Chapter 1
Aria
Present
Candlelight filled the bathroom with a soft, calming ambience. The bubbles shimmered on the surface of the water as my back rested against Sebastian’s chest in the bath. His lips traced down my neck, sending goose bumps over my skin.
We were in Italy for Serfina’s birthday.
Sebastian and Hayden had rented private suites in San Marco, Venice, and the staff were on hand when needed.
This place was stunning. It was like stepping back into the sixteenth century.
Copper slithered through the white tiles like lightning in the night sky, hitting the basin and fully merging into all metal, and every stroke of paint in the artwork on the walls was pure perfection.
The French-style draped curtains were a silver kind of silk that had crystal beads hanging from the header, and you could feel every intimate carving over the hand-painted headboard of the four-poster bed.
God, it was like sleeping in big, soft, fluffy clouds.
Well, at least I imagined that’s what they’d feel like.
Either way, sleeping on it was like heaven.
“Imagine waking up every morning to that view of the Lagoon.”
“You can see the Thames every day from work, but if you want me to buy you a penthouse overlooking the river, just say it.”
I elbowed him playfully, and he let out a silent laugh. “You’re not even funny, do you know that? How can you possibly compare the Thames to the Lagoon?”
“I wake up every morning with you next to me. Nothing could compare to that. It’s everything to me.”
“That’s why I love you.”
“Oh, you only love me because I find you beautiful?” he teased, and started tickling me just above my hips.
I let out a half-scream, half-giggle as my body jerked, trying to stop him, water sloshing over the side of the tub.
“You know I love you. All of you,” I said between the giggles.
“Ok, I’ll let you off. For now.” And so he did.
We were in such a good place. Everyone always said that the honeymoon phase would fizzle out.
It was different with us. This rooted connection we had just pulled us closer, and neither of us could get enough of the other.
I was completely his, and he was fully mine.
Two souls tethered together for a lifetime.
I never thought I’d find love like this with anyone, not after everything I went through. Sebastian was the one person I trusted fully with every part of me. He’d always be the one who held my heart with such protection and care, making sure it was safe and loved with every fibre of his being.
My hands glided along his arms that wrapped around my waist, and I locked my fingers between his. “Sebastian?” I said faintly.
“Hmmm,” he murmured into my neck.
“I wanted to get your thoughts on something …”
“What’s that?”
Sebastian took hold of my wet hair and started to lather up my green apple shampoo, massaging his fingers through the strands like they were delicate silk. He tilted my head back and trickled hot water over it, each drop tingling my skin.
“I was thinking about going back to university part-time after summer.”
He paused. “I think that’s a really good idea.”
“You do?” I turned my head to meet his eyes.
“Of course. As much as I love having you as my PA, I know it’s not what you wanted to do with your life. Besides, you’re not that great at spreadsheets anyway,” he teased.
I elbowed him. “You were the one who trained me, so I’d say there’s something wrong with the teacher.”
“Probably. He is a bit of a prick when it comes to spreadsheets and how particular he is.”
“You’re not wrong there,” I laughed.
“You’re not meant to agree.”
“Oh, please, we both know you like having things a certain way. I’m surprised you’ve let me add my touch to the house. You were exactly the same when we were younger.”
“I’ve always been that way, even when I was a boy. It was probably one of the only things my dad didn’t have something negative to say about.”
I paused for a moment. He’d never really told me much about his childhood, but over the years I’d gathered enough information to imagine it was the complete opposite of mine.
I leaned up and kissed his lips softly. “We should get a dog.”
He let out a little laugh. “You want a dog?”
“Yes. Imagine coming home from work and snuggling up on the sofa with it. Taking it out for walks together. Letting it dig up the garden.”
“You have me to snuggle up on the sofa with, and there’s no way anyone or anything is digging up my garden.”
“God forbid that perfect Chelsea grass of yours ended up with holes in it,” I teased, cupping some bubbles in my hand and attaching them to his stubble. “Lighten up. It’ll be fun.”
“What, like this?”
He pulled me back into him, and I let out a playful scream. He started tickling me again as he tried to kiss me with the bubbles on his face.
“Sebastian,” I laughed as his lips found mine.
Our laughter soon died down, and I turned to straddle him, wrapping my arms around his neck and lacing my fingers through his hair.
His hands slid up my back, pulling our bodies flush together as our lips parted for a moment.
The heat between my thighs coiled in my core, waiting to be set free.
His eyes flicked over my face, and his hands ran up my neck, cupping my cheeks as he gazed into mine.
“I will never get enough of you,” he whispered against my lips.