Inside of her, Matteo’s cock swelled and pulsed as his shout mingled with her own. Holding herself tight around him as the last tremors rocked their bodies, she just barely stopped herself from falling forward onto his bandaged chest.
The words he was chanting finally penetrated her bliss-fogged mind. “Ti amo, sempre.”
“Too overcome to speak, she concentrated on regaining the will to move. After a long minute she slipped to the left, pushing up against his side until her breasts and sex were pressed against his arm and hip.
“I love you, too,” she finally whispered back, stopping his chant with a touch of her fingers.
He kissed the tips briefly before speaking again.
“Thank you,” he breathed.
“For what? I mean aside from the obvious...” she asked with a teasing smile, turning to look up at him.
“For everything. For saving me and for staying,” he said, the love in his eyes warming her down to her soul.
She reached up to touch his cheek. “You forgot something.”
“What?” He frowned.
“To thank me for proving that what we have now—just the two of us—is better than anything that came before.”
His eyes lingered on her face with a loving expression. “I know that’s true for me. I’m just grateful you feel the same way. And know this, as soon as I can hold you in my arms again, I’m never letting go.”
“Good,” she murmured, pressing her brow against his shoulder.
Because she didn’t plan on letting go either. And because he had just given her a brilliant idea…
Epilogue
Five months later.
“And this is mint,” Isobel said in a much-improved Italian accent, pointing to the dark green leaves. “In addition to its pleasing taste, it is very beneficial for the digestion as well as other minor ailments.”
Little Tomas leaned over to inspect the plant she was holding, his small brow creased in concentration. He didn’t reply, but that wasn’t unusual. He was incredibly intelligent, but Tomas was still growing accustomed to her presence. The only person he was truly comfortable with was his older brother Matteo, whom he called Papa.
Though shy with her, Tomas did like plants. He would silently trail her in the greenhouse Matteo had built for her whenever she was working in there. That had given her the idea to teach him about herbology.
In addition to the greenhouse, their countryside home had extensive gardens as well as several small streams and a fantastic view of the crystalline waters of lake Bolsena.
She made good use of the fertile land, growing everything she needed for her healing practice. There was a lot to teach Tomas about plants and the natural world. She even let him observe when the local villagers came to her for cures to their minor complaints. And despite his tender years, he paid close attention to everything she taught him.
It had been Isobel’s idea to claim Tomas as her son from a previous marriage. No one in Italy knew her, she reasoned, so there was little chance their lie would be discovered. They spread the story after Thomas’ adopted parents agreed to give him up.
The family that had taken him in had just found out they were expecting a second babe. After visiting them, Matteo had become convinced that Tomas was already being neglected in favor of their own son. The problem would only grow worse with a new child, so he’d given them a substantial financial gift and claimed his brother as his own—but not before warning her that no one would believe he was hers. The boy was too obviously a Garibaldi. Everyone would assume he’d sired a bastard before they met.
Isobel didn’t give a fig about the gossip. Despite his reticence with her, she adored Tomas. He was so much like Matteo, it was impossible not to love him. Though unnaturally reserved, the little boy was bright and considerate.
I can only hope to be as lucky with our own child, she thought pensively chewing her lip.
Forcing her attention back to Tomas, she continued her lesson. Today that included letting him plant his own strawberry seeds. They would grow year round in the greenhouse.
Once the Conte had discovered they’d taken his bastard in, he stopped visiting them in the country—although he still demanded Matteo visit him on occasion at their estate in Santa Fiora. Her husband obliged, mainly because Nino’s plot had brought his father’s business practices to his attention. He wanted to make sure the tenants and staff on all their estates were being treated well.
Isobel never went with him. Her feelings for the Conte were complicated and she couldn’t seem to keep from fighting with him.
Matteo didn’t mind visiting without her. He wanted time alone with his father so he could pressure him into revealing the whereabouts of his other bastards. From what Nino had said, there had to be more of them. Matteo had been wary about claiming them all, arguing that it wasn’t fair to her, but Isobel insisted she wanted a big family.
However, the Conte was adamant he had no other children, so for the time being there was only Tomas. And soon their own child.