Page 93 of Temptation and Tyranny

Cooper caught his breath and pressed a kiss to the corner of my jaw.

“Allegra,” he breathed, my name like a prayer on his lips. His hands tightened on my waist, pullingme impossibly closer as his mouth found mine again. When we broke apart, we were both breathless.

“I love you,” he said again, as if he couldn’t quite believe he was allowed to say the words. “God, I love you so much it terrifies me.”

I smiled, tracing the line of his cheekbone with my fingertips. “Good,” I whispered. “Because you’re stuck with me now, Cooper. No takebacks.”

His answering laugh was pure joy, and when he kissed me again, I could feel his smile against my lips. Outside, the world continued turning, but in that moment, nothing existed beyond the circle of his arms and the promise of tomorrow.

“I mean it, Allegra. I will do absolutely anything for you.”

“Well,” I said, trying to lighten the mood, “you can start by getting me some water. And maybe some pasta? I feel like I haven’t eaten in weeks.”

Cooper laughed, the sound warming me from the inside out. “Your wish is my command,” he said, standing up. But before he could move away, I tugged him back down, ignoring the protest of my sore muscles, and placed another kiss on his cheek.

As Cooper went to fetch me some water, I lay back against the pillows, feeling truly safe for the first time in days. The road ahead wouldn’t be easy. There were still wounds to heal, trust to rebuild, and a whole world of complications that came with loving someone like Cooper Moreau.

But as I watched him move around the room, his eyes constantly darting back to me as if to reassure himself that I was really there, I knew it was worth it. We were worth it. And somewhere out there, my fatherwas watching over us in his own way—not as a threat anymore, but as a reminder that even in our darkest moments, love could still find a way to shine through.

Chapter Thirty-Four

Cooper

The decision to go to Greece had been spontaneous—or at least, that’s what I let Allegra believe. In truth, I’d been planning it for weeks, knowing we both needed time to heal away from Paris and its memories. Santorini, with its whitewashed walls and endless blue horizons, proved to be exactly what we needed. But as I watched Allegra sleeping peacefully beside me, I knew it was time for the next step in our journey.

It had been hard keeping it a secret, but luckily I had a lawyer in my court—Colton had been overseeing it all. Property lawyers, real estate agents, endless paperwork—all while I maintained the illusion that we were simply enjoying an extended vacation in Greece.

As if sensing my thoughts, Allegra stirred, her eyes fluttering open. “Morning,” she murmured, a sleepy smile spreading across her face.

“Morning, beautiful,” I replied, leaning in to press a gentle kiss to her forehead. “How are you feeling today?”

It had become our morning ritual, this check-in. Over our time in Greece, I’d watched the shadows slowly fade from her eyes, the tension ease from her shoulders. But I knew the trauma of her kidnappingwasn’t something that would disappear overnight.

“Better,” Allegra said, stretching languidly. “I think I slept through the night without any nightmares.”

Pride and relief surged through me. “That’s great, angel.” I hesitated for a moment, then added, “How would you feel about a change of scenery?”

She propped herself up on one elbow, curiosity lighting her features. “What kind of change?”

“I was thinking...Italy?”

The way her eyes lit up told me I’d made the right choice. “Really? Where in Italy?”

“I thought we could start in Tuscany,” I said casually, though my heart was racing. “Maybe explore some of the hill towns, visit some vineyards...”

“Oh, Cooper, that would be amazing!” Allegra sat up fully now, excitement radiating from her. “I haven’t been to Tuscany since...” Her voice trailed off, a shadow crossing her face.

“Since your grandparents passed?” I finished gently.

She nodded, a wistful smile touching her lips. “Their vineyard was in Tuscany, you know. Near Montepulciano.” She sighed softly. “It broke my heart when I had to sell it.”

I pulled her close, pressing a kiss to her temple. “Tell me about it again? The vineyard?”

Allegra settled against my chest, her voice taking on the dreamy quality it always did when she spoke of her childhood memories. “It was the most beautiful place I’ve ever known. This old stone villa with weathered blue shutters, surrounded by rows and rows of vines that seemed to stretch forever. The kitchenalways smelled like fresh bread and herbs from the garden. And the view from the terrace...” She closed her eyes, lost in the memory. “You could see all the way to Montepulciano on clear days, the town rising up from the hills like something from a Renaissance painting.”

“It sounds perfect,” I murmured, holding her closer.

“It was.” She was quiet for a moment, then added, “I used to dream about living there again someday. Silly, really.”

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