Sabrina blinked, stunned. “I’m not worried about that.” She frowned. “I’m worried about the opposite of that, Cesare.”
Cesare’s gaze softened as he stared at Sabrina, looking like a redheaded queen in his mother's wedding dress, standing in hischildhood church. “Sabrina, I wanted you the moment I saw you. I will die an old man, still wanting you. Any one of the people waiting out there will tell you I’m a stubborn ass.” He murmured with a wry grin. “Once I make a decision, it’s made.”
Sabrina swallowed thickly, her heart in her throat. Unsure of what to say, she held his gaze. Her shoulders slowly relaxed as words unspoken hovered in the air. Something inside urged her to trust him just a little more; that this was undoubtablyhighlyunusual, but it wasright for her, andeverything was going to be okay.
After a long moment, Cesare reluctantly looked away, and pressed the box-candy paper against the wall beside the mirror; carefully writing out the date.
Cesare proceeded to scrawl out legal jargon on the makeshift paper in a long but elegant script.
“We may both be afraid of the same thing.” He murmured. “One day you’re going to sit at a table, surrounded by women that haven’t gone without a spray tan since high school. And they’re going to talk about prenups they signed in exchange for a life they are now trapped in. You will realize you jumped into a world you knew nothing about before you ever learned the questions you should have asked.”
Sabrina frowned. She was willing to take a risks in life, but she wasn’t stupid.
Cesare signed the bottom of the legal document with a flourish before turning to her. “I will not have you in a position of weakness with those women. I will not wonder if you sleep beside me because life has taken away any other options. My wife will always be taken care of, no matter what happens, and everyone is going to know it.”
Sabrina read over the phrasing with a disbelieving scoff. “Five million, no stipulations? Additional amounts to be negotiated upon request?” She gaped. “This is insane.”
Cesare shook his head. “Before we left the airport, I made you a promise. I will not have you trapped, tesoro.” He continued. “Naked, fully submitting, and addicted to my cock, yes. But never trapped.”
Sabrina flushed red and her breath hitched at his words, and the heat in his eyes. She wrapped her arms around his neck and pressed a needy kiss against his lips.
“Alright. I’ll sign your candy box.” Sabrina relented, pulling back with a smile.
Cesare immediately pulled her back against him, pressing his body against hers. “And you’ll marry me for real.” He insisted.
Sabrina blushed. Why was she blushing over this? “I’ll marry you for real.” She whispered thickly.
“This is good.” Cesare nodded, bringing his hands up to cradle her head. She was going to be his in every fucking way there was. “If you said no, I’d have to kidnap you.”
Sabrina arched a brow, amusement coloring her features. “Those are my only options?”
Cesare ran his hands down the length of the gown, palming the back of her ass and pulling her flush against him. “Mine.” He muttered against her lips.
Sabrina hummed. “Almost.” She teased with a sultry tone and a twinkle in her eye.
Chapter Thirty
(Cesare)
For the rest of his life, Cesare would remember the sight of Sabrina walking down the aisle towards him; her hazel doe-eyes radiating what he could only dare to hope was love.Love for him.Crowned like a Lombardi Queen, she was escorted by Papa Lombardi, until Sabrina placed her slender hand in Cesare's, and took her rightful place beside him.
Throughout the ceremony, Cesare was struck by the growing realization that this woman was going to be fully his now. Her needs and her wants, her joys, her pleasure, and even pain; it all belonged to Cesare. He resolved to honor this responsibility seriously; to show Sabrina that he meant everything he had said earlier.
As the ceremony drew to a close, Father Patrick asked for the rings, and Cesare’s eyes widened. In all of the day's chaos, nobody had thought about rings. He squeezed Sabrina’s hands to offer her reassurance, even as he instinctively turned to his father for help.
Papa Lombardi slowly rose up from his place in the front pew, and carefully lifted a gold chain from underneath his dress shirt. A gold cross hung from the chain, and beside it, the diamonds of a woman’s wedding ring twinkled in the light of the church.
“Oh, Cesare.” Maribella whispered to the older Lombardi, her voice filled with emotion.
“Bella, help me with this, would you?” He gruffed, as he attempted to unclasp the necklace.
Sabrina’s Cesare rubbed his thumb over the back of Sabrina’s hand as he continued to hold her hands in his. “It’s Mami’s ring.” He swallowed thickly. “We can get you one of your own later if you want.”
Sabrina watched as Papa Lombardi gave the wedding ring a tender little kiss and left the pew, approaching Cesare and Sabrina with a quiet sense of resolve.
Papa Lombardi gently placed the ring in Father Patrick’s hand. Sabrina looked at the vintage ring, the vintage filagree gold set with three stunning diamonds. It was a ring made to shine; made to speak across the room.
"It's stunning." Sabrina whispered hoarsely. "Are you sure?"
