“Better safe than sorry.” He shrugged. “Malocchiois the jealous eye.”
“Okay,” I said, and every time a women said something nice to me, I’d say what Magpie told me under my breath. By the time we were through with the greetings and thank yous, a lot of women were going to be kissing my ass.
Rocco and Rosaria stepped up to greet us next. Rocco kissed each of my cheeks and hugged us both. Rosaria watched, not saying anything, but when she went to walk away, she threw a snide, “Good luck, little girl; you will need it,” over her shoulder.
Before Matteo could stop me, I grabbed her wrist and squeezed, just like we were having a tender moment, even if her face didn’t hide her snarl. “You have no idea what I’ve lived through,” I whispered. “You are a sloppy monster compared to the one who had me locked in a prison. I would have killed to get out. And now I’d kill for my husband. My family. Don’t fuck with me or mine.”
She looked into my eyes, and she knew I meant it. She ripped her wrist from my hold, and after she walked ahead, Rocco stared at me for a second and then nodded.
Matteo didn’t look shocked at my action or my words. He looked…more in love with me than ever, like I’d turnedhiminto mush this time.
“You make my heart roar,” he whispered in my ear. “You awoke the lion inside of me. I was a man before, but now I am man and animal.”
I closed my eyes for a second, letting the warmth of his breath and words wash over me. “You awoke something inside of me too. A lioness, your lioness, and I hunt for you only.”
We stepped back and gazed into each other’s eyes, then nodded at the same time.
I could tell, though, that Matteo wasn’t having any family business during our time. He didn’t seem to care who was around; his attention was on me. And when we had our first dance in the reception tent, we gazed into each other’s eyes as Nonno had another duet with a different woman, this time to “Da Stanotte in Poi” (From This Moment On), and like our first kiss, we were sealed in a moment that made the world fade and our connection fuse us together like a never-ending band.
He sang to me in Italian, and I sang to him in English.
Scarlett, Brando, Mia, Saverio, Mariano, Marciano, and Maestro surrounded us after, and we all danced together to“Stand By Me.” Right before the song ended, Brando asked his son permission to dance with his wife.
Matteo nodded and gave him my hand.
He was a good dancer, and I told him so.
He nodded. “I learned from the best.”
“Scarlett.”
“Maggie Beautiful too.”
I nodded, and after a second, he went to say something but stopped himself.
I cleared my throat. “It’s okay,” I whispered. “You don’t have to say anything. I get it. Matteo is teaching me that. That sometimes words are hard. I know what you’re trying to tell me, Papà Fausti. That you’re happy I make your son happy, and that I’ll always take care of him.”
We stopped moving and he just…stared at me. Love and appreciation were so strong in his eyes, the combination was makingmyeyes water.
He lifted my hand, placing a warm kiss on it. “It pleases me that you and my son will take care of each other, like Scarlett and I have taken care of each other. Thank you, Stella. Thank you. You give my wife and I a reason to be thankful.”
With that, he left me staring after him on the dance floor, having taken Scarlett’s hand and leading her to a darker part of the party. Maybe to compose himself?
Matteo wrapped me in his arms and kissed my cheek. “You okay?”
“Yeah,” I said, smiling through tears. “Your father just gave me something that would blow a hug out of the water.”
He smiled against my skin. “He’s known to do that from time to time.” He took me by the hand and led me toward the tables where the food would be served.
Matteo fed me bites of everything, refusing to let me feed myself.
It seemed like the party was just getting started, couples dancing, and I decided to change into a second dress. I wanted Matteo to be surprised again, so I asked him to wait for me while the women helped me into the new gown.
He was waiting for me when I walked outside.
He brought me close to his body, making me gasp from the power in his hands, and whispered in my ear, “No man but me touches you in this dress.”
It was ivory and flirty, landing just past my thighs, with a big bow on the back, the ribbons almost touching the floor. The high heels sparkled. My shoulders were bare, and he kept kissing them, my neck too, making me shiver.
