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Then I crowded over her lithe body, placing my hands on hers, intertwining our fingers as we both tried to steady our breathing. “Beautiful. Mine. Forever.”
The three words were ones she loved to hear.
I kept her in the same position for a few minutes then backed away, grinning as I watched her try to recover. Then I pulled a box from my pocket, easing it around her shoulder.
“You’ve given me too much already,” she said even as she accepted the gift.
“This is something different.” I raked my fingers through my hair and adjusted my clothes as she opened it.
“The necklace is beautiful,” she whispered, darting a look into the mirror.
I took it from her hand, easing the sterling silver band around her neck, the single jewel a beautiful ruby. “It’s not just any necklace, my sweet submissive. It’s a collar. Now, everyone will know you are all mine.”
“Does that make you my master?” she asked playfully as I fastened the choker.
“That goes without saying. Every infraction will be handled accordingly.” To prove my point, I smacked her bottom three times, laughing as she squealed. “Stunning.”
“It’s gorgeous.”
I backed away, holding out my hand. “Time to go. There are guests waiting.”
“Oh, no. I need to clean up a bit.”
“Not allowed. I want you reeking of my scent.”
“You’re incorrigible.”
“No, just demanding.” I grabbed her hand, ignoring her cries as she tried to pull away. She knew better. I would never let her go. Both Shadow and Goldie barked several times, their tails wagging from happiness. They’d become close, refusing to sleep anywhere but in the bed.
I wouldn’t have it any other way.
As I pulled her down the stairs, she continued fighting me and all I could do was grin.
The day was warmer than expected, spring flowers blooming in the garden, the storm from the early morning hours giving way to bright sunshine. It was a perfect day for a wedding.
She stopped fighting as soon as we walked out of the house. This would be our last month in the location, her suggestion I sell the estate one that made sense. We’d found a new home together, much smaller but one with enough room to start a family. I’d seen such emotion on Sarah’s face when she’d asked me about my unborn child, fighting tears as she’d allowed to me to grieve for only the second time. She’d been my rock, a woman who loved me against the odds.
Maybe karma had finally shifted in my direction.
“This is perfect,” she whispered. “Just what Maria wanted.”
“All because you made it come to life.” The fact my father had blessed the wedding between my baby sister and my second in command was as surprising as the change in his attitude as of late. With my mother’s condition stable for the time being, he’d become determined to enjoy his retirement, secure in the fact he had a son with a firm hold on the reins.
“You had a little bit to do with it,” she purred and kissed me on the cheek, finally pulling out of my hand. “Maybe one day we could have a wedding this beautiful.”
“We’ll see.”
She had no idea we were flying to Italy ten days from now, a special celebration planned, including our nuptials in front of my grandparents. Our entire family and hers would be in attendance, all expenses paid.
Even her father.
I’d decided not to turn him in to the Feds or to carve him into pieces. It would serve no purpose. His role had been minimal, tasked with heightening his level of persecution in exchange for cash, but his criminal activities in other avenues far outweighed accepting a bribe. However, he was no longer persecuting our family, selecting another victim to spend his time pontificating about. He’d been advised to do so more than once. Besides, he had his own issues to deal with, including his impending divorce.
The event would be cathartic, bringing the past to the present and maybe crushing the demons that had plagued my family for years.
As I looked toward the ocean, I could almost feel Luciano’s presence. He would have enjoyed this day. Theodora was beaming, Nico her date and they appeared happy, although I’d keep my eye on him until I was certain. My mother was smiling more than I’d seen her do in a long time, her medication keeping her capable of planning the wedding with ease.
Maria was glowing, unable to keep from laughing. At least her marriage would keep her in the States, as well as her unborn child.
