Page 107 of Cassio

This new plan suited me just fine. I’d rather she was mine sooner rather than later. And marrying her in church with Nonno present felt right.

Her hand squeezed mine and my gaze traveled over her again. It was impossible to keep my eyes off her. She was the most gorgeous woman I had ever seen. The fiercest too.

When we got up this morning, we showered together. I washed her hair, running shampoo through her flaming red locks, then rinsing it off. Then she insisted on washing me, her slender fingers roaming my body. I couldn’t resist her; I pressed her up against the wall and she wrapped her legs around my waist as I slid inside her. She was ready for me, wet and hot, and as I thrust in and out of her, nothing felt as good. We fit right, like two pieces of the same puzzle.

After our shower together, I took her down the private staircase from my apartment to hers that nobody in the building had access to but us. She entered her apartment and before she slid inside it, I asked her to leave her hair down. She wanted to surprise me with her wardrobe choice and she certainly did.

Now as I watched her glorious, long mane reflecting red flames under the rays of sun and the lights, I couldn't help but marvel at it. She left her hair down for me.For me.

A simple request and she granted it without fishing for more compliments or asking the reasons. Luca narrowed his eyes on me, studying me. He disagreed with rushing this. He thought I was too eager.

Damn straight I am.

We’d get married in the church and appease our families, but she’d be mine already. Fuck delays and fuck anyone that attempted to steal my woman from me. There was no reason to wait and tempt fate.

Besides, heryesfor this meant more than anything else. I asked her to marry me and she agreed. I wasn’t forcing her down the aisle to marry me. She asked for this, and I was more than happy to appease her. No pressure from her father or the possibility of a broken agreement. Áine said yes; she took a chance on me.

Her gaze lifted to mine and a soft smile played around her mouth. “Since this was a last minute decision,” she said, barreling right through the fact that I couldn’t peel my eyes off of her, “I didn’t have time to get you a ring.”

“That’s okay.” I didn’t give a shit about a ring. I just wanted her to be mine. Mrs. Áine King, my wife.

She eyed me up and down, almost appreciatively. “But I care. So I hope you don’t mind wearing my grandfather’s. It is one of my family heirlooms. He only had Mom so it passed to me, instead of a male heir.”

I stopped and faced her. “If you’d rather hold on to it.”

She shook her head, grinning wide, and her eyes shimmering happily. “I want you to have it.”

Fuck, she made me so happy. “Thank you.”

She couldn’t even imagine how much her gesture meant to me. Her faith in me. It was priceless.

Another shared look and we stepped into the room with the officiant waiting for us.

Our family was here already - Jack and his wife, Margaret, Luca, Bianca and Nico with their girls.

Áine’s mother rushed to us. “Why are we changing plans?” she questioned, her eyes narrowing on me.

“I asked H-... umm, Cassio if we could just do this,” Áine explained, her hand squeezing mine. She was already falling into a habit calling me Hunter, but she reserved it for when we were alone. I liked it. “I prefer this to a circus. Besides, Cassio’s Nonno should be present for the big wedding, so we’ll do that there.”

It was already in the works. I sent a note last night informing Nonno we’d be married in his church. To say he was all ecstatic was an understatement. The arrangements were in progress already.

“But why rush?” Callahan inquired.

“Why wait?” I retorted.

Luca grinned with a cat-that-ate-the-canary look on his face. “I’d say, let’s get this over with,” he added, winking at my soon-to-be bride. “Maybe she is knocked up.”

“I’m not,” Áine objected, glaring at Luca. “But you will be knocked out if you don’t watch it.”

Luca just grinned, unconcerned. He should be, because I’d help my wife and he’d never be able to overpower both of us.

Nico and Bianca came up, the two women hugging each other. “Oh my gosh, we are going to be sisters,” Bianca beamed. “And wait until you meet Nonno. You will love him. This is definitely a much better plan for a wedding. Thanks to your wedding in Sicily, Nico and I will have a second honeymoon.”

Nico chuckled. “We barely got back from our first one.”

But that would not deter my sister.

The officiant cleared his throat and everyone rushed back to their seats.