15. Matteo
CHAPTER 15
Matteo
Over the next several days, everything changed. Aurora and I were no longer roommates; we were a couple in every sense of the word. Part of me still couldn’t believe she had forgiven me, but I was grateful.
In an unusual act, I had spent the last few days in a whirlwind of introspection. The events that caused my marriage to Aurora and everything that happened after were tumultuous, to say the least. But they were also beautiful.
The period of reflection allowed me to see that although I had always considered myself a master strategist, someone who could manipulate any circumstance to my advantage, a part of me had always been missing.
I had money, power, and the fear of half the city, but I didn’t have the one thing I always needed – genuine love- the most crucial piece of my puzzle.
I had felt in during our honeymoon to the Caribbean but pushed it aside. It was the first time I saw Aurora as a person, not a pawn, in the delicate game between her father and me.
Now, I know better. I see Aurora for who she is. A strong, capable woman who is meant to be my partner in every sense of the word.
Deep down, I’d known for a while that I was in love with her, that it was no longer about my need for winning, but the night I brought her home from her father’s house, and we made love, I knew for certain.
Something clicked that night. For the first time in my life, I saw a future with someone I could be proud of, a future filled with mutual respect, understanding, and love.
Not only did I need that, but I also wanted that. I wanted Aurora. Soon, I found myself in my office, staring at the beautiful four-karat, emerald-cut diamond and sapphire ring I had custom-made. I chose sapphires as the perfect representation of Aurora’s mesmerizing eyes.
I knew she already had a ring, but that was given to her as a business transaction. I didn’t want her to spend the rest of her life remembering that when she looked at her ring. So, I decided to do it right. I wanted to ask Aurora to marry me for real—a celebration of our love and not a business obligation.
I slipped the ring into my pocket and took off to find Aurora. It was a beautiful day, so I knew where to look. As I walked outside, the morning sun cast a golden hue over the garden. The scent of fresh flowers filled the air, and the birds chirped happily in the trees.
When I saw Aurora, I stopped. It occurred to me that no matter how often I saw her, I would never get used to her beauty. She was sitting quietly at a wrought-iron table, eating her breakfast. Her golden blonde hair danced in the sunlight, and her ocean- blue eyes reflected a sense of peace I hadn’t seen before. For the first time since I’d met her, she looked content.
As I quietly approached the table, my heart pounded with raw excitement and nerves. When Aurora realized I was there, she looked up, smiling. I should be used to it by now, but her smile still took my breath away.
I leaned down and placed a soft kiss on her lips.
“Good morning, my love.” Despite the whirlwind of emotions raging inside me, I did my best to keep my voice steady.
Her voice was music to my ear as she replied. “Well, good morning to you, too.”
I pulled a chair and asked, “Mind if I join you?”
Her smile grew. “Not at all.”
I took my seat and watched her for a moment, taking in her beauty and strength. As much as I loved her now, I knew it would only continue to grow. I’m not na?ve; I knew that no relationship was perfect. We were bound to have disagreements, and I knew that. But I also knew that together, we would work them out.
Reaching across the table, I took her delicate hand in mine.
“Aurora, my Bella Rosa, Mi Amore, I need to ask you something.”
Immediately, Aurora looked at me with curiosity and concern. I couldn’t blame her after everything we’d been through to get where we were.
“What is it, Matteo?”
I took a deep breath and slowly dropped to one knee beside her. Aurora’s eyes widened and filled with unshed tears as her hand flew to her mouth.
“Wh – what are you doing, Matteo?” she asked, her voice trembling.
My eyes filled with emotion as I looked at her. Until now, it had never occurred to me that this was how it was supposed to be.
“Aurora, when we got married, it was for all the wrong reasons. It was a business arrangement intended to save me and further your father’s career, but not surprisingly, that blew up in our faces. Luckily, I was given another chance to make things right, and during this time, I realized something I probably knew all along. I love you, Aurora. More than words can say and more than I ever thought possible.”
Tears were slowly streaming down Aurora’s face, and her hand still covered her mouth as she listened intently to my heartfelt words.
“I want to start over and do this right.” I continued, taking the custom-made ring from my pocket.
“Aurora DeSantis Santoro, will you do me the honor of marrying me again, for real this time? I love you, Aurora, and if you allow me to, I will spend every day of my life showing you how much.”
Aurora’s tears spilled over, and she nodded, unable to speak. When she finally found her voice, she loudly exclaimed, “Yes. Matteo, yes. Of course, I will marry you.”
I slid the old ring off her finger and replaced it with a new one. My heart soared with joy as I looked into my true love's eyes. I kissed her hand as I explained my choice of the ring.
“I wanted you to have something unique that would always remind you of my love. That’s why I chose sapphires. The precious stone reminds me of your captivating eyes and beautiful soul, vibrant and full of life.”
Aurora smiled through her tears and cupped my face in her hands. “Matteo, my heart is yours, now and always. You have no idea what this means to me. I love you with every fiber of my being. I am so grateful for the chance to start again. I promise to show you daily how much you mean to me.”
I stood up and pulled her into my arms, kissing her deeply as I did. The world around us seemed to fade away as we lost ourselves in each other. For now, we were all that mattered.
We were both breathless when we finally broke apart, our hearts beating in unison. I looked into Aurora’s eyes and saw the same primal desire I was feeling. I needed her now.
“I want to make love to you here in the garden,” my whispered voice, full of passion and love, said. I need to show you how much you mean to me.”
Aurora nodded, and her eyes twinkled with raw desire. “Yes, Matteo, please make love to me. I can’t wait for another second to feel your body against mine.”
She grabbed my hand and led me back to the garden chair. I didn’t know what she had in mind, but I already liked it.
Aurora was taking control, and it was hotter than hell. Firmly, she pushed me onto the chair, hiked her dress, and straddled me.
“Is this what you had in mind, Baby?” she cooed into my ear.
All I could do was groan as I slid my hands up her thighs, feeling the softness of her skin and the warmth of her body. She leaned in and brushed her lips across my ear as she whispered the three sexiest words I could ever hear, “I love you.”
Shivers ran down my spine as I kissed her neck, trailing down to her collarbone. Aurora moaned softly as she tangled her hands in my hair. Pulling me closer to her. My hands inched higher beneath her dress, and I cupped and squeezed the delicious round globes of her perfect ass. With every caress, I could feel her body responding to my touch.
It reminded me of our honeymoon and the way she teased me by rubbing her ass against my cock as she cleared the plates from dinner. The act had driven me wild with desire then, and now that she was truly mine, I knew I’d never get enough. This is what I had been searching for all along. I was just too blind to see it.
This was more than just a physical connection. It was a bond that had been broken and torn apart but rebuilt on a solid foundation of love and trust.
Aurora soon brought me out of my reverie, fumbling with the buttons on my shirt. To save time, I ripped it off and tossed it aside. Laughing, she began kissing my neck as she slid off my lap and began placing kisses across my chest. Her breath was hot against my skin. Damn, it felt good.
I groaned as I pulled her dress over her head. To my surprise, she was wearing nothing underneath. The sight of her naked body took my breath away.
I took a deep breath and said, “You are so incredibly beautiful, Bella Rosa.” My exquisite hands continued roaming her exquisite curves, savoring the smoothness of her skin. “So breathtakingly beautiful.”
Aurora blushed, but her eyes were filled with love as she smiled shyly.
“I want you now, Matteo. I need to be closer to you.”
I kissed her deeply as my hands moved to my pants to unzip them. Aurora lifted herself slightly to help rid me of the unwanted clothing. Once I was finally naked, Aurora grinned and closed her eyes as she sank onto me, taking me inside her with a soft gasp.
There’d be plenty of time for foreplay later. This is what we needed: me deep inside her, reminding her with every stroke just how much I love her.
Aurora placed her hands on my chest and threw her head back as she began to move up and down on my cock. Placing my hands on her hips to secure her, I began thrusting upward to meet her. The feeling was glorious.
We moved together, our bodies fitting perfectly in a synchronized dance of love and passion. As her climax built, Aurora’s nails dug into my shoulders, and her breathing came in short, ragged bursts as she continued to ride me.
My breath was hot and heavy in her ear as we moved together.
“Yes, Bella Rosa. You look so gorgeous riding me. Keep going, Baby. I’ve got you; you won’t fall.”
Every touch, every kiss, and every thrust were a testament to our undying love. It was a joy unlike anything I had ever experienced before. I secretly longed for it but thought I didn’t deserve it. It was a connection stronger than my wildest dreams.
Aurora’s cries grew louder as she neared the peak of her pleasure. I could feel her walls clenching tightly as she let out one final scream as her orgasm overtook her. It was more than I could take, and I followed right after, spilling my seed deep within her, our climaxes rushing over us like a tidal wave.
We held onto each other tightly as we rode out the waves of ecstasy. When it was over, Aurora laid her head on my shoulder. Her breathing had slowed but was still coming in short gasps. I kissed the top of her forehead as I stroked her back.
“I love you, Aurora Santoro,” I whispered, my voice full of emotion. “Now and always.”
Aurora lifted her head and looked into my eyes. It felt like she could see my soul. Maybe she could.
“I love you too, Matteo. Forever.”
We stayed wrapped in each other’s arms for a long time; the surrounding garden seemed like our private paradise. Eventually, we pulled ourselves apart and dressed, much to my chagrin.
Still basking in the glow of our lovemaking, our movements were slow and languid. Sitting back down at the table, I reached for Aurora’s hand. Entwining our fingers, I smiled.
“So, Mrs. Santoro, how does it feel to get married for real this time?”
Aurora laughed, her eyes shining with happiness. “It feels perfect, Mr. Santoro. Absolutely perfect.
We spent the rest of the day in the garden, talking, laughing, and planning for the future.
The future. The word seemed so strange to me. In my line of work, the future wasn’t something I counted on. But now, now that I had my Bella Rosa, I would do anything to make sure it happened. Later that night, as we lay in bed, I held Aurora close. I thought back over everything that brought us to this moment, the business arrangement that brought me the greatest love I had ever known. Never in a million years did I imagine I could experience something so deep and powerful. Aurora’s love had changed everything.
I knew there would still be challenges to face, but for the first time in my life, I was at peace because I knew that we would face them together no matter what lay ahead. I kissed Aurora’s head and whispered, “Goodnight, my Bella Rosa. I love you.”
As the sun set on a perfect day, I closed my eyes and pulled Aurora closer, knowing ours was a lasting love, a beacon of hope and strength for future generations.