30. Ravenna
Ravenna
O ur second honeymoon delivers on everything it promised us.
I spend my days in Parma visiting with Elena in the confines of our relatives’ house since she refuses to leave the safety of these walls.
I’m still worried about her mental health, but she does seem to be calmer than she was in Manhattan. For that, I’m grateful.
My nights are spent wrapped in Cian’s arms. Every morning I wake up and love him more than I did the day before. He knew how much I missed my sister without me having to say a word.
We spend an entire week in Parma where I visit with my sister until it’s time to continue our travels. Saying farewell to her this time isn’t as soul crushing. I know she’s only a flight away. Plus, she seems to be doing better.
Cian and I travel to Rome for a whirlwind trip of sightseeing, luxury hotels, and being so wrapped up in each other that the strangers around us may as well cease to exist. Even their stares and gasps at the sight of Cian don’t get under my skin like they have before.
I simply shoot them withering glares, then we continue on with our day.
We’re six months into our marriage, and I’ve never been happier. I hope this honeymoon phase of our relationship never ends. I want Cian to gaze at me like I’m the center of his universe for the rest of our lives.
I’m so caught up in our blissful honeymoon that my early morning cramps take me by surprise. Pain doesn’t belong in this perfect fantasy life that I’m living in Rome.
With a groan, I climb out of bed and hurry to the bathroom. Sure enough, my period has arrived right on time.
A lead weight drops in my stomach and my shoulders slump. I’d hoped… Well, I’d hoped to be pregnant by now.
For the first few months we were together, I figured my body wasn’t ready yet.
After being beaten and drugged, I had a lot of healing to do, so I didn’t worry about the fact that my period kept arriving every month.
But recently we’ve been having so much sex, and this trip has been so relaxing that I was sure it would finally happen.
But it hasn’t. Once again I’m not pregnant.
Securing a tampon in place, I find a pair of panties and slip into a silky robe. I down a couple of Tylenol to deal with the pain. My good mood completely ruined, I settle onto the sofa and stare out at the dawn.
“Why are you up so early?” Cian appears in the bedroom doorway, his blond hair tousled by sleep. He’s so big his frame easily fills the space.
“Cramps,” I state as an explanation. Drawing my feet up, I hug my knees.
“Oh.” His tone comes out flat, and I see the flicker of disappointment in his eyes before he looks away.
That sight sends me spiraling. My eyes sting as my face grows hot. Before I can stop them, silent tears spill down my cheeks.
Cian glances at me in alarm. He rushes to my side, frantically trying to figure out what’s wrong. “Do they hurt that much? What can I do? Tell me what to do.”
I shake my head. “It’s not the pain, that’s fine. It’s—” I avert my gaze.
He cups my chin, lifting my chin until I meet his eyes. “Tell me what’s wrong, broc meala . I’ll do everything in my power to make it right.”
My chest clenches. “It’s just that…” I sniffle. “I’m not pregnant. Shouldn’t I be pregnant by now?”
“Oh, my sweet wife.” His gaze softens. “Not necessarily. These things can take time. It will happen when it’s supposed to, I promise.”
“You’re not… disappointed?” I stare hard at him and demand, “The truth. You know there can be no lies between us.”
He sigh heavily. “I’m not disappointed in you .
I’m impatient and eager to start a family with you.
But I could never be disappointed in you.
” He hauls me into his lap, curving his body around mine.
“I want everything with you. And I want to give you everything your heart desires. Especially a child. But I will learn to be more patient.”
I snuggle against him, feeling cherished. “What if I can’t give you a child?”
“Then we’ll be happy without children.”
“But what about the treaty between our families? Only an heir, a child of our bloodlines will secure the truce forever. Until then, it’s fragile.”
“I know. But that kind of pressure isn’t helping either one of us relax and get pregnant, is it?”
“I guess not.”
“Besides, the truce and our families shouldn’t obligate us to anything. I want you, Ravenna O’Rourke. What’s important is us . Nothing else. Do I make myself clear?”
“Crystal clear.”
He grunts in approval. “Good.”
“ W here are we going?” I ask as the limo drives us to the outer edge of Rome. We’re clearly leaving the city behind, but our hotel room’s booked through tomorrow.
Cian chuckles at my concerned expression. “Don’t worry, I’ll have you tucked in bed by midnight at the latest.”
I glance out the window again. It’s not even sunset. Though we’re heading out much too late for a day trip.
“You’re really not going to tell me where we’re going?”
“Nope.” He thumbs through his phone. “But I am going to have to blindfold you soon. We’re almost there.”
Before I can search for clues out the window, thick silk fabric drapes across my eyes. My world goes dark.
My heartbeat pounds against my ribs. “Is this really necessary?”
“It is,” Cian’s deep, gravelly voice speaks into my ear. He’s much closer than he was a moment ago.
Right now, I’m at his mercy. A delicious shiver rushes across my skin.
The car slows to a stop. As soon as the door opens, I strain my other senses for any hints as to where we are. Cian’s calloused hand wraps around mine as he helps me stand, then he leads me across a hard-packed surface.
We’re greeted by a stranger with a heavy Italian accent. “Welcome, Mr. and Mrs. O’Rourke. Please come aboard.”
Aboard? At first I expect a boat, but as we walk forward, there’s what feels like a short ramp, then we’re being seated in a cushioned bench. There’s no telltale rocking, we seem to be firmly planted on earth.
All of a sudden, the ground shifts, lurching and rocking. With a startled gasp, I reach for Cian, and hold onto him to keep my balance. With one arm, he plasters me to his side.
“What’s happening?” My stomach feels weightless as we rise into the air. A warm summer breeze caresses my face.
To answer my question, Cian removes the blindfold.
My breath catches in my throat as I take in the scene before me. We’re in a hot air balloon, cruising over trees, headed toward Rome in the distance.
Inside the small space, we’re seated at a table.
A chef, who I vaguely recognize from television, begins to cook our meal at a tiny kitchen against one side of the carriage.
Heady aromas of Italian spices drift by on the breeze.
The only other person aboard is a server, who bobs his head at us and pours wine.
Cian murmurs in my ear, “Do you like it?”
I gape at him. “Like it? I love it! Are we really having dinner as we fly over Rome at sunset?” The whole idea seems too wild to be true. Yet here we are.
He chuckles. “I wanted to do something especially memorable for our last night of our honeymoon.”
“This is truly amazing. Thank you.” I reach up and kiss him before turning my attention to the breathtaking view. “It’s so beautiful.”
“I couldn’t agree more.”
I glance at him, but he’s gazing at me instead of the glittering city. Heat blossoms on my cheeks. My heart skips a beat, then flutters like the wings of a hummingbird.
I love how Cian makes me feel like I’m the center of his world. Being with him is the opposite of how I felt growing up, always being either abused or disregarded. Told I was too opinionated, too stubborn, too much of everything that my parents didn’t want me to be.
But Cian doesn’t treat me that way. He seems to adore what I’ve always been told are my negative qualities. He makes me feel seen, validated. I can be myself without apology.
It’s refreshing. I didn’t know how badly I needed it, until this moment.
Up here, soaring through the sky, we sip wine as the master chef serves us an eight course meal, all while admiring the sights of the city from a completely new angle. Golden rays of the setting sun light up the stunning architecture. This is an experience I’ll never forget.