I didn't plan on updating but you all are really impatient. I have only written till chapter thirty 🥲
After this, the next update will be at midnight.

Give me lots of comments like last chapter, okay? I love you all.
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ARMANO

I love her. Even though I had that realisation hours back, I was still feeling giddy.

Before entering the living room where everyone waited, I pushed Mea against a wall and kissed her softly.

She smiled against my lips. "Can't get enough of me?"

"No." I gently nipped her lips before pulling back.

She looked satisfied by my answer and intertwined our fingers together. "We should go before Arnaud comes looking again."

I groaned. "Yeah."

We both walked into the living room hand in hand and I didn't expect to find the whole family present there.

I thought it was just our parents.

Zaire, Ada, Zayden, Lenore, Kian, Celestine and Arnaud all stood side by side forming a line.

Dad and Uncles stood opposite them, looking displeased.

While the others had the decency to stand with slight regret, Zaire had stood casually with his hands in his pockets, tapping his foot impatiently against the floor.

I chose to ignore how closely Ada stood next to him as compared to Zayden.

Everyone's heads turned to us as we walked inside the room.

Dad glanced down at our joined hands and he muttered, "Took you long enough."

Smiling, I shared a look with Mea, squeezing her hand.

Uncle Cyrus cleared his throat loudly, eyes narrowed at me. "I need an explanation."

I spoke before Mea could, "We are dating. That's all the explanation you all need to know."

"You couldn't have told me this before?" Uncle asked her.

"It was complicated..." Mea sighed.

"It's my fault," I stated. "I was being stupid and an asshole. But I am serious about her now."

Mea leaned her head against my bicep, caressing my hand with her thumb.

Uncle still didn't look pleased as he said to me, "I will talk to you later. Alone."

I shrugged. I didn't care as long as Mea was mine.

Next, Dad and Uncles turned to the others and Dad addressed them sternly, "Is this a way to behave in front of guests? You are not kids anymore."

"We were stalling things", Lenore replied, folding her hands across her chest.

"Whose idea was it?" Uncle Silvio asked, glancing at us.

"We both had no idea at all," I told him, stepping away from the others, and taking Mea with me.

"Then who?"

Six pairs of eyes--Ada, Zayden, Lenore, Kian, Cel and Arnaud--turned to Zaire.

Noticing everyone looking at him, he blew out a breath and rolled his eyes. "Oh for fuck's sake. I merely suggested the idea, and you all agreed to go with it."

"But it was your idea", Cel argued with an innocent look, putting all the blame on him.

"Agreed." Arnaud put his arm around her waist. "It was an embarrassing experience."

"I didn't know you loved me so much Uncle", I teased him.

He rolled his eyes. "Shut up."

I grinned at him. I was so glad to have such a supporting group of friends.

"There is no point in scolding us now, we did what we had to. Can we go now?" Ada spoke up in support of Zaire making him look at her softly.

That had Dad and Uncles shutting up and they agreed with her, dismissing us.

As Mea talked with her parents, I slid next to Kian, looking at his palm which was now bandaged. "I can't believe you hurt yourself for me."

He stared at me blankly. "I don't need a sappy thank you."

"I know." I pulled him into a side hug. "But thank you anyway."

He nodded, stepping away from me.

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.
.

Having Mea in my bed--outside of sex--felt incredible.

Last night, we spent a few minutes kissing each other before we could go to sleep even though we had just had sex right before that.

Even then, we were pressed together, cuddling close as we went off to sleep.

Her head rested on top of my chest, my arm around her waist while the other played with her hair.

It was the most contented I have ever felt.

I lifted her chin up and leaned down, placing my lips on hers.

She hummed sleepily, eyes closed as I continued kissing her. "I...I am...sleeping..."

"But I want a kiss."

She lazily kissed me back making my heart skip a beat. "I thought...you didn't...like kissing."

"I didn't." I pecked her lips and pulled back, continuing to stroke her hair as she snuggled closer to me. "But with you, I want to kiss you all the time, amore. You are like an addiction."

Her cheeks turned pink and she half opened her eyes, smiling shyly.

She was so fucking beautiful that it made my heart hurt.

She was all mine.

I rolled her over so that she was under me and grazed her forehead with my lips. "Good morning, my sweet little devil."

"Good morning, Mano."

I grinned, brushing our noses together. "Hearing you call me Mano sounds so fucking cute."

She looped her arms around my neck, smiling softly. "My Mano is cute."

"Yours?"

"Mhmm, mine. I am not going to share you with anyone." She said sternly. "Not even your flings."

"Guess what? I don't want anyone else except you. And I stopped even looking at other women a long time back. My eyes always went to you. You are the most beautiful woman for me."

She removed her hands from around my neck and covered her face, groaning softly.

"What?" I chuckled, uncovering her face.

She was blushing so hard, her whole face was red, a dreamy look in her eyes.

I chuckled again at that. My heart felt like it could burst with all the love I had for her.

I pecked her lips. "I didn't expect you to be this shy."

"Well, I didn't expect you to say such sweet things." She retorted, the blush remaining on her face.

"But I mean what I said."

"You better or I will castrate you."

"I am sure you will." I covered her body with mine and placed my head in between her breasts.

She started to run her fingers through my hair making my eyes close.

"Armano?"

"Hmm?"

"What am I to you?"

I rested my chin in between her breasts, looking up at her. "What do you mean?"

"Like...I am your girlfriend, right?"

"My girlfriend," I confirmed, placing a kiss on her neck. "My future wife. My everything."

I swear I could feel her heart beat faster.

"Oh." She chewed on her lips, the blush darkening.

She leaned down and kissed the top of my head. "You are my everything too."

Fuck. I climbed over her and claimed her mouth in a deep kiss.

I rocked my hips against hers, our tongues tangling together.

Pulling back slightly, I whispered against her lips, "I am going to fuck you and then we are going on a date."

"Yes." She moaned softly, kissing me.

.
.
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It was the best bike ride I have ever had.

Even though Mea had been on my bike before, this felt different and better.

She was mine now. My girl.

This was our first date and a long one too. We left home in the morning, going for breakfast and from there we roamed around aimlessly until it was lunchtime and we had lunch.

It was evening as we rode around the city with Mea's hands under my t-shirt, running her fingers over my abs.

"Where to now, ma'am?" I asked, slowing down the bike.

"Hmm...I feel like spending all your money..."

"Okay." I chuckled and rode the bike to the nearest jewellery store.

.
.
.

"How about this one?" Mea held up an elegant, diamond pendant to her neck.

"Take it."

"And this one?" She pointed to the one she tried before.

"Take that too."

With the most innocent look on her face she pointed to another pair of diamond earrings.

I chuckled. "Take everything you want, amore."

Grinning, she told the saleswoman that she would be taking all three of them and then started looking for more.

While she was busy, I stepped away from her and examined the rings displayed.

If I could, she would already be my fiancee but it would be better to wait for a while so I don't scare her away.

But that doesn't mean I can't buy a ring for her.

I let my eyes roam over every ring until it settled on a particular one which I knew would be perfect for her.

Making sure she wasn't paying attention to me, I asked another saleswoman to get me that ring.

By the time we left the store, Alamea still had that grin on her face as she kissed my cheek. "I honestly didn't need so much jewellery but since you were paying for it, I thought why not."

I shook my head, smiling. "Of course, you didn't."

"But you only said that your money is all mine."

I put my hand around her waist. "It is. Spend it however you want."

"And make you bankrupt?"

"If it's you, I don't mind." I kissed her forehead. "Now, what do you want for dinner?"

But she was busy staring at me with a small smile on her face, in a dream-like state.

It feels fucking amazing to know I am not the only one who is whipped.

"Mea", I murmured, kissing her lips. "If you keep looking at me like that, I might have to cancel our dinner."

She kissed me softly. "I don't mind."

I groaned, tilting my head to deepen the kiss. "You drive me fucking crazy."

"Good." She mumbled into the kiss.

"Fuck dinner. You are going to be my meal tonight."

She squealed as I tightened my arm around her waist, lifted her off her feet and carried her away.