Page 140 of The One
I grin, nuzzling my face into her hair, ignoring my boner for now. When Mari lets go of her shyness, a passionate, uninhibited side of her emerges, a side I’m desperate to discover more of. We’re going to have an incredible life together.
Seriously, how could I have been so blind to what was right in front of me?
The timing must not have been right. That’s the only explanation for my ignorance.
If I’d noticed her before, she would have been far too young.
At twenty, she’s still impossibly young and innocent compared to the life of debauchery I’ve indulged in.
I gently brush a strand of hair from her forehead and place a tender kiss there.
Mammawould have loved her.Papàtoo. I wish they could have met her. They would’ve been so happy for us.
She’s everything a man in my position could dream of. And not only because she was raised in our world.
She is everything.
Soft yet strong.
Innocent yet daring.
I want to protect her, provide for her, but also watch her spread her wings and fly.
I want to stand beside her as she leaves her mark on the world. Now that she’s no longer under her father’s tyranny she will soar.
I can’t imagine spending a single day without her, yet she’s been in my life all along. I marvel at my blindness these past few years. Especially when, in a matter of seconds, I realized she was it.
And in days, I fell hopelessly in love.
I love her.
And deep down, I know this is a love that will last lifetimes.
Mari begins to stir, and a smile spreads across my face. Her eyelashes flutter against her cheeks like delicate wings, and a faint furrow creases her brow, as if she’s reluctant to leave the world of dreams.
Her lips part slightly, drawing in a slow, sleepy breath. She looks utterly serene in this unguarded moment.
Her eyes open slowly, her gaze unfocused and a little hazy. For a moment, she looks around, disoriented, as if trying to piece together where she is. Her brows knit, and she blinks a few times, the movement lazy and unhurried.
Then her gaze lands on me.
At first, there’s a flicker of surprise in their depths, followed by something softer, warmer, as a tiny smile tugs at the corners of her lips.
“Good morning,” she murmurs, her voice husky with sleep, and it sends a wave of excitement to my cock.
“Buongiorno, dolcezza,” I reply, brushing a stray strand of hair from her cheek. She leans into my touch instinctively, her eyes closing for a second as if savoring it.
“You were watching me,” she says, her voice teasing but quiet, almost shy.
“I couldn’t help it,” I admit, grinning as my fingers trail down to cup her jaw. “You’re breathtaking, even when you’re waking up.”
Her cheeks flush, and she hides her face in the pillow with a groggy laugh. “Stop. I probably look like a mess.”
“No,” I say softly, gently coaxing her eyes back to me. “You look perfect. Always.”
Her gaze locks on mine, and for a moment, the world narrows down to just the two of us. The playful teasing fades, replaced by something deeper, more tender.
Her breath hitches, and my pulse quickens in response. She inches closer, her lips slightly parted, and I’m drawn in by the invitation I can’t resist.
