Mafia Billionaire’s Forlorn Wife
Chapter 28

A m**n echoes through my room; whether it fell from my lips or Rhys’, I don’t know. My h**s move in his lap, straddling him with my back arched forward as he fills me completely and passionately.

His fingers are digging into the flesh of my waist just as he moves his pelvis in such a manner that has his length hitting me in just the right places. My eyes roll back in my head as another needy m**n escapes my lips when I feel him biting down on my n****e while he twists the other one in between his index finger and his thumb.

“F**k…Rhys…” I hiss out when his teeth graze my sensitive skin just as he lets out a loud growl and from straddling his waist, I am being flipped onto my back on the mattress as he starts pounding into me with pure l**t and passion.

I lock my legs behind his back while my fingers claw at the back of his shoulders, digging into his skin as I drag my nails down while he f***s me like a starved man.

“f**k, Ivy, your p***y will be the death of me, my little slut.” He hisses in my ear and I m**n in approval, loving the way his lips drag wet and needy k****s up from the base of my neck to my earlobe.

And just when I think that this cannot get any better, Rhys pulls out for just a moment and flips me on all fours before ramming back into me with even more force than before.

His hand grips the roots of my hair, pressing the side of my face into the mattress as he holds my a*s up in the air while plunging into me like his life depends on it.

“f**k Rhys! I’m so close, GOD!” My words don’t even make sense to me anymore as I feel the muscles spasming in my core and pure pleasure pooling between my legs.

I clench his hard length with my walls when his palm connects harshly to my a*s, making it certain that once he is done with me tonight, there is going to be a blaring red handprint on my a*s.

“You drive me insane, little one. Absolutely insane.” His guttural voice and the way he just cannot stop for a moment to catch his breath riles me on further as I push back into him with each stroke of his as the two of us find the rhythm that is surely going to satisfy us both.

Rhys’ body covers mine from behind while he f***s me thoroughly as he brings his hand to circle around my throat, lifting my head back up and my eyes connect with his through the mirror standing right in front of my bed.

I m**n greedily at what I see in front of me.

Both of us are covered in a thin sheen of sweat just as I am splayed underneath him on all fours while his hand clutches my throat and his c**k drives into me with full potential as he f***s my brains out. My hair is a mess, his neck and shoulders are riddled with marks from my teeth, my lipstick stains, and my nails. For a moment I actually happen to catch a glimpse of a little b***d on his upper arm. And when he grins devilishly down at me through the mirror, looking nothing short of a powerful king celebrating after winning a war.

My heart thuds in my chest as I watch him watch me with his feelings laid bare on his face, no masks, no appearances standing between us. And for that brief moment, he slows down his pace, pushing into me ever so sensuously and gently that I almost come with rapture right that second. And that is when he brings his face down towards me, brushing the side of my head with his lips as he whispers in my ear, “you’re mine, Arabella. All mine.”

And that is the moment when I truly believe that I am in the sweetest if heavens.

⚜️⚜️⚜️

That moment of happiness and pleasure lasted only as long as the s*x did because the moment that we had both had our fills and were truly spent, Rhys was out of my bed and back in his own room like usual.

After cleaning up and taking a shower, I am currently sitting at the kitchen island, wearing the fluffiest pyjamas that I could find as I pick up the lighter from in front of me and light the candle that is sticking out of the single cupcake that I am currently holding.

I stare as the pink candle flares up brightly, promising the dreams of hope and happiness which I know will never come true before I blow it out with a saddened sigh, “happy motherfucking birthday, to me.” I huff, trying to ignore the painful way in which my heart clenches at the fact that like many years before this one, once again, I am all alone on my birthday night.

“It is your bloody birthday today?” Vernon’s loud timbre startles me as the cupcake almost falls from my grip when I jump in my seat and turn around to find him standing at the entrance of the kitchen.

My eyes widen, “Vernon! You scared me!” I scold him before glaring at him, “and lower your voice, your boss does not need to find out about this!”

The last thing I need right now is for Rhys to find out about this. He doesn’t remember it and I am most definitely not going to remind him either. It is just another testament to the fact that he doesn’t give two f***s about me and even though my heart is bleeding right now, I am too proud to give him a chance to redeem himself.

Vernon gapes at me, “why the hell not? And I’ll do one better and go smack that little s**t in his head for not knowing his wife’s birthday!” He says ready to go.

“NO!” I quickly jump down from the stool that I was occupying till now, my pathetic little cupcake lays forgotten on the granite kitchen counter as I rush after Vernon and stop him in his tracks by dashing in front of him with my arms spread wide so that he cannot leave. “Vernon, if you have truly come to see me somewhat as your own in these last few months and if you respect me even a little bit then I implore you, please do not tell Rhys about this. I’m begging you, Ver.” Tears fill up my eyes as I chew my bottom l*p, realising just how alone and vulnerable I am feeling right now.

Vernon swears under his breath, his accent falling thicker because of the emotion in his voice, “oh, come here, you,” he wraps his arms around me in a bear hug, tucking my head under his chin as I scrunch my eyes shut and shed a few tears off of my dignity in the embrace of a man who has come to know me more than most people in my life. “Happy birthday, little munchkin. Happy birthday.” He breaths and that just makes me cry a little more as I realise just how much I needed someone to be with me right now.

Vernon is the father that my biological dad could never be. What the great Dominico Mancini could not unlearn about patriarchy and misogyny in his years of ruling the Italian mafia in this country, Vernon had learned through those tiny moments amidst chaos where life actually blooms.

Since the day that I stepped into this home, Vernon has been a shoulder for me to cry on, a friend, a confidante, but most of all, a mentor. He is the reason why I have managed to stay strong. Both he and Frida.

Because with Rhys trying to spend every waking moment of his doing his best to alienate me and with the ever increasing stress at work, if there is anywhere that I have been able to find reprieve and a little peace, then it is in their company or Leo’s.

Even Ace is too busy to talk these days, what with Rhys demolishing my father’s empire and my father demanding my brother to fix everything.

I roll my eyes thinking about it all. Shaking my head, I decide that I am not going to let a couple of foolish men decide my worth.

Instead, I pull back and give Vernon the brightest smile that I can muster, “would you like to taste my birthday cupcake?” I ask using as much enthusiasm as I can bring in my voice.

Vernon gives me a beaming grin, “I would be a fool to say no!” And with that, he drags me back into the kitchen, making me giggle in response as he scoops up the cupcake and first brings it towards me, “but you should eat first.”

I oblige by taking a bite out of it and then making Vernon eat the rest of it before some of the cream gets on his nose and I laugh at the adorable, scrunched up face that he makes.

Spending time with this old man is truly like a breath of fresh air.

I hand him a tissue as he grumbles and cleans his face after finishing up the rest of the delicacy.

That is when I remember something, “by the way, don’t tell me that you just called Rhys ‘little s**t’ right there.” I sputter pointing towards where Vernon was standing a few moments ago when he said that, “I mean I overlooked that in a frenzy to stop you but there is nothing more hilarious than that.” I say throwing my head back in laughter.

Vernon rolls his eyes, “that’s what he is!” He grumbles, “stubborn like his father and bitchy like his mother, that one.”

My eyes are wide in surprise as I try my hardest to repress my laughter. Vernon when he isn’t being the loyal majordomo of Rhys’ household is my favourite Vernon!

“Well, I’m only glad that you listened to me about not telling him.” I say after a few moments of silence, “and that you’re here to celebrate my birthday with.” I give him a grateful smile for that too.

He is a superhero for me and he doesn’t even know it.

Vernon shakes his head, giving me a helpless frown, “why wouldn’t you let me tell him? He should have remembered your birthday!”

I sigh, “what good is telling him going to do?” I ask him, “if he truly cared about me, he would have remembered. Or maybe he does remember but he isn’t one of those wishes-you-at-midnight kind of people.” I say with a shrug even though I know in my heart that it isn’t true. The man was out partying with Amelia for a week straight last month for her birthday.

“He partied with Amelia for a whole week for her birthday.” Vernon reminds me of the exact same notion, sending my heart into another agonising state before I shake my head.

“Well, whatever it is,” I mutter, “the bottom line is that I won’t be asking him for attention, birthday wishes, consideration, or literally anything else. He doesn’t remember my birthday, but my birthday shouldn’t revolve around him. I’ll be damned if I ruin my day because my husband is too big of a jerk to pay any attention to me.” I conclude with a confident voice as Vernon looks at me with a mixture of pride and glee as he nods.

“As you should.” He says giving my shoulder a squeeze before he claps his hands, “right, let’s go to the wine cellar and c***k open a certain beauty that Rhys absolutely loves but will never going to taste. He has been saving it for a special occasion but what better day than today, right munchkin?”

I laugh and shake my head, “you’re devious.” I say as I loop my hand through his arm, “lead the way please.”

He smiles delightfully, “gladly!”