Chapter 38

In a completely uncharacteristic manner, I was nervous about this evening.

I gave my dark gray wool blazer a final sweep down both arms with the lint brush and then spritzed some cologne on. After checking one more time that I had removed all the machine grease from my hands, I left my suite of rooms.

There was no reason to be nervous of course. This was my family.

Yet, I wanted them to not just like Ella but to fall in love with her. I wanted my girl to feel as though she was welcome and belonged. Although I would have hoped for the same had I been forced to go through with the arranged marriage to her sister, this was on a different level.

At no point had I imagined the possibility of a truly happy marriage with Antonia. I had envisioned eventually purchasing her a flat in Rome where we would live polite, but separate lives. After she had given me an heir of course. In fact, the only enjoyable prospect of the whole arrangement was the twisted, kinky sex I assumed we would have in my pursuit of a child.

Tucking my finger in the tight collar of my shirt, I loosened my tie as the uncomfortable knowledge of how I treated Ella those first few encounters sat like a lead ball in my stomach.

I will forever carry the stain of my rough behavior toward her.

I knew there was something off but didn't look into it further, as I should have.

While it was true the gods smiled on me by giving Ella a deliciously dark appetite in the bedroom equal to mine, it didn't excuse me from guilt.

She should have been introduced to my more demanding desires slowly, in a safe space.

Not all at once, bent over my fucking bed as I whipped her with a riding crop while I shoved my cock down her throat. Jesus Christ. I was lucky she didn't run screaming to her father and Dante that very night when she had ample opportunity to do so.

That she could have told me she was Ella and not Antonia and stopped the whole thing was not her fault.

Clearly, my poor girl was placed in an impossible situation by her manipulative sister.

With two knuckles, I knocked on Ella's temporary bedroom door.

Fortunately, that was all behind us.

I would introduce her to my family tonight as my true bride. They would fall in love with her sweet, engaging personality and the rest of the obstacles to our marriage be damned.

Now that she was mine, I wasn't letting her go.

After a long pause, the door opened a sliver.

Ella's cute face was barely visible in the dark room.

She held her fisted hand to her lips and coughed. "I'm sorry, Matteo. I'm not feeling so well. I'm going to have to miss dinner."

God, she was cute.

And a terrible liar.

Again I internally chastised myself for not seeing all the flapping red flags around her subterfuge earlier.

I frowned. "That is a shame. You do look very pale."

She lowered her eyes and entertained me with another delicate cough. "Yes, I'm very pale and tired. I should just rest quietly, completely undisturbed for the rest of the evening. I guess I'll see you tomorrow morning."

As the door closed, I placed my palm against it, pushed it open, and stepped inside the dim interior. "What kind of fiancé would I be if I just left you alone in this vulnerable state?"

She clutched the collar of the white robe we kept in the bathroom for guests tightly around her throat as she backed up several steps. "I'm sure I will be fine after a night of undisturbed sleep."

I nodded sagely as I stalked after her. Matching her step for step.

My head tilted to the side. "You know, as I look closer, you seem less and less pale. In fact, there seems to be an almost feverish blush to your cheeks."

Her hands went to her hot cheeks. "Yes! I must have a fever. You should go. I wouldn't want you to catch what I have."

The backs of her thighs hit the edge of the bed.

My hand rested over my heart. "Don't be silly, darling. You are to be my wife. My life partner. What's mine is yours and vice versa. That is true in all things. I would never abandon you in your hour of need because I was afraid of catching your illness. I can think of no greater honor than to share the same germs as?—"

She waved her hand in front of her face as she let out a harsh sigh. "Oh, stuff it. You know perfectly well I'm not sick."

I swept her into my arms and settled her on my lap as I sat on the edge of the bed. "So what's going on in that adorably chaotic brain of yours."

She averted her face. "I don't want to meet your family."

"I can understand that."

Her gaze swung back to meet mine. "You can?"

"Of course, they're terrifying."

She huffed again. "You're not helping."

"You have nothing to worry about. I'll be by your side the entire time."

"That's part of the problem! You're going to tell them my real name and then claim we're getting married."

"We are getting married."

"No. We're not."

"Agree to disagree."

She threw her arms up as she tried to slide off my lap. "You can't agree to disagree over something like marriage."

I tightened my grasp on her waist. "Watch me."

"You're impossible."

"And yet you still love me."

Her spine stiffened as she sucked in a gasp of air and held it. After a long, tense pause, she licked her lips and said, "Who said anything about love?"

After caressing her cheek and pulling a lock of hair behind her ear so I could better study her face, I replied, "I just did."

Her fingers twisted into the robe's belt. "You barely know me. We barely know each other. It's ridiculous to even joke about being in love."

With my hand on her chin, I turned her face toward me. "Who said I was joking?"

Her brow furrowed. "You're lying. You're only saying these things to get me down to dinner."

Shed soon find out just how mistaken she was if she didnt start moving. "We both know I don't need to lie to get you down to dinner. I'm way bigger and stronger than you. All I'd have to do is toss you over my shoulder and carry you into the dining room."

She gasped as she clutched at the collar of her robe. "In my robe? You wouldn't dare."

The corner of my mouth lifted. "Are you sure about that?"

"Have I mentioned how impossible you are?"

"Once or twice."

"You don't love me."

My gaze roamed over her beautiful face. "Don't tell me what I can and cannot be. Whether or not you like it, I am in love with you." I leaned forward as I wrapped my hand around the side of her neck and pulled her closer. "And… whether you like it or not… you're in love with me."

Her breath teased my lips as she whispered, "Don't tell me what I am."

She really was magnificent.

My mouth captured hers as my tongue swept inside, unable to resist tasting her another moment longer.

She let out the smallest of moans as her palms pressed against my chest.

When I finally relented, we were both breathless. Her lips were the color of dark, crushed berries which only complimented the bright blush high on her cheeks.

Running my mouth along her jaw, I nipped at her earlobe. "You have five minutes to get ready or I'm ripping this robe off you, fucking you senseless, and then carrying you buck naked down to dinner to meet my family with my come still drying on your thighs."

"Oh. My. God!"

She stumbled off my lap and raced toward the pile of Aunt Gabbie's clothes draped over the back of the nearby sofa. After grabbing a dress, she stormed over to the bathroom and called out before slamming the door, "You're impossible."

Ten minuteslater we crossed the threshold into the parlor where most of my family were already gathered.

Ella hesitated and swayed backward.

I wrapped my arm tightly around her lower back. "I'm right here, baby."

Then addressing my family, I said, "Everyone, I'd liked you to meet Antonella, my bride."

Since I had already apprised Aunt Gabbie, who had arrived earlier from her villa on the Amalfi Coast, of the situation, I knew the rest of the family would be aware as well.

Amara and a heavily pregnant Milana rushed forward to hug Ella. "Welcome to the family!"

Bianca soon followed. "We heard you playing your cello the other night. You are amazing. I hope you'll play for us later."

As they did so, Cesare shook my hand. "Congrats, cousin."

Enzo patted me on the shoulder and said with a wink, "Glad you came to your senses."

Uncle Barone pulled me in for a bear hug. "Marriage is going to suit you just fine."

Cesare smirked. "Yeah, it's a shame you won't be joining us in blissful matrimony any time soon, Papa."

Amara gave him a playful punch on the shoulder. "Don't you start, or I'll never hear the end of it."

Uncle Barone lifted her off her feet and swung her around as she laughed. "Good. You should be ashamed of yourself, forcing me to live in sin like this."

After he set her down, he pointed a finger at Cesare. "Although, low blow."

Cesare wrapped his arm around Milana's shoulders from behind. "You deserve it for not watching over this one more closely while I was gone."

Milana leaned her head back onto his shoulder. "I had project proposals to complete, and Bianca was waiting on my approval of the marketing campaign graphics for the San Benedetto del Tronto development."

Bianca chimed in. "Oh no, you don't. Don't drag me into this. I saw what Cesare did to Matteo's office."

I frowned as I turned to Cesare. "What the hell did you do to my office?"

Cesare shrugged. "I Milana-proofed it."

Amara threw her head back as she laughed wholeheartedly. "He took the door off."

"What the fuck, Cesare!"

Cesare pointed to Uncle Barone. "Don't blame me! Talk to your unobservant uncle over there. Two weeks. Two full weeks she was sneaking into your office right under his nose."

Before Uncle Barone could defend himself, Aunt Gabbie swept into the parlor holding a pitcher of prampolini with Alfonso following closely behind carrying a large silver tray with empty glasses, sliced oranges, and a crystal ice bucket.

She pointed to Enzo. "Darling, clear off that table so Alfonso can put the tray down." Then she pointed to Cesare. "Go back into the kitchen and tell Rosa I forgot the Cedrata soda." Then she nodded to Uncle Barone. "Come take this pitcher from me and pour. If I do it, I'll just make a mess of things."

As the men all hopped to obey her commands and the women approached to help fix the red wine and vermouth apertivi, I took advantage of the moment of distraction to look down at Ella.

During the familial onslaught, she had pressed closer to my side with her arm wrapped around my middle and her head tucked against my shoulder. Her eyes were wide as she silently took in the chaos.

I leaned over and kissed her temple. "Don't worry, colomba mia. You'll get used to them in time."

She gazed up at me with trusting eyes.

As she did so I stroked her hair, then cupped the back of her head. "Until then, just stay close to me."

Ella nuzzled her head against my chest, as Aunt Gabbie approached us both, a drink in each hand. "Of course she looks beautiful, Alfonso. She's wearing one of my dresses. Auguri ai novelli fidanzati!"

"Grazie," I responded to her congratulations as I accepted the drink.

Surrounded by my amazing family, with the woman I loved tucked under my arm.

There was nothing I wanted more than to savor this incredible evening with us all together.

At least for now… everything was perfect in the world.