Page 224 of My Italian Love Affair

The water closes around me, deliciously warm and silky against my skin. I resurface with a gasp and slick the stray strands of hair back from my face.

Matteo laughs as he swims towards me before he wraps his arms around my waist, pulling me tight against his chest. His skin is slick and cool against mine as he presses a kiss to my shoulder.

"See?" he murmurs. "Perfect."

"Yeah," I agree softly. "It really is."

We float together in the water for what feels like hours, alternating between lazy laps, more playful splashes, and even moments where Matteo traps me against the pool's edge just to kiss me senseless.

At one point, he pulls out his phone from where it sits on the pool deck and snaps a few photos of us together.

"For your private collection?" I tease.

"For myfuturecollection," Matteo corrects, holding the phone out to capture us both. He kisses my temple before snapping the picture. "These are just the first of many."

I don't know what to say back to that - my throat feeling tight -so I don't say anything at all. Instead, I swallow down the feeling and smile warmly at him before indulging in another lap of his pool.

*

A little while later - after we've dried off and changed into casual clothes - Matteo suggests we go shopping and get some lunch while we’re out.

"Shopping?" I ask, frowning as I rinse out my coffee cup in the sink. "What for?"

"Clothes. Shoes. Whatever you want."

He leans against the counter, watching me with that familiar lazy grin as I dry the cup and place it on the rack.

"Matteo... I don't need you buying me things," I tell him.

He steps closer, cupping my chin so I have no choice but to meet his gaze.

"You're overthinking again."

"I'm just not used to...this," I admit, gesturing vaguely toward the villa around us. "It feels like too much."

His thumb brushes along my jaw.

"La vita è adesso,bella."

I blink.

"What does that mean?"

"Life is now," Matteo says softly. "Stop worrying about what feels like too much. Enjoy what we have. Right here. Right now."

My heart clenches, and I let out a quick breath through my nostrils.

"Okay," I tell him.

"Good girl," he says, pressing a kiss to my forehead. "Now go get dressed. Rome has great shops, but you’ve never experienced shoppingwith me."

I smile despite myself.

"God help me."

Matteo laughs and swats my ass as he steers me towards thestairs.

And for once, I don’t overthink it.

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