“Swear on my mother’s grave,” I say.
Her jaw drops, and she playfully slaps me on the chest. “You did not just say that.”
I grab her hand and keep it in place. “I mean it. I promise to never, ever leave your side.” I hold up my hand and show her my finger along with the ring. “After all, I made a vow for life. Whether you stay with me or not, you will always be here with me, wherever I go.”
A blush spreads on her cheeks as fast as the wildfire roars in my heart.
“Ti amo,” I say.
“You said that before … in Lucio’s house.”
Smiling, I nod. “Caught in the act.”
She smiles and brings her hands up to my face, clutching me gently. “I’m not going anywhere. I love you too, Matteo.”
Fuck.
She knows what it means.
“How did you—”
“I know how to use a phone.” She chuckles. “Google Translate.”
Smirking, I lean in until our foreheads collide. “Say it again,” I murmur.
The way she looks at me is so seductive it could make any man drop to his knees. “You first.”
“Ti amo, Stella.”
“I love you, Matteo,” she whispers, and it makes goose bumps scatter on my skin.
“Fuck,” I groan, and I grab her face with both hands and smash my lips onto hers, kissing her with everything I have to give.
I’m overwhelmed by the desire to make her mine, as my lips part hers and my tongue licks the roof of her mouth, desperate to get closer.
“Oh shit, I interrupted something, my apologies.”
Sarah’s voice makes Stella tear away, but I’m not having any of this.
“Sarah, come here.”
She swiftly hobbles over to me, and I hand her my black card.
“Take all the staff out to dinner, any restaurant is fine. Order whatever you want, it’s on me. Lock the doors behind you. I don’t want anyone left behind.”
“Um … okay. Are you sure?”
“Positive,” I reply.
Sarah giggles as she tucks the credit card into her pocket. “Yes, sir. Thank you.” She winks at Stella. “Have fun.”
Sarah runs around the house and calls everyone—my driver, my butlers, the rest of the maids, and even the gardener—then takes them all out of the house and locks the doors behind her, finally leaving us in peace.
Just the two of us in a house that’s felt so empty for too goddamn long … until she burst into my life and stole my heart right from underneath my nose.
“What’s going on?” Stella asks.
I grab her ass to drag her close to me. “I don’t want anyone to see the unholy things I’m about to do to your body. You’re all mine and mine alone.”
