Sixty-Nine.

AYDEMS POV...

THREE DAYs LATER...

This time, I am aware of her presence even before I open the curtains to reveal my emerald green eyes. The very eyes she has the tendency to tell me how much she admires.

I let out a little grunt, aware that my wife is watching as I gradually emerge from the darkness that refuses to release me.

My wife...

Ah, Gods, that sounds so fucking refreshing.

Scrubbing a hand over my face, "Afternoon, askim." [my love.] I mutter into my pillow.

Yes, you heard me right. I said afternoon, not, good morning. We are still on our inhouse honeymoon and the only thing we've been doing is fucking, snacking, napping and fucking some more.

No, that's an outright lie.

We have been fucking a whole lot more. And honestly, I don't know if I'll ever get tired of filling her and listening to her scream out my name as she climaxes beneath me. On top of me, or hunched over the bed with her ass up.

It still astonishes me every time I look at her that we are married. I never once in my life believed that I'd ever settle down and have kids, or at least want to.

Now, I crave to fill her with my seed just so I can watch her abdomen swell with my child growing inside her. She makes me feel things that have no right corrupting my heart, but when I think back on my life without her and Sandro in it; a sense of me banging my head against the wall envelopes me and it's suffocating.

"Hey," She says softly sitting on the side of the bed, nestling a cup of hot coffee that wafts in the air between us. "You're finally awake."

"Not entirely," I sigh, sitting upright as I comb my fingers through my hair. "Care to share?" I ask her as I flick her a cheeky wink.

She takes another sip before she passes it to me, "Sure, looks like you need it more than me." She says with sarcasm dripping from her words.

"That's because you're an insatiable little minx," As I take a massive sip from the cup, my eyes slowly drink her in over the rim.

She flushes, "Are you complaining, Mr Burak?"

Setting the cup down on the nightstand, I lunge forward and pull her tempting body against mine. She shifts, straddling me as she wraps her arms around my neck and gazes down at me.

"No, kedi yavrusu. [kitten.] Any male with half a brain wouldn't take what you give so willingly for granted." I mutter, skimming the tips of my fingers against her bare thighs.

"I'm not looking for anyone's approval, but yours Aydem." She whispers as I witness a flicker of self-doubt gleaming in her eyes.

"I'll take whatever you give me, Mila, and it will never be enough," I say darkly. "No matter how much you give, I will always want more. You are like a pain killer that sits on the tip of my tongue, slowly suppressing the hunger, the craving and yearning that engulfs me every time, I'm in your presence." I grumble, cupping her jaw in my large hands. "The ring you wear on your finger is a constant reminder that you belong to me, just like I belong to you!"

I grab her hand in mine and press my lips against the ring, which boldly states that she is off-limits and solely mine.

"Then you'll have no problem getting up and taking me out to dinner?" She pleads, nibbling on the corner of her bottom lip.

"It's not safe out there, askim." [my love] I brush her hair away from her shoulder and glide my lips across the soft dip of her collar bone.

"I'm going crazy, Aydem." She says as she tries to get off me, but I tighten my grip around her hips, stilling her. "I haven't left the house in days, Castello hasn't made a move and if he is in the country, wouldn't it be wiser to use ourselves as bait to draw him out?"

Grazing my teeth along my bottom lip, I exhale sharply. "No, it wouldn't," I state firmly. "But the last thing I want you to feel like is a prisoner." I slowly glide my hands up her back, dragging her closer towards me and I brush my lips against her cheek. "I'll make a call while you take your time in getting ready." I say roughly, "You're playing with fire, kedi yavrusu [kitten] and the last thing I need is for you to get burnt."

"When you're by my side, Aydem, I'm invincible." She says breathlessly.

A low snarl departs from between my lips, "That's the biggest load of bok [shit] I have ever heard, Mrs Burak." I mutter. "You light up every room you walk into, and it makes me delirious with jealousy," I admit unashamedly.

"I love it when you talk dirty to me baby," She says in a husky voice. "But I'm hungry, and time waits for no one. So, I suggest you make that call because we leave in an hour." She slaps my hands and I remove them from her delectable body.

[Yes, ] "Evet, ma'am." I chuckle, watching her leave the room.

I pick up my phone and scroll through my contact list until I come across Ezekiel's name.

Ezekiel is Mercedes' adopted father, an ex-cop and engaged to Sedar's crazy ex childhood intended, Zeynep. She once had a nasty streak in her until he turned her world upside down and made his stake over her.

Poor bastards gonna need all the luck and whiskey he can get his hands on because Zeynep is about as high maintenance as they come.

He also happens to be Sedar's underboss and a very reputable one at that.

"Well, if it isn't Ay-fucking-dem Burak!"

"Ezekiel, it's good to hear your voice." I chuckle. "I need you to put together a team of men for me. I'm taking my wife out for dinner and she won't take no for an answer."

"I can do that for you, mate. What time do you want them outside waiting for you?"

"We leave in an hour," I mumble, swinging my legs over the side of the bed.

"Where do you plan on going?"

"She loves her steak, so the Nuser- Et steakhouse by the waterfront." I lick my lips as my mouth begins salivating.

"Alright. I'll have a team of four, three men in each car. You know the drill, two cars in front of you and two cars behind you."

"I remember."

"Call me if you require anything else, until then. Congratulations and enjoy your night."

[Thanks, ] "Teşekkürler, you enjoy the rest of your evening and say merhaba [hello] to Zeynep." I titter as I end the call, getting off the bed with hopes of finding something suitable to wear.

But first, I need to go to the weapon's cell in the basement and find myself a new toy to don myself with just in case Castello happens to show himself.

And I honestly hope he does, so I can put an end to this war, once and for all.