CHAPTER 37
Nirah
“IT’S YOUR WEDDING day!”
I softly groaned as I heard the girls cheering and plopping on top of me.
“You’re still in bed. Why?” Amelia asked, tugging the sheets.
“No!” I stopped her. “I’m still naked.”
“Yeah. We know,” Silvia laughed. “Your hubby just walked out in nothing but his pants.”
“His hair was a mess, and I saw the scratches on his back as he passed us,” London whispered, and I covered my face with the sheets, trying not to smile.
“And what were the marks on his wrists?” Silvia questioned, and I poked my head out to see her grinning. My body tensed, and the girls all gasped.
“You did not!”
“I can’t believe he let you!”
“That’s some kinky shit right there, Nirah.”
They all spoke in unison, and Amelia groaned. “Gross. I don’t want to hear about my brother’s kinky, premarital sex,” she thrilled, and the girls and I laughed. Oh, right.
They left the room, and I hopped into the shower. Soon, they came back with a makeup artist and a hairstylist. “Are you ready to suck and fuck the same penis every day?” Silvia mischievously smirked.
I couldn’t help a smile form as my mind traveled back to last night.
“What she means is…” London shoved Silvia with her hip and I was snapped out of my thoughts. “Are you ready to be Mrs De Luca?” she sweetly smiled. I blinked a couple of times, crossing my legs over each other. It was way too hot in here right now.
“It’s the same thing,” Silvia drawled. “So are you? There’s no turning back now,” she said and I took a deep breath in.
“Yes I am,” I smiled and she rushed in front of me. She crouched down and took my hands in hers.
“You’re going to be the most beautiful bride anyone has ever seen,” she shrieked. “Like ever.”
“Thank you,” I jutted out my bottom lip and she pulled me in for a hug.
“White lace panties? Cream lace panties? Pale pink lace panties?” Stephanie asked as she held up different options. I turned around, shifting my eyes between all of them.
“No panties?” London asked with her mouth open and a dramatic wink.
“I’ll get back to you on that one,” I nodded at Stephanie. “But hold onto the white.”
Amelia poured us all some mimosas and played music while we got ready. “Keep moving!” I heard Lorenzo’s voice from outside my bedroom.
“You can’t see her,” Cesar roughly chuckled and my eyes grew wide. I hopped off the chair but the girls formed a wall in front of me while crossing their arms and shaking their heads.
“Not a chance, little missy,” Amelia narrowed her eyes at me.
“Just one kiss,” I softly said—showing them my pointer finger—and they shook their heads. “One glimpse?” I tried again but they didn’t give in. “Fine,” I sighed.
Antonio and I weren’t supposed to see each other until I walked down the aisle. His mother was extremely strict about that rule and so were they, apparently .
The wedding venue had a room where I could get ready as well, but we decided on doing my hair and make-up at home so that I could just slip into my dress once we got there.
After arriving at the venue we hurried up to the room where they slipped me into my wedding dress. I touched up my hair and make-up and stood in front of the mirror, completely shocked at how beautiful I looked.
“ Bellissima ,” his mother gasped as she stood in the doorway. She walked inside and Bruno closed the door behind them. “You look amazing,” she smiled.
I thanked her as she squeezed me in her arms. We broke the hug and my eyes met Bruno’s.
His facial expression was blank. He simply stared back at me, and I cleared my throat, looking at the girls.
“I feel like a proud mother,” Amelia fanned her tears and dramatically fell into her mother’s arms.
“Now you know how I felt,” her mother softly smiled. My heart ached as I watched Amelia and her mother reminisce about Amelia’s wedding. It seemed as though even though they argued about everything, they still had an amazing time.
She confessed that she could not have done it without the help of her mother and I envied that. I looked back and saw Bruno staring at the two of them in admiration almost.
I didn’t even have a father to walk me down the aisle today. That hurt. I didn’t have any family.
“Oh sweetie,” Silvia frowned. “What’s wrong?” she asked and I blinked, tapping the corner of my eye with my wrist
“I’m just so happy,” I sadly laughed and she slightly tilted her head to the side—knowing I was lying. She hugged me nonetheless, and soon so did everyone else.
They left me alone for a little while so that I could calm down and I sat down in front of the vanity mirror, looking at myself.
I felt strange. The room suddenly felt smaller, my dress tighter and my throat drier. It didn’t feel right. Like none of this was real. Like a dream. Like I was pretending .
My mind raced back to the beginning. How this all started. It didn’t start as something real, so how could it end as something real?
I grabbed my phone and picked up the ends of my dress. I rushed out of the room and made my way down a long hallway. I looked left and right and opened the first door I came to. A bathroom.
I texted Antonio and placed my phone on the sink, pacing up and down. I can’t do this. Not here. I can’t…
There was a knock at the door before it opened. My head snapped up and I saw Antonio standing in the doorway.
He stared at me with a twinkle in his eyes and I smiled, running into his arms. He wrapped his arms around me and I held onto him tightly as my eyes swelled with tears.
I pulled back and kissed him. I smiled into the kiss and felt his arms around my waist tighten.
He breathlessly whispered something in Italian against my lips and I smiled.
“You look absolutely breathtaking. If I could freeze time, just to savor this moment, I’d do it in a heartbeat,” he softly kissed my lips.
He seemed at a lost for words as he stared at me with big, wondrous eyes.
The look of love, my mother always told me about.
I shook my head. “I can’t do it.”
A panicked expression took over his face. “Do what? You don’t want to get married?”
“No,” I shook my head and when his expression changed, I spoke again. “I mean yes, I do,” I corrected myself. “I just can’t do it here . This place is filled with nothing but painful memories, and reminders of the torment I experienced. So, let’s go,”
“Go? Where?” he asked, not letting go of me.
“Away from here. Now .”
“But, I thought you wanted a wedding,” he said in confusion.
“I thought I did but not anymore. Now, I just want you,” I nodded and even though he seemed confused, he smiled.
“I don’t understand. Having a wedding was one of the first things you demanded.”
“I do want a wedding. Just not here. Not with all of them. Just with you. Me and you. We can celebrate with them after,” I explained and he grabbed the back of my neck, smashing our lips together.
Breaking the kiss I hesitantly spoke. “Will you give me that, Antonio?”
“I’ll give you anything you want, baby,” he answered, gently cupping my face.
“Let’s go,” I whispered and he took my hand in his before opening the door.
* * *
“You know Amelia is going to kill us, don’t you?” I smiled as he turned the steering wheel.
We had successfully snuck away and were on our way to only God knows where. Antonio made one phone call and all was set—according to him.
“Not when we’re thirty thousand feet in the air,” he shrugged his right shoulder and my eyes grew wide.
“How are we going to get plane tickets in time?” I asked and he entwined our fingers, kissing the back of my hand.
“You’re underestimating me, tesoro ,” he grinned. “And who needs plane tickets when your fiancée has her own airline. And private jet,” he glanced over at me and I knitted my brows together.
“But I don’t have… I do?” I quickly said and he nodded. “Wait,” I gasped. “You meant it? You actually meant what you said?”
He nodded. “I thought I told you not to take what I say lightly.”
“But I agreed to let you spend money on me.”
“Exactly. You agreed to let me spend money on you. So I spent the money by buying the airline anyway.”
I dropped my face in my hands—slowly shaking my head—and he chuckled as the car slowly came to a halt. I raised my head and my eyes grew wide at the private jet in front of us.
“Woah,” I softly breathed and he let go of my hand. He got out and opened the car door for me and I hopped out.
“Close your mouth for now,” he whispered before kissing my cheek.
We shared a smile and he wrapped his arm around my waist, pulling me with him.
I saw five men to my right and another five to my left. They were standing in a row, facing us as we approached the jet. “Mr. De Luca,” a strong Italian-accented man said as he walked down a few steps.
Antonio shook his hand as he reached the bottom. “Mrs De Luca, I presume?” he showed me a timid smile and even though I was mentally screaming, I still nodded politely. “Mr. Arnold Giuseppe,” he extended his hand.
“Nirah,” I smiled and he shook my hand. He lead Antonio and me into the jet and my jaw dropped as I looked around. I heard Arnold and Antonio speak in Italian as I walked further. After introducing me to the pilot, co-pilot and two flight attendants, I could finally sit down and relax.
I sat down opposite Antonio and he reclined in his seat, throwing his head back. He let out a heavy sigh and I couldn’t take my eyes off of him. He’s fucking gorgeous.
He lifted his torso upwards, sliding down just a little lower. He licked his bottom lip as he crossed his arms over his chest.
I crossed my legs as my eyes slowly followed up from his legs, up to his chest then finally his lips.
His lips formed into a grin and I realized I was starring.
I quickly cleared my throat, looking out the window to distract myself.
Soon the jet took off and he directed me to the bedroom where I could get changed.
Before we had taken off, he had one of the flight attendants go to the nearest shop and buy me a few things since it was going to be a long flight.
I changed out of my dress and realized that I decided on no panties and since my dress had an exposed, very low cut back. I wasn’t wearing a bra either.
I pressed my lips into a thin line as I stood with a pair of shorts in one hand and a skirt in the other.
Shrugging my shoulders, I put on the skirt and a cute little top that didn’t hide my chest entirely.
Little Miss Flight Attendant had good taste. I walked back out and sat across from him, crossing my legs. I felt his eyes on me and I tried hiding a smile by placing my thumb underneath my chin while my other fingers covered my mouth.
He could see right past my bullshit and I knew that.