Bound by Honor

19. Epilogue Sofia

TWO MONTHS LATER

T he flames flicker in the fireplace, casting a warm glow across the room, making the snow falling outside seem like another world entirely. Rocco sits next to me, his arm resting lazily around my shoulders, pulling me closer to him. The house has never felt more like home than it does tonight.

"I keep thinking about Spain and our time on the island.” My fingers trace a delicate pattern on Rocco's knee. The rough fabric of his jeans he’s wearing tonight starkly contrasts the smooth, cool sand where we lay together under the twinkling stars in Spain. The gentle lapping of the foamy surf against our toes added to the serene atmosphere of our secret beach hideaway.

Rocco chuckles softly, his warm breath stirring my hair. "Which part do you keep thinking about?" he asks, knowing my mind is still lost in memories. "The crystal-clear waters or our midnight adventures?"

I feel myself blush and bury my head deeper into his side. "Maybe a bit of both," I admit with a shy smile. "But mostly, how the moonlight danced on your skin, making me feel like I was making love to a Greek god."

Rocco turns to face me, his gaze like a tender caress that turns my skin to gooseflesh. His eyes, the color of rich chocolate, are filled with adoration and a sense of wonder, as if he can't believe I'm really here. "You were absolutely radiant," he whispers. "I think I fell in love with you all over again."

The memory of our wedding day floods back to me, filling me with warmth and joy.

"I've never been happier," he continues, his hand reaching out to intertwine with mine. Our fingers fit together like puzzle pieces, a perfect match.

Outside, the wind howls against the windows, but there's only warmth and quiet contentment inside. This is where I belong, in Rocco's arms, surrounded by love and happiness.

I don’t want to dwell on the events of two months ago. The memory of my father's disgrace and our family's subsequent banishment from the council still weighs heavily on me. Whispers and gossip spread like wildfire. But even amid grief and chaos, no one dared blame Rocco for killing Antonio. The fear of retaliation drove the council to exile Bello’s brothers, Alessio and Dominic, to Chicago, where they will be under constant watch by the ruthless Outfit. It was a harsh punishment but necessary to maintain the fragile balance of power within our world.

"Remember that last night?" Rocco asks. His voice drops to a whisper as if he’s sharing a precious secret meant only for our ears. "When you pointed out the constellations you knew and invented stories about the ones you didn’t?"

I laugh at the memory. "My stories weren’t that bad. If anything, they should be included in an island travel guide."

"They should be—very entertaining," Rocco agrees, pressing a kiss to my forehead.

I sigh contentedly and allow myself to get lost in other memories—the way the ocean lapped at our feet as we walked along the beach at dawn, how our laughter seemed to mingle with the tides. It feels like a dream now, those perfect days suspended in time when it was just us and an endless canvas of blue skies and even bluer waters.

As another log shifts in the fireplace, sparks fly momentarily, drawing our attention back to the room filled with soft shadows and quiet whisperings of our shared bliss.

"We should go back someday," I suggest softly, almost hesitant to break the serenity enveloping us.

"Absolutely," Rocco replies without missing a beat. "It will always be a special place."

“Everywhere is special when we’re together.” I take a deep breath and let my fingers trace the sharp angle of his jaw, barely visible through his salt-and-pepper beard. “I love being your wife.”

“I never thought I’d get married. Now I realize I was just waiting for you.”

Heat envelops me, not just from the roaring fire crackling in front of us but from Rocco’s body pressing against mine. His hands, strong and reassuring, trace paths down my spine, sending shivers that compete with the warmth of the fire. Our breaths mix and mingle in the dark, quiet room, the occasional pop from the fireplace punctuating our whispered declarations of love.

"I need you, beautiful girl. I need you right now," Rocco whispers against my lips, then lifts me off the couch and sets me down in front of the fireplace.

The rug beneath us is soft and plush, inviting us to sink in and revel in its warmth. Rocco's skilled hands trace familiar yet always exhilarating paths along my body as he carefully undresses me. As his fingers slip under the thin fabric of my lingerie, a shiver runs through me—not from cold, but from sheer anticipation. Every touch carries a sense of reverence, as if we’re crafting something sacred between us.

Tonight could be the night we create something bigger than ourselves—a piece of our hearts and souls that will live on after we’re gone from this earth.

He knows how much I want this, and over the past few weeks, I’ve learned he’s as eager as I am.

The flickering glow from the fireplace casts dancing shadows over us, adding a primitive, almost mystical glow to our bodies in motion. The warmth radiating from the fire battles against the rising heat between us, each flame only adding to the passionate desire that simmers in the cool air around us.

I watch Rocco admire every inch of my exposed skin, his gaze filled with avarice and anticipation. I know that look well—it’s the same one that lights up his face when I am mere moments from satisfying his insatiable hunger.

Rocco positions himself above me, his eyes locked with mine—a silent question lingering in their depths, to which I nod eagerly. As he enters me, a moan escapes my lips, quickly swallowed by his blistering kiss. The world narrows to the rhythm of our bodies, the crackling of the fire, and the beat of our hearts. Each movement is deliberate and filled with a purpose beyond pleasure—a mutual yearning to create life born from our love.

“I love you, my beautiful girl.” Rocco's pace quickens, his breathing ragged as he buries his face in my neck.

The warmth of his breath against my skin sends waves of desire coursing through me. I wrap my legs around him, drawing him even closer, each thrust meeting mine. I can’t get enough. The more I scream, the harder he plunges into my depths, building friction, a rhythm that matches the beat of our racing hearts. Nothing exists but Rocco and me and our shared goal, glowing as bright as the flames before us.

As our lips fuse and our tongues entwine in a passionate dance, I feel the powerful vibrations of his growl reverberate through my body. With each thrust, our bodies move in perfect harmony, fueled by an intense passion to be one. Rocco plays my body like a finely tuned guitar, strumming the perfect chords until I hit notes that could shatter glass. With labored breath, he plunges deeper, and I feel the hot warmth of his potent seed spill inside me, filling me to the brim and hopefully creating the future we yearn to build.

As we lie in each other’s arms, lost in the afterglow of our mutual climax, Rocco’s arm curls protectively around me. His heartbeat drums gently against my ear as he whispers words that make me sink deeper into a sleepy haze of bliss. We watch the fire die down to glowing coals, and I feel a profound sense of peace settle over me. Whatever comes next, we’ll have each other. We’re two hearts that beat as one—united by duty but bound by love.

THE END