Chapter 23
SOFIA
Iwalked into our hotel suite and found Jude in his bathroom, shaving.
Elation hit at the sight of his handsome face, and I rushed toward him as he turned around from his reflection in the mirror.
Taking me into his arms, he lowered his head and kissed me, his mouth hot, firm, and gliding over mine with fervor, wiping a bit of shaving cream on my chin.
‘Hey, babe,’ he muttered over my lips, his strong hands catching my waist. ‘Missed you.’
‘Missed you more,’ I said, raking him in.
He washed his face and went into the bedroom to tug on a charcoal linen button-down shirt, jeans, and boots, dashing and stunning as always.
‘We’re heading out to explore the city,’ he said, reaching for his wallet on the dresser.
‘Again?’ I teased, my mouth quirking.
He looped a finger through one of my belt loops, tugging me closer. ‘Yeah, again. I just love spending time with you, Sofia. Deal with it.’
‘I think I can manage,’ I said, laughing as I held up my shopping haul. ‘Here, I got you a little something while I was out.’
He took the packages from me, his fingers brushing mine as he inspected the embossed leather cover of the music notebook I bought him.
A slow, genuine smile softened his rugged face.
‘This rocks, babe,’ he rasped, tracing the detailed stitching with his thumb. ‘Real sweet of you. Thanks.’
He pulled me to his broad chest, burying his face in my hair.
After I showered and dressed in an effortless linen dress, he guided me back out into the warm night.
Rome at night transformed into a magical atmosphere.
Tiny bars and family-run trattorias spilled radiant, golden light onto the uneven cobblestone sidewalks.
The air was thick with the rich aroma of roasted garlic, charred wood-fired crusts, and red wine.
We wandered without a plan, with no rush, as we surrendered to the late-night charm of the alleyways.
At one point, as we walked with his arm encircling my waist, I glanced up at him.
He was beyond beautiful, this husband of mine.
Jude caught me staring, and soft lines crinkled around his green eyes.
He reached for me, stroking my hair to tuck the stray strands behind my ear.
His calloused fingertips lingered on my cheekbone, with a light touch that made my knees weak.
Then he kept pulling me close to plant slow, lingering kisses on my temple every few paces.
‘Tell me about what you got up to today,’ he invited in a throaty rasp.
I filled him in on my day.
‘Woman,’ he murmured, his deep voice reverberating. ‘A bike tour and a leather sketchbook? I told you to ruin my credit limit.’
‘I’m a woman who’s learned to be careful with money, honey,’ I teased, leaning into his solid side. ‘You can punish me by picking up gelato for me after we eat.’
He groaned at my reluctance to spend his cash.
‘Let me spoil you woman, I want to.’
‘You already have,’ I murmured, kissing his chin.
JUDE
The cobblestones of Rome glistened under the amber streetlights.
The humid summer air settled over the cobblestone alleys of Trastevere, thick with the aroma of roasted espresso beans, warm wood-fired dough, and crushed basil.
Sofia pulled me along by the hand, her gold hoops in her earlobes catching the golden glint of gas lanterns as church bells chimed seven across Rome.
We squeezed into a tiny tavern, ordering two ice-cold, bitter-orange Spritzes, paired with small wooden plates piled high with salty prosciutto, green olives, and crunchy crostini.
She got a few leers from a couple of men in the venue, and I moved to block them off with a growl.
‘You’re such a savage guard,’ Sofia teased, resting her palm flat against my chest and raising her dark brows.
‘Force of habit, gorgeous,’ I murmured, pulling her waist tight against mine and pressing my lips onto her warm, olive-skinned neck.
She let out a soft laugh, turning her head to capture my mouth in a slow, deep kiss that tasted of sweet orange and liqueur.
Fuck, she was beautiful, I thought, my chest expanding as her slender fingers tangled in my dark hair.
We strolled toward the Tiber, stopping at a lively corner bar where locals gathered on the flagstone pavement to unwind before dinner.
I ordered a bold Negroni, grabbing a bowl of fried arancini balls and roasted almonds off the zinc counter to fuel our late-night trek.
The crispy rice balls exploded with melted mozzarella and rich ragù, making Sofia gasp in pure satisfaction as she chewed.
‘Better than Australian pies?’ she asked, wiping a crumb off her lip with her thumb before offering me the last bite.
‘Not even in the same league, babe,’ I chuckled, pulling her back into my arms while scooter engines roared past us down the narrow alleyway. ‘Aussie pies rule.’
I leaned down, kissing her thoroughly under the arching stone doorway until she leaned her entire frame into mine with total trust.
Later, we walked off the food along the river.
As moonlight danced over the swirling currents below, Sofia’s hip brushed mine, our fingers locked.
‘Sofia, bellissima, is it really you?’ a smooth voice echoed down the street.
We turned to see a tall Italian man rise from an outdoor table of a nearby restaurant.
His black silk shirt lay open, unbuttoned down his chest, his chest hair covered in layers of jewelry.
Perfect coiled curls sat on his gleaming crown.
His beard was more of the same, framing a square, stubbled jaw.
A show pony, to the core.
‘Gio?’ Sofia gasped, freezing in her tracks.
Behind him, his party gathered on the patio: three sleek, stunning women in designer dresses and two slick men sipping wine, flanked by bodyguards looming like shadows over the table.
They peered at us with world-weary curiosity as Gio strode forward.
He pulled Sofia into three tight cheek kisses while his manicured hands lingered on her ass.
The hell?
It was a gesture reserved for former lovers.
A wave of jealousy hit my gut, my instincts raging against another man’s hands on my wife.
To her credit, Sofia pulled from his hold; however, their reunion continued.
They launched into rapid-fire Italian, their words flying way too fast for me to catch.
His entourage lost interest in us, picking their nails and checking their phones with bored expressions.
I stood braced, arms crossed tight over my chest, my irritation rising as I picked up on the undeniable history between them.
My blood hit a boiling point as Gio went to kiss her again.
A growl escaped my throat, making Sofia pivot toward me with an apologetic smile, dodging the glistening lips descending on her.
‘Sorry, tesoro mio. Jude, meet Gio, my-.’
Sofia started, gesturing toward the guy.
‘Her ex-boyfriend who still adores her,’ Gio interjected with a cocky growl.
I stepped in, sliding my broad arm around Sofia’s waist and pulling her flush to me.
‘Good to meet you, man,’ I said, my hand locking over her hip. ‘I’m her husband.’
Gio’s eyebrows shot up to his hairline.
‘Dio, non lo sapevo!’ he sputtered under his breath, stumbling back a step.
Still brazen, he stared at Sofia like a prime rib-eye he’d let slip off his plate, making his attraction to her ridiculously obvious.
Sofia explained our trip in Italian, switching back to English to keep me in the loop.
She seemed oblivious to Gio’s unmasked lust, but I recognized a man-whore on the hunt because I used to be one.
When they shared an intimate laugh, I drew the line in the sand.
‘We need to get on,’ I grunted, spinning Sofia around to cut the interaction short.
Gio leaned in for one last cheek kiss, but the death glare I pinned on his eyes stopped him dead in his tracks.
He swallowed hard, raising both palms in surrender.
‘Ciao, bellissima,’ he murmured before turning his eyes onto me. ‘You’re a tiger, man. Don’t worry, I wouldn’t try anything with your kind of energy.’
‘Grateful,’ I growled.
A touch of genuine respect for me gleamed in his eyes as he offered us a quick bow, blew Sofia a kiss, and retreated to his entourage.
‘Who the fuck was that?’ I growled the second we cleared earshot.
‘We dated a long time ago. He’s a major star on Italian soap operas, Jude,’ Sofia explained as we made our way down the narrow street.
‘How’d you even cross paths with a guy like that?’ I murmured, my jaw clenching tight.
‘In Naples, years ago,’ she murmured, waving her hand in dismissal while dodging the details.
I sensed she was keeping something from me, keeping her lips sealed.
Brooding about it, I fell silent, oblivious to the look of concern Sofia shot me.
As we passed an ancient, carved fountain, she stopped without warning.
Spinning around, her hands encircled my waist while gazing up at me.
‘Forget Gio,’ Sofia whispered, her eyes shining in the moonlight. ‘Jude Valenti, you’re the only man I’ve got the hots for.’
I dragged my eyes over her face, searching for secrets.
I came up empty, wrecked by the pull she had on me.
‘Well, Mrs. Valenti, that’s what I need to hear.’
She pulled my neck down, her mouth claiming mine in a thorough, scorching kiss that wiped every trace of my irritation.
I molded her soft body to mine right there in the middle of the street, deepening the kiss until my head spun.
A group of tourists wandering past us burst into loud whistles and hoots, breaking our trance.
We parted, our soft laughter echoing off the ancient stone walls as we wrapped our arms around each other and walked away into the warm Roman night.
SOFIA
Bumping into Gio threw me off.
Years ago, we’d dated for six months until his clingy, overly obsessive behavior threw me off.
We lost touch after I fled Naples.
Seeing him in Rome brought back memories I’d rather suppress, so when Jude suggested gelato, I took up the offer with delight, needing a major distraction.
We stopped at Gelateria del Teatro near the edge of the piazza.
I chose a scoop of their dark chocolate flavor, the texture unbelievably light and velvety, while Jude opted for a simple fior di latte.
When we snagged a tiny metal table outside, before I could even grab my spoon to dive into the my dessert, Jude hooked his hands under my arms.
He hoisted me onto his lap, eyes intense, hot, and on me.