Wed or Dead

LI

Dear Readers,

I hope you don't mind the upcoming Christmas special. Thank you for all of your comments I love to read them and I am lucky to have you <3

"Wait. Aren't you afraid I will demand a divorce and run away with half of your fortune?" she said placing her hand on his sturdy chest and pushing him away. She couldn't think clearly when he was this close. He pulled away from her on his own accord, sparks of amusements were playing in his eyes. He watched as she quickly escaped the armchair and pretended to be pacing around the room to stretch her legs.

"Is that a challenge Mrs. Vincenti? Because I'd love to see you try" he suggested, and Eliana could see that he wasn't afraid. It made sense, why would he be scared of her of all people? She was harmless. That's the problem. She had to toughen up.

"You can't just decide all of sudden that you want nothing from me. Rafael, you saved my life I have to pay you back" Eliana said firmly feeling that it is only fair for her to hold her end of the deal.

"Money is not what I want in return," He said, his dark eyes sparkling with amusement.

"What do you want then? Eliana asked mistrustfully. Recently she became extra vigilant and started questioning people's intentions.

Rafael lifted his finger in an up and down gesture indicating she should get closer. At first, she gave him a long look wondering what the hell does he wants she came closer as he wanted her to. So she took the first step, then a second step, and soon she found herself sitting on his lap.

"A kiss," He said. But he thought all of you. He wanted every part of Eliana to belong to him, forever. But there was no need to spook her out.

"My kiss is worth millions of dollars now?" she whispered, trapped in his hypnotic gaze.

"To me? Yes," he said with so much confidence that for a moment she believed in this ridiculous premise.

"Then maybe I should request a payment every time I'm kissing you," she suggested, now infected with his good humor.

"You're getting greedy, how lovely," he said gently stroking her hair as if she was made out of porcelain. Eliana noted that Rafael wasn't mad, he seemed satisfied with her proposal.

"What's lovely about greed?" Eliana asked with confusion.

"It means I can spoil you like I want to. Now may I have my kiss?" he explained and Eliana's gaze became gentle.

"You may," she whispered and leaned over to kiss him.

"I want us to celebrate Christmas in Aspen this year," he said after their lips parted.

"Aspen? You mean that ski resort for rich people?" Eliana asked, surprised by his sudden proposal.

She has visited Aspen once when her biological parents were still alive but it was a long time ago, she could barely remember that.

"Exactly, for us. I have a house there" he said and a cocky smile appeared on his lips.

"I don't know if it's the right moment. There are so many things that need to be done. I have a company now" Eliana sighed.

"We had no honeymoon and we deserve some time together," Rafael said in a convincing voice.

"When exactly do you want to go? Maybe a weekend at the end of next month would work?" Eliana suggested.

"Tomorrow," he said simply and Eliana's eyes widened. She did not hear that correctly.

"Tomorrow?! How?-"

"It was a stressful time and you deserve to rest. The company will still be there after you come back.

"But-" Eliana started but he interrupted her.

"May I remind you that they have been doing well without you for several years?" Rafael observed  calmly  but his wife was now pacing around the room, one of the nervous habits she had.

His stoicism allowed him to wait patiently for her to let it out of her chest. "I need to schedule a board meeting I need to- I need to I don't know? Learn things? I need to-"

"What you need is to relax and slow down. You have been through a lot lately" he said, referring to the kidnapping, escaping the country, miscarriage. The list of reasons why Eliana deserved holidays was endless and he had every intention to provide her with opportunity. Besides, he wanted to spend time alone with her. Speaking of alone time, she stopped and looked at him.

"What about kids?"

"They will survive a day without us, don't be a mother hen, Eli. Lorenzo will stay with them for now" Rafael assured.

"But it's Christmas time. We can't leave them at Christmas"

"First of all I absolutely can. Having to deal with them all year round should be a paid job. But I understand it makes you uncomfortable so they will join us for the Christmas Eve, I will arrange the transport for them"

"But will they be ok with us leaving now?" Eliana said worriedly.

She was about to leave the office and ask when she heard an excited loud voice yelling from another part of the house.

"They're leaving?! Hell yes!" it must have been Remi because Milo is unable to scream that loudly.

"Freedom!" Casey yelled back with an overly excited voice.

"These little shits" Eliana muttered.

She was no longer interested in asking them anything.

Her cheeks flushed when she heard Rafael's chuckling behind her back.

"How are you feeling about leaving now?"