I was in Alessio’s life, reallyinit, not looking on from the sidelines where I’d spent the last several years, and this was what had been missing. The church had been a peaceful sanctuary, the support I needed when faced with unbearable grief. But as that darkness lifted and sunlight re-emerged, so did Alessio.
“I’m so happy,” I whispered as we continued along the sand, hands entwined, arms brushing against each other, perfectly in tandem. “Have I told you that lately?”
“Maybe once or twice,” Alessio said. “But feel free to tell me as often as you like. It’ll never get old.”
I bumped into his side. “I just never…never imagined my life like this, you know?”
He nodded and squeezed my hand. “Oh, I get it, trust me. I have to pinch myself every morning to make sure I’m not dreaming and that you’re really lying beside me, really living with me, really in love with me.”
I drew him to halt, reaching for his face and bringing his lips to mine. “It’s real, trust me. The closet full of new clothes next to yours can attest to that.”
“Well, as much as I appreciate your offer to walk around as God intended, I don’t particularly want the rest of my brothers to see you that way. They already think God broke the mold when it came to making you.”
“They do?”
“Why do you look so surprised? You’re hot.”
“I was theirpriest.”
“So?” Alessio chuckled. “You were my priest too—didn’t stop me from undressing you in my head. And those guys aren’t exactly the most moral bunch.”
I opened my mouth to protest that but didn’t have anything appropriate to say.
“See, not even you can defend them.”
“I just… I didn’t know that.”
“That you’re hot? Um, you didn’t think your services were always packed because of the good Lord, did you? I’m pretty sure word got out that there was a hot young priest giving the sermon and womenandmen flocked to see you.”
My cheeks warmed and Alessio busted out laughing.
“Oh no, you did think it was because of the sermons.” He grimaced. “Don’t be too upset. God more than likely made you so beautiful so he’d be able to reach more people.”
“Alessio.”
“I’m joking, kind of. But in all seriousness, who cares how you got them in? You were a draw.” He started up the beachagain, tugging me along with him. “But since I stole you, I figure the least I could do is dona?—”
“Ha!” I said, pulling him back to me and pointing an accusatory finger. “I knew it was you.”
Alessio narrowed his eyes and kissed the tip of my finger. “So? What are you going to do about it?”
I slipped my hand around the back of his neck and lowered my head to kiss him sweetly, pouring all the love and emotion I felt into it, before whispering, “I’m going to love you for the rest of my life.”
Alessio rested his forehead to mine and nodded. “Sounds perfect.”
38
EPILOGUE II
Alessio
Years Later
THE FINAL DAYS of summer gave way to what had become a yearly tradition with our growing family of Kings. For a week, we all gathered at Villa Monaco with our partners and kids and indulged in all the Rock had to offer, without the distractions of work or duty. There was a strict no-phones, no-computers policy, one that had been damn near impossible for me at first, but had become something I actually looked forward to all these years later.
With our filled wine glasses in hand, I headed out of the sprawling mansion’s French doors and onto the terrace that stretched out behind the house. There used to be only one long table, back when there were seven of us, but that number seemed to grow every year.
The most recent additions to the family were chasing each other across the lawn, laughter ringing out as their tiny little legs stumbled over the thick grass to get away from the “monsters.”
