Page 60 of His to Possess

“I don’t want perfect.”

“I come with baggage,” I tell him.

“So do I.”

I swallow past the lump in my throat and feel the hot sting of tears. “No one has ever loved me like you, Angelo. I would love to be your wife more than anything in this world.”

“Phew.” He wipes a hand across his brow and chuckles, his dimples popping. “You made me nervous there for a second.”

“I’m sorry! I just want to make sure you know what you’re in for.”

“I know exactly whatwe’rein for,” he corrects me. “A lifetime of love.”

“I’d like that,” I whisper, wondering what I did to deserve this amazing man.

“Me, too,la mia farfalla.” He kisses me hard. “Me, too.”

Getting married is something I never spent too much time thinking about growing up because I had far too many other things to worry about. And once I was old enough to actually pursue a relationship, I buried myself in work and never dated. But, deep down, I suppose every little girl dreams of finding her happily ever after.

Three months after meeting Angelo, I get mine. And it’s absolutely magical.

Surrounded by his family and friends—who are now mine, too—we get married beneath an arch of flowers and twinkling fairy lights on the roof deck of a fancy hotel in downtown New York City. My hair is swept up and dotted with crystal butterfly clips, courtesy of Alessia. Hannah, Vin’s wife, did my makeup and Gabriella helped with the decorations, music and catering. Carlotta took me out shopping last week and we chose the most gorgeous outfit after a day of retail therapy. I’m wearing a cream, tea-length dress covered in thousands of little butterflies that were sewn onto the fabric.

What can I say? It’s perfect.

It’s nice to have a girl gang of my own and it feels even better to fit right in with such a beautiful and kind circle of women. Every day, I’m growing closer to these ladies and I love how supportive, generous and amazing they are. It’s easy to see why Angelo’s brothers married them. The fact that they’re all going to be my sisters-in-law now makes me teary. I’ve never had sisters before, so I’m thrilled.

The ceremony goes by in an absolute blur of emotion. I’m attributing the blur to all the tears that spill from my eyes from the moment I walk down the aisle and first see Angelo standing up there, waiting for me, looking utterly breathtaking and so debonair to the moment we exchange our vows and wedding bands. My diamond eternity band matches my engagement ring perfectly and I still can’t get used to lugging such a huge rock around on my finger. But, Angelo insisted on the biggest, clearest, most expensive diamond he could find.

After we’re declared husband and wife, his lips capture mine and cheers and whistles fill the air. A happiness like I’ve never known before flows through my body and I send up a silent prayer of thanks. Absolute gratitude makes my heart expand and I’venever looked forward to something as much as I do to a life with Angelo.

There’s also a little something I have to tell him. I just hope he’s ready…

24

ANGELO

The wedding goes off beautifully and after saying our “I do’s,” the celebration kicks into high gear.

“Congrats, bro,” Enzo says, clapping me on the back. “I never thought I’d see the day.”

“All I needed was the right woman,” I say. I’m grinning so big that my face is starting to hurt, but I can’t help it. I’m seriously a man in love.

My gaze moves over to where my bride is currently lifting her bouquet of wildflowers into the air. Her back is to Carlotta, Gia and a few other single women who are friends with my brothers’ wives. After counting down, Blake tosses the bouquet over her shoulder and there’s immediately a mad scramble for it. I chuckle and I’m not surprised to see my baby sister snatch it away from everyone. She’s spirited and I hope whoever she ends up with can handle her.

After the women all squeal and hug, I motion for my single guy friends to gather together. There are a few less than there used tobe, that’s for sure. My brothers move closer and watch, but since they’re all married, they can’t participate.

Reaching my hand out, Blake puts her smaller one in mine and I pull her forward. “Ready?” I ask as Leo drags a chair over. She nods and gives me a mischievous smile. Then she props her high-heeled foot on the edge of the chair and begins to slowly and very tantalizingly draw her skirt up. Once her white garter is visible and she’s showing off a generous amount of leg, I run my hands up her calf, over her knee and up her thigh, slipping my fingers beneath the garter’s lacy edge. Slowly tugging the elastic down her smooth leg, making quite the show of it, I can’t help but smile as my beautiful bride blushes. I lift her foot and drag the garter past her ankle, over her high heel and snap it off with a smirk.

“You got a knife hidden in one of your heels?” I ask and she giggles. Blake told me she didn’t giggle anymore, but now I’m the only one who can make it happen. And that makes me really damn happy. I know she didn’t have much of a childhood and I’m going to do my best to give her some fun memories that bring out her inner child. Teaching her to giggle again is just the beginning.

“No,” she whispers. Leaning closer, she confides, “It’s actually strapped around my other thigh.”

I burst out laughing. My sexy, little butterfly. One of the things I love most about her is how she can take me by surprise and always in the best possible ways.

After giving her calf a squeeze, I send her a very heated look, reminding her of what’s to come tonight. As much fun as we’re having, I can’t wait to get Blake up to the log cabin in Maine where we’re going to be spending our honeymoon. It’s theperfect spot because it’s where we not only first fell in love, but also because it’s quiet and no one will disturb us. I plan to keep my bride naked and I don’t need anyone dropping by and getting an eyeful or hearing her scream my name as I make her come in and around the cabin. I plan to definitely go for another round in the lake with her.

After pressing a kiss to her knee, I pull her dress back down and spin around to face the single men. Then I stretch the garter and shoot it straight up into the air like a rubberband. They all try to catch it, but there’s only one winner. Leo Amato grins and nearby his girl shrieks with delight. We all laugh when Gia runs over and throws herself into his arms. Miceli’s buddy and Alessia’s sister are perfect for each other. Over the past year, they seem to have gotten to know each other very well and it’s nice to see how they light up when they’re with each other. I know they both went through a broken heart, but they’ve managed to heal each other in the most beautiful way.

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