Happily Ever After: The New Dawn Wedding

Chapter One

Ella

”We should see the island any minute now,” Aiden calls from the helm, guiding the sailing yacht we hired through the late fall currents of the Mediterranean Sea.

The breeze tousles my hair as I stand at the bow, straining my eyes to spot our little piece of paradise. It might be the middle of November, but the sun kissing my skin is warm compared to the crisp chill settling in the mountains back home in Georgia.

Winter was around the corner when we left Atlanta yesterday. The contrast is striking. Gone are the vibrant fall leaves of the Appalachian foothills, replaced by the subtropical hues of Sicily.

I shade my eyes as if that could help me see further, but there is only brilliant blue water for miles and miles.

The sea seems different from when we saw it in August on our first trip back to Tiero”s island—or Lion Island, as we now call it. The sunlight casts a softer, more golden glow upon the waves. Or perhaps it”s because we arrived by helicopter then, and things look different from high up.

I glance up at the crisp white sails. They”re taut, propelling us steadily forward.

Then my eyes land on Aiden, who ditched his winter jacket and boots as soon as we landed and now sports shorts and a t-shirt. The wind molds his clothes to his body, accentuating each delectable contour of muscle.

What a sight!

I let out a contented sigh, renewed hunger for this man drumming through my veins.

Renewed, you might wonder?

Yeah, renewed, because as soon as we cleared all the boats in our vicinity, Aiden threw the anchor overboard, and we tested out the bed on this vessel... it”s very sturdy.

We spent an hour in the confined space, which, by our standards, was a quickie. After all, we want to reach Lion Island before nightfall.

But it only satiated the tip of the iceberg... our hunger for each other seems to be a bottomless pit. Given what we”re about to do, that”s a good sign for our future, right?

I tear my gaze away from my fiancé and search the horizon again for signs of our private haven.

”Land ho!” I yell, pointing at a dark green dot far ahead. That has to be it.

My anticipation grows as I make my way to Aiden, wrapping my arms around his waist from behind, holding on to him as the sea moves the boat gently up and down.

It doesn”t take long for the outline of our island to become more distinct. And after another ten or so minutes, I can spot the trees that surround the house.

As we sail toward the shore, the rhythmic lapping of the waves against the hull is soothing. I snuggle closer against Aiden and breathe in the alpine scent that I will forever associate with my man.

I”m at peace.

Content.

Happy beyond measure with Ade.

And about to step foot in the place that meant the most to the man who”s given me his heart—literally and figuratively.

While our first visit to Lion Island was bittersweet, I can”t wait for this one. It”s the day Aiden and I have dreamed of for over a year now.

When Ade asked me to marry him under the Alaskan sky dancing with the Northern Lights, we didn”t plan on waiting this long, but my heart diagnosis and everything that followed put the brakes on any wedding plans.

The recovery process from my heart transplant was no walk in the park. But we”re finally in a good place.

And what better date than the first anniversary of my rebirth to celebrate our love?

In just two days, Rhia and Lex will arrive, and two days after that, Father Joseph will join us, flying in by helicopter to marry us.

Our wedding will be an intimate affair. After not knowing that this day would ever come, that”s how we prefer it.

While our family and friends wanted to be here with us, they understood we needed to do this our way. The reception party when we get back after our honeymoon will be doubly big. Ade”s crew is organizing it, so I”m prepared for a few surprises.

Aiden steers the yacht gently toward the shore, and excitement vibrates through my body. I almost believe Tiero”s heart beating in my chest recognizes it”s back home.

He loved it here.

This was his sanctuary. The place he escaped to for peace and reflection. He was deprived of both in his daily life as a Mafia Don.

The first time I set foot on this island, I understood Tiero”s affinity for this place. There”s something special about it that I can”t capture in words.

It”s where my favorite memories with Tiero are, and where I made more favorite memories with Ade back in August. The two men who hold pieces of my soul will forever be associated with this place.

I still can”t believe Tiero gave it to me. It should have been Mateo”s, but perhaps it”s better this way. Mateo has gone missing, with no trace of him or his wife. Some say they”re dead, taken out by rivaling Mafia families, but Ade thinks they”ve gone underground, turning their backs on the Mafia life. I truly hope he”s right, because it breaks my heart to think there”s nobody left of Tiero”s family.

”Let”s put all our bags and supplies in the dinghy and row to shore,” Ade suggests as he carefully drops the anchor, securing the yacht as close to the shoreline as possible.

”I don”t think that huge box is going to fit in the dinghy,” I say, looking between the enormous cardboard box holding our new, unassembled king-size bed and the small vessel we towed behind the yacht.

At our last visit, Ade refused to sleep in the same bed that Tiero and I got down and dirty on—his words, not mine. He disassembled it and took it to one of the guest huts, and we used one of the many daybeds around the place to sleep on under the stars. I didn”t tell him that we got down and dirty on those as well, or I would have had to sleep on the sand.

”Hmm, you”re right. We”ll do another trip for the bed. Let”s just get everything else to shore.”

Once our luggage and supplies are loaded, Ade helps me into the dinghy and begins rowing.

The water in this bay is smooth as always. It sparkles in the late afternoon sun like thousands and thousands of diamonds—pure magic.

Lowering my sunglasses on my nose, I hold my engagement ring up to the sun, enjoying the way it sparkles. Then I glance over at the man who put that ring there and nearly groan. The way the muscles of his biceps work as he rows us to shore...it”s the best arm porn.

I must grin like a lunatic, because Ade draws his brows together and asks, ”What?”

Biting my lip, I shake my head. ”Nothing. Just enjoying the view.”

He rolls his eyes, but I know he”s pleased I salivate over him.

”Can”t wait to christen that bed,” he mumbles in a husky tone, which makes my gaze drop lower. This time I moan out loud. The tent in Ade”s pants is too tantalizing.

”There”s a daybed right over there.” I point to the one that”s always been on the beach.

”If we get started now, it will be dark before we get everything to the house. And it will get too cool now to sleep under the stars.”

He jumps out of the boat and wades through the water to me. Lifting me into his arms, he carries me to dry sand.

”You know, I”m already wet,” I tease, delighting in his low-rumbling groan.

”And I love that you”re always ready for me.”

He lowers me to the sand, but I keep my arms wound around his neck and jump up to wrap my legs around Ade”s waist.

Rubbing my nose against his, I move my mouth closer to his ear. ”Welcome back to paradise, baby. Happy wedding week.”

”I can”t wait for you to be my wife. It”s what I wanted ever since I met you. That ceremony... formalizing our bond, never to be broken... for you and only you to be mine.”

His lips crash down on mine in a kiss that”s hungry and impatient. And I”m all too happy to yield to his power. I”ve long accepted that when it comes to sex, Ade is in charge. And I love it... usually.

Right now, though, Ade”s set-up-camp mode is triggered, and he”s reverted to his Green Beret days.

And you know what that means for me?

Frustration.

He”s firm on needing to get things done—stubborn, really, if you ask me—and he won”t be swayed. I”ll try anyway.

Nudging him toward the daybed, I whisper, ”We should test that mattress over there... make sure it”s still comfortable.”

Ade growls against my lips, his kiss growing more urgent. I smile, tasting victory.

Well, perhaps he can be swayed after all.