I was nervous.

Man, I was nervous.

My eyes scanned the crowd, waiting until I found exactly who I was looking for.

"Mr. West, this painting is exquisite," a woman dressed in a red, floor-length gown says, tipping her glass towards it. "Quite remarkable, really. I haven't seen this kind of raw talent in...well, ages."

"Thank you," I say mindlessly.

My attention was elsewhere.

"I think I may take it," she sips on her champagne. "I have a perfect spot for it, beside my bed."

I roll my eyes. I had no interest in what this woman was suggesting at all. I politely excuse myself, making my way to the balcony for some fresh air.

I know she said she'd try to make it, but with our busy schedules, I can understand why she wouldn't be able to. I really do. But I mean, I was dying to see her again.

"My my, Mr. West," I hear from behind me. "Quite the turnout, I see."

I whip around, my heart skipping a beat. My goodness, she's still gorgeous.

After all this time together, she's still beautiful, still manages to knock the air out of my lungs. My palms are sweaty, words catching in my throat. I blink, taking her in.

Lina West is the most beautiful, stunning woman on the planet. Her blonde hair was passing her shoulders now, much longer than the last time I saw her in person. Body curvier, eyes shining at me. She was absolutely glowing.

Fuck, my heart can't stop racing.

"Only one person who matters, Mrs. West," I grin, stepping towards her. "And she finally just arrived."

"Oh, she did? Should I be jealous?"

"I wouldn't bother. She already has all my attention."

Lina steps, closing the distance between us. "Lucky girl."

"Luckier guy," I snake my arm around her waist. I pull her flush to my chest, electricity shooting through our bodies. The feel of her pressed against me after all these months has my heart racing and my dick hardening. "Hi there."

"Hi," she wraps her arm around my neck. "Missed me much?"

I push her against the brick, making her feel me. "You could say that."

Lina, after many years of convincing, finally listened to me, tried her hand at writing. She didn't think she had what it took—to successfully take someone into a world she created and let them get lost in it, the way she loses herself when reading.

But I knew she did. I always knew she could.

And when she finally finished a few chapters, I couldn't let her stop. She kept writing and writing and she finally finished her love story about two people, who couldn't be more different, finding love within each other.

The people, myself included, loved the story.

After a couple years of sending it out to different publishers, one gave her the shot she needed. And the rest is history.

She was on a small book tour, so she had to travel back to the states. I've been here, waiting for her to come back home. Supporting her career, making sure I kept things at home taken care of for her.

It's been a long year. But damn, I've never been more proud of her. And somehow, she still managed to get back to Italy for my art show.

I married a super hero, I swear.

"I missed you, too," she breathes, breath fanning across my lips. "How're the girls?"

I smile. Because our girls are just as strong and fierce as Lina is.

"Beatrice claims she's in love, Varenna says she's gonna be a princess, and Ilaria always has her nose in a book. Much like her mother."

Lina smiles that big, proud smile she does when she's thinking or talking about something she really loves. Which in this case is our children.

"Wait, Bea is in love?" Lina gasps. "With who?"

I smile, tucking her hair behind her ear. "You're beautiful."

That makes Lina blink lovingly at me. "So are you."

"I missed you."

"I know, I can tell."

I laugh, lowering my lips to her ear. "Wanna get out of here?"

Lina laughs, but her grip tightens around me. "We can't leave your own art show, Hayden."

"Why not," I kiss her ear. "I don't mind."

"But I do," her breathing is heavy, not convincing me one bit. "You need to be here."

"I need to be inside you, actually," I groan, thrusting my hips against her.

She gasps lightly, her eyes shutting. I don't care about anything else except her. And feeling her again. I missed her too damn much.

And her resolve is running out. "And what about the people who want your paintings?"

"Don't care," I kiss her neck.

That's all it took for Lina to whimper and claim my lips. Fuck me, it's been too long. I hated the distance, but I was willing to do anything for Lina. But nothing beat feeling her lips on mine, having her in my arms.

"Upstairs, now," I mutter against her lips.

Just like when we were sneaking around, Lina got a mischievous glint in her eyes. She turned, casually walking through the crowd. A little too slow, actually. She was teasing me, making me wait for it, saying hi to a few people as we passed by.

But I pressed myself against her back, and that was enough motivator to get her on the elevator. I stood beside her, hand on her lower back. The older couple nodded towards us as we got on. But I just wanted her alone.

My hand lowered, grabbing a handful of her ass and squeezing. Lina smacks my arm, but the desire flares through her eyes. The couple finally got off on floor ten, and as soon as the doors shut, I pinned Lina against the nearest wall.

She looks up at me with that lustful gaze she has just for me. "Hi there."

I grin, trailing my fingers down her arm. "Hi."

"You look extremely handsome tonight," her voice lowers an octave, making heat flood through my body as she grabs my tie and tugs me towards her. "Sexy."

"You do, too, love." I lower my head to her ear. "This dress is very beautiful on you, by the way."

I'd sent Lina this black floor-length dress a month ago; it has spaghetti straps, dropping down to a modest v-cut that exposed just the right amount of Lina's cleavage to me, and my favorite high thigh slit, exposing her long leg to me. Plus it had lots of sequin, making Lina shine more than she already does.

She needed to be the center of attention tonight. And damn, I'm gonna be sure to give it to her. Cause when I saw this dress, lots of scenarios played out in my mind.

"Thanks," she grins. "I guess my husband does have good taste after all."

The doors opened, letting us on our floor. I followed behind Lina, pressing against her back as we stood in front of the door as I grabbed the keycard.

"Mm," I say as I lean over, whispering in her ear. "I can't wait to fuck you in it."

Lina's gasp was slight, but I heard it. The door clicks unlocked and I push her inside without hesitation, pushing her against the door. Lina yanks me down by my tie, our lips colliding in perfect collision.

"I missed you," she groans against my lips, pushing her tongue into my mouth.

I push my hands into her hair, tilting her head back. Giving her more. "I missed you, baby."

She moans into my mouth and I greedily take it, our tongues fighting for dominance. Lina surprises me by pushing my shoulders and pushing me against the wall beside us, ripping my shirt open. The buttons bounce on the floor, making me chuckle.

"I thought you didn't like messing up clothes."

"No," she puts her hands on my bare chest, making me suck in a breath. "I don't like you ripping all my fancy lingerie and dresses, which you still do." She smiles. "But something tells me you like it when I do it."

At that, one of her hands glide down my body to rub over my erection. I groan, nodding.

"Of course I do, you're so damn sexy like this."

"What, horny?" She smiles as she pushes my jacket and my shirt down my arms.

"I meant in control, but that, too."

She grabs my tie, looking up at me. "Cause I've been extra horny, baby. And having to try to satisfy myself alone isn't the same as having you with me."

"Damn straight," I mutter before pressing my lips against hers again.

We get lost in the heated kisses, lost in each other. Lina finally steps back, breathing heavy as she looks at me.

"Sit."

I quickly sit on the bed, looking at her. She slowly walks towards me, wrapping the tie around my neck and guiding me upwards to look at her.

"I have something to tell you."

I reach for her, placing my hands on her hips. "Right now?"

"Yes," she breathes shakily.

I nod, pulling her onto my lap. I push her hair back, tucking it behind her ear. "I'm listening, baby."

She bites her lip, putting her hands on my shoulders. "Well, you remember how a few months ago, you surprised me on my book tour in DC?"

I smile at the memory. I missed Lina way too much, so I got my mom to watch the kids while I traveled back to the states to spend the weekend with Lina. And hot damn, the sex we had was incredible.

I mean, it always is. But that night, we were on fire. All the stress we were feeling from work just released into mind blowing, incredible sex. We really didn't even sleep much those few nights.

"How can I forget?"

Lina blushes. "Well, I started feeling sick a couple weeks after. Throwing up a lot. I thought it was a stomach bug and—"

After three pregnancies, I knew what was about to happen. She was gonna tell me she's pregnant again, and we're gonna spend all night having sex because we're so happy.

"You're pregnant?" I smile.

I can't help but smile. I fucking love being a dad. Those girls were my entire world, and I wouldn't trade them for anything. So hearing Lina's pregnant again? I feel like I'm on top of the damn world.

"Well, yeah," she laughs. "But I'm a few months in."

"Yeah?"

She bites her lip again. "So I had a checkup yesterday. Just to make sure everything is okay." I nod, waiting for her to continue. "And I found out the gender."

My stomach dropped. "I missed finding out the gender of our baby?" I blink.

"No," she smiles. "I wanted to surprise you."

"With what?"

She places her hands on my neck, leaning in. "We're having a boy."

A boy. A boy?

"A boy?" I repeat, voice small.

I love my daughters. And I'll protect them with my entire being. I love having girls, because they're so damn cute all the time.

But a boy? A son I can teach how to properly treat a woman and how to escape the world when it's too much into art? Who I can leave my legacy to?

My son.

Oh, God. I was gonna cry. I know it. And I know Lina's gonna cry, too. Because we were already expecting a son, before Ilaria. And sadly, Lina had a miscarriage right after we found out the gender. Some asshole took the red light and crashed into Lina. The impact made her lose the baby.

When we found out she was pregnant with Ilaria, it was like a blessing from God. Another chance. Lina was so careful with everything.

But I feel like God is giving us yet another chance. Another son.

I felt the emotion clog my throat.

Lina's small hands wipe the tears falling down my face. I look up and see the tears on her cheeks. I press my forehead against hers.

"A boy," she repeated, wrapping her arms around me. "I can finally give you a son, Hayden."

"Baby," I look up at her. "You've given me everything I could've asked for. A perfect wife, perfect daughters. A perfect life. This? This is just a bonus," I sniffle. "And fuck, I think I fell in love with you all over again."

Lina laughs before pressing her lips on mine. And shit, it felt like the first time we ever kissed. All that emotion and longing and love just poured into the kiss, making me feel like I could float away.

"I love you," I mutter, pushing my hands under her dress. "I fucking love you." Lina gasps as I grab her panties and pull it down her thighs and stroke her slit. "I love you so much."

"I love you," she breathes against me, trying to keep her moaning at bay. "So much."

I thumb her clit, making her tighten her arm around my neck. I kiss her cheek, capturing her falling tears. I was so happy, so happy. And so was she. And it's the best feeling in the world.

"I need your pussy," I grunt as I swiftly spin us around and lie her down, spreading her legs.

Lina's moan is loud when I push two fingers into her, curling them perfectly in her body. I flick her clit with my thumb, adding to the pleasure as I thrust my fingers in and out of her body.

"Hayden," she pants, already on the edge.

I withdraw my fingers, sliding her panties all the way down her legs and tossing them aside. I kneel before her, spreading her legs more for me. Then I dip my head and I'm home.

I love eating Lina out, that's no secret. Cause she takes what she wants, grinding her hips into my tongue, willing me to go deeper and faster. I tilt her hips upward, getting a deeper angle, making Lina's legs shake around me. I reach around, pinching her clit as I push my tongue in her again and she comes without warning.

I take everything she's giving me, her taste so sweet on my tongue. I lick her orgasm clean, standing up between her legs. I lean over her and tug her dress down, exposing her bare breasts to me. I step back, admiring the view.

Lina's wet, glistening pussy. Her chest heaving, big tits swaying with every breath. Those beautiful blue eyes full of hunger, looking at me.

"I'm one lucky son of a bitch," I smile at her. "You are so fucking beautiful."

Lina blushes, biting her lip. She spreads her legs further apart, bracing her heels on the bed frame.

"Fuck me already, Hayden. Please."

I walk towards her, stepping between her spread legs. "Since you asked so nicely."

Lina sat up, wasting no time. She pushed my pants and my boxers down, fisting my cock. She pumps it a few times, making me shudder beneath her touch. I climb on the bed, hovering over her.

"Ready?"

"For you?" She wraps her legs around my waist. "Always."

Just like that, I guide myself into her. I can't even help the fuck that came out of my mouth. Because after all these years, every time I push into her, it feels like I'm right where I belong. Like we're becoming one, every single time.

Lina gasps, already tightening her legs around me. Then she clenches around me.

"Don't fucking do that yet," I growl. "Or I'll come before I even start."

Lina grins, clenching again. I moan, head falling onto her shoulder. Then I pull out and slam into her. Hard. Literally, she slides up on the mattress a bit. And Lina moans, eyes shutting, nails digging into my shoulder.

So I repeat that action. Over and over and over again.

"Holy shit," Lina gasps. "Oh my—that feels so good," she moans as I slow down my pace.

"You feel so good," I reiterate as I lower my head to her chest. "And I knew fucking you in this dress would be worth it."

Lina chuckles, which quickly turns into a short pant of breath as I take her nipple between my teeth and bite just as I push into her again. And again. And again.

"Oh Hayden," she cries out. "I—" she shakes her head. But I know what she's trying to say.

Because I'm right there with her.

So I quicken my pace again, thrusts sloppy. I bring my mouth back to hers, kissing her desperately. And I bring my hand between us, grabbing her clit between my fingers.

"Come for me, baby. Come with me." I beg as I feel the pressure building up in my spine.

With a few more sloppy thrusts and a pinch to her clit, Lina finally came. She was muttering I love you over and over again, triggering my orgasm. I shot into her, body falling on hers. I lie there, still buried inside of her, listening to her heartbeat, thumb toying with her nipple.

"Still happy you chose me, Lina?"

She laughs, a little breathless. "Every single day."

I do a small thrust in her, my dick already at a semi in her. She moans softly, pushing her hands through my hair.

"I'll never regret choosing you, Hayden West."

I look up at her. "And I'll never let you regret choosing me, Lina West. It's you and me forever, baby."

"Even in death," she grins.

"And in any life we have after that."

I couldn't help myself from taking her all over again. When she declares her love for me, it just triggers something in me to want to have her come again and again and again.

Lina is the best thing that's ever happened to me. And I'll never let her forget that. Ever. It's her and I against the world.

Always, in every life.

A/N

Ugh, writing their story always has me ✨soft✨

Ps, the attached pic is kinda what I envision Lina was wearing 🤓

Please please please read the authors note in the next chapter!! I have some important announcements and sentimental words I'd like to say to each of you 🥰

So thanks for reading, lovelies! Don't forget to vote, comment, etc!! <33