I love you, my little Petal.

You’re the only one who made me feel like life can be more than killing and existing for my next dose of blood.

Don’t forget me and don’t even think about taking a husband or a boyfriend or any fucking human company. The cats are all I approve of.

Jasper

26

Georgina

My legs are shaking as I step into the dark house. It’s empty. I found Angelo outside, but he said everyone else is at a bonfire tonight.

I haven’t been able to stop shaking since I read Jasper’s letter that Enzo gave me. It wasn’t only the letter, but also the bouquet of daisies he sent with them.

The next thing I knew, I was on a plane and heading to Sicily.

All the way here, I’ve been re-reading the letter over and over again, trying not to cry and failing.

His words hit me so deeply. I was already missing him until I thought I was going crazy and then he had to write those words.

He had to rip my heart out. Or maybe it’s been ripped out since I left Sicily that day. Maybe my heart has stayed here since then.

I climb the stairs so fast; I nearly fall on my face.

When I reach the bedroom — our bedroom — I stop in front of the door to catch my breath.

I flew here in my pants suit. I tried freshening up in the plane, but the long flight and all the crying must make me look like a cat lady on drugs.

Inhaling deep, I push the door open. There’s soft light on in the room, but there’s no trace of him.

It’s rare for Jasper to miss the bonfires and festivals. He doesn’t really like them, but he always makes sure to be there for everyone else. Although he doesn’t say it out loud, Jasper considers everyone here a second chance given to him after losing his family.

My breath catches when I realize he didn’t change anything about the bedroom. Even the small pillows I brought in so the cats can play on are still here.

It’s almost as if I’m still here.

I’m about to check the balcony when I notice droplets of blood on the carpet, leading to the bathroom.

No.

No, no…

I let my bag fall to the floor and run toward the bathroom. “Jasper —”

My voice cuts off when I make out his form. He’s standing in front of the sink, wearing only pants and bandaging his hand in sloppy movements.

The moment I walk inside, he freezes and watches me with slightly widened eyes. “Petal? Are you real?”

I jog to him and clutch his hand in mine. “What happened? Are you okay?”

His good hand cradles my cheek and I stare up at him with tears blurring my vision. I stare at his handsome face, at those icy blue eyes and those lips.

God, I missed him. I missed him so much, it hurt.

“You are real,” he says with awe.

“What happened to your hand, Jasper?” I ask again, my throat closing.

“Nothing. It’s just a cut.”

I hit his shoulder, a sob escaping me. “You scared the shit out of me! I thought something happened to you after I’ve finally found you. I thought I was going to lose you. You can’t make me miss you to death, write me letters like that and then get hurt, okay? You just can’t.”

He places two fingers under my chin and lifts my head up so I’m staring at him. “Does that mean you came here to stay?”

“Do I even have a choice?” I place his half-bandaged hand on my heart. “This beats for you, Jasper. I love you so much; I can’t breathe without you.”

Pure joy explodes on his features as he palms my cheeks with his hands. “You won’t have to, Petal.”

“No?”

“No. Do you know why?”

“Why?” I murmur.

“Because you’re mine.”

“And you’re mine, Jasper.”

“That, I am.” And then his lips devour mine.

Epilogue - Jasper

Two years later

“You know what you’re going to do, Pet.” I hold her down with my hand around her throat.

“No, I don’t.”

I smirk. “Is that so, my filthy slut?”

She’s baiting me, wanting me to take it hard on her. That’s what my beautiful wife does when she wants to get fucked so thoroughly.

“No, Jas.”

“Are you my slut?”

“Your only slut.” She purrs. It’s our game, how we both get off.

My little Petal and I might be married, but we always get off on the depraved side of things. She still runs away and makes me chase her. She still wants to be tied to the bed as I fuck her in the ass. I still make her beg over and over again before shattering her world to pieces.

It’s not only a turn on; it’s a way of living. Still, I take her slow sometimes, worshipping her body over and over again until she falls asleep completely satiated.

Today, we have no time for our toys after a long day outside, working, and spending the night in the farmers’ fest, so I only get to use my hand.

I smack her ass, the slap echoing in the room, and she moans, clenching around my dick.

“More, Jas.”

“More?”

She nods frantically and sucks on my thumb when I place it at her lips.

I slap her three successive times, making her buck off the bed, but before she can come down off the burn, I fuck her hard and fast, squeezing her throat in the meantime.

“Jas…” She whimpers then shrieks when I hit that delicious spot inside her.

“I love you,” she chants, “I love you.”

I follow her then, filling her womb with my seed. One of these days, I’m putting a fucking baby inside her and tying her to me once and for fucking all.

The only reason I didn’t so far is because we’ve both been so busy.

Still inside her, I pull her up so she lies atop of me, her head resting on my chest.

She sighs with complete satisfaction as she runs her fingertips over my muscles. I lean over and place a kiss to her head. “Good girl.”

She moans at that, her smile widening.

It doesn’t matter how much time we spend together; my wife gets off on being called a good girl just like she gets off on being called a filthy slut. My own filthy slut.

In public, however, she’s my fucking queen. The woman of my life.

She’s still the Costa leader and I’m the Vitallio leader. Our partnership has opened many doors for both families. With Enzo’s help, the business has been flourishing.

Our time is spent between the States and Sicily, but we’re mostly here, in the wild and with the people — and even with her fucking cats, that became more annoying than ever. They’re three now, and my wife, being a certified cat lady keeps wanting to add more. “We have space,” she said. “Why not give more cats a home?”

“Because they take more of your time,” I told her and she just laughed at me.

She thinks I’m joking, but I’m not. I don’t like sharing her with those fucking demanding cats.

As long as I have Petal, nothing else matters.

Since that day my little Petal came to me, I promised to never leave her out of my sights, and I didn’t.