I slip out of my sundress and step into the gown, the lace hugging my body, molding to my breasts and waist before flaring out into the skirt. The slit parts as I move, a glimpse of thigh that feels both bold and vulnerable, and I catch my reflection in the mirror. The dress is breathtaking, and I look almost like a bride stepping into a dream, the ivory making my skin glow warmly.
My hair falls in loose waves over my shoulders, and I leave it down, letting the dress speak for itself.
Talon waits for me outside, his broad frame a silent sentinel in the fading light, and I follow him down a decked pathway leading away from the house.
The sun dips low on the horizon, painting the sky in strokes of coral, lavender, and gold, the colors bleeding into one. The ocean stretches out to my left, its surface shimmering with the last rays of sunlight, and the air hums with the scent of salt and blooming jasmine, a sweetness that wraps around me like a soft embrace.
The pathway is lined with lush greenery. Palm fronds and ferns brush against my skirt as we walk, their leaves rustling in the evening breeze.
Fairy lights are strung along the wooden railings, their tiny glows flickering to life as the sky darkens, casting a warm, golden haze over the scene. I glance at Talon, my curiosity bubbling despite my resolve to stay quiet.
“Where are we going?”
He doesn’t answer, his silence steady and unyielding, and I don’t press, letting the mystery pull me forward like a tide I can’t resist.
The path winds deeper into the island, away from the villa’s lights, and I feel the world grow quieter, more intimate, as if we’re stepping into a secret only the island knows. The sound of the ocean fades to a gentle whisper, replaced by the chirp of crickets and the soft rustle of leaves overhead.
We pass a small waterfall cascading over smooth rocks into a pool that reflects the sunset’s colors, and I pause for a moment, captivated by the beauty of it.
Talon waits patiently, his presence a quiet reassurance, and I continue, my heart beating faster with every step. The pathway curves one last time, and then it opens to a secluded clearing nestled deep in the island’s heart, a scene so perfect it feels like I’ve stepped into a movie.
Ancient trees arch overhead, their gnarled branches dripping with fairy lights that twinkle like a constellation brought down to earth, casting a golden glow over everything.
Candles flicker in glass lanterns, their flames dancing along a stone pathway that leads to a small wooden platform at the center of the clearing. A canopy of sheer white fabric drapes above the platform, billowing softly in the breeze, and the ground is scattered with petals in shades of blush and cream, their delicate scent mingling with the jasmine in the air.
Vines climb the trees, studded with tiny white flowers that glow in the twilight, and a stream runs nearby, its gentle babble blending with the rustle of leaves to create a symphony of nature’s music.
The sky above is a deep indigo now, the first stars peeking through, and the entire scene feels like a dream, a pocket of magic carved out just for us.
Isaia waits for me on the platform, and seeing him stops my breath in my throat.
He’s dressed in an all-black suit, the fabric tailored to his broad shoulders and lean frame, hugging every muscle with a precision that makes my mouth go dry. The suit is sharp, the black so deep it seems to absorb the light, contrasting with the faint tan of his skin where his shirt opens at the collar.
His dark hair is swept back, a few strands falling loose to frame his face, giving him a roguish edge that only makes him more devastating.
Those piercing brown eyes lock on to mine, burning with an intensity that sends heat pooling low in my belly, and I can’t look away. He’s a vision of danger and elegance, a man who could command a room or break a heart with a single look, and right now, he’s looking at me like I’m the only thing in the world that matters. Like I’m the one thing he’s been waiting for his entire life.
“You look handsome, Mr. Del Rossa.”
His hands are tucked in his pants pockets, his demeanor screaming sex and dominance, his gaze drinking me in.
“I’m sorry,” he rasps. “But there aren’t any words to describe just how beautiful you look.” He smirks, all victorious and proud. “I must say, my taste is impeccable.”
My hands glide down the front of the lace. “You chose the dress?”
“You know I did.”
Warmth spreads to my cheeks as I stare at him. The fairy lights catch the sharp lines of his jaw, the curve of his lips, and I feel my knees weaken, my body responding to him in a way that’s as instinctive as breathing.
Talon slips away without a word, his footsteps fading into the night, leaving us alone in this enchanted space. I’m caught up in the romance, my chest tight with an emotion I can’t quite name, and Isaia steps forward, scooping me close with a tenderness that makes my heart ache.
I glance down at the dress. “Any particular reason you chose white?”
His eyes darken with something deeper than desire, something that makes my breath catch. “I wanted to see you dressed in white…for me.”
Not for him.Three words that remain unspoken, but it’s there.
Isaia steps up close, his thumbs brushing the lace on my thigh above the slit. “I’m so damn lucky I got there in time, before you and Anthony could sign that marriage license. That would’ve meant you’d still be married to him.”