Her gaze flickered through the ensuite to the clock in the bedroom and she sighed, fifteen minutes had never felt so damn long. Red had been held up in traffic, and Julia had returned home earlier that day in preparation for their housewarming.

Now here she stood, a strange kind of hope blossoming within her, matching the floral summer dress hugging her body and whispering against the backs of her thighs. It had been three months since the incident with Simon, and for the first time in all those weeks, Julia felt safe. Finally, the clock ticked over along with her excitement. 

With goosebumps along her spine, Julia picked up the stick and flipped it over. She released the breath she'd been holding; the single line ran vertically along the bar along with her disappointment. Her fingers tightened on the plastic for a moment before she shook the thoughts away and dropped the pregnancy test into the bin beside the sink. Washing her hands, Julia left the ensuite and walked down to the large southern kitchen.

"Julia, you look lovely!" Tora complimented as she entered the space.

Julia made her way around the kitchen, "thank you, how'd we do on that lamb?" But Julia didn't need a response because she could smell the rosemary and dill. "Head home Tora, Red will be home shortly."

"I'm not allowed to leave until he's home, ma'am." Tora replied, her tone professional.

Julia smoothed her dress as she poured herself a wine and sat down at the breakfast bar, she looked at the young kitchen hand, "Tora, we are friends, yes?" Tora nodded. "Go home, I know your son is waiting for you." She shook her head, "I'll be okay, Noah and Levi are loitering, I'm sure they'll keep me safe."

"Okay, you sure I can't help with anything else?" Tora questioned.

Standing, Julia walked Tora out. "You've done plenty! Please drive safely." She watched the tall brunette drive away and then glanced around the yard, the wind bit at her skin and she shivered. Winter was drifting through, she closed the large wooden door and returned to the kitchen.

It wasn't long before soft music spilled into the home and voices bustled over the roast. Julia watched as her parents and brother engaged with Red's family, it was hard not to be disarmed by the affluent Alfonsi's. Even her father was off guard tonight, Red's parents Ronaldo and Nikheeta had that effect on the room. Only two of his brothers were in the state, Rhett had business across the border and was due home the following month. Dante and Swayer spoke about football with her brother and friends; Robyn and Marissa laughed at Benedict as he defended his team.

Julia's relationship with her parents remained strained, but they'd come to form a middle ground during Benedict's rehabilitation. The transplant had gone well, and his body was responding well to treatment, Julia counted her blessings. The doorbell rang and she smiled at the room before heading down the hall and answering it. Pulling open the door her grin widened, "you came!"

Marco wrapped his arms around her and tugged her into a warm embrace, "of course."

"Feels like I haven't seen you in months!" She complained, pulling away and helping him inside.

He removed his boots before looking up, "your husband doesn't like my company, Jules." Marco teased as he followed her through the home.

She shook her head, "don't be silly, Red knows you're my friend and he's not my husband."

Marco raised an eyebrow, "let's not talk about this tonight." He then joined the group and sat beside his sister. Marisa nudged him in the stomach and muttered something about him always being late.

Don't ruin the night. Julia's thought as she took her seat at the table, listening to her friend and dropping the subject.

"Red's late?" Nikheeta commented.

"He was caught in traffic, should be home any moment now," Julia replied, taking another sip of her wine. Though it had been forty minutes since she'd thought he'd be fifteen minutes away.

On queue, they heard the front door opening. Julia turned to meet her self proclaimed husband as he entered the dining room. Red had removed his jacket and stood in a crisp white dress shirt and black slacks; the man never disappointed. Subconsciously, Julia ran her tongue across her lower lip, much to her man's delight.

"Dinner smells good, baby." Red pressed a soft kiss to her forehead. He then greeted the room, before sitting down beside Julia.

The night continued with light chatter and Julia enjoyed the house feeling like a home.

* *

Red crossed his arms and leaned against the counter as Julia wiped the sink down. "That went well, sweetheart."

"It did, I'm happy, Red." She replied.

He snuck his around her waist and pulled her back to his front. "I like you happy, baby... would like you even more, happy and married." Red brushed his lips against her neck. "You know the courthouse opens at eight every morning."

Julia laughed, "Red you cannot just demand a woman's hand in marriage. It's too early."

Red frowned, "not a woman's hand. My woman's hand." He then continued, "it's been long enough, amore mio. How long are you going to make me wait?" He then ran his hand down her stomach and gripped the hem of her dress, "there are other ways to bind you to me, I guess I'll start with that tonight."

Heat rose from the pink tips of her toes right up to the flushed skin across her cheeks, "a little Red running around doesn't seem like a terrible idea," she mused, keeping her earlier disappointment to herself.

His grip tightened and with quick movements, Red pulled her dress up her body. "Don't tempt me, Julia."

She laughed, "I mean we haven't been being that careful, Red. I'd say we are tempting fate."

"Good." His response oozed satisfaction. Red turned her and she wrapped her arms around his neck. "Missed you, amore mio."

She pulled him down to meet her lips, each word punctuated with a kiss. "Missed. You. More. Baby."

He fell into their embrace, wrapping his tongue around hers and fighting a silent battle. His fingers dug into the soft flesh of her waist as he lifted her. Instantly she wrapped her legs around his waist. Red walked them over to the island and placed her down, "I'm thinking it's time for dessert..."

Her laughter filled the room as he spread her thighs and lowered his head between them, "you have a fetish, Red!"

The laugh turned into a breathy moan as he shifted her panties to the side and licked along her slick opening. "Yeah baby, you." Then he showed her exactly how much he missed her. His tongue dipped into her wetness before he used it to roll her clit, she fell back and allowed the man to bring her to her favorite kind of high.

She cried out his name as a climax built in her, just as it exploded around her, Red was standing. He released his cock and pressed it against her pussy. With one brutal thrust, he slammed into her, and she groaned around her orgasm and his intrusion. Red watched as she shivered on his cock, he remained still and allowed her muscles to clench around his shaft. Fuck she felt like pure fucking heaven, his woman was the only kind of religion he paid devotion to.

He ran his hand up her body before gripping her bra and tugging it down, her breasts spilled out and he dropped his head to take a nipple between his teeth. "You're going to undo me, Red..."

"That's always the goal, Tesoro. You deny me less when you're thoroughly fucked." He nipped at her breasts before he stood back straight and allowed her to catch her breath. Once she had, he gripped her hips and pulled her ass off the edge of the counter, she wrapped her hands around his forearms and met his hungry gaze equally.

When he remained still, she finally gave in, "please, Red..."

His jaw clenched, "good girl." Then he fucked her. Slow and sensual, taking leisurely strokes until she loosened up around him. Then he picked up his pass, faster, harder, deeper... She closed her eyes, feeling her body electrify under his touch, "such a beautiful woman, open, spread, mine." Red eased out of her before lifting her off the counter, her feet touched the floorboards and he smirked, "not done." Then he turned her and pressed her down across the island.

"Red..." She moaned as he pressed into her from behind.

His cock urged her inner muscles to relax as he hit the back of her channel, the position much deeper, "tip toes, Julia." She listened and lifted herself onto her toes, allowing him better access. Then he took her, rough and hard, like he'd been craving to all fucking day. She met each thrust with need and desire, his cock slick with her wet heat. It didn't take long; Red felt his orgasm claw up his body and with much needed relief he came inside her sweet little pussy.

She looked back at him, her gaze dazed and satisfied, "yeah, definitely missed you more."

Red pulled out and watched his cum leak from her pussy, using his cock he pushed it back inside and she allowed him to take his time. They remained there for a moment, enjoying the blissful aftermath. "We will marry, my love. Then we put a little Red in here." Feeling content, Red lifted her in his arms and carried her up to their room.

* *

The night stung his sharp cheekbones leaving them cold and bitter, he welcomed the chill as he watched the fucker touch his sweet Julia. Their new home was to his liking, it had plenty of windows and openings for him to watch as she moved about her day. Almost as if she'd thought of him when she'd picked it. Tonight, he felt the taste of blood coast his tongue, the scene before him made him fucking wild with emotions, he watched Red fuck his Julia in that fucking warmly lit kitchen.

He flicked the bud of his cigarette out and dropped it to the soil, using a booted foot he reduced the flicker of light to ash. Promising himself that his time would come, he'd have her, soon. Then he pulled his hood over his head and turned away from the scene before he did something reckless, he felt his cock harden and anger burn. "Won't be long now," he breathed out into the frosty darkness, and then he disappeared through the woodland on a trail he knew all too well.

Julia would be his. Soon...