Dinner on Friday

Bonus Chapter 1

** Carla **

A warm breeze drifted through the open windows of our bedroom as Dante and I headed upstairs, our hands brushing together as we walked side by side. The day had been long but fulfilling, and now, we were ready to unwind.

I entered our bedroom first, slipping off my heels and letting out a small sigh of relief. Dante followed behind me, quietly closing the door. I rested my crutches on the wall as I unzipped my dress and glanced over at him. His shirt was wrinkled, and his dark hair had lost its usual sleek style, now tousled from the festivities. He had a rugged charm, especially when he was like this, relaxed and in his element.

I tossed my dress onto the nearby chair and made my way toward the en suite bathroom. "I think a shower is in order," I said, reaching for a towel. "And then, maybe a bed that doesn't have cake crumbs in it."

Dante chuckled, unbuttoning his shirt as he followed me, his feet quiet on the plush carpet. "That sounds like a plan, cariño. I'll check on the boys after the shower."

I protected my hair with a shower cap before jumping in the shower. Warm water cascaded over my body, soothing the aches in my muscles as I washed away the soil of the day. I tilted my head, letting the water wet my face, feeling the tension of having to entertain such a large crowd slip away.

Dante joined me a moment later, his strong arms encircling my waist from behind. He pressed a soft kiss to my shoulder, and I leaned back into him, enjoying the quiet intimacy of the moment. As usual, his cock was semi-hard whenever he got in the shower with me. I bit my lip and held back a moan. I could feel the definition of his muscles pressed against my back. The strength in his arms as he held me.

"Did you enjoy yourself today?" I asked softly, my eyes closed as I let the water work its magic.

"Of course," he murmured, his lips grazing the nape of my neck, sending shockwaves throughout my body. "You always know how to bring everyone together. It's one of the things I love about you, cariño."

I smiled, feeling warmth spread through my chest. "It wasn't just me. You made it home in time to help."

He chuckled against my skin. "Barely. But I wouldn't have missed it for the world."

We stood there in the shower for a while longer, just enjoying the closeness. I washed his abs, my favorite thing to do because I could stare at his beautiful dick and his wolf tattoo to my heart's desire without coming off as weird. Not that Dante would ever think me strange for admiring his body. However, my level of admiration was bordering on stalkerish behavior.

When we finally stepped out, I dried off quickly and slipped into a comfortable satin robe. Dante wrapped a towel around his waist, and we made our way to the boys' room together.

Lucas was already curled up in his bed, his favorite stuffed animal, a small, worn-out lion, tucked under his arm. His chest rose and fell softly with each breath, and I couldn't help but smile at the peaceful sight. Our youngest, Mateo, was still awake in his crib, his wide hazel eyes watching the mobile spin slowly above him.

"Looks like someone isn't ready for bed yet," I whispered as I leaned over the crib, gently stroking Mateo's soft cheek.

Dante grinned and reached for him, cradling the baby against his chest. "You're just like your mother. Always up late."

"Always been a night owl," I said, watching Dante carry Mateo over to the rocking chair by the window. He sat down and began to hum softly, gently rocking back and forth as Mateo's eyelids started drooping. It was a quiet, tender moment that made my heart swell. Seeing Dante with our sons reminded me of how far we'd come and how much we'd built together.