JOHN PAUL

Lucy scrambles off of Marco's lap hurriedly when we walk in and moves to sit on the other end of the couch in my office but Marco holds on to her and pulls her back to sit next to him. She blushes furiously as she looks over at us.

I catch Stella's eye and see the small smile on her lips as I turn to close the door behind us. 

"JP, before you lecture us," Marco straightens and sits up, keeping Lucy's hand in his. "We talked a long time about how we feel about each other and we want to move forward, as more than friends." He clears his throat. "But we're taking things slow. So, you know, you don't need to give us the talk." He raises his eyebrows at me to convey his obvious meaning. 

"And mom, we know not to behave certain ways around the little ones, but we knew they were out with Kai and Miles," Lucy points out to Stella.

Stella glances at me before she addresses them. "First, you're not in trouble. I hope that's not why you think we wanted to talk to you." Relief flashes on Lucy's face immediately. "And we support you both, but as we mentioned before there has to be some rules, boundaries; living together is not necessarily an ideal situation." 

"You and JP lived together when you were our age," Marco points out. 

"Yes, but we were adults when we became more than friends, Marco. You two are both still really young," Stella responds to which Marco gives a small eye roll but stops when he looks over at me.

"Look, we trust you both. The only thing we ask as that you don't give us a reason not to." I state simply. 

"Well, that's not the only thing we ask," Stella gives me a look, squeezing my hand, but I have no idea what she's trying to tell me and then she raises her eyebrows at me in their direction. I look back at her dumbfounded and she sighs in annoyance. 

"We get you're going to take things slow, but like I said, you're both still really young. So, I want to have an open discussion about what it's like being in a relationship," She clears her throat and tucks some of her hair behind her ear. "Something I wish I had someone talk to me about when I was your age." I lean back curious on how this is going to go.

"Finding someone you have mutual feelings for is both exciting and terrifying. It's fun and confusing at times. It's emotionally and mentally exhausting, too," Stella looks over at me and smiles softly. "But it can also be the most amazing thing you can experience." 

"It sounds like you guys have already covered this, but when or if your relationship..." Stella pauses to look for the right word. "Progresses and maybe becomes physical," this time I notice Marco's face flushes. "I hope you talk about it first and take one another's concerns, limits or worries into consideration. And no means no; no if's and or buts about it." 

"I would never force Lucy to do anything she didn't want to do, Stella," Marco defends. 

"I never would think you would, Marco, but the same goes for Lucy, too, if you're not ready and maybe she is, she would need to respect your feelings, too." Stella smiles softly at them. "JP and I are not naive to know things happen at this age, but what we care about is that you're both being safe and respectful of each other."

She looks back at me, "Anything you want to add?"

I clear my throat, "Um yeah," I feel the pressure to say something as eloquent as Stella, but nothing really comes to mind, so I just say the first thing that pops in my head. "No sleeping in each other's rooms, and keep your doors open if you're in each other's rooms." 

Stella rolls her eyes before she chuckles. "What a dad-like thing to say, John Paul." Marco and Lucy chuckle as well. 

"In all seriousness, considering the living circumstances, I know this was brought up by a friend before I confessed to Stella how I felt about her, but again, we were both adults when I finally found the courage to confess my feelings. Joey had asked me if I had thought about the future, not just the now. It's sometimes hard to see past whatever you're feeling and thinking at your age, but have you talked what would happen if things...don't work out?"

I watch as Lucy shifts uncomfortably and Marco notices and he gives her hand a reassuring squeeze. 

"You're a Junior, Marco and Lucy a sophomore. That's a lot of time that you'll be living together before you're old enough to live on your own." I lean forward placing my elbows on my knees. "Not to mention the impact your relationship can have on your siblings." 

I see the panic in Lucy's eyes as she looks back at me. "I'm not saying this to discourage you but it should be talked about, maybe not right now, but you can't ignore the fact that it could have an impact on the family, if things don't work out."

"You always told me not to let other's influence my choices," Marco looks back at me, with impatience in his eyes.

"That's that's not what I mean in this regard, Marco," I sigh deeply, this is probably too much too soon for them. I look over at Stella and she gives me an encouraging smile. "It wasn't my intention to upset you both in bringing this up, but you should consider it. As Stella said, we trust you both and we support the both of you." 

We sit there in awkward silence for a moment before Marco stands and holds his hand out for Lucy and she takes it. He interlaces his hand with hers then looks back at me. "Can I take your truck out tonight? Please?" 

"Sure." 

Stella stands and Lucy walks over to her and hugs her tightly. I watch as Stella talks to her quietly as she cups her face then kisses her head before hugging her again. Lucy walks over to me and also hugs me, too. "Thanks, dad," She teases, giggling before she pecks me on the cheek. 

Marco gives me a man hug and then kisses Stella's cheek before taking Lucy by the hand and leading her out of the room. I sit back down feeling drained for some reason.

"Well, that was brutal, I'm totally referring to your dad talk," Stella states chuckling, standing as she stretches her arms over her head, her crop top workout top lifts up and I reach out to touch her belly. I grip her hip and pull her toward me and kiss just under her rib cage and then make my way over to her stomach, kissing her lower belly. 

"Just when I think you can't get any more attractive, John Paul," She runs her hands through the sides of me hair even though it's tied back.

She pulls away abruptly and hurries to the door. I watch her lock it before she comes back to me smiling happily as she straddles me on the couch and her lips cover mine in a hungry kiss. She pulls on my bottom lip and I groan into her mouth. 

She slips her tongue into my mouth claiming it as hers and I willingly give in. She reaches in between us and palms me in her hand as my hands slide under her crop top being careful of the bandage on her side and under her sports bra, freeing her breasts. 

I lick one of her nipples and I pull at it lightly and then cover it as I suckle on it slowly at first before I go harder. Stella gasps but holds on my neck pulling me closer to her as she moans my name. I move to the other side giving the same attention, my hands splayed on her back pressing her into me.

My phone rings, but I ignore it. I move my lips over her throat nipping and biting gently. The phone rings again. "JP," Stella says my name breathlessly and I know she feels me twitch under her when she presses herself more on me. 

The phone rings a third time as I pull her head back to move to the other side of her throat and kiss her jaw line. "Your phone, JP." 

"Ignore it."

I kiss her sweet lips, but she pulls away. "It could be important."

"Your more important, amore." I tell her and she smiles back at me. 

She chuckles before she kisses me. "Go ahead and answer it, you can multitask can't you?" She gives me a mischievous smile. 

I look at her suspiciously and she chuckles as she hands me my phone. I glance at who's calling before I answer it. "Yes, Donny?"

I listen to Donny on the other end of the phone as my hands move on their own over her breast, kneading and massaging. I roll her nipples within my fingers and she grinds her hips on me, releasing a sexy sigh as she throws her head back. 

"Mm, hmm," I respond to Donny as I put my mouth over one of her breasts again. She gasps and watches me with hooded eyes.

"Sure, but then we need to have another location set up to take the product that's scheduled to arrive." I answer Donny as he tells me, a location has been compromised but we caught the leaked information in time.

Stella leans forward and begins kissing my neck. She nibbles on my ear, "You're so sexy, John Paul." Then licks the shell of my ear causing me to shift since my pants are becoming unbearably tight.

She slides down and begins undoing my belt then my pants. "Stella," I hiss quietly. 

"Shh," She responds then licks her lips as she takes me in her hand, stroking me gently then adds pressure. 

"Yeah, I'm still here," I struggle to keep my voice in control as she keeps looking at me while she licks my dick and moans as she takes me in her mouth. My hand finds its way into her hair as she moves up and down. 

"Fuck." It slipped it before I could stop it. "What? No, nothing, Donny. Send a message out to the other leads and let them know to reroute the---shit," I look down at Stella as she sucks me harder. 

"Reroute the delivery paths," I finish straining to keep myself from groaning. Donny tells me he's already having Mateo and David do that and then begins to update me on Georgie as I'm about to explode. 

I mute the phone as I come hard, grunting loudly. Stella leans back with a proud look and smile on her face and then kisses the tip of my cock lightly as she sits next me, running her fingers through my beard.

I unmute the phone. "Sounds good, Donny, thanks for the update. I'll see you later tonight." I tell him before I hang up. 

"My turn," I grab her quickly and she squeals in surprise, laughing as I bring her over me and then lay her down, pulling at her yoga pants and then her panties. 

"Wait, JP, I'm really hungry." She tells me in between her laughter.

"You just ate, princess," I tell her as I kiss down her stomach and begin pulling down her panties further. 

She laughs, "I mean, actual food. And I'm sure the kids are wondering where we are." 

My phone rings again. 

"See, it's a sign." She tells me as she stands to pull her panties back up and then her yoga pants. I watch disappointed as she fixes her sports bra next. She laughs as she leans down and lifts my head to kiss me. "You're look so sad right now, John Paul." 

"That's not supposed to make you laugh," I point out, which only makes her laugh harder. 

"You know what I mean," She pecks my lips. "I'll see you downstairs, love." I swat her ass as she turns to walk away. 

I sigh as I look down at my phone and see it's Vito calling. 

A few minutes into the call, one of the house staff walks in with a food tray and sets it on my desk. I see a note and recognize Stella's handwriting. 

Thanks for the surprise in our bedroom. I didn't think you were serious, but I love it! Can't wait to use it ;) 

Love you, Xo

While we were in the meeting most of the morning, I had a pole installed in our bedroom. It was done faster than I thought it would be. 

Vito pulls my attention back with a question and I respond and then he goes into another detail about the plan. Cristian told me Vito has a tendency to break down plans, it's tedious but has always found areas that could be strengthened. 

I grab a slice of pizza as he goes on and take a bite walking towards the window of my office and look out into the backyard. The kids are all outside playing a game. I watch as Stella sits down next to her mom and begins eating a slice of pizza. 

I answer Vito quickly and he responds with an idea that actually may give us more of an upper hand and I turn back to write it down. "That definitely is a possibility." I tell him. 

He mentions a contact in Montenegro I should reach out to and I take his information down. He then goes on to another area of the plan. I walk back over to the window and see Stella is now part of the game and is running around trying to not get caught or maybe she's the one trying to catch the kids. it's hard to tell. 

She grabs Lola quickly and spins her around tickling her. I smile at their happy faces. Stella's head snaps over quickly to her left and I see that little Toby may have tripped and is looking at his hands crying. 

She sets Lola down and rushes over to him, and kneels down and looks at his hands and wipes the dirt off of them and then inspects them before she kisses each of his hands. She wipes at the tears on his face and he jumps up wrapping his little arms around her neck and hugs her. She hugs him in return, picking him up and walks him over to where Isabella is. 

I watch as she cradles him in her arms and talks to him and pushes the dark curls off his forehead and kisses him. She's always been amazing with kids, my heart feels full watching her and I can't wait to be able to see her do that with our own baby.

I turn away to focus on the call and settle in to my chair and become more engaged in the call with Vito. 

After dinner we sit around playing a game with the kids in the family room. Isabella takes the youngest two upstairs to get ready for bed, but I hug both Toby and Lola and kiss them, telling them I'll be back in a couple of days. 

"I'm going to turn in; I'm wiped," Stella tells me.

"Are you feeling okay? You look a little pale," I caress her face and notice she's feeling warm. 

"Yeah, I'm fine, just feel a little nauseous," She tells me. "Let me know when you get there, please." 

"I will, princess," I kiss her head. She tells Miles and Kai goodnight and then heads out of the room. 

"Safe trip, JP," Kai holds his hand out and hugs me and then Miles does the same. 

"You don't have to bring me back anything, but I like pretty much anything from gift shops, I'm easy like that; and I'm a size XL." Miles tells me grinning. I chuckle as he walks out and notice the exaggerated eye roll from Kai. 

"You ready to go?" Enzo strolls in a few minutes later and I look up from my phone. "Where's everyone?"

"Bed, mostly. Marco and Lucy are out on a date and Stella wasn't feeling well and decided to turn in early." I inform him.

"A date huh? So they are becoming a thing then?"

"Looks like it," I tell him as I pick up my bag in the foyer. "Have you heard from Annalisa, yet?"

I notice the ticking muscle in his jaw. "No; she told me to stop calling and texting her like I'm some fucking creep. Like we haven't known each other for nearly four years now." 

"She's grieving, Enzo and she's taking out her pain on you. Of course, you're making it easy for her to do, since you're smothering her." 

"Smothering her?" Enzo turns on me. 

"Easy," I look back at him. "I know you don't mean to, but she just needs space. And really, you need to get your head straight as it is. Losing Joey affected you more than you want to admit, but I think there's other things going on in your head that you feel...guilt about."

"Guilty?" He nearly shouts which tells me my theory might be correct by his reaction. 

I hold my hand out for him in defense. "Now is not a good time to bring it up. But I hope we get a chance to talk about it later, Enzo." 

He's breathing heavily, but ultimately turns away as he wrenches the door open to get in the car, muttering a string of profanities. 

I inhale deeply, this is going to be a long trip with his sour attitude.

~~~~

Guesses on JP's theory???