Page 158 of When She Tempts (The Fallen)
And they loved the idea.
Vale squealed and dragged me into a hug. “So you and Giorgio are ready?”
“Truthfully, I think we’ve been ready for a while,” I said once she let go of me and I was able to breathe again. “It all kind of fell into place quickly once we moved in.”
“You seem happy,” Dem said, his lips tugging into a smile.
“I am happy. Giorgio makes me happy.”
Vale sighed. “This is the best news, Mari. Of course, we love the idea.”
“Are you sure?” I asked as I carefully studied their expressions. “The thought is Giorgio and I get married at the house on Wednesday, and then you and Dem on the Friday as you were intending. The days in between will give everyone time to recover. But really, we won’t be offended if you say no. We don’t want to intrude.”
“You couldn’t even if you wanted to,” Vale said, linking her hand with Dem as if to show me they’re a united front. “I love it. When I was younger, Gemma and I would always fantasize about having a joint wedding. It seemed like double the fun.”
I smiled. “Yes, I think it’s going to be a lot of fun. A weeklong party.”
Vale squealed again. “I’m going to see if my sisters can come for the entire week. This is going to be fantastic.”
And so that’s how we ended up on Ibiza a month later under that flower arch I imagined.
Giorgio slides a slim gold band onto my finger as I blink away a sudden wetness in my eyes. When it's my turn to do the same, I glance at him, and warmth spreads through my chest at the look in his eyes.
Adoring. Possessive. Reverent.
When the priest tells us we can kiss, Giorgio places his palm along the side of my neck and drags his thumb over my jaw as he pulls me closer. Our lips touch, and he whispers, “Mine.”
A shiver runs through me. We kiss in front of everyone who matters. Everyone who has a say in this new world my brother has created. And as Giorgio’s tongue slips inside my mouth, and he deepens the kiss, I know the message is clear.
I’m his.
And he’s mine.
GIORGIO
I have a wife.
She’s beautiful and clever and never fails to keep me on my toes. Sometimes, when I look at her, I have to blink a few times to convince myself she’s real. Even in my dreams, I was never so bold as to imagine myself with someone like her.
Reality is an audacious thing.
The dinner starts shortly after the ceremony, and Martina and I are seated at a table with De Rossi, his wife, her siblings, Ras, and Ras’s parents, who’ve seen Mari grow up.
I last fifteen minutes before I whisk Martina away, taking advantage of some idiotic sparring match that breaks out between Ras and Gemma, Valentina’s sister. While everyone is distracted, I take Mari’s hand and pull her out of the tent.
We stumble into the first bedroom we can find.
“Gio, they’re going to notice,” she says as I lick a trail up her neck.
“Let them.” My hands sink into the silky fabric of her wedding dress, and I hike it up before lifting her into my arms.
She wraps her legs around me and kisses the side of my throat. “We’re married,” she says against my skin. “God, I can’t believe we’re married.”
My fingers slide into her hair—it tumbles in soft curls down her back—and I pull back to meet her eyes. “My wife. Fuck, I need to be inside of you.”
She blushes, her eyes growing hooded with lust. “I like it when you call me that.”
“I’m going to call you that for the rest of your life.”
