"You are a good protector, but Mommy seems to think it is not time for a sword. Perhaps, we will have to come up with another way for you to protect all the beautiful females in our life."
Lorenzo's mind never stopped. Shade could almost see the wheels turning in his head. Lorenzo sat up quickly, inhaling the air, then squealing at the top of his lungs as he saw his half-brother approach. "Cory, Cory!"
As he scrambled to get down, Shade juggled him, so he didn’t fall. As Cory walked up, he kissed Kate on the cheek and messed up Lorenzo's mop of curls with his hand.
Cory laughed, as he asked his father if he was going to work or lounge like a lazy lizard all night.
"I think I deserve some downtime with my family. That includes you too, son. Are you heading into camp?"
Cory nodded yes as Lorenzo climbed him like a tree, screaming to take him along. Cory put his younger brother on his shoulders and started running around. Lorenzo screamed for him to go faster. Leaning into bel, Shade took this opportunity to snuggle and steal a kiss.
"Sometimes, two sons are valuable, they can entertain each other."
Kate nuzzled into him, inhaling him, his scent as intoxicating now as the first time she held him. Her desire for him grew with the passage of time, just like her love for him. But the demands on their time were great. He still commanded the camp, now even larger after its third year, and the demands of the Dead House remained. They made frequent trips to Florence, to stay visible to the coven there and for him to coordinate with Marco and check on the running of Castello. They made trips to California, to check on the inn, which stayed full year-round, and the vineyards, which were at full production, as were the vineyards here at Bel Rosso. Kate had planted large fields of lavender and sunflowers, and both had proved to be very profitable crops. Their estates in both California and Virginia had become a mecca on the wine tours, as mortals flocked to see the vineyards, taste the wine, and walk through the fragrant fields of blossoms. Kate had also turned the large mansion they inherited with Max's property into a very expensive inn, and Shade had staffed it with more from his coven in Florence. Everything they touched had turned to gold for them, but it all took time.
Raising Lorenzo had been pure joy, and she’d change nothing. But she knew adding another baby would more than double the demands on their time. Their visits to the Paris house had been infrequent because he had no business interest there, and Luciano managed the French and Greek vineyards, which had been established now for centuries. Kate enjoyed this moment of passion, knowing they must steal time where they could.
She could hear Lorenzo's laughter, as he played with Cory. Lorenzo adored his older brother, and didn’t seem to understand, or care, that Cory was a half-breed. When Shade broke the kiss, she stared back at him, the hammock swaying gently beneath them.
"This is the eager one, the child that appeared to me long before Lorenzo. Our Sophia. Are you sure you're ready for this?"
"I will always be ready for the beautiful bambinos you give me, mi amore. It is the gift I cherish the most."
He glanced as his sons then gave Kate a questioning look, his brows drawn together. "More high energy than Lorenzo? Is that possible? It does not matter, Kate, I am anxious for a figlia. I miss holding a small bambino in my arms, one that does not wiggle insistently to get away."
Nuzzling into her neck, he licked her vein, his voice husky. "I love you, bel, just as I did the first time I saw you. You have me, heart and soul."
Kate stared into those piercing blue eyes. "I sometimes miss those early days, when it was just us, and the house was quiet." She laughed. "I can't remember what quiet sounds like now. Lorenzo is full steam ahead from the time his feet touch the floor every morning. When I look at him, I realize I’d change nothing. He’s been such a treasure. When he runs outside in the sunlight, Aegis and Night Stalker run alongside him, and he wears them out. He leaves them both panting. Our Lorenzo is more taxing on Aegis than her own pups ever were. Even Warrior has to stop and take a nap. But not Lorenzo. I don't think there’s an inch of Bel Rosso he hasn’t explored. I just wonder how I’ll keep up with two of them if they head in opposite directions."
Watching her face light up as she talked, she still took his breath away. "You make me feel guilty. I slumber when you are awake and taking care of things. I am always busy, and now I feel as if I am ignoring you, not giving you time. I never want that to happen to us, to become separated by duties. We have to work on it, mi amore, make sure we have time for each other. Do you think we should have another nanny? I am willing to bring one in if it is what you need. I do not want this to become taxing on you." Pulling her to his chest, he rubbed her back. "You will become tired soon. The new bambino will wear you down.”
Kate snuggled into him, as his arms enveloped her. "I think Theresa would have my head if I brought in another nanny. I think we’ll just get another feeder for Sophia, and we’ll manage. For now, I’m fine. It’s still early in the pregnancy. Perhaps later I’ll need you to take some time away from the camp."
Chuckling, he knew Theresa would indeed resist having another nanny. He tried to give her time off to be with Marco at Castello when he could, but with Lorenzo getting older, it was more difficult now than ever.
"Theresa has become quite a necessity in our lives, and I am most grateful for her.”
Stealing more kisses, they laughed softly together, as the rest of the world seemed to fade away. He could lay here forever with her, but he knew their life didn’t work like that.
"I would advise you to speak with Nita for a recommendation on the wet feeder for Sophia. She will be the greatest resource for you, and she may even know of other wet feeders awaiting duties. Of course, as before, they need to come here to be interviewed."
He felt her snuggle into his neck and he smiled. She was hungry. Her appetite would rise, and he’d need to go to Luca once again during her term. It was the only part of her pregnancy he didn’t like, not being able to feed from her.
"Hungry, aren’t you? We need to find Theresa, get our son into his bed, and then find our way to our own."
2
Shade shuffled the papers on the desk. The annual meeting with his head accountant, Roberto, had taken most of the night. They had to review the books and examine the profitability of each business unit. All in all, things were progressing well. The Medici had branched out into many ventures, in the last few years. It seemed he had his hands in a bit of everything. But the wineries remained the main stay of their business and kept the money flowing in for the warrior camps and salaries. It would probably spin Kate's head if she knew the true value of their worth.
They had finally gotten through the details of each business, its annual income, and the outgoing expenses. Even Shade was surprised by the number of mortals and immortals he now supported. Padre had to be drowning in pride.
Luca was doing well also, bringing in the cash with the sale of his lemons from his property in Italy, and Medici now produced their own brand of limoncello. It was currently the number one selling brand in Italy.
Shade had set up a trust fund for both Cory and Rachael years ago and they too were set for life. Lorenzo, and the children that would follow, would be well established, and the coven secured. By the way things were progressing, they could never spend all the money they had, and for Shade, that was a relief.