But then again, whatever I said was the truth. And he knew it.
“Say it again,” he demanded.
“No.” I chuckled at the demand.
He nipped at my neck playfully. I felt his hips moving against my back, and my mouth fell open. Alessio thrust against my back, letting me feel his hard length.
“Oh my God,” I hissed when he laughed.
“Say it,” Alessio ordered teasingly. His hand made its way to my breast, and I froze when his fingers made contact with my nipple.
He softly dragged his finger tip over it through my dress.
“You are impossible, Alessio.”
I couldn’t stop the moan when he played with my hard nipple, pinching and tugging at the pebbled point.
“Not exactly what I want to hear, kitten,” he returned huskily.
“Your body is made for sinning. You are deliciously sexy,” I quickly said as he continued to tease me.
His slow ministration stopped. “Do you want to sin then? Right now? Right here?”
I took a deep breath. The invitation was quite inviting. I loved the idea, but I shook my head. “No. Because that’s not why you brought me here. After you explain, then maybe we can go back to our room, and I will let you have your way with me.”
“Hmm…I think that’s a good deal. You won’t be able to walk tomorrow, though. Is that good with you?”
He was making it more impossible to resist him. Turning around in his arms, I smiled at the goofy smile on his face. I kissed his lips slowly before pulling away. “You can just carry me around. That’s what you do most of the time anyway.”
“You make a good deal, Ayla Ivanshov,” he said proudly. He loved calling me by my full name. Maybe it was a way to remind himself that I was truly his.
After all the heartbreak, I was finally his in every sense of word.
“You taught me well, Alessio Ivanshov,” I replied.
We stared at each other, both wearing silly smiles. His loving gaze finally moved from mine to the portrait behind me.
His expression changed, and a wave of pain took over. I hugged him to me, trying to take some of his pain as my own.
“I’m sorry, Alessio,” I whispered in his chest.
His arms went tight around me. “Don’t apologize, Ayla. You have nothing to be sorry for.”
I hiccupped back a sob. His unwavering love for me always made me speechless. I cried softly in his chest, trying to find my words.
“It still haunts me, Alessio. To know that it was my family who destroyed yours. I still wonder how you can look at me and not hate the mere sight of me. How can you love me when I am the offspring of the man who killed your mother?”
His hand caressed my back soothingly. When he spoke, his words held power and strength. “It’s not your fault. I’m not going to blame you for this. You ask me how can I love you? Well, I don’t know. I really don’t know, Ayla. I don’t need a reason to love you. All I know is that I can’t live without you. When I look at you, when I see your smile or hear your laughter…it’s enough to make me feel at peace. You calm me. I can’t be without you. It’s simple…there is no me without you.”
I stayed silent, letting his love cocoon me in a safe embrace.
“You wanted to know why I brought you here?” he asked.
I nodded and waited for him to continue.
Alessio sighed and slightly pulled away. He brushed my tears away. “It’s because it’s our turn to be on that wall.”
“It’s your turn to take that seat as Queen. It’s another tradition for the Ivanshov family. Something we have been practicing for decades. For some families, their women hold no power. But for us, our wives are our queens. Our Angels.” Alessio paused, looking slightly chocked by emotions.
“The photographer will be here in a few hours. By tomorrow morning, our portrait will be on that wall,” Alessio continued before he kissed forehead sweetly.
“I’m really your wife…in every way,” I stated tearfully.
“Yes, you are, Angel,” he replied with a small smile.
He turned me around so my back was to him. Holding me close, we stared at the two portraits. “And you are not only the Queen of the Ivanshov family, but you have thousands of men under you. Four Russian families. They all belong to you.”
His lips were so close to my ear as he whispered his next words. “And the Italians are yours too. They are at your feet. You are above them, Angel. I made sure of that.”
A shiver ran through me. His voice was rough and held a hint of hard dominance. I swallowed nervously. “This is a bit overwhelming, Alessio. Months ago, I had nothing. And now I have more than I want.”