Page 83 of Bianchi

I imagine him rolling his eyes when he speaks, as if the answer to my question is obvious. “I always collect on my debts, Rome. He owed me, and after some persuasion, he offered her to me.”

I rub my hand over my forehead. “And what exactly will you do with her?”

“I don’t fucking know. Look, I called to see if you’ll come for the wedding?”

My eyes widen, and I blow out a breath. I never thought I’d see the day. “When is it?”

“I don’t know.”

Chuckling, I reply, “How can you not know? Don’t people usually have a bachelor party when there’s a set date?”

“Fine.” Massimo pouts. “It’s more of a ‘drowning my sorrows’ kind of party.”

Shaking my head, I pull my hand down over my jaw. This is Massimo to a tee. Without the stress of a war, he’s letting loose and back to his old reckless behavior. “When you sort out a date, let me know. I’m sure we can make it over.”

“Thanks, Rome. Look, I have to go, Candy’s just arrived, but… I’ll catch you later.”

Disconnecting the call, I return to the bedroom, rubbing at my eyelids. I never thought I’d see the day when Massimo Marino would call me to say he’s getting married.

My eyes land on Aurora as I step into the room, the soft glow of the bedside light illuminating her beauty. All this talk of marriage… One day, I’ll give her the wedding she’s always dreamed of and then I’ll give her anything else she asks for.

When I climb under the covers, Aurora snuggles into me, throwing her leg over mine. Her face is upturned and I bend down to dust a kiss over her lips.

Sleep fills her voice when she asks, “Who was on the phone, amore?”

“Go back to sleep, mia amato. It was just Massimo.”

She leans up on her elbow, a hand pressed to her chest to keep the sheet from falling. Her hair hangs in a curtain around her face as she looks down at me, a furrow in her brow. “Is everything okay?”

“Yeah.” I smooth her hair back, a smile pulling at the corners of my mouth. “Believe it or not, but he’s getting married.”

Her eyes blow wide and the sheet falls to pool around her waist. I can’t stop my eyes from dropping to her bare breasts, the globes begging to be touched.

“He is? Wow, never thought that would happen. I thought we’d be married before him.”

My eyes dart to hers as I sit up. “Sposami?”

Aurora tilts her head, her teeth working the fullness of her lower lip. She drops her eyes to her lap before looking at me through her lashes. “I… What does that mean?”

Clearing my throat, I pick up her hand, turning it over to drop a gentle kiss into the palm. “Marry me.”

Her jaw goes slack before she catches herself and she looks away. “Are you only asking because Massimo is getting married?”

Cazzo.

“Never, amore. Never. It was always my plan. Make you my wife and fill you with my babies. This has nothing to do with Massimo. I just didn’t know if you were ready for that next step. I know I still have work to do.”

Biting her bottom lip, Aurora climbs into my lap, cupping my face. In between kisses, she says, “I think I’ve been ready since the day I met you.” Pulling away, she swipes her thumb over my bottom lip before adding, “Well, since the day you broke into my apartment. I just didn’t know it. You saved me, Rome. You took all of my broken pieces and put them back together. It would make me the happiest woman on Earth to be your wife.”

I capture her lips with mine and roll us until she’s underneath me. We spend hours getting lost in each other, declaring our love with each kiss.

The End

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