Chapter 16
“Absolutely not-”
“YES, SHE WILL!”
Donna Moretti burst through the door, having eavesdropped on every word.
She’d already lost one son and daughter-in-law. Like hell she’d lose another. Her mouth was covered in stress blisters from the scandal, and now Daniela wanted to marry Alessio? Perfect.
“Mom, stay out of this-”
“We’ve already destroyed Noemi’s life! We can’t abandon Daniela too! You’ll marry her the moment she’s discharged!”
“Never.” Alessio’s face turned to granite. “Noemi is my only wife.”
“I don’t give a damn what you want! You’ll fix this mess-”
“BOSS!”
The door crashed open. One of Alessio’s lieutenants stumbled in, breathless.
“We found her! We know where Mrs. Moretti went!”
Alessio’s dead eyes blazed back to life. “Where?”
“She’s on Isola di Virella… with Cosimo De’Medici.”
Without another word, Alessio was gone.
“ALESSIO MORETTI, DON’T YOU DARE!”
He never looked back.
Meanwhile, on Isola di Virella…
The journey had taken its toll. Three days at sea left Noemi violently ill-two days spent retching over the ship’s rail, one unconscious in their cabin. Cosimo had carried her from the dock to their new home, where she’d spent two weeks recovering.
Finally strong enough to explore, she found their villa breathtaking. Perched on the hillside, the white stone structure rose like it had grown from the cliff itself. Wrought-iron balconies draped with wisteria, an infinity pool that seemed to merge with the sea below.
She found Cosimo by the pool, swimming laps with focused intensity. When he spotted her, he immediately hauled himself out, water streaming down his sculpted torso.
“You should be resting.” He grabbed a towel but didn’t bother drying off, instead crouching beside her chair to check her temperature.
“I’m fine, really.” She caught his wrist. “Stop fussing.”
Relief flooded his features as he settled into the lounger beside her. These past weeks had been torture-watching her suffer, feeling helpless despite all his power.
“When I signed those papers renouncing my inheritance, I was preparing for rejection,” he admitted quietly. “Ready to leave Italy forever, rule this island I’d built, and die alone rather than watch you belong to someone else. Or worse-lose control and do
Chapter 16
something unforgivable, like take you by force.”
She turned to him, touched by his honesty.
“But you said yes.” Wonder still colored his voice. “And now you’re here, calling my kingdom yours.”
“Of course it’s mine too.” She squeezed his hand. “I’m your future wife. Where you go, I go. Your dreams are my dreams now.”
His eyes blazed with emotion. “Speaking of which-let’s get married. Tomorrow. I can’t wait any longer.”
The intensity in his voice made her blush. “So impatient?”
“Ten years, Noemi.” He pulled her onto his lap, voice rough with desire. “Ten years of watching you with him. Ten years of loving you in silence. I need you to be mine-legally, completely.”
She cupped his face, seeing the raw vulnerability beneath his hunger. This powerful man who’d conquered territories and built empires was trembling under her touch.
“Then tomorrow,” she whispered, pressing her forehead to his. “At sunrise.”
“You mean it?”
“I mean it.” She kissed him softly. “Though technically… we could start the honeymoon right now.”
His control shattered. With a growl, he pulled her into the pool, capturing her surprised gasp with his mouth.
“Cosimo!” She laughed against his lips.
“Can’t wait,” he murmured, backing her against the pool wall. “Not one more minute.”
The setting sun painted the water gold and crimson as he worshipped her body, hands mapping every curve he’d dreamed of for a decade. She responded with equal passion, finally free to match his desire.
“I love you,” he breathed against her neck. “God, I love you so much.”
“Then show me,” she challenged, wrapping her legs around his waist.
As twilight painted the sky in shades of purple and orange, they came together in the warm water, years of longing finally finding release. Her soft moans mingled with his deeper groans as they moved in perfect synchrony.
The stars emerged one by one, silent witnesses to their union as they lost themselves in each other, the gentle lapping of water the
only sound in their private paradise.
