Page 18 of Already His

“Elliot, what the hell?” Mia exploded, whirling on me as soon as the door closed.

“I should ask you the same,” I said, pointing toward the door. “Who the hell is that man, and why are you blowing me off for him.”

“He’s a man who wants to marry me, ok? And I’m not blowing you off. I know what this is between us… I didn’t expect anything else.”

“Expect anything else? From the moment I met you, I’ve been clear. You are mine, Mia Rossi, you gave yourself to me and I’m not giving you back,”

“Maybe you didn’t hear me, Elliot. The man outside wants to marry me, and my father-“ she bit her lip, cutting her sentence in half.

“What? You owe it to your father to live the life he’s decided for you?”

“Isn’t that what you’ll do? Isn’t it what everyone does? Anyway, if he knew we’d slept together, it would break his heart… he’s traditional. I don’t want him to see me differently,” She said miserably, wrapping her arms around herself. “You only want me because I’m not swooning at your feet and thanking god that you noticed me.” She looked brittle, held together by a dry string, ready to snap. I wanted to hold her, soothe her trembling. I’d had no idea how conflicted she was. I had been too blinded by the electricity between us to realise. I took a steadying breath and reached out a hand to touch her bare arm. She was cold, despite the warm temperature. I took my jacket off and placed it around her shoulders. She was staring at her feet and trying not to cry.

“You have it all wrong, Mia. What we did was no casual thing. It wasn’t a one night stand, and you are no loose woman,” I said quietly, adding together all the little hints she’d dropped of how deeply she felt shame over her desire. “I knew from the moment I saw you in your bridesmaid’s dress, walking down the aisle towards me, Wonder Woman panties and all, that you were going to change my life. You were going to save me from that bloodless, polite marriage of my parents. I’ve been waiting for you for so long… sweetheart, don’t you see?” I said, pulling her gently against me, like a horse that could bolt at any time. “I took everything you gave me because I already knew I’d be marrying you, giving you my name and earthly possessions. I already knew you’d be the mother of my children,” I continued. She looked up at me, her tearful eyes filling with a hope that made my heart pound in my chest. This was my woman, and I would remake the world to keep her. “I’m a man Mia, not some lovesick teenager. I make decisions and I stick to them, and I trust my gut. My gut told me that you were mine when I first saw you. I’ll tell your father the very same.”

“Elliot-“

“If that other man wants to marry you tomorrow, I’ll marry you today. If he wants to give you a nice home, I’ll give you five, and one for your father too, and your cousin… if she wants it,” I said. Mia laughed, a sudden, ragged sound bursting from her lips, as a lone tear fell down her cheek. But she was smiling, and the sight lit me up inside.

“He wants to give you a kid, I’ll give you four… you name it, just stop running away from me and listen to me when I tell you that I love you. You are it for me. I’m done looking. You’re mine.”

“You’re crazy,” Mia laughed, but she was still smiling and I wanted to frame that incredulous joy and hang it in my heart forever.

“Certifiable,” I said, pressing a kiss to her lips, and slipping my tongue into her mouth, sliding it hotly against hers. Her breath hitched in her chest, and her hands tightened on my shirt, holding me close. “Now, where’s your father so I can rectify this situation, and take you home.”

“I’m here,” A deep voice spoke. Vittorio Rossi stood just inside the doorway. When he’d come in, I don’t know, I’d been too wrapped up in his daughter. Now, he stood watching me warily. He approached us slowly, his heavy brow drawing down as he directed a frown at me, and his daughter. I fought the urge to argue with him for looking at her with disapproval.

“Mia, who is this man?” Vittorio asked.

“I’m Elliot Winter-“ I started. I wanted to get between them and protect Mia from the judgement and harsh words I felt coming. Vittorio slashed a hand in the air to indicate silence.

“I didn’t ask you, I asked my daughter. Mia, carina, who is this man?” he said again. I swallowed my anger and stepped back. Mia had to do this on her own terms, I knew it well, but the protective instinct was difficult to ignore.

“He’s… he’s everything papa. He’s the man I’ve fallen in love with,” Mia said quietly. Her confession made me feel like a king.

“Love?” Vittorio repeated, his eyes narrowing. Mia nodded. Vittorio turned to look me up and down. His shrewd eyes were assessing.

“Your job?” he asked.

“Lawyer,” I replied.

“Neighbourhood?”

“Upper East side,” I said, and from the grimace that crossed his face, it seemed to displease him.

“It is far. What do you want with my daughter?” he asked, with a straight forward directness that was staggering.

“I want to marry her,” I told him honestly. His mouth pulled up at one side.

“And why should I allow you to marry my daughter?” he pressed, folding his arms across his chest.

“Because, I will protect her and provide for her, and give her everything she wants, from this day forward. Also, most importantly, Mia is in love with me, and wants to marry me.”

“Is that true, carina, do you want to marry this man?” Vittorio asked. My heart clenched in my chest as Mia smiled and nodded. She reached out to clasp her father’s arm and hung on. Vittorio and her stared at each other a long time and my feelings softened a little toward the man. There was a lot of love there, and though some might be misguided, I’d always choose too much love over too little.

“Mia comes home for church and lunch every Sunday,” Vittorio said, trailing off expectantly, and turned to look at me. His crinkled eyes held tears.

“And she will continue to do so, and I would of course accompany her.”

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