Mine to Protect: The Extended Ending

When Mine to Protect was released in 2022, I had no idea I'd develop a full series around the Amato family. Now two years later, the Blood and Bourbon series has wrapped and I've been inspired to write an extended ending for our beloved first couple--Alister and Ariana.

Mine to Protect can be read and enjoyed without the following extension, but if you loved these characters as much as I did and want to see even more of their happily ever after, keep reading.

And, for more mafia romance set in New Orleans, read Mine to Tease (available now) and Mine to Love (coming February 11, 2025)

Part 1: Alister

Sophia out did herself. She’s turned our typically all-white ballroom into a winter wonderland. Dimly lit crystal chandeliers reflect on the shiny white floors, almost like little snowflakes. While Christmas trees decorated with ornaments in shades of pink and red and adorned with diamonds, pearls, and lace surround the perimeter of the room. It’s magical, glamourous, and somehow still cozy. It is the perfect setting for our family’s reunion.

Sophia and Cassio make the rounds, greeting the guests with large and shiny smiles. This is their homecoming just as much as it’s mine. And, with her pregnancy, who knows when they’ll be back in New Orleans after the holiday? My cousin, Damon, dances with his wife while Gio tends to his love at their private home, away from all the fuss. Away from the fuss is where I’d like to be. The only reason I agreed to let Sophia host this extravagant party is because I’d hoped it would be more than a party, more than a Christmas Ball, more than a reunion of sorts for my family. I’d hoped it would be a celebration of mine and Ariana’s love.

The eight caret emerald cut ring I’ve chosen for Ariana weighs heavy in my pocket. The priest I invited waits anxiously by the catering station. Perhaps it was presumptuous of me to think tonight could be our wedding or to even think that after all this time, Ariana would heed my invitation. That she would still love me, still choose me.

I shake my head as worrisome thoughts make my cheeks hot and my throat constrict. I have to get out of here. Loosening my bowtie and unbuttoning the top button of my dress shirt, I hurry out the back entrance of Laroux House, grabbing a glass of bourbon from a passing tray as I do. My insides burn as I down the beverage while galloping down the concrete steps towards the quieter gardens. I need as much space between me and that party as possible. I never did like these loud affairs, but tonight’s festivities irk me in a different way. If Ariana doesn’t come, then this whole night is nothing more than a painful reminder of the love I’ve lost—the life I was too careless to preserve.

A year—it was too long. While Ariana was never far from my heart, perhaps the distance I put between us was too damaging to overcome? I collapse onto the bottom step as reality sinks in. What if it was all for nothing? Well, not nothing. I know I did the right thing by giving up my crown, by stepping away from the Mafia. I haven’t exactly adjusted to this new way of life yet, but it certainly seems to suit Damon and Gio. And they were always far more receptive to the ways of the Mafia than I. But if my new life is a life without Ariana, then I don’t want it. I might as well be back in Europe, off the grid.

My shoulders sink and I lower my gaze to the gravel beneath my feet. That is until the sound of a horse’s hooves draws my attention.

Part 2: Ariana

My chest flutters with nerves so intense it feels as if my heart may beat right out of my chest. Perhaps I was wrong to think this gorgeous dress—made of white tulle and red velvet—is from Alister. Perhaps I was wrong to assume he’s returned. But only he would sneak into my apartment and leave a gift and invitation in such a dramatic fashion. I lift my shaky fingers to the diamond and ruby necklace resting heavy on my chest. He’s done this before—right before he left New Orleans, to be exact. And if the invitation was from Gio or Sophia, it would’ve just been a text. No, I can feel it. Alister is back. He’s come for me, just in time for Christmas.

That thought has my lips spreading into the biggest of smiles. I wonder if he looks the same? I wonder if he smells the same? I wonder what the past year has been like for him? I wonder if I’ll be able to speak at all when I see him? All I want is to throw my arms around him, squeeze him tight, and never let him go. And yet, there’s a little pit in my stomach that lets me know I’m scared.

What if this is just another let down? What if, after all this time, we feel like strangers to one another? What if reality doesn’t compare to all the fantasies I’ve concocted in my head over the past year of what our reunion would be like? Perhaps, worst of all, what if we don’t make it?

What if all this longing, hoping, praying—all the heartache I’ve held onto and lived in for the past year—ends up being futile? What if we were never truly meant for happily ever after? What if we were just meant to help each other—he to help me find my mother’s killer and my true family and me to help him solve the mysteries of his past and inspire him to live the life he’s always felt was just out of reach? What if we’ve already served our purpose? As brave of a face as I put on, as much as I bury myself in my work and pretend I’m fine, my heart can’t take that kind of defeat.

It’s then that the horse-drawn carriage slows and the exterior of Laroux House peeks through the trees lining our gravel path. I take a deep breath, knowing all the questions will soon be answered, even if I’m not prepared for the truth. But, as the sound of footsteps—quick and relentless—reach my ears, all the anxiety in me instantly calms.

Alister stands before me, breathless with flushed cheeks. There is a nervous quiver to his lip as his eyes widen with anticipation as he takes me in. His expression mimics the desperation gnawing at my insides and I know—he’s missed me just as much as I’ve missed him. “Allow me,” he says then, extending his hand to help me from the carriage.

Suddenly, I feel warm and my lips draw into a calm smile. I place my hand in Alister’s—our embrace is simple and yet it feels like home. He feels like home. Though the moment is short as he switches the position of his hands and pulls me from the carriage with surprising quickness and force. The movement pulls me from the metaphorical sleep I’ve been in for the past year and wakes me to reality, the reality that finally includes him. He really is back.

“I was beginning to think you weren’t coming,” he says, pulling me tightly against him. In his arms, everything feels just as it used to be . He smells the same, like cinnamon. He looks the same—black as night hair with golden brown eyes that seem to glow. Even his facial hair is groomed exactly as the last day I saw him. In his arms, it’s like no time has passed at all. It’s like we’ve been frozen in a Christmas snow globe, placed on a shelf. And now, we’ve come back to life, thawed, despite the chilly December air nipping at my skin.

“You made me wait for you an entire year. The least you can do is wait an hour or two for me.” My reply is more coy than I truly feel. I want to crawl inside his skin and stay there, inside his safety and warmth forever. Though, perhaps, the more realistic solution is to have him crawl inside me.

“I’m going to have my hands full with you, aren’t I?” he asks.

I tilt my head to the side with narrowed eyes. “Did you expect anything less?”

Alister shakes his head and brings his finger to my chin. The subtle movement steals my breath. It’s then that he brings his lips to mine and all words, all senses, fail me. My body goes limp in his arms as we kiss each other desperately. He bites at my lower lip while I invade his mouth with my tongue. He tastes the same as when we shared our first kiss—like bourbon. Somehow that taste makes this feel even more real.

Tears well in my eyes and I wrap my arms around his neck, deepening our kiss. My forehead aches with all the words I wish to say, all the pain I’ve endured in his absence, and all the hopes I have for the future. My body has just as much of a reaction to mine and Alister’s reunion as my heart.

“Ariana, my love,” Alister says, his voice raspy as he breaks our kiss.

“Yes.” My voice is nothing but a whisper as my eyes still closed, drip tears.

“Sweetheart, I’m going to need you to look at me.” I nod, eyes still closed, as my face contorts with all the emotion I’ve held inside the past three-hundred and something days. I break. These aren’t dripping tears, they are puddles flooding down my face.

“Oh, baby, I’m sorry. I’m so sorry. I know this time apart was hard. I know you’re hurting and you’ve been hurting. I’ve been hurting too.” Alister pulls me tight against him and holds me while I shake. Softly, he plants a kiss amongst my raven-colored locks. “But that’s all over now, okay? The wait is over and now, now, we can truly live. We can be together. We can have our happily ever after. If you want it, it’s yours. And so is this.”

With one arm still wrapped tightly around me, I open my watery eyes to find Alister reaching for something in his pocket. I gasp. Quickly, I wipe the remnants of tears from my eyes and watch as he pulls a little box from his pocket.

“Is that?” I look from the box to Alister with my mouth agape. He nods. It’s then that his eyes gloss over with tears of his own.

“This ring, this home, and my heart are all yours—if you want them? If you can find it in your heart to give me a second chance, I promise to spend the rest of my life making your days happy and filled with love. I promise you everything, Ariana Valentine, because you deserve everything.”

Alister doesn’t even wait for my answer before slipping the giant ring onto my finger. To no surprise, it fits perfectly. He knows me—he knows me as if I am his most prized possession and I am. “If I want?” I repeat his words. “Alister Amato, I want nothing more than to be yours.”

Part 3: Alister

Hand in hand, Ariana and I walk into the ballroom. Little does everyone know we’re now married. Sophia will be pissed she missed the opportunity to plan us an extravagant wedding. Gio won’t exactly be happy he missed the occasion either. But he’s needed at home and I couldn’t wait a moment longer to make this beautiful woman my bride and my wife. Now, I can’t wait to get her to my—our—bedroom.

As we cut across the dancefloor, Sophia and Cassio make eye contact, lifting their glasses to us. Ariana and I smile at them. Sophia never doubted us for a moment. Even when I second guessed things, or perhaps even Ariana struggled to remain hopeful, Sophia remained certain. Without her, our union wouldn’t be possible. None of what happened over the past year would’ve been. Damon, Gio, and I have all joined her and Cassio in the realm of happiness. It’s a strange place I never thought I’d get to visit, let alone take up residence in. But, now that I’m here, I never want to leave.

“Excuse me, sir. I’m Aidan Cro—” I bristle as Josephine’s proxy king approaches, stopping Ariana and I in our tracks right before we reach the marble staircase.

“Impeccable timing, Cross,” I say, maneuvering Ariana away from him. “For the foreseeable future, I’m unavailable. Should that change, I’ll let you know.” I leave him with a wink, assuring him I’ll find him if he needs a lesson or two on how to run this city. But, with Gio’s plan unfolding—the one that includes Zane, Xander, and the others—I don’t think that’ll be necessary.

“Now, where were we?” I ask, turning to Ariana as I guide her up the stairs.

“Taking it all in,” she says, turning to face the Christmas extravaganza beneath us. She watches the dancing couples sway around the dancefloor, the children shake the presents beneath the trees—wondering what’s inside. She even spots her dad and her extended family amongst the crowd.

“We can stay, if you’d like. There’s no rush for what happens next when we have the rest of our life.”

“No.” She shakes her head. “It’s not that. It’s just…” I know what she’s thinking without her saying it. She was alone for so many years—all her life, truly. She never had a family and spent years wondering why her mother was murdered so brutally when she was so young. She questioned everything, never finding peace, never having anyone to rely on. It’s nice to know I could give her everything she’d been missing—peace, happiness, a family, a support system—just as she’s given me everything that always evaded me. We truly are meant for each other. And, as I squeeze her hand and cast my eyes out upon the crowd, same as her, I see the light our love has allowed to break through the clouds that once covered my world in shades of gray.

“I know,” I whisper then. “I feel it too.”

She squeezes my hand in return and then shifts her attention to me. “Now, I’m ready to feel something else. I’m ready to feel you.”

Her words steal my smile and have my eyes dancing across her body. I admire the way her raven-colored hair shines. Her long, thick curls are pulled neatly into some kind of an up-do. I can’t wait to mess it up. Her delicate heart-shaped face is so sweet and innocent-looking, I almost feel bad for the things I’m about to do to her. But the playfulness hidden deep in her gaze and the mischievousness etched in her brows let me know she’s up for the challenge.

It’s then that I bring my hand to the bodice of her strapless ballgown. I rub the delicate lace between my fingers as an excuse to brush my hand against her chest. She lowers her gaze and watches my hands, perhaps questioning how far I’ll go within full visibility of our guests. Don’t worry, mi amore. I protect what’s mine and you are mine—in every sense of the word.

“You remember what I told you the first time we did this?” I ask.

“The only time,” she corrects. “How could I forget?”

“Repeat it to me now,” I command, gliding my hand down the curves of her breast and waist. As my fingers reach her hip, I tug her toward me with force. She gasps, but loves every second of it.

“I love you. Whatever happens next, I want you to remember that.”

I nod. “And what else did I tell you?” Ariana closes her eyes as I bring my lips to her neck. She moans. “Say it, wife. I need to make sure you remember.”

“Alister, I trust you not to—”

“Say it, please.” I pull away from her then and look her in the eyes. “I have waited an entire year to have you in my arms, in my bed, an entire year to feel you. I don’t want to hurt you, but I don’t know if I can control myself enough not to.”

Ariana shakes her head. “Alister, I’m just as eager for this as you are. My body craves you. I’m wet right now, ready for you to take me in ways I can’t even imagine. So, if you need me to say it, I will. But the same goes for you. Alister, I crave you so desperately I’m afraid I may hurt you. If I do, tell me and I’ll stop.” She glides her hands up my chest, then slyly unbuttoning two more of my buttons so half my chest is exposed. “Or have me make it up to you after in any way you choose.” She leans forward and kisses my bare skin. “Whatever you do, don’t forget I love you.”

I bring my hand to the back of her neck as she kisses the place just above my heart. “Thank you,” I whisper. And without further delay, I scoop her into my arms and carry her the rest of the way up the stairs. In unimaginable ways? Hmm, lucky for her, I have an extremely vivid imagination.

Part 4: Ariana

Alister shoves me against the bedroom door, kissing me ferociously as he fumbles with the knob. Any chill the winter air left on my skin has vanished, chased away by the heat of passion radiating between us. Once—we’ve only done this once before. That one memory of us was all I’ve had to cling to, all I’ve had to keep me company at night while he’s been away. Now, with him in my grasp, my heart races with anticipation. My legs tingle with excitement. And my dress itches my skin, ready to be stripped from me.

Alister holds me by the throat as his tongue invades me. There’s a possessive sting to his touch and yet, it only makes me open my mouth wider. I want all of him. Every inch of his tongue. I want it slithering down my throat until I can’t breathe.

The door gives way behind me and Alister steadies me by the back of my neck. He breaks our kiss and I take him in. It’s the moment of silence before the ravaging. The first time we did this, we took things slow. We savored it. We savored each other. We examined every inch of each other’s bodies, took note of every scar, every freckle. It was a moment to last a lifetime. But, tonight—nothing about this will be slow. No, tonight will be raw, rough, and relentless.

As the glow of his brown eyes darkens and his gaze drifts from my face to my breasts, I take a step back into the all-black, dimly lit bedroom. Alister’s jaw tightens as I take another step. With his shirt nearly half off already, he shucks out of his suit jacket, leaving it on the hall floor before crossing the threshold of his bedroom. His eyes slowly drift up my body once more as he slams the door closed behind him. I take another step back, inching my way toward the bed as Alister moves toward me.

He’s like an animal, a lion stalking his prey. I quite like feeling like the innocent lamb headed to the slaughter. I want him to take me, claim me, unleash himself on me. And, once I’ve felt him, once my flesh has been marked by him—quite literally—I will return the favor.

Alister tugs at his shirt with such force, the remaining buttons scatter across the floor as he throws the garment aside. As my knees bump against the edge of the bed, I gasp and find myself cornered, ready for the taking. Alister’s eyes narrow into slits as he comes closer. Reaching for his belt, he discards it. Next, he removes his pants. By the time he reaches me, he is completely naked.

He stands before me, even more chiseled than before. The sight of him gives new weight to the words he had me recite. Alister has always been strong, large, muscular, and capable of inflicting pain. And while I never back down from a challenge—perhaps it’s the FBI agent in me or the restless spirit inside me that’s been fighting for her life since she was young—but this Alister, I’m not sure if I can stand toe to toe with him. He might actually hurt me.

“Now, it’s your turn,” he says, his breath tickling my neck. Without warning, he spins me around so that my back is to him. His movements are so quick and forceful, I lean forward and brace myself against the bed with my palms.

I pinch my eyes closed, unable to ignore the yearning between my legs. My vagina aches for him. And I’ve never been more wet. My slick desire pours out of me as Alister brings a knife to the laces of my corset bodice, slicing through them with ease. The knife clangs against the hardwood as he throws it to the side. Within seconds, he has my gorgeous—now destroyed—dress at my ankles. That was my wedding dress.

As Alister plants a kiss to my ass, covered only by the tiny fabric of my white lace thong, it finally hits me. We’re married. Today was my wedding. That was my dress. And this is my husband. This is my life! How I began today and how I’m ending it is nothing short of whiplash. My heart aches with tears I wish to cry but refuse to. Not now. I have the rest of my life to reflect on our crazy rollercoaster of a love story. But tonight, tonight, there is no room for thoughts or tears. Only love. Only passion. Only him and all the deliciously wicked things he plans to do to me.

Picking me up from behind, Alister throws me on the bed. I’m left in nothing but my thong, high heels, and the glittering necklace weighing heavy against my chest. There’s something erotic about it. I feel sexy. I feel like this could be my new uniform within the confines of our home.

Alister smirks as he joins me in bed, positioning himself between my legs. “What’s that look for?” I ask.

“Nothing, my love. I’m just appreciating my stunning wife.” I smile, though it’s quickly stolen from me as a moan escapes me. Alister kisses my clit through the lace of my panties. Kisses, nips, licks. He toys with me until my legs shake.

“My dear husband, if you don’t fuck me right now, I will kill you.” My words rip through me, raspy and desperate, as I grab hold of Alister’s thick hair.

He laughs. “Well, we can’t have that, now can we? I just got you back.” Alister breaks my hold and removes my underwear in one quick motion. Adjusting himself overtop of me, he brings his hand to my throat. Yes, that’s it—claim me. I gasp as he enters me and chokes me at the same time. Despite how wet I am, it takes my body a moment to adjust to him. It’s been too long. I’m too tight. He’s too big. This is all too much and yet, it’s everything I want.

“I’m never losing you again,” he says then as he thrusts in and out. “You’re stuck with me forever, Ariana Amato.” I nod, my tears finally escaping me as Alister’s grip around my neck leaves me gasping for air and his relentless, powerful thrusts have my insides tightening.

Part 5: Alister

Ariana’s pussy feels like home. I’ve been back in New Orleans for a week now and yet, this city, this room—nothing has been able to ease the emptiness inside me like her presence, like her pussy. I thrust in and out, finally releasing my grip on her neck as her face turns red and her arms shake as she lay beneath me. “I love you,” I whisper as she catches her breath.

“I love you too,” she says. Her words let me know she’s okay and they give me the encouragement to proceed. Lifting one of her legs and placing it on my shoulder, I deepen my thrusts. She cries out and pinches her eyes closed.

“God, you feel amazing,” I hiss. The way her body wraps around me is addictive. As much as I fear I may hurt her, I may hurt myself if I give in to my every craving for her. She wraps her arms around my neck to remain in place as my body jolts her on the slippery sheets. “Good girl.”

Redirecting my desperation to her breasts, I pull her nipple between my teeth. I suck her hard, grazing my teeth over her sensitive bud to intensify the desire coiling inside her. We’ve got a long night of fucking ahead of us, but I can feel that she’s close to her first orgasm. After choking her so intensely, I decide to grant it to her.

“Alister, Alister,” she says, tapping her fingers against my back as if she’s quite literally tapping out. Hmm, makes me remember our first dual out by the pool. Submission isn’t a word in Ariana Valentine’s vocabulary. But, it seems my wife has a changed heart.

“Cum for me,” I command before taking her other nipple into my mouth. She hisses. Oh, is this one more sensitive? She shakes her head as if fighting her orgasm. “Don’t worry, mi amore. We’re just getting started. I just really want to see you lose control. I want you to release all the cum you’ve been keeping inside for me this year. And then I want to slurp up every drop before filling you with my own.”

Ariana’s body tenses beneath me. Her core tightens and her hips lift. They strain against the bed as she adjusts herself, exposing her clit to more friction. Her insides grip my dick tightly and it takes everything in me to fight against my own release. And then, with rapid breaths turned to screams, Ariana cums.

I gasp and grunt as her vagina squeezes and pulses around me. Her body pulls me in as if she wants to milk me for cum, the same as I pound her for hers. I can’t keep the satisfied grin off my face as this gorgeous spit-fire of a woman bends to my will and my body.

As she finally settles, I kiss away the sweat droplets on her forehead and remove myself so I can follow through on my promise. Ariana is still gasping for air as I bring my mouth to her pussy. She cries out as I drag my tongue over her tender flesh. “Mmm, you taste like heaven.”

I flick my tongue over her entrance, cleaning her of cum. As I finish, I kiss her clit softly and the look on her face lets me know it won’t be long before she’s ready for round two. But first… I crawl up her body and bring the tip of my dick to her perfect lips. “Open for me, wife.”

Now Ariana is the one smiling. She opens for me and I fill her with my dick. She gags as she does her best to suck as I fuck her throat. I watch her closely as I slip in and out of her, making sure I don’t suffocate her. Yet, seeing her like this—beneath me, struggling to take all of me and yet desperate to—is just what I need to fill her throat with my cum.

Ariana is my equal in every way—strong, smart, full of fire and love. She will challenge me and I her. And, like me, she will rise to every challenge. I don’t just have a wife. I have a partner, a queen—even though I’ve given up my throne. As I pull myself from her and kiss the cum dripping from her lips, I know the rest of my days will be an explosion of our love and passion, our loyalty to one another. They will be happy. I am happy—now that I’m home.

THE END...AGAIN (:

Writing this series has been incredible. The characters of Alister and Ariana, Sophia and Cassio, Damon and Ana, and Gio and Darcy will forever live inside me. And I hope you will carry them with you as well.

The Blood and Bourbon series is my first full-length series to complete but it certaintly won't be my last. Be sure to check out the final Blood and Bourbon novel, Mine to Love, when it releases in February 2025. And subscribe to my newsletter or follow me on Instagram to keep up with what's coming next.