Page 118 of Married With Malice

“Wait.”

Luca freezes. “Do you want to stop?”

“No, I just…”

Trailing off and gathering my courage, I need a deep breath to complete the sentence.

“I need to tell you something.”

He pushes up on his palms and gazes down. “You can always tell me anything, honey.”

Maybe I need one more deep breath.

When I take it, the last of the shadows and doubts that have held me back are gone.

“I love you, Luca. I just want you to know that before we do this. I love you so much.”

He shuts his eyes and his head falls. A tremor of emotion moves through him.

“Say that again,” he begs, his voice slightly muffled.

I touch his neck and kiss the top of his head. “I love you, Luca Connelly.”

It’s far easier to say the second time. Maybe that’s how it will be from now on. The more the words are uttered, the more easily they fall from my tongue.

Luca raises his head. Incredibly, those vivid green eyes that vexed me for so long and now hold the keys to my heart, are misted over.

“I love you too, Annalisa. I don’t ever want to be away from you, not even for a day.”

My knees open wider and I arch my back to give him better access. “Make love to me. Please.”

Luca enters me slowly. Our eyes stay locked together. His thrusts are deep and he moves at a slow, deliberate pace until I begin to tremble. His hands slide under my hips, lifting me up. We remain joined as we sit face to face.

He pushes my hair aside and kisses me with slow tenderness. I’m aching to ride him hard, to relieve the mounting pressure and come. I know he is too.

We’ll get there. We’ll savor this first.

He touches his forehead to mine. “Marry me, Anni. Right here and now.”

We rock together in perfect sync.

“I’ll marry you anywhere, Luca.”

He tips his head back and stares into my eyes for a long moment.

“I, Luca Damiano Connelly, take you, Annalisa Constanza Barone, as my wife. I swear to love you, respect you and cherish you, and you alone, for the rest of my life.”

The feelings cascade through me. Tears squeeze out of my eyes and I won’t stifle them. For once they come with overwhelming happiness. I celebrate their arrival. They openly streak down my cheeks as I utter my most sincere promise to him.

“I, Annalisa Constanza Barone, take you, Luca Damiano Connelly, as the husband of my dreams. I will always love you. I will always honor you. It’s you and me, as long as we live.”

Our pledge is sealed with a kiss. A gossamer vine unfurls from my soul and links to his.

This is how it feels to belong to someone and know that he belongs to you. It seems impossible that we were ever meant to end up anywhere but right here.

As we kiss, Luca slowly lowers me to my back. He’s still inside me and I love the feel of his weight. We’re both ready to give in.

I lock my legs around his waist. He pumps faster, harder. The tide of sensations rises and I let it carry me away. There’s no such thing as being too close to him. He watches my face when I come and he waits until I’m finished crying out and quivering before he lets himself go. I tighten my legs around him, selfishly keeping him with me as long as possible. When he’s completely spent and finally withdraws, I let out a small whimper of objection. He calms me with a tender kiss before his head falls to my chest.

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