Page 101 of Devil's Iris

Even the ache that bites between my thighs as I roll over languidly on the bed isn’t nearly enough to dim my euphoria. I’m floating somewhere above the clouds, weightless and giddy.

It’s a gorgeous new day, the sun is out, the birds are singing their little hearts out.

But most importantly, I finally cracked Romero’s armor last night. Got him to open up, to let me see the man beneath all that careful control.

Andhe slept next to me last night.

My heart skips as I turn to look at his side of the bed, expecting to see the indent from his head on the pillow. Instead, there’s a note.

Good morning, bellezza.

I have a final court hearing today and had to leave home early.

You looked so peaceful I didn’t want to wake you.

Have a great day.

Love, Romero.

Love, Romero.

I must read those two words fifty times, my thumb tracing over his handwriting like I can absorb the meaning through my skin. My heart is doing this crazy trip-and-tumble thing in my chest now.

Love.

We didn’t say anything about love last night, even though the word was sitting right there on the tip of my tongue the entire time. Was he thinking it too? Is he feeling the same way I’m feeling?

I press my hand over my heart as I flop onto my back, feeling it thump thump thump in an erratic rhythm that matches my scattered thoughts. My legs do this happy little wiggle under the sheets. Because honestly, this happiness is so intense I’m not sure how my body is supposed to contain this massive emotion.

I’m so happy it’s actually scary.

What if Romero isn’t feeling the same way? Worse, what if he pulls back again like he did after the honeymoon?

No.

I force myself to push those worries away as I slide off the bed. He wouldn’t have left such a sweet note if he were planning to retreat from me. He definitely wouldn’t have signed it with love.

He’s starting to care about me. I can feel it. Maybe… maybe I can even get him to fall as hard as I have. The thought sends a thrill down my spine, and I shiver pleasantly.

There’s a sharp scratch at the door, followed by the most pitiful meow I’ve ever heard. Another scratch. Another increasingly demanding meow.

“Ugh, fine. I’m coming, your majesty.” I open the door forLady Heathcliff, who stalks into the bedroom with her tail pointed straight up, and to show her displeasure with me, she deliberately avoids brushing against my leg the way she usually does.

I chuckle as I lean down to scoop her up. “Are you pissed I locked you out of the bedroom last night?” I rub my cheek against her fur. “Sorry, baby. Your dad and I had some… very adult business you definitely didn’t need to witness.”

It’s honestly a miracle she didn’t walk in on us in the living room last night. That would have been traumatic for all parties involved. She meows again, but it sounds less accusatory now, and I pet her for a few more minutes before carrying her out of the bedroom, down the stairs to where her food and water bowls are.

After I set her down and fill her bowls, I watch her eat for a moment—when a sudden idea hits me.

Romero has a court appearance today. I can surprise him by showing up. He might like that, seeing me there supporting him. The idea makes me bounce on my toes, and I nod to myself decisively.

Once I’m sure Lady Heathcliff is preoccupied with her breakfast, I jog back upstairs and grab my phone from the nightstand.

But then I hesitate, my finger hovering over Romero’s contact. If I call him, it wouldn’t really be a surprise, would it?

So I scroll through my contacts until I find the number I’m looking for. Sandro—the man I met at our wedding. Romero introduced him as his right-hand man, which means he should know everything about Romero’s schedule.

He answers on the first ring. “Mrs. Lombardi.”