Page 111 of Savage Vows

The tears spilling, I nod, “Yes, Matteo. Yes. I love you.”

“You love me?”

“I promise.” I press my free hand to my heart.

“Forever and ever?”

“And a day beyond that.” I’m overcome with happiness.

He stands, and his hand tightens around mine as he pulls me gently to my feet.

Applause ripples through the lobby, but I barely hear it. All I can focus on is the man before me, his dark eyes shining with love and sincerity.

“I have something for you,” he says, pulling an envelope from his pocket. “A month at Elysian Hall. No strings, no obligations. Just you and your art.”

“You…?”Are you serious?

“But more than that…”

There’s more?

“I’d like for us to spend a week at the Mayfair townhome. Just us. We can see London, explore the city, maybe go to France. Call it the honeymoon I didn’t give you.”

The room is spinning.

“And after that? We’ll make it a tradition. A month every year, wherever you want to go. Venice, Alaska, the Caribbean, anywhere. And you can go alone. As long as it makes you happy, I’ll move heaven and earth to make it happen.”

Emotion swells in my chest, too big to contain. I throw my arms around his neck, holding him tightly as the applause swells louder. “Thank you,” I whisper against his ear. “For this.” For love. For freedom. “For everything.”

He pulls back just enough to look into my eyes, his own purposeful and full of promise. “I have plans for you, Mrs. Moretti.” His voice dips, intimate and sure. “Are you ready to go home?”

CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN

Alessia

As we enter the house, Matteo’s hands are already on me, urgent and hungry, the way I’ve been fantasizing about. He kicks the door shut behind us, his breath hot on my neck as he whispers, “I can’t stop thinking about you.”

He spins me around and presses me against the door. His eyes are dark with desire, a storm brewing within them. He leans in, capturing my mouth in a fierce kiss, his tongue claiming mine with a hunger that leaves me breathless.

I need this.

With skilled fingers, he unbuttons my blouse, his knuckles brushing against my skin, sending shivers down my spine. He breaks the kiss just long enough to slide the material off my shoulders, letting it fall to my feet. My bra follows, and I’m bare before him, my nipples hardening under his intense gaze.

He dips his head, capturing one taut peak in his mouth, sucking and nipping until I’m arching into him. “Matteo!”

I’m desperate for him.

He moves to the other breast, giving it the same attention, his hands roaming over my body, igniting a fire wherever he touches.

Suddenly he pulls back, his gaze locked on mine as he says, “I’ve had to sleep alone for too damn many nights.” His voice is a low growl, a mix of desire and reprimand.

“So have I,” I fire back.

“Ah… Little rebel… That won’t save you from what’s coming.”

I know what it is. I see the fire in his eyes, feel it in the tension coiled within him. He steps back, his gaze sweeping over me, taking in every inch of me.

“Turn around,” he commands, his voice leaving no room for argument.