Francesca was full and lazy.
And slightly drunk.
I loved my mother—but fuck if I didn't want to kick her out right now and carry my soft, supple, partially inebriated wife upstairs to our bed.
I finished packing the Margherita pizza and risotto away in the refrigerator while Francesca and my mother drank wine and laughed on the patio like old friends.It warmed my heart to see the bond they had built in only twenty-four hours.
But—that didn't mean I was willing to hand my wife over to my mother.I didn't think one night without Francesca in my bed would affect me like this.Not only had I missed the sex—I'd missed the closeness.I wanted her beside me.
And right now, I wanted to be inside her.
I finished up in the kitchen and made my way out to the patio.Before I sat down, my mother pushed away from the table.“All right, it is time for me to go.I don't want to overstay my welcome.”
Francesca's face dropped slightly.“You don't have to go.”
Fuck.
She was so goddamn adorable.Anyone with eyes and ears could see and hear how genuine she was.
My mother laughed and leaned down to hug Francesca.When my mother straightened up, she looked at me and smiled widely.“I love her.”
I chuckled and nodded.“Yeah.”My eyes found my wife's.“Me, too.”
Francesca bit her lip for a moment before giving me the sweetest smile I'd ever seen in my life.
Francesca started to get up, but my mother put a hand on her shoulder.“No, I can see myself out.You look so comfortable.Stay and put your feet up.”Then she bent down to kiss Francesca's cheek.“Thank you for the lovely visit.I can't remember the last time I had so much fun.”
Francesca smiled at her.“Me, either.”
I let out a sharp laugh.“I'll try not to take that too personally, wife.”I faked a frown at her—and then we all laughed.
I walked out with my mother, leaving Francesca on the patio.Once we were at the front door, my mother turned to me.“Most new daughters-in-law would kick their new mothers-in-law out as soon as they could.Not ask them to stay overnight on their honeymoon.”
I smirked at my mother.“Francesca's not that kind of girl,” I said with confidence.Because my new wife was definitely not the type of woman who would throw my mother to the curb.
“I know the kind of girl she is.”My mother set her hands on my upper arms.“She's the kind of girl who cries when her new mother-in-law gives her a ricer.”She gave me a glassy-eyed smile.“You did well,mio figlio.Very well.And,” her eyebrows raised up high on her forehead, “she's gorgeous.You'll make beautiful babies together.”
“From your lips to God's ears,” I whispered to her.
“Thank you for the wonderful time.”She hugged me and patted my back.
“Francesca will expect you back to make your sauce,” I reminded her with a grin.
She let go of me and smiled as she let out a long breath.“Yes, I'll bring my tomatoes over.”
I grasped her hand in mine and squeezed it.“Friday?”I asked and then added.“And you'll stay over again?”
Her tears weren't as silent this time.They came fast and furious.Her arms circled around my torso, and she hugged the fuck out of me.“Yes, I'd love that.”
I hugged her back and kissed the top of her head.“Good.”I walked my mother out to her car.The driver already had the door open for her.
Right before we got to the car, she stopped and turned to me.“Your father and I prayed every night that you'd find a wife like Francesca.He's looking down right now at you two and smiling.”Then she quickly turned and slipped into her car—leaving me—and my burning eyes—to wave goodbye.
I swallowed over my dry throat and made my way back inside.Francesca was right where I had left her.Sitting in my favorite place in the world.Slowly sipping from her wine glass.Her dark hair shone in the sunlight.Her already olive-toned skin was getting darker by the day.
Standing here watching her just made the need inside my belly grow fiercer by the second.I could feel myself getting hard—like I was a goddamn teenager again.
I adjusted myself and wandered over to my wife.“Need a refill?”I asked, picking up the wine bottle.