Bella Mafia

Chapter 47

(Continuation of chapter 46)

I stared back at the woman in the mirror, marveling at Bri's handiwork once again and just as we were getting ready to go downstairs, I got a text from Vincent asking me to come to his father's study.

I turned to look at the woman that would become my sister-in-law, at how beautiful she was, inside and out and I knew in that moment that I would do anything for her.

"Ready?" Bri asked me.  I nodded but grabbed her hand first.  "Bri, in case I forget, thank you for everything and I'm glad you are going to be my sister."

I could see her eyes glass over at my confession as she pulled me into a hug.   "I feel the same way, Cal" she said squeezing me.

"Ready to go make an impression?"  She asked as I chuckled but said "Lead on!"  She nodded and opened the door. 

We could hear the faint strings of the orchestra that had been hired for the first part of the evening and then Bri said that a DJ would take over the second half.  It sounded like fun.

I told her about being summoned to her dad's study and she went off to check on her mom.   Standing at the huge wooden door, I rapped softly and then smiled at Alberto's booming voice telling me to enter.

My heart stopped as soon as I opened the door.  Nona!  Oh my God!  Heels or not, I ran straight for her, dropped to my knees, embracing her and then kissing both cheeks.

"Nona, non posso credere che tu sia qui! (I can't believe you are here!)" I exclaimed, wiping a tear that was threatening to run down my face.

"Cara disturbavi perdere questo per il mondo (Darling I wouldn't miss this for the world)!" She exclaimed.  I just continued holding her, looking at her like she was a dream.

Then my eyes went to my fiancé, knowing this was his doing, I stood gracefully and walked towards him until I was right in front of him.

"Sei cosi' bella (You look so beautiful)" Vincent breathed as my lips went for his.  "Grazie, Vincenzo.   Grazie per questo!(Thank you, Vincent.  Thank you for this)."

I was completely overcome and speechless as I turned to a beaming Alberto and said "Grazie papa (Thank you father)." "Sei figlia di benvenuto (You are welcome daughter)."

Alberto turned to nona and suggested that they give us a moment before the guests start arriving, nodding in agreement they quietly left the room, leaving Vincent and I alone.

I walked over to where he was leaning against his father's desk and placed myself between his long legs.  I didn't give him a chance to say anything, I just crashed my lips to his.

It had been a while since we'd been intimate, well a while for us, and I found I was craving him, like a drug addict needing their next fix.

"Calliope" my name sounding so sensual as it rolled from his delicious lips, so I returned the favor.   "Vincenzo" I said, my voice more husky than I meant for it to sound.

"What are you doing to me, Calli" he asked, his lips searing the skin of my neck.  "I don't know, Vincent.  What do you want me to do to you?" 

I knew the innuendo my question carried but this man was going to be my husband and just because we were to be married didn't mean we couldn't seduce each other.

I felt his hand go behind my neck, the tingles from the contact made me gasp.   "You feel it too, don't you?  Every time I touch you or you touch me, there's a connection."

His words rang true, there was something very electric about our relationship and I loved it, I needed it, I needed him.

"I do, Vincent" I moaned as his lips nibbled at me again.  "I feel it every time you're in the same room, when your fingers brush against mine.  Even when you look at me.

I can't deny what I truly feel for you.  I want to be that place you run to, when you need peace and quite.  I want to be the one that makes you laugh when all you want to do is cry.

Let me in, Vincent.  Really let me in.  Don't close yourself off to me anymore.  Let me help you carry those burdens, lose yourself in me but always come back.   Por favore."

My words hit home and for the first time I felt like he was truly seeing me, what I could and would be to him, if he would just allow those walls to come down, and I believed he would.

"Where have you been all my life?"   His question was voiced out of need, a need for affirmation, that I really did want him, the person, not the money or position, but him.  The man.

"Waiting for you to come find me" I whispered against his lips and then we fell and it was glorious.  We finally understood and it felt like the weight of the world had just slid off both of us.

This was what it felt like to experience freedom because of someone else.  I belonged to him, and he belonged to me and tonight was about our affirmation of the commitment we were making to each other.

"Our guests should have started arriving by now" he said, kissing me once more on my neck.  "And by the way, there is not a person in attendance tonight that will be able to argue the fact that you will be the most beautiful woman in the room."

God this man!  I raised my hands to fix his bow tie, saying "How many women am I going to have to threaten tonight?"  I winked causing him to laugh but then his expression turned serious.

"None, fiore.  Because they will see very quickly that I only have eyes for you.  No one else exists here for me except you.  I love you, Calli" he said kissing me again.

"I love you too, Vincent.  Now, let me fix my lipstick and then let's have a party, shall we?"  He grinned, which melted my heart when he did and after I had fixed my lips, he offered me his elbow as we headed out to see what adventures this night would bring us.