maria added.

Matteo was still beside me and his hand hadn't left my waist. He was keeping me close and secure which I appreciated as I leaned in deeper towards him.

"Mm, is this a new perfume?" He whispered, taking another sniff as he kissed my temple. It was a surprise, and my cheeks immediately heat up because we were in front of his family. They didn't seem to mind by the intimate act, but I felt as if they were staring. "I never used it before."

"Use it more often. I like it,"

Maria was standing in the middle of the crowd as she smiled, "I think I want to blow my birthday cake now because my son and my daughter-in-law is here. Let's go to the kitchen." She was excited when she began to walk to the kitchen, the rest following behind her while Matteo and I were the last to follow.

There were around ten to fifteen people in the kitchen as we all sang Maria a 'happy birthday' song. At first, they were singing in English before they started to sing in Italian. The whole time, Matteo was holding me close, as if he could lose me if he loosened the grip. They clapped and cheered as Maria blew the candles.

"Happy birthday, Mama." Matteo went to kiss his mother on the cheek before whispering something in her ear. It made her smile wider as she thanked her son

It was beautiful to witness, and I never expected to see Matteo being close with his mother. They had a good relationship-1 could tell. The rest of the family were smiling, too as they gave the chance for Maria and her son to enjoy the moment.

I missed mine. If only Papa and I were still in good terms.

It was bound to get awkward if I met Mama and bumped into Papa or Alexei.

"I'd like to say thank you to everyone. I've had my fair share of birthdays, but this year is different. My son, Matteo, surprised me with a daughter-in-law and I couldn't be more happier. You're always welcome in this family, Alena thank you." She smiled, her eyes were filling with tears before she carefully wiped them away. "I don't want to get all sad because I might ruin my makeup so let's enjoy!"

Everyone laughed as they raised their glass.

Matteo came to stand beside me, pulling me by the waist.

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"Everything okay, Alena?"

"Yes. I just didn't expect your mother to accept me that quickly.

"Why?"

"She's too sweet, Matteo and we're lying at her face." "Alena-

I cut him off. "I hate that I brought you into this."

Just as he was about to say something, we were cut off by one of his relatives. She was standing beside us with a smile as she handed us a slice of cake in a plate.

Matteo smiled back, taking the plate. "Thank you, Cara."

"I heard you two eloped in Sicily. I think it's really romantic," she spoke as she took a sip of her champagne. "Don't tell Maria but she wished she was there. I told her, you couldn't wait to marry someone you love. I mean, why would you elope unless you two are madly in love with each other?"

"We can always have a reception here," he replied.

"A reception?" Maria came to stand beside Cara, her eyes widening as she tried to hide her excitement. "Are you two going to have a reception, Matteo?"

"We could think about it, Mama. Alena and I are very busy and if we can find the right time to have a reception, we might but don't get your hopes too high." He responded with a safe answer, and he wasn't lying either.

The two of us were always busy. We couldn't easily free our time for a reception.

"Honestly, I just want to see you two tie the knot again, but I understand if you're both busy. I'm already happy." She grabbed both of our hands.

"We'll think about it, okay?"

She nodded, "Oh Alena, we should sit down, and I can show you Matteo's baby pictures."

"Mama, I don't think that's necessary." Matteo rubbed the back of his neck, trying to hide away the embarrassment but this was too good to be true.

mafia boss was all tough and ruthless but now I had the chance to see his chubby cheeks when he was smaller. Was I going to

baby pictures, Matteo. She needs to see how chubby you were when you were liule. Oh, and when

still holding the plate,

The other * relatives were talking and mingling in the kitchen as they ate-I felt better knowing they

knew he wasn't able going to stop his mother from showing his baby pictures, so he decided it was better to

have different albums, but this is the one we

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Chapter 16

moment I flipped it open. I saw a young

"He was ten."

"He was really cute."

know how he

not ruthless, Mama. He denied, cutting

more pictures. There was a newborn Matteo and as I turned the pages, he kept growing up. I didn't realize I was smiling as I ran my fingers across the pictures, seeing a huge difference between the adult and grumpy Matteo.

everything, gained a sharp jawline and even grew

just looking. something playing in his head. When I caught him staring, he

"Of course, it's yours.

might end up looking at

-You were t

Did you see those

those

laughed, "We should head outside and eat. I'm sure you two are starving. Besides, the family wants to get to know you -better, Alena." ""We'll

nodded before standing up and walking

a seat beside me, wrapping his arm around my shoulder as he leaned closer. "Do you really want

were too cute to resist. Your big brown

a smile as he continued to stare at me. I was beginning to feel my cheeks heating up and there was no use in

way he moved when we were

and resist the temptation. We were bound to get hurt if we continue-I was going

again, how could we resist each other in this marriage? We couldn't sleep

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Wed, Chapter 16

Π

having them eating me out. It was a sight to see. I knew I couldn't easily overlook the temptation because

my eyes the moment our lips

started off slow before it got passionate and involving tongues. He began to bite my lower lip which caused me to moan, allowing him better access

chuckled through the kiss, and I knew

like wearing panties,

doesn't mean it's an

be. If you spread

lower lip before occasionally glancing at the hall, afraid if someone was going to walk in on us. This was

forth like

forth. It doesn't have

don't want to risk

"Are you scared, Alena?"

I can't seem

Use me all you want. Use me all

"What is it going

way.

know what's going to happen tomorrow or the day after, but I know I want you, Alena. You're a f***g temptress and if you think you can't resist me, I'm failing miserably to resist you. I can't stop thinking

our feelings. We both know we can't resist each other, and the sex is just too good. It's better if we

s***y to resist and every single day, the more I got a taste of him, I kept wanting more. This could

all of this was just lust * and we needed to keep getting it out of our system so we could think straight and decide better in the future. We weren't going to sleep around. So, it

his face and kissing him All of the thinking were beginning to mess with my head. I couldn't think clearly anyway with his hand resting on my thigh

took it as a sign

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Chapter 16

my stomach. If someone walked in on us, they were going to walk in on a show-where the male

I like you better in a dress," he whispered

"Mm, why is that?"

access. And without panties on. I can always tell you're

s were

closed, and my legs spread apart as he kept pressing onto the exact spot. I kept covering my mouth with my hand because I didn't want anyone to hear my moans, but

I couldn't help myself.