Page 226 of The One
For a moment, I forget everything around us, lost in the depths of his delicious chocolate eyes.
Father Alessandro smiles warmly. “By the power vested in me by the Holy Church and the State of Italy, I now pronounce you husband and wife. You may kiss the bride.”
My pulse quickens. This is the moment I’ve dreamed of countless times.
Mateo steps closer, not hesitating for a second before he takes my face in his hands.
Our eyes lock, the world around us fading, and then, slowly, he leans in.
Our lips meet, and in this sacred church, this kiss feels like it carries the promise of eternity.
It seals our vows, our bond, and the certainty of the future we’ve chosen, hand in hand.
My heart swells. We did it!
Tears gather, but I’m not afraid to let them fall. Let those here see the depth of what this man and this union mean to me.
Teo gently wipes the tears away with his thumb, his gaze soft with affection, before leaning in for another kiss.
He smiles against my lips. “This has been the shortest ceremony, yet it’s also the most intimate, the most perfect.”
I smile, my heart full. The simplicity of it all, just us, our vows, and the quiet blessings of the church, is everything I’ve ever wanted.
I rest my forehead against his, my eyes closing in the sweetness of the moment.
“We are bound together now. For eternity.”
Chapter Eighty-Five
Mariella
Ihold out my hand, turning it this way and that, admiring the two rings now gracing my finger.
I’m married.
Married!
To Mateo.
How did this happen when, for so long, it seemed impossible? When for four endless years, I watched him from afar, pining for him, while he paraded through life with one stunning woman after another?
And now he’s mine. He wantsonlyme.
Surreal doesn’t even begin to cover it.
To be sure I’m not dreaming, I pinch my leg. The sharp sting reassures me I’m awake.
Thisisreal.
Lowering my hand to the railing, I watch the sunset catch on the diamond, sending a kaleidoscope of colors dancing over the snow.
Yes, I said snow, because Teo and I are high up in the Dolomites. Snow-covered peaks stretch in every direction, bathed in the golden hues of the fading sun. It’s breathtaking.
The air is crisp, the kind of cold that makes you feel alive, and the silence up here is absolute, save for the soft whisper of the wind rolling over the mountains. It’s like we’re the only two people in the world.
The click of a door closing behind me breaks the spell, and moments later, Teo’s arms wrap around me from behind, his body solid even through our thick jackets. He holds two flutes of champagne, and I take one, leaning back into him. Or at least, I try to. Our winter coats make it more of a soft bounce than a snug fit, and I giggle at the awkwardness.
We arrived at this secluded little lodge a little over an hour ago, flown in by helicopter, the only way to reach this private slice of heaven.
