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A nxiety didn’t strike until she took her first steps into the Genova airport.

“Maybe agreeing to be picked up at the airport by my long-distance, ‘we’ve only met once for an hour’ boyfriend in a foreign country wasn’t the brightest idea…

” she muttered as she followed the crowd from her plane toward what she hoped would be baggage claim.

As she walked, she couldn’t help feeling the same pull she’d felt in Paris. How silly was that? Obviously it was just the anticipation, but it was fun to think something otherworldly was directing her toward Sebastian.

And then…there he was. Standing back from the crowd in a black leather jacket, fingerless gloves, and jeans was Sebastian.

He’d pulled his long hair back into a tight man bun, which exposed the sharpness of his jawline.

Like something out of the movies, he held a piece of cardboard with “FRANTZ” written on it in black sharpie.

Isabel felt her heart flutter and her pace increased.

They locked eyes and Sebastian’s face lit up.

He tossed the cardboard to his feet and opened his arms wide.

Isabel ran the last few yards and jumped into his embrace, wrapping her arms around his neck.

His strong arms encircled her waist and he spun in a slow circle as they stared into each other’s faces.

Isabel couldn’t help but notice how strong he was, yet gentle. Sebastian set her back down and ran his fingers through her hair. “I can’t believe you’re here! No waiting for letters, just standing in front of me to hug and talk to. And maybe kiss?”

“I don’t know about that, yet,” Isabel giggled.

“But I’ll take another one of those hugs after we get my bags.

I don’t want them to wander away without me.

” She watched the carousel for her blue Jeep suitcase and, when she saw it, rushed over to grab it.

Her second bag, a smaller grey one, wasn’t far behind.

No sooner had she dragged them away from the rotating belt than strong arms wrapped around her waist from behind and pulled her in close. A soft breeze of vanilla and leather dominated her world and Sebastian whispered, “I’ll take those for you, dolcezza. ”

Her chest tightened and her heart flopped again. She leaned back into the embrace and closed her eyes, baffled by how familiar this all felt. “Thank you.” Sebastian gave her one more squeeze and took both bags, lifting them as if they weighed no more than a handful of cotton.

“Follow me. We’re going to take the volabus into the city center, then the train to Vernazza. I know you’ve already had a long trip, but we’re still a couple of hours away from our destination. Are you going to make it?” Sebastian led Isabel out into the salty evening air while she nodded.

“Yes, that’s okay. At least the bus and train should hopefully have more leg room than the airplane!” She shook her leg in emphasis and Sebastian chuckled. He led her to the blue and white bus, purchased their tickets, and helped her inside before validating their tickets and joining her.

Isabel chose the two seats at the very back of the bus and took the one near the window. Not only could she look out at the scenery as they traveled, but that also put Sebastian between her and any strangers who might try to talk to her.

It wasn’t until they were settled that Isabel felt the weight of her day’s travel settle in her bones.

She allowed her muscles to relax and her head drooped to Sebastian’s shoulder.

“Sleepy, dolcezza ?” he asked, and when she nodded, he shifted so she could rest against his chest. “Then just nap here in my arms. I’ll wake you when it’s time to board the train. ”

Sebastian began to hum softly and the vibration in his chest quickly lulled Isabel into a deep and dreamless sleep. She somewhat blearily made the transfer from the bus to the train, then crashed again as soon as they were underway.

The next time she became anything close to alert was when the train came to a stop and Sebastian gently brushed the hair away from her eyes.

She heard his voice floating through her dreams, calling, “Isabel, we’re here.

It’s time to wake up.” Her eyes fluttered open to see his face looking down at her, as she had somehow ended up laying with her head in his lap.

Embarrassed, she shot up and smoothed her messy hair. “Uh, sorry. I swear I’m not usually this quick to sleep in guys’ laps…or on them in general. The trip must really have knocked me out more than I thought.”

“I don’t mind in the least, tesoro mio. Let’s get you home so you can rest properly.”

While she had no idea what the foreign nicknames meant, just the way they sounded caused her heart to speed up.

He could honestly call her anything he wanted, as long as he continued using that voice.

Isabel allowed Sebastian to take her hand and filled the other with the handle of her grey suitcase.

He took the blue and together they disembarked.

“Welcome to Vernazza! I’m sorry we’re going to have to walk a little bit to get to the castle.”

Isabel took in a deep breath of sea air and smiled at the lit windows all around them.

“It’s beautiful here,” she whispered. “And…it somehow feels so familiar. Isn’t that strange?

Maybe I’ve spent too much time on Google Earth staring at it.

But I should be okay to do some walking. I’ve been sitting all day long.”

“Okay. Just let me know if you get tired and we can take a break.”

Any trace of sleepiness was whisked away by the evening air and excitement of finally being in Italy.

She’d had so many dreams of this moment that now it felt like another one.

Surely she wasn’t actually walking down an ancient cobblestone street with her boyfriend, enjoying the sea breeze and the way his butt looked in those jeans!

Yet her senses did not lie. Once they left the city proper, the sounds of night bugs joined the rumble of the suitcase wheels on stone and sand. The couple strolled at a leisurely pace toward the castle looming in the distance. It grew with every step until they stood at the large oaken doors.

“I figured I’d show you the impressive entrance first, but we’re going in through the little door around the corner.

” Sebastian gestured broadly to the front of the castle and Isabel began to giggle.

“Hey, don’t knock it from the outside! Most of the inside is equally as ancient and crumbling. Just like me.”

Isabel grabbed Sebastian’s hand and stifled a yawn. “I’ll be the judge of that once we get inside. Starting with judging the bed, because while adrenaline got me up that hill, I’m probably going to fall over the moment it wears off.”

“Then I had best get you inside. Your castle awaits, my queen.” Sebastian led her through his usual entrance into the foyer, which had been meticulously dusted.

The moth-eaten drapes and crumbling wood covering the windows had been replaced with heavy velvet blackout curtains.

The furniture was polished, and when he lit the fireplace, the whole room flickered with a warm glow.

Isabel stopped in the middle of the room, eyes wide with wonder.

“Wow, this is beautiful! I expected something out of a ghost hunter TV show, not this!” She removed her shoes and stepped onto the plush rug in front of the fireplace, enjoying how her toes sunk into the soft fibers.

“On the ‘ancient and crumbling’ scale, I give it a zero.”

“I guess my renovations and hard work paid off, then,” Sebastian teased and joined her at the fire. He’d removed his leather coat, revealing the loose white tee beneath. “I even renovated myself and purchased some new clothes for going out in public.”

“Ah, yes. Must hide the vampire-ness.” Isabel tapped her temple with a giggle. Sebastian nodded and wrapped his arms around her from the back again, crossing them over her chest. Her head instinctively fell back to the hollow of his shoulder with a soft sigh of contentment.

This moment made all of the anticipation and saving worth it.

They stood there in the warmth of the fire for a solid five minutes, just enjoying the sensation of being together. Isabel’s breathing slowed and evened, and her knees began to buckle. “Let’s get you to bed, dolcezza. ” Sebastian stooped and swept her into a bridal carry.

For a moment she considered struggling, but his sheer size and strength as he held her to his chest was intoxicating. She felt safe and warm in his arms. And somehow…familiar. As if she’d been carried to bed by this man countless times in the past.

“Sebastian?” she murmured.

“Yes?”

“Do you believe in past lives?”

He paused for a moment, then continued down the dark hallway. “Why?”

“Oh, I don’t know. I just feel like we’ve lived this scene before, which I know is impossible. Almost like we met in a previous life. It’s strange, but nice.”

Sebastian remained silent until he had gently tucked Isabel into the large canopy bed he had prepared for her. “Perhaps we did, then,” he finally replied, smiling as she snuggled in with a yawn. “Sleep well, amore mio. I will see your lovely face in the morning.”