Isabella

I stood on the balcony, waiting for Stephan’s car to arrive at his grandfather's vineyard. The DeLucas were one of the wealthiest families in Italy. They owned hundreds of acres, most of the shops in the village, and three other wineries in Italy. In Calabria, they were in charge, which was a change from my life back in New York. My father wasn’t here to torture me anymore. He no longer held his position of power.

Last week, I sat on the bed next to Carmella and stared at the television in shock as my father announced his intention to leave public office. All he’d ever wanted was to rule the world. And he gave it up. I still wasn’t sure why he did it, though I was positive Stephan and his family had something to do with it. His cousin had encouraged me to watch my father’s downfall for a reason. And I loved every second of it.

When a black Mercedes pulled up out front, my heart pounded in my chest. Stephan was here, at our new home, in the seaside town where we would start our life together. The driver opened the door for Stephan, and Nino was right behind him. I was surprised to see both of them. I should have figured Stephan wouldn’t want to be apart from his twin.

Without thinking, I hopped over the first-floor balcony and landed on the stone walkway. My feet carried me over to Stephan, faster than I’d realized, and then I was in his arms.

He lifted me up and off the ground, holding me so tight I thought he would break me. “My raven,” he whispered against my ear. “You have no idea how much I missed you.”

“It’s been hell without you, Stephan.” I kissed his cheek and continued to press my lips to every inch of his face until he laughed at me. “I missed you, too.”

He slid his hand beneath my chin until our eyes meet, an intense fire burning behind his deep blue irises. “Everything will be different here. I took care of your father. We’re both free from our fathers.”

“You’re going to work for your grandfather, right?”

He nodded. “That part of my life isn’t going to change. This is who I am.”

I smiled so hard my face hurt. “I’ve known who you are from the first time you touched me. The first time you kissed me. I’ve always known you were different, unlike the men my father would have chosen for me. And that’s what I like about you. What I’ve always loved about you.”

A smirk turned up the corner of my mouth. Stephan rolled his tongue over his bottom lip, looking at me as if I were a piece of meat he wanted to devour. And then he kissed me. Rough, hard, and with so much passion I had to gripped his muscular arms. The air shifted when we were together, his gravitational pull rocking me to the core.

When he peeled his lips from mine, my head spun. Every part of my body was alive, on fire from the burning sensation spreading down my arms and legs.

“I need you, Stephan,” I said against his lips.

“I have to talk to Grandpa Sal first, and then you can have me for the rest of the night.”

I kissed him once more, this time a quick peck that made my body tingle. My panties were damp, my core aching. I was desperate for him to touch me.

“Hey, Isabella.” Nino moved to Stephan’s side, with a duffel bag slung over his shoulder.

“Hey,” I muttered. “How was your trip?”

He shrugged, the color in his face a little off. Nino had the same olive skin as Stephan, except he had a yellowish tint as if he were sick. “Tiring. I’m looking forward to sleeping for the next few days.” He smacked Stephan on the shoulder. “This asshole wouldn’t stop snoring. The storm we hit didn’t help. I got seasick from it.”

“I wouldn’t sleep in the room next to ours,” Stephan said with a wicked smirk. “Isabella and I have a lot of catching up to do.”

Rolling his eyes, Nino laughed. “I doubt even you two could keep me up. After dinner, I’m taking a bottle of wine up to my room and passing out.”

Leading me into the house, Stephan said, “You should wait for me upstairs. Grandpa Sal is private when it comes to family matters. Nino and I have to talk to him about our new positions. I’ll find you after we’re done.”

“I’ll be waiting.” I kissed him on the cheek and walked toward the staircase at the end of the long tiled hall.

I left the door unlocked for Stephan and stood on the balcony attached to my bedroom, staring out at the vineyard. The villa had picturesque views from this side of the house. I still couldn’t believe I was in Italy, free of my father, and living with the DeLucas.

For the first time, I felt like I was part of a real family, instead of the fake one I was raised into. I wasn’t expected to pose for pictures or pretend I had this amazing life for the world to see. There were no constituents I had to impress or dinner parties to attend for election campaigns. None of it seemed real to me. I often pinched myself to make sure I wasn’t dreaming because it was too good to be true.

I heard the door shut behind me, but I didn’t bother to turn around. Stephan wrapped his arms around me, pulling me into his chest.

I leaned my head back and smiled up at him. “I can’t believe we’re here. Together. I never thought I would see this day.”

He rested his chin on top of my head, cradling me. “I made you a promise a long time ago.”

“We were in high school. I never expected you to make good on that promise. After my father sent me away to boarding school and then college, I never thought I would see you. And then there you were… always there to rescue me.”

“I told you I would free you from your father. I knew it would take time.”

I covered his hands with mine. “And you made it happen. All of my dreams are finally coming true.”

He laughed. “It was your dream to be smuggled out of the country and hidden on the estate of a Mafia boss?”

“You, silly.” I smacked his hand and chuckled. “You are my dream. I’ve wanted to be with you from the first time I saw you in the hallway at school. You gave me this look like I was your property. No one has ever looked at me the way you do.”

He slid his hands up my stomach, tugging the thin fabric of my dress down to expose my breasts. As Stephan pinched my nipples, he awakened the hunger inside me.

“Stephan,” I whispered. “People can see us up here.” I had trouble getting out the words.

He kissed my neck and then ran his teeth along my skin, his breath causing me to tremble. Ignoring me, he continued his exploration of my body. He pinched the tiny bud between his fingers, igniting a fire beneath my skin. My nipples were hardened peaks, swollen and begging for his mouth.

Stephan spun me around and lifted me up, hooking my legs around his back. My core was aching, ready to burst from the pressure. Once his tongue made contact with my sensitive skin, I closed my eyes and moaned his name. I’d missed everything about him. Only Stephan could do this to me. Make me come completely undone.

Stephan cupped my ass in one hand and the side of my face with the other. “I love you, Isabella.”

I brushed my lips against his. “I love you, too, Stephan.”

“This is it. You. Me. Us. Forever. Things will be different in Italy. No more fathers to interfere with our lives.” He brushed a strand of hair behind my ear and smiled. “Never again. But my family works differently here. What I did back home was tame compared to what my grandfather expects of me.”

“What does that mean?”

“My family is more active here.” He set me on the floor in front of him. “They have ways of doing things you might not like.”

“Are we in danger?”

He shook his head. “We’re safe in Calabria. My grandfather has connections, but we also have our fair share of enemies.”

“If you’re not worried, neither am I.”

Before I could get out another word, Stephan’s lips crashed into mine. He kissed me like he owned me. And he did. My heart belonged to him.

He pulled away from me, long enough to unbutton his shirt and remove his pants. Standing before me, with his muscular chest on display and his cock, long and hard and peeking through his boxers, he tugged at the straps of my sundress. The fabric gave way, falling to the floor at my feet.

Stephan licked his bottom lip, a seductive gaze in his deep blue irises. He looked like he wanted to eat me, and I was hoping he would do just that. We stripped away the rest of our clothes, and then Stephan picked me up again and lowered me to the bed, covering my body with his. He kneed my legs open wider until I granted him full access, his cock growing thick against my inner thigh.

Stephan consumed me, with his mouth on mine, his hands roaming every inch of my body. He took his time, his hand caressing my thigh as he kissed me.

I thrust my hips, wanting to feel him, greedy to have him inside me. “Please, Stephan.”

Stephan smirked. It was a simple gesture that made me even wetter in anticipation. “So impatient, my love.”

I sat up, fisting his hair between my fingers, and pulled him closer. Stephan pushed my back to the mattress, pinning me down with his muscular body. His tongue slipped into my mouth, and then he inched inside me, stretching me out as he filled me. He stopped being gentle and thrust into me hard. With each inch, he rocked into me, ripping a scream from my lips.

I pressed my palm to his cheek, and our eyes met.

Stephan gripped my left thigh, sliding deeper inside me. “You’re so perfect for me,” he muttered.

I ran my thumb over his bottom lip, struggling to get out the words. “And you me.”

My skin was on fire. Every movement Stephan made bringing me closer to climax. I clutched the sheet between my fingers, a brush of heat rushing over me as my orgasm hit me with a violent force. Stephan wasn’t far behind me. His body jerked, his cock pulsing inside me, and a sexy look crossed his handsome face as he came.

Before he pulled out of me, he planted a kiss on my lips. “Fuck, baby,” he hissed. “I missed your sweet pussy.” He rolled onto his side and pressed his lips to mine, giving me a quick peck.

I laughed. “Well, my pussy missed you, too.”

“I’m not done with you.” Stephan dragged his thumb along my bottom lip. His soft touch caused my skin to tingle. “We have a lot of time to make up tonight. And then tomorrow I’m taking you somewhere special.”

“I hope you don’t expect me to walk there,” I joked.

He shook his head, smiling. “I’ll be gentle.”

“You don’t know the meaning,” I countered.

“Maybe not, but I’m more careful with you than you realize.”

“I’m not going to break, Stephan. You don’t have to treat me like a delicate flower.”

Stephan held the side of my face in his big hand, staring down at me. One look was all it ever took for me to melt.

“Be careful what you wish for,” he growled.

“I already got what I wished for. I have you.”