The Don and His Mafia Princess: Book Two of The Costanzo Series - Standalone

EPILOGUE-TWO

I wake up with a contented smile on my face, basking in the afterglow of a restful night's sleep. At nines months pregnant, with my due date rapidly approaching, it's become increasingly difficult to find a comfortable position that allows for uninterrupted slumber. But last night, the stars aligned, and I was blessed with the gift of deep, rejuvenating sleep.

As I stretch languidly, I feel Stefano's strong arms snake around my rounded waist, pulling me closer to his sleep-warm body. He nuzzles his face into the crook of my neck, his stubble deliciously rough against my sensitive skin, and inhales deeply as if trying to absorb my very essence.

"Morning," I murmur, my voice still husky with sleep.

"Good morning, luce del Sol," Stefano replies, his lips brushing the shell of my ear and sending delightful shivers down my spine. "How was your night?"

"Not bad," I say, relishing the feeling of his large hand splayed protectively over the swell of my belly, his wedding band glinting in the soft morning light.

It's hard to believe that just two short months ago, Stefano and I pledged our lives to each other in an intimate ceremony surrounded by our closest family and friends. He had originally planned to propose during our trip to his family's private island, but my custom-made engagement ring - a stunning rose gold marquise diamond that takes my breath away every time I look at it - wasn't ready until we returned. A week after we got back, he dropped to one knee and asked me to be his wife, and I said yes without a moment's hesitation. We married two months later in a beautiful, understated affair that perfectly suited our desire for privacy, especially given my delicate condition.

"That's good to hear," Stefano says, his fingers tracing idle patterns on my stretched skin. "What time are you leaving?"

"In about an hour," I reply, reluctantly extricating myself from his embrace and heaving myself into a sitting position, no easy feat with my center of gravity thrown off by my burgeoning bump. "Aurora will be here soon to pick me up."

My best friend is deep in the throes of planning her own wedding, and today we're going dress shopping. I'm so excited to help her find the perfect gown for her big day.

"Alright," Stefano says, propping himself up on one elbow and eyeing me with a familiar heat in his gaze. "Do you want to shower with me?"

I know that look and the promise it holds. Even with my body transformed by pregnancy, Stefano's desire for me hasn't waned. If anything, he seems even more enamored with my new curves, worshipping my changing form with reverent hands and lips at every opportunity. It's a far cry from the days when my mercurial moods would get the best of me, leaving me feeling self-conscious and unattractive. But Stefano is always there to remind me of how beautiful I am, inside and out.

"I woke up horny today," I confess with a coy smile, feeling a familiar tightening low in my belly that has nothing to do with the baby.

Stefano's eyes darken with lust, his voice dropping an octave as he growls, "Good. I'm ready to please you until you can't scream my name anymore."

Hand in hand, we make our way to the bathroom, giggling like newlyweds. Under the steamy spray of the shower, Stefano proceeds to make good on his promise, bringing me to dizzying heights of ecstasy again and again until I'm boneless and sated in his arms.

Afterward, we share a leisurely breakfast, talking and laughing between bites of fluffy pancakes and crisp bacon. The love between us is a tangible thing, filling the sunlit kitchen with warmth and joy.

When Aurora arrives, I kiss Stefano goodbye and waddle out to her waiting car. The drive to the bridal salon is filled with excited chatter as Aurora, and I catch up on the latest wedding plans. The warm Italian sun filters through the car windows, casting a golden glow over our smiling faces. As we pull up to the elegant storefront, I can't help but feel a bittersweet twinge in my heart. While I'm thrilled to be sharing this special moment with my best friend, I know that beneath her brave facade, Aurora is struggling with the forced marriage looming on the horizon.