Alessandro's Prize (16 page)

Not content, she savoured there, teasing, suckling, nipping gently, before trailing soft kisses to one male hardened peak, then the other, where she rendered similar treatment.

His faint indrawn breath was an imperceptible sound as she slowly travelled to settle at his navel, exploring the indentation with exquisite care, drawing out his anticipation of precisely where her attention was aimed.

Smooth silky skin taut with desire, the swollen head a temptation she gently circled with the tip of her tongue, and heard him groan.

With soft kisses she traversed the hard length, teased a little, then trailed gently before gifting him the ultimate pleasure.

‘Santo Cielo.'
Words wrenched huskily from his throat, they were both benediction and oath as his powerful body trembled in a bid for control.

Lily's experience of feminine power was all too brief as his hands closed over her waist, and she found herself rolled beneath him in one fluid movement.

Then it became her turn to gasp as he surged into her and held steady while he fought to contain himself before he began to move, tantalizing her until it was she who begged for release in a voice she failed to recognize as her own.

Oh, dear heaven.

It was more, so much
more
than she believed possible. Mind and body in perfect accord with his own as they scaled the heights together, paused at the brink, then soared as acute sensation spiralled through their bodies in unison.

Eventually her rapid breathing slowed to something approaching normal, and she pressed her lips to his cheek, then his lips were on her own, gently, as he savoured the sweet sorcery that was hers alone.

She didn't want to move. Didn't think she
could
.

For a while they simply held each other in the exquisite aftermath of very good lovemaking.

Love
, Lily amended as she dreamily reflected on the path her life had taken to this place, this man…and how, if not for fate, she might never have discovered either.

It was later, much later, that they rose from the bed, showered and donned casual clothes.

‘I'll cook dinner,' Lily offered, and stood transfixed as Alessandro lifted a hand and trailed gentle fingers down her cheek.

‘We'll do it together.'

The contents of his refrigerator and pantry presented numerous possibilities, and they fixed veal parmigiana, added
a mixed salad, and a light chilled sauvignon blanc, finishing up with a delicious fruit sorbet.

It was as they sipped aromatic black coffee that Alessandro leaned forward and covered her hand with his own.

‘Are you going to protest if I suggest we marry soon?'

Her eyes dilated a little. ‘How soon is soon?'

‘However long it takes to arrange a licence.'

 

Sophia's delight in their news was overwhelming, her excitement so genuine it almost brought Lily to tears as she became caught up with dress fittings, arranging to have the requisite documents couriered from Australia, a sizeable donation to the church in order for the local priest marry them in the privacy of Sophia's villa. No guests, just a small intimate family ceremony with the priest presiding.

‘Please,' Lily appealed when Sophia protested. ‘I cancelled the expensive wedding gown, the huge reception, the ornate cake planned for what became a fiasco.'

‘I understand,' Sophia said gently. ‘In that chase I shall organize a party on return from your honeymoon,' she enthused. ‘It will be my gift to you both.'

‘Zia…'

‘You are my daughter before God, my beloved niece.'

Alessandro curved a gentle hand at Lily's nape. ‘
Grazie
, Sophia. We will accept with pleasure.'

 

Two weeks later Lily put the final touches to her make-up, her hair, and slid her feet into ivory stiletto heels.

The ivory silk gown was simply styled in elegant lines with a scooped neckline, three-quarter sleeves and a hemline swirling at her ankles. A fingertip veil fell from a delicate coronet of ivory silk rosebuds.

Jewellery was minimal, a diamond pendant on a fine plat
inum chain, matching ear-studs, and the beautiful diamond platinum ring Alessandro had gifted her.

With a smile that reached her eyes she turned towards her aunt.

‘My darling Lily,' Sophia said gently. ‘You look beautiful. I am so very happy for you.'

‘Thank you. For everything,' she added in a voice husky with emotion as she caught her aunt close in an affectionate hug. ‘Don't you dare cry. Or I'll cry with you, and then we'll both have to redo our make-up, which will make us late.' She moved back a step and smiled. ‘Alessandro might think I've changed my mind.'

Sophia returned the smile with humour. ‘I doubt he would allow it.'

No, he wouldn't. And the knowledge almost melted her bones.

‘Alessandro loves you very much.'

‘As I love him,' Lily said quietly. ‘I didn't think it possible to love with all my heart. To know without a shred of doubt he is everything I could ever want or need. My life.'

‘It was my hope, the focus of my prayers.'

She brushed her lips to Sophia's cheek, then she pressed light fingers to her aunt's mouth. ‘Let's go, shall we?'

It was Sophia who would descend the staircase at Lily's side and accompany her to the formal lounge where Alessandro waited with the priest and Carlo as best man.

A very private intimate ceremony, followed by a celebratory meal, then they'd spend the night in Alessandro's Lake Como mansion before taking a flight the next day from Milan to Venice.

Venezia
, with its arched bridges, canals, gondolas.
Magic
.

There wasn't a shred of doubt as Lily entered the lounge on Sophia's arm.

She saw Alessandro turn towards her, and for every day
of the rest of her life she would never forget the look on his face as she walked towards him.

Love
…in all its many facets, with the promise of undying passion. For her. Only her.

The depth of emotion apparent almost brought her undone, and she blinked in an effort to hold back the tears.

The room, its occupants faded from her vision as she saw only him, her smile soft and slightly tremulous as she reached his side.

Without a word she lifted her hands to cradle his face and kissed him, a fleeting soft touch of her mouth on his own, and so quietly only he could hear she said, ‘I love you with all my heart.
Per sempre
,
amante
.'

For ever.

For the first time in his life Alessandro temporarily lost the power of speech, and he caught her hands in his own and brought them to his lips, his heart, his soul vividly reflected in his eyes as his mouth curved into a beautiful smile.

Later he would find the words…and show her with his body how much she meant to him.

Liliana. His life, the very air that he breathed.

His one true love.

Per sempre.