44. Chapter Forty-Four
Chapter Forty-Four
Mateo
I pace by the front door, my steps restless, my gaze flicking toward the staircase every few seconds.
Romeo lounges in the corner chair, arms folded, watching me with that infuriatingly amused smirk he’s had ever since he caught me kissing Mari on the stairs earlier. I haven’t heard the end of it.
At least, not until a minute ago when I snapped and told him the truth.
“Mariella is your one ?” Romeo drawls, even adding air quotes for effect. He’s never been one to buy into the concept.
I nod firmly as I pass him. “She is.”
I found her. I found my One.
That sentence has been on an endless loop in my head since I hung up with Tiero. It makes me want to skip down the corridor, dance in the rain, or do something equally silly.
It plays alongside the moment I truly looked into Mariella’s eyes for the first time after her father’s attack. The memory is so vivid, it’s like a technicolor masterpiece permanently etched into my soul.
“But she’s been right under your nose this whole time,” Romeo presses, his tone incredulous. “What is she, ten years younger than you?”
I nod again, biting back a groan.
Romeo grins, his amusement growing. “You probably attended her christening.”
“I did,” I huff, failing to see the relevance.
Romeo throws his head back and laughs. “She’s what? Twenty?”
I don’t answer, but widen my eyes at him in warning.
That only makes him laugh harder. “Fuck me, the woman you’ve supposedly been waiting for, like forever, has been right in front of you for twenty years! That’s just—”
“There’s no need to rub it in,” I cut him off, pointing a finger at him. “I already feel like the biggest idiot for not realizing it sooner.”
Romeo chuckles darkly. “There’s no chance in hell I’m letting this go. I’ll bring it up for the rest of your life, and you know it.”
I shoot him a glare that would freeze most people. Not him, though. He leans back in his chair, grinning wider.
How did I not realize who I was captivated by? I’m drawn to her like a compass to true north.
When I got caught in her eyes that very first time? My senses lit up with her essence infiltrating every molecule of who and what I am and what I will become.
I fell into the depths of her brown eyes. My heart was suddenly fluttering alive with a million little butterflies, and a profound lightness lifted my entire being at its core and carried it to the stars.
My eyes were locked on hers and hers on mine.
In that moment I didn’t recognize them as Mariella Accardi’s, twenty-year-old daughter of our future consigliere. No, they belonged to someone my soul recognized. My One.
I just had to catch up with that truth.
Now that I have her, I can’t wait to start our life together. My mind races, making plans. Our wedding, our children—I want six of them, three boys and three girls. All the places I want to take her, the endless experiences I want us to share… just the two of us, and someday, as a family.
I can’t fucking wait.
Romeo watches me as I pace, that annoying grin still on his face. But it fades slightly, his jaw working from side to side like he’s chewing on something he doesn’t quite want to say.
“What?” I ask, narrowing my eyes.
“It’s just…”
“Just what?”
“She’s not exactly your usual type,” he finally says, the words hesitant. “She’s a little mousy. Shy. Blushes at the slightest thing.”
I stop pacing, my feet planted firmly in front of him as my hackles rise.
“First of all, she is not mousy. She’s full of spirit and passion. Is she shy? Maybe. Or has she been denied opportunities to experience the world, so she’s cautious?
“And as for her blushing…” My voice softens, my lips twitching into a small smile. “I love that about her. I find it endearing.” In fact, I want to discover every possible way to bring that pretty pink flush to her cheeks.
Romeo tries and fails to suppress his grin.
“God, you’re a besotted fool,” he mutters.
Damn right I am, and not ashamed of it.
He leans forward, studying me with uncharacteristic seriousness. “It’s a very sudden realization. You seem all in.”
“Have I ever done anything half-assed when I’m sure of something?”
Romeo scrunches up his nose, pretending to be deep in thought. But before he can answer, a sound from the top of the stairs captures my attention.
I turn, and the breath leaves my lungs.
Mousy, my ass.
She is a vision. I’m rendered completely speechless.
My heart stutters in my chest as Mariella pauses and then begins to descend the stairs, radiating a quiet confidence that outshines the sun. She’s luminous, her beauty and presence magnetic. And I’m utterly helpless, caught in her orbit.
And I’ll gladly circle her, worship her, love her every single day for the rest of my life.
For a moment, the world seems to narrow, all my attention drawn to her and her alone.
The soft shimmer of her dress catches the light with every step. It’s hugging her in all the right places, highlighting her delicate curves and long, slender legs.
The silver heels add three inches to her height, and her dark, long hair cascades past her shoulders in soft waves.
She’s changed her makeup, looking more like herself again. Don’t get me wrong, she looked hot earlier, all femme fatale with that dramatic makeup.
But that wasn’t her.
Not the Mari I’ve gotten to know over the past few days. The Mari I’ve fallen for, head over heels.
And that’s the Mari I want by my side tonight.
Her makeup now enhances her features, making them pop without being overwhelming. Dark eyes that draw me in. Soft red lips that beg to be kissed. Absolute perfection.
My suit pants grow uncomfortably tight, and I resist the urge to adjust myself, not wanting to scare her off with my desire for her.
I smile at her softly and reach for her hand as she steps off the last stair. She takes it with the slightest hesitation, but I don’t dwell on it. My focus shifts to her palm against mine. It feels natural, like that’s exactly where it belongs.
I pull her closer until our bodies touch, locking eyes with her soft brown gaze.
“You look like a dream, dolce mia ,” I murmur, my voice low.
Lifting her hand to my lips, I place a gentle kiss on her knuckles, feeling the quick rhythm of her pulse beneath my fingertips. It’s a mirror of my own racing heart.
Unable to resist, I lean in and brush my lips lightly against hers, the brief contact sending a jolt through me.
I can’t help it. I can’t not kiss or touch this woman.
That soft pink blush I’ve grown to adore spreads across her cheeks, making her even more breathtaking.
“I feel like I’m in a dream,” she replies with a shy smile, her voice soft. “Thank you for all of this,” she adds, gesturing to her outfit. “I’ve only ever dreamed of wearing something so exquisitely made.”
“I want to make all your dreams come true,” I say, resting my forehead against hers.
As my One, I will give her the world. Anything she wants, it’s hers.
She pulls away with a wobbly giggle, her gaze skittering away from mine. I don’t think she believes me, but that’s okay. I’ll show her.
Still holding her hand, I lead her to the SUV parked in front of the house, help her inside, and slide in beside her.
The car ride to the club is quiet. I keep stealing glances at her. She’s fucking stunning. It’s like I’m floating ten feet above the ground.
The need to kiss her again writhes inside me. It’s almost unbearable. But with Salvatore driving and Romeo in the front, I doubt Mari would appreciate the public display of affection.
Her ebony hair shimmers under the passing light of the street lamps, along with her silvery dress. Sitting down, it reveals her long, toned legs. What I would give to have them wrapped around my ears.
I groan inwardly at the mental picture, my cock not getting the message that it’s not real… yet. By the end of tonight, the pattern of my zipper will be permanently imprinted on it.
Mari is looking out of the window, watching fascinated as the streets of Rome rush by. I love her wonder, the way she discovers the world outside of Sicily. I’m the luckiest bastard alive that I’m here with her to witness it.
Fuck, I really am a goner.
Whenever I look at her, my mind summons the memory of our kisses today. The way she felt pressed against me, how she tasted, her sweet moans.
Every touch of her hands on my head and around my neck, the way she pulled on my hair, it drove me mad with need. I want her, badly.
She’s made for me. And only for me.
Mariella Accardi is mine.