The Italian Billionaire’s Nubian Queen

“Matteo,” she whispered, burying her face in his chest, feeling his heart beat against her cheek.

“Tell me again.”

“I love you.”

“Tell me you will always love me.”

Alyssa wasn’t sure what promises she could make, but that was one promise she could give him, with all of her heart.

“Always. I will always love you,” she promised, and she hoped that that would be enough.

It would have to be. They’d have to make it work from there.

***

Breakfast in bed was a luxury she could get used to, she decided. Matteo’s grand master suite was another luxury she could get used to. The view, however, was one she hoped she would never get used to. She hoped she would always look at it in wonder.

They basked in the glow of the joy they had brought each other. They made love again, sweetly this time, and it was as much a promise as any words they’d said to each other.

But they couldn’t put it off for too long. There were too many things to figure out. So when Matteo finally looked at her with his serious look—how was it that she knew his looks so well?—she smiled.

“All right, we’ll talk.”

“I don’t want to scare you away again.”

“You won’t. I’m the one who came to you this time.”

Matteo smiled at her and drew her into his arms.

“Nevertheless, I think I’ll just hold on to you.”

“I’m not complaining.”

“You realize that you will have to marry me now, don’t you? Because you ruined my betrothal contract. So now you’re responsible for getting me respectable.”

Alyssa giggled.

“I have to make an honest man out of you?”

“I’m afraid so. I didn’t make the rules. No, really, I didn’t make the rules. My father did.”

Alyssa giggled again. She was so happy that no price seemed too high.

“All right, then. I’ll marry you.”

“We have time,” said Matteo.

Alyssa looked at him, surprised.

“Really? I thought something had changed. I thought that’s why you were… You know.”

“Things did change. I’m pushing my dear brother out of the business. He will be a man of considerable wealth, but he will have nothing to do with the family business anymore. The vineyards will be all mine.”

Alyssa considered.

“I can’t say I’m sad for him. He used my sister.”

“I know he did. I’m sorry. But… Well, we don’t have to hurry. He knows that there isn’t much he can do now. I have almost five years. You can take your time and we’ll figure out how to do this. I won’t make all the decisions for us. I promise.”

Alyssa nodded, and she thought about it again.

“Six months,” she told him. “What?”

“Six months. A ceremony here, and a ceremony there. And we can figure out how to have homes in both places. You’ll be expanding in the States. I think it would be good for Brianna to be a part of my business. I wouldn’t have to be there all the time. And, well, being here will only be good for me. I can acquire rare vintages more easily when I’m here. I’ll get better at what I do.”

“Are you sure? I won’t ask you to do that for me.”

“Really? Then you would move to the States? When you’re doing all this to make sure your legacy is safe here?”

Matteo smiled.

“I was doing what you found me about to do for that. I’m doing this because I love you. Because I want to be with you.”

Alyssa sighed and kissed her man again, softly.

“I know. I’m doing this because I love you, too. I want to be with you.”

“Are you sure? I can be a difficult man to live with.”

Alyssa chuckled.

“I hadn’t noticed. But you see, without you, I can’t seem to live at all. There’s no color in the world. There’s no sunshine. There’s no warmth. No matter how difficult you turn out to be, I have to be with you. Because I love you.”

He held her close, so tight, and she knew that her words had moved him.

“I’m glad you feel that way, because I have a surprise for you for lunch.”

“What surprise?”

“My stepmother. She heard about last night and is apparently on her way here right now.”

Alyssa sat up, shocked.

“What!” she yelped.

“Remember, you will soon be the one in charge here. Don’t let her push you around.”

“But… But this whole thing will push her son out, won’t it?”

“That’s the plan.”

“Then won’t she hate me?”

“She definitely already hates you. That’s why I suggest that you not try to please her. Be yourself, don’t let her push you around, and it’ll be fine. Let her get the impression that you’re a pushover and you’ll spend half your life avoiding her schemes.”

“What have I gotten myself into?”

“A messed up family, my love. But I have gotten myself a good one. You can go ahead and make me suffer when I’m there and meet your mother. And your friends. You have many friends who are all very protective of you.”

“Do I, though?”

“You do. And your sister, I’m sure she has a bone to pick with me, too.”

“Actually, she’s the one who convinced me to drop everything and come here.”

“Really? I should get her a present. What does she like? Other than wine?”

Alyssa giggled.

“I think you’ll get her approval pretty quickly. I should call her and see how she is. She was going to call her husband.”

“Ah.”

“It’s complicated.”

“It always is. But darling, if you look at a man like Gabriel after we’re married, it won’t be very complicated. I will bury him.”

Alyssa sighed.

“I’ve fallen in love with a caveman.”