Page 185 of Sins of the Orchid

“You look beautiful,” Lorenzo muttered, kissing my forehead.

I smiled nervously at him. “Thank you for being here.” I wished I could have talked to Adriano, explained, but Santi refused the idea that we should tell him.

My pulse beat hard as we were guided into the room where the Justice of the Peace waited for us.

“Mr. Russo,” the judge greeted him. “Thank you again for the generous donation to the city.”

I narrowed my eyes at Santi. When in the hell did he have time to arrange all this and bribe the man? But then nothing surprised me with Santi. When he wanted something, he made it happen.

“Thank you for accommodating the same day license,” Santi retorted.

And the ceremony started. I didn’t hear a single word from start to finish. The words of the judge sounded far away and the only thing that registered was the familiar touch of Santi as he held my hands, the light scent of his cologne and the heat he ignited in me.

“I do.” Santi’s words were firm, claiming, and final. His eyes burned with intensity threatening to pull me into its flame. His promise of forever echoed through the small room and my heart sang with happiness. I believed he’d protect me, honor me, and cherish me. Most importantly, he loved me.

It was my turn, and my voice shook as I repeated the words. Emotion was thick on my tongue and in my heart.

The boy that brushed my tears away. Gave me my first kiss. My first orgasm. My first heartbreak. My first and last lover. My husband.

The exchange of the rings followed. He slid the same band back onto my finger. Lorenzo gave me a band for Santi. He said my mother gifted it to Dad before she left. It felt like his blessing. And Mom’s. With a trembling hand, I slid the ring onto my husband’s finger.

Then his lips pressed against mine, possessive and claiming, sweet and soft. And I was forever his.

“I proclaim you husband and wife.” The judge’s words were final.

“Amore Russo,” he murmured against my lips. “I like that.”

So did I. A lot.

CHAPTER72

Amore

The sun shone bright, sounds of families and children laughing carried on the warm summer breeze. And the glow in my heart competed with the bright day.

His hand slipped into mine, and I followed his lead. Our fates were sealed, forever intertwined. Like our hearts, our souls, and fingers as we held hands.

“There is a dessert shop around the corner,” Santi announced. “We’ll have cake and ice cream.”

Lorenzo walked right beside me, eyeing a group of women in their bathing suits. Some things would never change. I playfully bumped my shoulder against Lorenzo. “Stop staring.”

A reminder of Adriano washed over me with that simple playful move. A pang of guilt hit me in the chest. For the first time, for as long as we’d been friends, there was a probable threat of losing him. He probably hated me.

I should be panicked, worried, what Dad would say when he found out we got married behind his back. But somehow, I wasn’t. Santi’s reasoning made sense, and another don, like my father, would find the logic in it. But Adriano worried me.

Despite it all, I couldn’t say that I was sad. A peaceful, happy feeling settled in my chest. Kind of like it did when we were alone in Italy. The whole world faded, leaving me with the man I loved.

Santi was always the one for me. He was my protector, love and home all wrapped in one.

“I thought you didn’t like sweets?” I bit my lip to hold a smile. I knew what he was thinking, but he wouldn’t say it in front of Lorenzo.

“There is only one dessert I like,” Santi retorted, his gaze flickering with amusement. “But you get married only once. So, I’ll share cake and ice cream, or anything you’d like. With my wife.”

His wife.It felt like I was dreaming, and the moment I woke up, reality would slap me in the face.

“You two wait until you get home to start the dirty talk,” Lorenzo complained, with a shake of his head. “After all, you are my baby sister.”

I really did love Lorenzo. Our age difference didn’t matter, we always got along. “And you are my big brother,” I teased him. “I might have to protect you from gold digging ladies that keep eyeing you like candy.”