Lodged (Kinsmen Billionaires #2)

Epilogue

Gio Bianchi

I ’m a married man. It’s crazy to think this time last year, I thought my life was over and that I had found love just to lose her a couple of months after. Life has been an avalanche of emotions since I met Ruin, but I wouldn’t change a thing. Everything we’ve gone through has led us to this moment, and seeing her now laughing and enjoying herself as she chats with our friends and family is everything I have ever wanted.

“The man of the hour.” River comes to greet me, and we shake hands as we do a half-man hug.

“Thank you so much again for walking Ruin down the aisle. I know it meant the world to her.” River smiles instead of replying. He’s a stoic man, but today, everyone has had their feelings on their sleeves, including the oldest of the MacAllisters. His eyes were shining as he gave me Ruin’s hand on the altar.

“You know there’s very little I wouldn’t do for my siblings. I have never seen my sister this happy; I should be the one thanking you.” I know the feeling; there’s nothing I wouldn’t do for my siblings, but now that they have found their partners, I would be lying if I didn’t say I feel my duty is over. Of course, I’ll always love them and be there for them when they need me, but my number one priority is the family I’m creating with the redhead who has a matching wedding band.

“No need to thank me. I just hope you can maybe start breathing a little easier now? Look, I understand the urge to help your siblings, but they are adults. You have to trust them.”

River stays quiet, impassive for a couple of beats, and I wonder if I overstepped my boundaries, but then he stuns me with a humorless laugh. “I know, Gio. I know I need to start living my life, but the truth is, I don’t know how. I don’t know where to look. All I know is in Azalea Creek and the orchard.” He shrugs as he drifts off and gets lost in thought. A heavy silence falls upon us, and before I can break it, River changes topics.

“Ruin told me your naturalization ceremony is coming up. Congratulations are in order. Do we need to throw you a party?”

An easy laugh breaks free from my chest, and River joins in.

“Thank you. And no need to throw a party. Being an American citizen is an honor, and I’m glad I don’t need to worry about renewing my green card ever again.”

“What are you two doing over here?” Ruin comes behind me and wraps her arms around my waist.

“Just chatting,” River says, giving his sister a genuine smile. “I’ll leave you to it.” He nods his head in a salute and goes to mingle with our guests.

“It’s everything okay?” Ruin asks as she turns to face me, and my hands go to her waist. I start swaying us to the rhythm of the string quartet playing during cocktail hour.

“Of course, we were just chatting.” She gives me that bright smile that I love, and I continue speaking, “I was just thanking him for walking you down the aisle. You were a vision, baby girl.” I lean down and graze my lips with hers. That familiar sensation of wholeness that I feel whenever I’m with her invades my body, and I’m not sure I’ll ever be more in love than I am right now.

“Do you know what I was thinking?” I shake my head, and Ruin continues talking while I rub her arms. “Maybe what River needs is to find love, you know?” I nod at her and wonder if there’s anyone I know who I could introduce him to.

“Maybe Penny?” I say, and Ruin chuckles at me.

“No way. I mean, I love her but she’s a little too much for River.”

I smile as I see said friend chatting animatedly with Miles.

“You’re right, we need to find someone more River’s speed. But I’m not sure who.”

“Maybe we can ask Luca and Karina? Maybe they know someone,” Ruin says as her hands start traveling down my back, and I inhale deeply.

We continue to dance around the gardens, which are in full bloom. The cocktail hour is in full swing and I can’t wait to dance the night away with my bride and then take her to our room and make love to her all night long.

“Do you think people would notice if we head back to the house for a moment?” Ruin asks, a smirk spreading her plump lips. It’s like our brains are connected or something. What are the odds that both of us are thinking about sex at the same time?

“Are you suggesting what I think you are, Mrs. Bianchi?” I tell her, and she immediately squirms. Yup, we both have our heads in the gutter.

“Wait, do you have a thing for me calling you Mrs. Bianchi?” I ask, half surprised, half aroused.

“You have no idea,” Ruin says as she places her hand on the back of my neck, bringing me closer to her. The moment I taste her lips, all bets are off, and even though we’re in public, I want to devour my wife. But before we get lost in each other, I break the kiss. After clearing my throat and adjusting my raging erection in my pants, which elicits a giggle in Ruin, I kiss the back of her hand as I walk over to the string quartet.

“Attention everyone.” All eyes are on me, and I immediately regret this idea. “It has been brought to our attention that there are a few more pictures Mrs. Bianchi and I need to take, the cocktail hour will be extended a while longer.”

Luca explodes in laughter, immediately recognizing my lame excuse to go have sex with my wife. Karina smacks him on the chest and murmurs something in his ear, and whatever it is calms him fast. I’m sure it has some sex connotation because I don’t think there are many things my brother loves more than giving me shit.

“Okay. That would be all, thanks.” I head back back to where Ruin is waiting for me, avoiding eye contact with any of the guests. I don’t know why I’m so weird about this—I just want to have sex with my wife. It’s not a bad thing or anything. As we start making our way from the garden to the Biltmore House, one of the photographers approaches us.

“Mr. Bianchi, where do you want the pictures taken?” She gives us a pleasant smile while Ruin’s eyes are sparkling with mischief.

“Yes, Mr. Bianchi. Where do you want more pictures taken?” Ruin asks, and my dick throbs in my pants. I love it when she plays along.

“Actually, I’ll give you ten thousand dollars if you go take a one-hour break in one of the rooms and sign an NDA.” The photographer's expression transforms, and she gives us a knowing smile.

“Of course. Believe it or not, this is not uncommon.”

Ruin pulls my arm to stop me. “Are you insane? Ten thousand dollars?”

It’s my time to smirk. “Baby girl, I’d give my fortune away if that means I get to keep you forever.”

Ruin rolls her eyes at me as we start walking again. “You silly man. You have me already.”

“Trust me, I know.” I lick her earlobe, and goose bumps rise on her arms. “But you didn’t let me finish.”

She places her pointer finger on my lips, and I chuckle. Once inside the house, I help her up the stairs with her gown’s train. It’s a beautiful, handmade dress, but I’m glad she got another dress for the reception. This one looks heavy, and I don’t want her shoulder to flare up with pain on our wedding day.

“Actually, there’re a couple of extra pictures I’d like to have taken,” Ruin says to the photographer as we reach our room. The photographer takes her camera in hand. I look at her with a curious smile, and she winks at me.

“Hold me, husband. I want a picture of us entering our room before our wedding night.” I wonder where she’s going with this, but I immediately carry her bridal style. The photographer is quick to take a couple of shots from different angles. As I enter the room with Ruin in my arms, the photographer continues taking pictures—me placing Ruin on the floor, twirling her around, and losing myself in this moment.

“What are we doing?” I whisper to Ruin after she asked me to help her undo the hundreds of buttons on the back of her dress.

“I want to have something physical to look at if, for whatever reason, I lose my memories again. I want to see that face of adoration you have whenever your eyes meet mine. I want to remember the love you have for me, even if it’s through pictures.” Ruin’s voice breaks, and I gently turn her around so she can face me.

“Okay,” the photographer drawls. “I think I’m done here. Let me know when you both are ready to go back downstairs.” I’m too lost in Ruin’s eyes to acknowledge anything else.

“Baby girl, if for some reason you ever lose your memories again, I’ll be right by your side to remind you. I’m not going anywhere,” I tell her as I help her get out of her dress. Gently, I run my fingers through her waist until they reach her back, and I cup her ass.

“Promise?” Ruin asks in a breathy tone, letting me know she’s ready for me to take her.

“I swear, Ruin Bianchi. You are lodged in my heart and my soul.”

Not ready to say goodbye to Gio & Ruin? Take a sneak peak at their lives down the road.