65. Alessia
CHAPTER SIXTY-FIVE
ALESSIA
T he Maldives is beautiful. I can’t believe Astor got me here without me knowing where we were going. The bungalow is surrounded around water, just like in the picture, and the room is insane. We were welcomed with drinks and an array of food, and while it was nice, I was exhausted from the flight and from Astor deciding to fuck me three more times before we landed. My legs felt like rocks, it felt impossible to move them. Astor didn’t miss a beat and carried me to our room. It felt like a private island because our bellhop said there wasn’t anyone around for the next five miles.
Once we got settled there, we went out and explored a bit. Astor showed me a few places he owned, or as he says, we own, now. We did a wine and food tasting, and I even got him to dance a bit while we were out.
Our room is fully stocked and truly gives us no reason to leave it, and that’s the plan for tomorrow. To stay in all day and just enjoy my husband with a view that people would kill for.
I’m wrapped around him like a snake and he’s laughing. Something he’s been doing a lot today and it’s beautiful. It’s a completely breathtaking sound. I kiss his cheek and let out a yawn. He puts me down and looks at my tired eyes until his phone lights up and he peeks at it. We’ve been leaving our phones here during the day to be in the moment. I told him I didn’t think it was smart with everything going on, but he insisted we do it for the first day.
He deposits me in the bed and picks up his phone. “Rest, malyshka . I’m going to take care of this,” he says looking down over it. His face is lax as he scrolls through the missed notifications. Usually, I’d wonder what it’s about, but I’m so tired that I turn over on my side and close my eyes. I’m met immediately with a dream, a dream that I know was once a reality.
I’m sixteen and I’m on my balcony. It’s raining and cold, but I’m wrapped in a blanket and it’s perfect. My phone is on my lap and I’m staring at it, willingly it to go off. I pick it up and hover over his name before putting it down, just to do it again. Finally, I put the phone down and just watch the rain.
“You’re going to get sick out here, you know.” I jump at the sound of his voice and look over my shoulder at the figure standing behind me. Only one person bothers me when I’m out here. The one person who I always welcome to bother me.
Astor.
“I have a blanket, what are you doing here?”
“So what, you’re mad at me now?” he asks, circling around me. He leans against the balcony and rain pours down on him.
“No, I’m not mad at you. Now it’s you who’s going to get sick. Get out of the rain.”
“Then why haven’t you texted me back? I told you I liked you and you fucking freaked out.”
“I didn’t freak out. I was going to call you, but you showed up. Can you please get out of the rain? There’s literally a fucking chair right there.” I point to the chair next to me and he ignores me, staring at me, willingly me to tell him the truth.
I stand up and march over to him. I keep the blanket wrapped around me and hold onto it like it’s the shield I need to gain the strength to tell him this. My true feelings.
“Alessia, don’t fucking curse at me.” He hates that, and I love egging him on, but tonight isn’t the night to do it, because he’s right.
“Ok, I freaked, but it’s not why you think.”
“Then why?”
“Because I…I don’t like you…”
“Ok, whatever…That’s fine, we’re still frien ? —”
“I don’t like you because I love you, idiot. I’ve loved you since we were kids. I loved you the moment I figured out what it was. And you never noticed...” He puts his head down and chuckles.
“Why is that funny?” I’m getting angry and that’s the last thing he wants. He knows when I get angry I’m what they love to call the tornado.
“I did notice, but you didn’t notice that I felt the same way.” He yanks me to him, and I freeze. I’m dumbfounded. I don’t see it coming, but when it does, my body relaxes, and my mind is clear. There’s no nervousness or second thoughts.
His lips settle on mine and he kisses me gently before pulling back and staring at me.
“By the way, I love you, too, tornado.”
I smirk as my wet hair sticks to my face. He tucks it back behind my ear and kisses me again.
“I don’t want to be your friend anymore, Ast.”
“You aren’t…now you’re mine.”
“Haven’t I always been?” He kisses my nose before pulling me into a hug. The rain is beating on us and my door opens. We both look towards the door and Astor pulls me tighter into him.
“Dinner when you’re done,” my mother says to us. She smiles and shuts the door, leaving us to have a moment that seems like everyone knew we needed to have. Except us.
My eyes fly open and I’m staring at Astor’s tattooed back. He’s changing his shirt when I tiptoe over to him and wrap my arms around him.
“Guess what?” I ask, kissing his back. He turns to me and engulfs me in his arms.
“What’s that, malyshka ?”
I look up at him and smirk. “I remembered something…”
“Yeah?”
“I remember that night on the balcony, in the rain. When I told you I loved you.”
“Mmm, that was a good night.”
“It was...”
“Not a lot has changed since then, except now I love you more and you have my last name. You’re still mine, you’re still a tornado.” I lean my head back and laugh as he kisses my neck.
“Thank you for this…I really wanted to get away with you. Take a break from the mafia life and just enjoy us.”
“I know, it’s almost over. Then we can go back to you only having to remember you’re this badass mafia princess when we have our once-a-month meetings.”
“Ahh, the luxury, I can’t wait.”
“Let’s go for a swim,” he says. It’s nightfall and it’s the perfect temperature outside. Our pool is heated and it’s right outside of our room. I watch him strip and take in his naked body. I run my tongue across my lips as he swims out further. I quickly shed my clothes when his phone rings.
“Your phone is ringing!” I scream out to him.
He shrugs. “Answer it.’
I pick it up and place it to my ear. “Hello?”
“Ah, Mrs. Pavlov, how is your honeymoon?”
“Oh! Hi, Russ, it’s lovely. How are things there? You calling to tell me I can kill my rapist?”
He chuckles on the other end and I wait patiently.
“Funny girl. No, I’m calling to tell you and your husband that Miles hasn’t been doing too well. Seems like he’s scouting people out to help bring you both down. I’ve been told he isn’t having too much luck in the department, but still figured you should know.”
“Yeah, not too worried about it.”
“I didn’t think you would be. You are free to take him out as you see fit, when you see fit.”
“Thank you, sir.”
“Enjoy the Maldives.”
The call ends quickly and I swim out to Astor.
“Who was it?”
“Russ…apparently Miles has been trying to get people on his side to get to us. He’s not having much luck. Russ said we can take him out when we’re ready.”
“Yeah? And when will that be?” I shrug and swim up closer to him. I look out into the darkness.
“When he pisses me off again. Until then, he can live.”
“Fair enough, come here.”
“Keep your dick away from her, she’s sore.”
“Good. What’s a little more pain, hm? Turn around. It’ll be fast and hard, baby.”
And my God was it.
It’s our last night here in the Maldives and I’m sad. We’d been in such a bubble the last six days. When we get back, classes will be starting and we’ll have to learn our new normal. Which is married college students.
I also have to get used to the fact that my name is no longer Alessia Catalina Ballerini, it’s now Pavlov.
“I don’t want to leave tomorrow,” I pout as I throw the last bit back into my suitcase.
“We can come back during spring break,” he says, pulling me to him. My body is sore from the constant sex and I truly do not think I’m capable of handling anymore.
We’re going into the town today and I can’t wait.
“Boat should be here in a few.”
“Ok,” I say, pushing my hands through his hair. We got massages earlier and it was so relaxing that we both fell asleep during them. When we woke up, there was a platter of food spread out for us and a movie date set up.
It was the perfect morning to end our trip.
When we get to the town, our dinner is in a building that sits right on the water. Our table has a perfect view and the food deserves a Michelin star.
“Have you enjoyed it here?” he asks me.
I smile. “Yes, best honeymoon ever.” The stare he gives me reminds me of the stare he gave me at that bar, the night he fucked me in the bathroom. And even though I’m sore, I can’t help how wet my pussy gets from the flashback of that night.
“Head out of the gutter, my little slut. I know what you’re thinking.”
“And what’s that, good boy?”
“I tell you what, how about tonight I’ll be your good boy again and you can boss me around as much as you want?”
I tilt my head at him and raise my eyebrow. I pucker my lips to him and he leans in to kiss me. I stop for a brief second and tease, “Good boy.” Then I quickly kiss him, laughing to myself.
“You, my perfect wife, are lucky we have an audience tonight. Otherwise, I’d bend you over this table, spank that ass red, and then fuck that sweet pussy raw.”
“Hmm maybe an audience is just what we need, then. It’s our last night here, let’s get a little crazy.”
I know this island has sex clubs and I know he knows where they are. I also know he probably owns one or knows who does. He raises his eyebrow at me and his lip tips up a fraction.
He gets the attention of the waitress and pays the bill, then holds his hand out to me.
I slowly take it, knowing this is my consent to a crazy fucking night; but I want it. And I want it with him.
“Well, let’s go get a little crazy then, wife .”