Page 250 of My Italian Love Affair

His lips brush the sensitive spot just below my ear.

"About what?"

I bite my lip and lean my head back against his shoulder.

"About how I'm staying."

His body stills behind me, and I twist slightly to look up at him.

His dark eyes search mine, like he's waiting for me to elaborate.

"I didn’t want to trouble you while you’ve been focusing on the final," I explain, my voice soft but steady. "But… Richard offered me Mark's old job. It’s a permanent position as the Senior Sports Correspondent. And… I just emailed him to accept."

Matteo's eyes widen slightly, like he's not sure he heard me correctly.

"You're… staying?" he asks, voice cracking slightly.

I nod, smiling.

"Yeah. I'm staying. In Rome. For good."

The grin that spreads across his face is pure, unfiltered joy.

“You're serious?"

"Completely. I mean, I still need to figure a few things out - like where I'll live once my short-term lease is up, and what my salary even is - but yeah. I'm staying."

He lets out a low laugh, the sound vibrating through my back.

"Thank God."

I glance up at him, smiling.

"Were you really that worried?"

"Of course," he says, lips quirking as he blinks down at me. "I was already calculating the cost of flying to London every week. Or worse, trying to get a transfer to a Premier League team when I’ve just signed a renewal contract."

I burst out laughing.

"That would've been aterriblecareer move."

"Terrible?" He arches a brow. "Premier League wages are higher,bella."

"Yeah, but then you'd have to deal with British weather."

"Mmm.Good point." He brushes his lips against the side of my neck, his breath warm against my skin. "This is better. You staying.We’restaying."

"Yeah," I whisper, leaning into him. "It is."

He turns me around so I’m facing him, his hands framing my face. His gaze is soft but intense, the kind of look that steals the air from my lungs.

"You're really staying," he murmurs, almost to himself. "With me."

My heart swells.

"With you," I confirm. "For as long as you’ll have me."

His jaw flexes as something unspoken passes between us. His thumbs sweep gently across my cheeks, and his eyes twinkle with something deeper.

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