“Was it my sister?”
“Brianna Benjamin, yes.”
“I’ll call her back. Got lots to tell her.”
Claudia smiled.
“Welcome, Alyssa. You will be an asset to both the family and the company. I’ll find a wedding planner if you want to have a big wedding.”
She shook her head.
“No, I think a small wedding, friends and family at whatever church Matteo’s grandparents went to would be the best thing.”
Claudia nodded in approval.
“Excellent. Then we will find an appropriate wedding dress before you go back to the States. I suppose you will want two ceremonies?”
Alyssa nodded.
“Appropriate. By the way, your sister left a message—she said to tell you that you were right about Adam.”
Alyssa sighed in relief. It looked like things were working out for the Benjamin sisters, after all. Against all odds, too.
“Anything else?”
“Not to worry if she doesn’t answer for the next two hours, because Adam is home.”
Alyssa laughed.
“I guess sometimes, fate does know what it’s doing.”
Claudia shrugged.
“If that’s how you see it. I think we make most of our luck.”
Chapter 12
“Ready?”
Alyssa’s frankly terrified eyes met Brianna’s in the mirror.
“I am definitely not ready.”
“Come on, you’ve had six months to change your mind and you’re happier than I’ve ever seen you. And after everything I had to do to be able to tell Liam about your engagement and get a photo of his reaction, you didn’t even care about it.”
“Why would I care?”
“See, I love Adam and I love that we’re starting a family, but I still like knowing that your jerk of a brother-in-law is pissed off about everything.”
Alyssa sighed.
“You know, I seriously don’t care about Liam.”
“I know. That’s why I know this is right for you. You’re happy. So why are you not ready?”
“Because I just know that Alexandra has turned up in white!”
Brianna chuckled.
“She has not. I know that because Claudia said she would make sure that that didn’t happen.”
Alyssa relaxed a little. Claudia worked miracles on a daily basis. If anybody could make sure that Alexandra hadn’t turned up in white, it was Claudia.
“What about paparazzi?”
“All held far away because there are more security people around the perimeter of the property than there are guests at the wedding.”
“Okay. All right. Okay. How do I look?”
“Wonderful. You look wonderful.”
Alyssa sighed. The sleek wedding dress with cap sleeves, sweetheart neckline, and a slight flare at her knees really did look good on her. The veil wasn’t her idea, but it had been Matteo’s grandmother’s. It was old and borrowed, and as for something blue—she'd vetoed that. She’d wanted something green, instead, and that was her engagement ring. It had emeralds and greed jade, and it reminded her of Matteo’s eyes.
It was a beautiful day. The sun was shining. There were no dark clouds. There was no storm. She'd been found, and she'd been found by her soul mate. Her true love. No matter how superstitious and precious it sounded, she knew it was true.
“Where’s mom?”
“Still outside, determined that she won’t ruin her makeup like she did back home.”
Alyssa chuckled.
“She did ruin her makeup, didn’t she?”
“Completely. I, on the other hand, was stoic then and am stoic now.”
“I think that’s because pregnancy hormones have made you completely weird.”
“I am calm and serene and collected.”
“Of course you are, Bree. Is everybody settled? Is it time for me to go?”
“Seriously, Aly, you’ve already done this once. Why’re you so worried?”
“Because this time it’s in a church and everything! Last time, it was at home! At mom’s home. It was fine. It wasn’t a big deal. This time we actually have the car ride to the church, and then there’s a priest and praying…”
“Okay, I get it. Relax. Breathe. Calm down. Remember that if anything looks like it might overwhelm you, Claudia is quite capable of stepping in and taking over for the priest. It would be quite the scandal, but she's capable of doing it. And Matteo would kill anybody who said a word to hurt you.”
Alyssa grinned.
“I’m not sure if that’s supposed to comfort me, actually. I don’t want there to be bloodshed.”
“Neither does anybody else. Everybody will behave. I guess I have to thank you for getting married now and not in two months. The flight would’ve been a nightmare after I was past six months.”
“I can’t believe I’m going to be an aunt.”
“You’re going to be the most fabulous aunt, and you’ll soon give my girl cousins.”
Alyssa pursed her lips.
“I’m not thinking of that. One thing at a time.”
“I know. But I’ve seen the look.”
Alyssa melted a little. She'd seen the look in her own eyes, too, and in Matteo’s. Knowing that Brianna was expecting had changed something in her. Sure, they had time—she was only twenty—seven, and they had four years, still. But even so…
There was nothing wrong with getting a move on it, was there?
They weren’t in a rush, but they weren’t not in a rush, either.
“We’ll see how it goes. Whatever happens, happens. Let me get married first. I mean, I'm supposed to be doing that today.”
“Right. Well then, shall we go?”
She smiled and nodded. She was ready. She was as ready as she could be. She was going to remember every moment.
At least, she meant to, but the next thing she remembered was walking down the aisle to her groom. His eyes glowed with pride, like her ring did. She stood beside him and made her vows—no, she would not obey, and they would both cherish each other, forever—and when they ran out, he grabbed her, lifted her, and kissed her, long and sweet, until their friends and family cheered.
And so she became Alyssa Benjamin-Colombo, for the second time.
More hours passed in a blur. All she could remember was that there were many toasts, there was dancing, and she had danced with her mother instead of her father and it had been beautiful. By the time the sun set, the party was just getting started, really, but Matteo pulled her aside.
“Where are we going?”
“Our honeymoon.”
“Really?”
“How do you like south of France?”
“I’ve never been,” she told him, amused.
“Good. I can show it to you.”
“When?”
“Now,” he told her, to her surprise. She found that her sister had packed her a bag.
“You told Bree?”
“Yes, and got her blessing, and she packed for you.”
Alyssa grinned.
“You're beginning to get to know me.”
“Well, I know how long it can take you to get ready so you’re going to have to pull a coat on over your dress, because we have a plane taking off in twenty.”
“What!”
“I’m afraid so. But there’s a car waiting for us outside. And look out the balcony. You can toss your bouquet before going.”
“Thought of everything, didn’t you?”
“You have no idea,” he told her with a wider grin than her own. She tossed the bouquet to cheers, and a few boos when married and pregnant Brianna caught it. Then Matteo caught her, and planted another kiss on her that had their guests whistling. Her head was reeling by the time he pulled her inside and pulled her along to the door, outside which Claudia waited with the car.
“Driving us yourself?”
“Of course.”
“You should’ve had a drink and relaxed, Claudia,
” said Alyssa, to get a laugh.
“I will after coming back. I’m on vacation while you’re on your honeymoon.”
Alyssa laughed, hardly able to believe how happy she was.
“You have a private plane. Of course you do,” she said when they got to the hangar.
“Of course I do. I thought you might change your mind if you found out how wasteful I am.”
Alyssa rolled her eyes at him, waved goodbye to Claudia, and found herself in the kind of luxury she thought she would never get used to. Private planes, mansions, limousines, security personnel everywhere—those were things that had never figured in her life. But her life had changed. Everything had changed when she’d fallen in love with Matteo. Everything had changed even more when she’d agreed to marry him.
Most people in her life had thought she was crazy. Well, except Brianna and Naomi. Naomi had claimed that it was all because of that rose quartz that she’d insisted Alyssa shove in her bra. Brianna had seen Alyssa’s heartbreak with her own eyes.
“There’s a bedroom in here.”
“And when we’re in the air, we’re going to open some champagne, and we’re going to use that bed.”
Alyssa giggled. She already felt drunk, even if she’d only sipped on champagne so far. When they were in the air, she turned to Matteo and raised an eyebrow.
“Now can I change out of my wedding gown?”
“No. Now I want to get you out of your wedding gown and make love to you.”
Alyssa sighed a little.
“That’s why you told me I didn’t have time to change.”
“Perhaps. But you don’t mind indulging your husband a little, do you?”
She smiled at him, her heart melting a little, her skin tingling more than a little already in anticipation.
“I don’t mind. I don’t mind at all.”
He pulled her to her feet and wrapped his arms around her, kissing her again, but this time, like he really meant it. He kissed her long and sweet, passionately, tilting her head and coaxing her mouth open to caress her tongue, to stroke her lips, until she was breathless against him.
“Matteo.”
“I want you. I want you so much. You’re mine now, Alyssa.”
“Just as you’re mine, Matteo,” she reminded him, earning her a proud smile. He never minded when she called him hers. It only made him want her more.
He pulled her to the small bedroom and undressed her slowly, pulling the zip down her dress, peeling it off her deliberately, tenderly. His fingertips feathered over every inch of exposed skin. He pressed soft kisses down her spine until she shivered for him. When he pulled it all the way down, she stepped out of it, and stood in her white lingerie that glowed against her dark skin.
“You’re the most beautiful woman I’ve ever seen.”
“Show me how much you want me,” challenged Alyssa, and he reached for her bra, unclipping the hook in front and pulling it down her arms, tossing it aside. He looked at her just as he had the first time he'd undressed her—as if he wanted her so much that he couldn’t stop himself.
“Tell me,” he demanded.
“I need you.”
“More.”
“I need you to make love to me. I need you to touch me. I need you to kiss me. Everywhere. Show me how much you want me, Matteo. Show me.”
“Yes,” he whispered, and he pulled her into his arms to touch and caress her bare skin, to kiss and tease her, to nibble at her, until she couldn’t help herself. She pulled and tugged at the buttons of his shirt, as impatient as she'd been that first time, ripping a few off in her haste to get her hands on him.
“I need…”
She slid her hand down his pants, cupped him, and she hummed in satisfaction.
“I need you,” she told him, and undid the buckle of his belt quickly, unzipped him and drew his pants and briefs down. She got down on her knees in front of him, looked up at him, and licked his hard shaft, back and forth, swirling her tongue around him until she drew a hoarse groan from him.
“Alyssa.”
“I need more,” she told him, and took him in her mouth, drawing on him as if she would never have enough of him. She moved her head back and forth, and she loved how he throbbed in her mouth. She loved how he filled her. She loved how he held the back of her head and his hips thrust gently, slightly, as if he couldn’t stop himself. As if he needed her despite himself.
“Alyssa, I can’t…”
But she didn’t stop. She wanted to drive him mad with need for her. She wanted to drive him past endurance, until he couldn’t think because all he could see was her. She went on, cupping him, tightening her mouth, using her tongue on him until his hips thrust harder, and faster.
When he pulled away abruptly, she looked up at him, her eyes gleaming with triumph.
“Now,” he demanded, and pushed her onto the bed, onto her back. He climbed over her, ripping her thong off as if it was insubstantial. She opened her legs for him, wrapped them around him and drew him to her. She pressed herself so close to him, her heart beating against his.
“Tell me,” she demanded.
“I need you. I need you now. Forever. Always.”
He pressed his hard manhood home, entering her, making her gasp as he always did when he filled her, when he stretched her, when he slid home as if he belonged inside her. She held on to him and moved with him, urging him on, her lips finding his again and again as if she would never get enough of him.
“Please,” she begged, and he knew what she sought. She knew he would give it to her.
He thrust into her, drove into her as she wanted him to, as she had made him do. She held on to him and moved with him, her hips pumping hard and fast, her stockinged legs wrapped around him so tight.
“Don’t stop,” she whispered, reaching greedily for the pleasure she knew he could give her. Only he had ever made her feel so much, every time.
Forever.
The word rang in her head like joy given voice as he took her harder and faster. She held on to him and buried her face against his chest as the pleasure, familiar and still a shock every time, ripped through her, tearing a scream from her lips. He kissed her, again, and again, until her shuddering body finally stilled. Before he drove into her again, and again.
He let go and took what he needed from her, too. She held on and gave him everything she had, found more to give him, and welcomed his pleasure as he spilled his seed deep inside her. She held him close and stroked his hair, whispered the words he needed to hear, over and over again.
“I love you. Matteo. Only you. I love you.”
He held her tight as if he would never let her go and pressed soft kisses to her hair. She'd never felt safer.
She'd never felt more loved.
“I love you, Alyssa. You’re mine. As I’m yours.”
“I know.”
He whispered the words to her in the language of his heart, as he always did when he was lost in the heat of passion, and afterwards, when nothing else seemed to be enough. She held on to him and tried to soothe him, knowing he needed that from her, too.
She looked at her hand and saw the rings she wore.
“Do you know where the gold bands are from?”
She shook her head.
“I’d assumed they were just plain bands. They’re yellow gold.”
He nodded.
“They are. But they’re not just any old ones. They were in the box, with my grandfather.”
“They were?”
He nodded.
She lay in his arms, wondering what it meant.
“You still believe we were guided to each other by your great-grandmother’s spirit, in the storm, don’t you?” she asked, finally.
He chuckled.
“And you never will believe that, will you?”
“You have to admit, it is a little far-fetched,” she told him a bit defensively.
He chuckled again.
“Is it? Is it really more far-fetched than ho
w you came to me, to Italy, and agreed to marry me after knowing me for three weeks?”
Alyssa pouted and made a face at him. He would never stop bringing that up.
“But I didn’t marry you until six months afterwards. I could have broken off he engagement at any time.”
“But you didn’t.”
“Because I was right. My instincts were right. My heart was right.”
“Then why didn’t you just have dinner with me that night?” he demanded, and she sat up and threw a pillow at him.
“You will never give that up, will you? Really, it was dinner, and you were pushy. You’re still pushy. You still think you can get whatever you want just because you’re Matteo Colombo.”
“I’m usually right,” he pointed out, earning another pillow to the face. When he grabbed the pillow, and then her, and tossed her back onto the bed, she laughed.
She trusted him as she'd never trusted anybody except her family. She loved him more than she had thought possible to love a man.
“What are you going to do to me, then?” she demanded, mischievously.
“Bad things. Very, very bad things that will have you screaming for mercy.”
She reached for him, more than ready to have him do all those bad things to her, determined not to scream for mercy, and he shocked her by tickling her.
She did scream for mercy.
And after, he made her cry out for pleasure, again, and again, until she couldn’t hold it in any longer.
By the time they landed, her knees were a little jelly-like and her legs were more than a little wobbly. She looked at him, the man who could make her laugh, who could make her think, and infuriate her more than once in a while, and she thought that she was the luckiest woman in the world.
And yet, she wanted to get even luckier. She wanted even more.
They cleared security and were on their way to, he told her, his cottage—now their cottage, he insisted, though this sudden increase in her wealth really did make her a little uncomfortable—when she turned to him seriously.
“I need to talk to you about something.”
“Anything, my darling.”
“I think we should amend the terms of our contract.”
He grinned.
“We don’t have a contract. We don’t even have a prenup. You know that.”
The Italian Billionaire’s Nubian Queen (BWWM Romance Book 1) Page 13
