Page 9 of The Devil’s Touch (Obsession #1)

Silvana

My delicate nails sparkled, my radiant cut white gold engagement ring glinting under the lights as I drew the sheer white curtains aside to take a peek at the guests in the garden downstairs. I couldn’t fight the smile that bloomed on my face.

The sun was starting to set, casting a vibrant glow over the garden area that had cute white chairs lined up against each other, adorned with beautiful spring flowers and silky ivory fabric. The decor was delicate and intimate just like I wanted it. It felt like a long, nurtured dream was finally unfolding before my eyes.

I was doing it.

I was marrying Domenico.

It should sound strange, but our story over the last few months felt like pieces of a puzzle that were finally coming together to morph into one beautiful picture. A part of me had known that I belonged to this beautiful, monstrous man the night I laid eyes on him at Karma. Thus, when he asked me to marry him, it didn’t matter how long I had known him, and what he was capable of, I didn’t hesitate. After everything, Domenico Romano was the man I wanted to spend the rest of my life with.

“Vana, your groom—” I looked over my shoulder to see my little sister frozen in her tracks.

Her lips parted in shock, emotions ranging from awe to happiness glinting in her eyes. She gasped, bringing her palm over her face to cover her mouth before breaking into a soft sob. I laughed, unable to fight back the tears brimming in my eyes.

“You are the most beautiful bride I have ever seen!” she exclaimed, strutting over to me in her six-inch heels.

Adele had the freedom to choose the color she wanted for her dress as my maid of honor. The blush pink dress she was wearing draped around her body in fine silk, clinging to every inch of her curves with a sexy slit at the side. Her honey blonde hair was styled in loose beach waves, complimenting her dewy nude make up. She looked like a breath of fresh air.

“Guardatti—look at you!”

My wedding dress was an intricately beaded lace dress that wrapped around my frame like a glove, displaying a hint of cleavage enough to mess with Domenico. It had gorgeous thin straps and pooled at my feet with an elaborate detachable train cinching at my waist. My hair was in a neat French bun updo, housing my thin tulle veil that cascaded down my back, generously sweeping the floor.

“Mama and Papa would be so proud,” she whispered, approaching me to take my hands in hers, kissing them. “I wish they were here to see you.”

“Me, too,” my voice quivered.

“For the longest time, I had been so scared that this day might not happen because you have spent your whole life sacrificing for me, taking care of me and shielding me while you continued to bear the brunt of everything else. You have given up a lot for me and seeing you have this kind of happiness today, it brings me so much comfort, Vana. knowing that you ended up with a man who completely adores you and would burn the world down before anyone touched a strand of your hair is my consolation.”

“Ugh. You really do know how to make a woman cry,” I sniffed.

She laughed. “I’m so proud of you.” She leaned in to kiss my forehead. I sighed, easing into the kiss.

“Thank you,” I whispered.

“I really think we should get going now. Your husband is going to flip if you don’t walk down that aisle in the next five minutes.” Adele rolled her eyes.

I grinned.

“I’m ready now.”

Adele led me out of the house. She made her way to the aisle first, signaling for the bridal music to be cued. I took a deep breath, ushering myself out, clutching my bouquet softly in my grip. The few guests we had present rose to their feet with beaming faces as I slowly made my way down the aisle. I could see Luciano’s smirking face in the crowd. Adele was grinning from ear to ear, standing opposite Domenico’s right-hand man, Damien, and his bodyguard, Adriano.

And then, my eyes met his.

The man who was going to become my husband today. The man I chose above all. The man I was going to spend the rest of my life choosing and loving.

Domenico watched me like I was his lifeline as I approached him. Those Antarctic blue orbs were pinned on me, thick with desire, devotion, and something else I couldn’t name, something dark that set my soul on fire and consumed me from inside out.

He looked dashing in his black suit, born to rule and dominate, looking every inch the intimidating devil he was labeled to be.

My cheeks burned when I stopped in front of him. I bit down on my lips as I saw his eyes fleetingly darken when they rested on my cleavage.

He nodded at the officiant to begin as our guests took their seats.

“Dear friends, we are gathered here today to celebrate the love between Silvana and Domenico. These two are here, defying all odds, and proving yet again that true love prevails.” The officiant began, smiling from ear to ear.

Domenico’s intense gaze didn’t leave mine and I found it hard to look away from him.

The officiant turned to me. “Do you, Silvana Bianchi, promise to love and adore Domenico, stand with him through thick and thin and constantly choose him in every phase of life?” he asked.

I nodded, teary-eyed. “Yes, I do.”

He turned to Domenico. “Do you, Domenico Romano, promise to cherish and adore Silvana, stand with her through thick and thin and constantly choose her in every phase of life?” he asked.

Domenico’s blue eyes flitted to mine, holding me hostage like he wanted me to see that he meant it. “Yes, I do.”

“I take it that you two have prepared your vows?”

We both nodded.

He turned to me, his lips twitching softly as his gaze slowly crawled over my body. My cheeks caught fire. “I walked in the darkness before I met you, Mia Cara. You are the light, the breath of fresh air that I didn’t think I needed or deserved. I promise to spend the rest of my life worshipping the ground that you walk on, choosing you every day because you are my life, and I’m nothing without you, Mia Cara.”

I couldn’t hold back. I released a soft sob, and I was certain I heard some sniffing in the crowd.

“That’s a tough act to follow.” I pushed my head back to rein in my tears.

The crowd laughed.

I took his hands in mine, smiling through my tears. “Thank you for giving me a love that feels like a safe space to be. Thank you for prioritizing me, for choosing me, for loving me, and for making me feel like the most beautiful woman alive. I promise to spend the rest of my life holding your hand, loving you when you think you are not worthy of being loved, when life gets too heavy to carry. To have, to hold, to cherish until death do us part,” I whispered.

I saw it in his eyes. Forever engraved in there. The devotion. The obsession.

“Rings, please,” the officiant called out to Damien who handed over the rings.

Domenico took a matching band, slipping it on my ring finger. “With this ring, I wed thee.”

I slipped his wedding band onto his finger. “With this ring, I thee wed.”

“By the power vested in me, I now pronounce you husband and wife,” the officiant announced.

Domenico barely waited for anything else before he pulled me into him and crashed his lips on mine.

The rest of the world faded. Nothing else mattered. He kissed me like I was the only thing he needed, until it drowned out the cheers and applause, until I couldn’t breathe, until the world felt light beneath me.

He tore his lips off mine. “I love you, Mrs. Romano.”

“I love you, Mr. Romano.”

And I knew that with this beautifully monstrous man by my side, the rest of the world didn’t matter.

The End