The next morning found Allegra up before the sun, making her way around the kitchen, starting a pot of coffee. She knew there was a fancy espresso machine that everyone favored, but she loved her Wally-world Twelve Dollar special. She could make it herself and it was the first thing she’d gone to the store to buy after she’d learned to use her cane to maneuver around the neighborhood. A cup of coffee from her little plastic machine made her a happy girl normally.

But this morning, it just added to the glow.

As she heard the first steam percolating in the machine she took in a deep breath and smiled. Moments later she heard the trickling stream of coffee filling the pot.

Two arms wrapped around her and pulled her back against a muscled wall.

“Hey, careful,” she giggled when his beard brushed against her neck. When his kiss touched the mark on her shoulder she shuddered against him, white-hot need flooded through her body.

Turning in his embrace she raised her hands and he guided them to his face. When she took hold of him, she drew him down for a kiss.

“Well, looks like it was a good night for you two.”

Caught red handed, Allegra turned around and found herself in Valerio’s secure embrace again. Natale walked passed them and over to the counter.

“I’m glad you didn’t wait, Val.” She took out two mugs and set them down on the counter, Allegra could hear the soft clatter as the cups went down. Moments later she heard Natale’s soft tone closer to her ears. “Hold out your hand, sweetie.”

Allegra took the cup and smiled into it, feeling the steam on her face. “Thanks, Natale.”

“You made it, I just poured it out.” Natale chuckled and took a sniff. “Hot, just the way I like it. Coffee and men.”

A growl rolled through the room. “Man. How you like your man.” Salvatore’s growl at his mate fooled no one. He was completely wrapped around everything of hers. “I hope you’re not drinking that coffee, Principessa.”

“Here, take it. I just wanted to take a sniff. Here, grumpy bear. It’s all yours.”

Allegra listened as Salvatore set his cup down and made Natale sigh. She turned slightly toward Valerio. “Should we give them some privacy.”

“If they wanted privacy, they have a room.”

“You both have rooms.”

Allegra laughed at Uberto’s comment and heard him pick up the cup from the table.

“Thanks for the coffee.” Uberto took a loud gulp from the cup, the heat didn’t bother him at all. “So, what’s with all the hugging and kissing in the kitchen this morning?”

No one answered and Uberto was left to pick up the pieces. “You did it!”

Natale laughed. “I was waiting for the men to notice, but I’m also waiting for Val to notice her hands.”

Allegra barely managed not to moan as her mate’s hands moved over hers. He was thorough, but she was still reeling from the memories of what those hands had done to her the night before. Not just the first time when he marked her, but later in his bedroom and again in the pre-dawn hours when she’d woken from a dream to find his mouth tending to his mark. She’d fallen asleep later, sated and exhausted on top of her mate.

“We should go to the doctor as soon as he’ll see us this morning.” She heard Valerio’s amazement in his voice, but she also knew how she felt. Her wrists and fingers which had been tender and aching the night before after their adventure, felt amazing in the morning. She felt like she could pick up her bow and cello and play all day if she wanted to.

“He’ll see you as soon as you get there.” Salvatore’s tone said he would make it happen.

She felt a little flush on her cheeks. “He’ll see me. You don’t need to worry. He’s been my doctor since…” She let the words die away and hoped that the memories it brought up would fade as fast, but they lingered.

Valerio brushed a kiss on her cheek and murmured in her ear. “I’m here for you.”

Allegra nodded. “I know.”

Natale appeared at her side again. “We need to go and look at a different dress for tonight.”

There was a moment of confusion in the room.

Uberto launched in first. “What’s wrong with her dress?”

Natale sighed. “I knew you wouldn’t understand.”

He chuffed, a sound that they all recognized from the youngest brother. “What does she need? A different color? What does she care?”

Valerio’s voice rumbled in his chest. “Watch your mouth.”

Allegra stroked his chest. “Calm yourself. I didn’t take any offense.”

The two younger brothers turned on each other, growling under their breaths. Natale put an end to it with a whistle.

“See, this is why I don’t trust any of you on fashion.” She wrapped an arm around Allegra. “Now that she bears his mark, I’ll have to cover it up, at least for tonight. It’s healing, but it will likely still be red and scarred at least for a day or two.”

The men quieted down and Valerio opened his mouth to speak.

It tickled Allegra. Feeling her connection to him continue to deepen, she could almost feel his emotions along with her own when they were fresh and near the surface. “Don’t you apologize, Valerio. I got what I asked for and I’m happy. Beyond happy.” She covered Natale’s hand with her own. “Let’s go and see what we can do for tonight.”

The ladies left the room laughing sweetly with each other before they shut the door.

* * *

The gala performance at the zoo was amazing. Any worries that Allegra had before they took the makeshift stage in front of the central fountain had dissolved the instant she felt the solid neck of her cello in one hand and her bow in the other.

She’d always felt a connection to music. The headaches that she’d had as a child could only be cured by music. It had taken years to discover the notes and chords that eased the pain in her head, silenced the nagging sensations that turned her stomach and had left her cowering in the chilly silence of her tiled bathroom.

As a teenager, when most kids that were her own age were out at the mall or hanging out at the lake, Allegra found solace with mentors who were made of marble. Bach, Beethoven, Debussy, were the friends who knew her secrets, the loneliness that she felt in a roomful of people.

At Julliard, she’d discovered a crowd that understood her oddity. They were companions in her strange desire to take the work of long dead composers and make it into a tangible, breathing entity. Music had become a bridge to the outside world, a tentative connection to people that didn’t see the world in keys and tempos.

And with the audience sitting before her, the cool autumn air washing over her skin, and the soft play of water behind her, Allegra felt like she was truly alive. Her bow sang across the strings, giving voice to the music her fingers drew along the fingerboard.

Never much of a performer on her own, her instrument gave her new life. Allegra used the music to tease and taunt, beg and plead, and commune with the audience and her fellow performers.

As the final notes of ‘the Swan’ dissolved into the darkness, the audience had erupted with cheers.

The stage crew took her cello and bow, stepping back to allow the patrons to come up onto the stage. With such fundraisers, the people who had purchased tickets had paid quite a pretty penny to attend and feel connected to the event.

Essa stood beside her for the most part, leaning closer to her to be heard above the pressing crowd. He introduced her to people she recognized by name from the society papers and the gossip magazines that she’d read back before the attack.

Actors and personalities gushed over her performance. Business and calling cards were set into her hand. It was a heady rush of new sensations.

And through it all, she felt him in the darkness. Valerio, standing with his family. Now, her family.

She smiled to herself as she nodded and smiled while a real-estate mogul of some notoriety pumped her hand over and over.

She heard a note of concern in her head and shook her head slightly, hoping that Valerio would see it and relax.

The man holding her hand was aggressive, but he was harmless. She enjoyed hearing his feelings about the performance. He sounded like a man more used to a classic rock concert. She heard a little Southern flavor in his voice, a bit of an accent that he’d never be able to shake no matter how hard he tried. He was truly appreciative for the experience, but she also heard a little tinge of curiosity in his tone.

Coming to a head when he asked her. “Would you be free to join me for dinner some night?”

Allegra heard Essa’s quiet indrawn breath beside her, but she knew she could handle it. It gave her a quick moment of ridiculous pride. Still, she wished she could see Essa’s expression.

“I’m sorry, Mister-”

“Allen. Geoffrey Allen.”

She nodded and smiled, covering their joined hands with hers. “What a lovely offer, Mister Allen. I think it would be lovely to have dinner with you and your wife. My… my husband and I would love to get to know you.”

“Oh,” she felt his hesitation in his hand as well as the tone of his voice, “um, I’m not married.” He withdrew his hand from hers and cleared his throat. “Mr. Nylund, I’m looking forward to the upcoming concert.”

Essa’s tone was light and carried a relieved sigh with it. “We shall look forward to it. Having you in the audience is a great joy, sir.”

Someone took Allegra’s arm while Essa continued to talk to Mr. Allen and she turned to lean her ear in their direction. The wind made the introductions. Linda’s gardenia scented lotion reached her nose before the sound of her voice. “Hey, you, awesome job tonight.”

Allegra grinned. “You too, your solo in the Debussy, was-”

“Yes, yes, thanks. I just wanted to give you something.”

“Me?” Allegra felt her brow furrow. “What is it?”

With Linda’s hand on her arm, Allegra felt her shrug. “I don’t know. One of the patrons had to leave and they said this was for you.”

Allegra felt something bump into her arm and she lifted up a hand to take it from Linda. She used her fingers to feel the surface of the present.

“It’s just a white box with a red ribbon that you can pull off.”

There was an element of impatience in Linda’s voice, but Allegra could relate. She’d never been one to sit around shaking gifts when she was a child. She’d tear into the wrapping paper and leave a huge mess in her wake.

Her fingers found the bow on the package and felt the commercially created bow. It wasn’t going to untie so she just tugged at it and felt the ribbons around the box shift. Walking her fingers to the side she pulled one of the cross-ribbons down the face of the box and pulled the ribbon free.

There was a moment when she paused, thinking back to the layout of the stage.

“What are you looking for?” Jane was at her other elbow a moment later. “Oh, sweetie, I’ll take that for you.” The bow was plucked from her hand. “Who gave you a present?”

Allegra turned it slightly toward Jane. “Is there a card? A label?”

“Hmm,” Jane leaned closer and Allegra smelled her light lilac perfume. “No, sweetie, I don’t see anything.”

“It’s probably in the box,” Linda offered up the idea.

Allegra nodded and reached for the box top. She fumbled a bit but had it off a moment later, turning it over to set it under the other half.

She heard a gasp from one or both of the ladies as she reached into the box.

Jane grabbed at her arm, but it was already too late. Allegra dropped the box and the gathering around her came grinding to a halt at the sound of breaking glass.

* * *

Valerio heard the shattering glass, but it was the pain he felt in his chest that moved him first. It was a good thing that the crowd had already started to disperse, or he might have knocked someone over in his rush to get to Allegra.

Something crunched under the sole of his shoe, but his eyes were fixed on his mate. Taking hold of her hand, he turned it over and narrowed his gaze at the freely flowing blood trailing down her fingers and onto her palm.

She barely flinched when he touched her, almost as if she expected his touch.

“I’m okay, Valerio.”

He didn’t answer, he didn’t need to. She felt his concern, his worry. She even felt his relief when the quick application of his handkerchief seemed to slow the bleeding down.

Salvatore took point with the security staff that had converged on the scene. They might not be in charge of the zoo staff, but he was going to take charge of the situation.

Uberto moved them off to the side. “I’ll take care of the glass, bring the box back home.”

As they walked, Valerio still fretting over her hand, Allegra turned back toward the stage. “Be careful,” she called to the youngest of the three, her worry plain in her features and the tone of her voice.

Valerio heard the predictable grumble in his brother’s voice and yet didn’t take offense. He saw the smile that Uberto gave his mate, read concern in his brother’s eyes.

Allegra sighed and the sound didn’t leave him concerned, it left him hard.

She laughed, a soft melodic sound that had more blood pulsing through his body.

“I think we should get to the car.” Natale’s suggestion got them moving.

He stepped closer to Allegra and had her safely in his arms a moment later. The pianist sighed and waved at him and the conductor met his eyes with worry and affection for Allegra plain to see in the older man’s eyes.

The driver was already at the front entrance and he heard Natalie’s phone case shut with a click. “Take her home, Val. I’ll wait for the others.”

He didn’t want to argue. Salvatore would take good care of his mate and Valerio desperately needed some time alone with Allegra. Setting his mate in the car he turned to brush a kiss on Natale’s cheek. “Thank you.”

She gave his shoulder a playful shove. “Go.”

In the car he got down on his knees and reached for her hand. “Let me see again.”

She groaned but held out her hand.

He looked at her fingertips and the bear made its opinion known about the whole event.

Her laughter softened the anger he’d been fighting. “Both of you need to calm down. I’m fine.”

“You’re bleeding.”

She sighed. “Your bear is pretty close, isn’t he?” She didn’t wait for an answer. “I can hear him in your voice. Feel him just under the surface. Even in the dark he’s rather imposing.”

He listened to her words, absorbing their meaning.

“Is Salvatore bigger than you as a bear?”

His bear rushed at the wall separating them. Fangs pushed through and he tasted his own blood on his tongue. “Why?”

He felt her fingertips on his cheek, brushing against his face.

“You’re not angry,” she trailed her soft skin against the thickening hair, blending with the fur struggling to push through his skin, “you’re jealous.”

Valerio bent over her hand, looking at the cut. They were shallow, superficial. They could have been worse, so much worse. The worry pushed at him like a hand ruffling up his fur. “Does it matter?”

“His size compared to yours as a bear?” She giggled and that only made his frustration worse.

But as disgruntled as he was, he had one primary aim, taking care of his mate.

His phone buzzed and a quick look told him what he already suspected. The glass was thick, but the way it was broken, they weren’t worried about thin slivers. Valerio set his phone aside and picked up her hand again.

He lifted her hand up to his nose and took in a deep breath, fanning the exhale across her skin. A sigh escaped her lips when he touched his tongue to her fingertip. He brushed his tongue over the pad of her finger in one direction and then another. His touch made her shiver and he liked the way she sagged back against the seat.

When he drew her finger into his mouth and cleaned away her blood she made a little moan in the back of her throat. When he slipped the next finger into his mouth she giggled softly.

“Don’t misunderstand me but, I – Oh, wow, that feels amazing – I mean, is this your way of making me melt? Because I’m all for it.”

To answer her he had to hold back the hunger he felt building inside of him. They were close to their home and he wanted her to get safe inside, but he knew he had a little time. “It’s the same principle of how I’ve been healing the mark on your shoulder.”

“Oh,” she sighed and moaned again as he took another finger into his mouth, “so it’s like the old adage of ‘kiss it and make it better’ except I get to have your tongue on me?”

He smiled at the way she described it, applying a little more pressure from his tongue as he bathed her finger. The taste of her blood was a familiar one and his body enjoyed the reminder of their mating.

“You’ll get more of it later after we get home,” he turned her hand over and looked at the three fingers he’d treated. The tips of her fingers weren’t bleeding any more. While he could see fine lines that wouldn’t be likely to leave a scar, he was sure they would be healed in a matter of minutes.

The car pulled into the private parking entrance of their building and descended toward their private penthouse elevator. Assured that she could step out on her own, Valerio exited the car and made his way around to open the opposite door, gently drawing her out beside him. The driver pulled away, leaving them standing comfortably beside each other for a few moments.

Allegra turned toward him and Valerio’s gaze poured over her face. It was a dream, he worried. There was always a little doubt in the back of his head that said he’d wake up one morning, alone and suffering again. And yet, with all the years he’d waited, hoping to meet ‘the one’ in such a crowded city, staying on deep-seated faith alone, he’d finally found Allegra.

He watched as she lifted a hand toward his face, showing him the tip of her ring finger that still held a drop of blood.

“I know,” she told him, a little bit of resignation in her tone, “that we’re going to discuss what happened when the others come home.”

“Mmm hmm.” He took her hand in his, drawing her into the elevator when the doors slid open. When he set the floor, he wrapped an arm around his curvaceous mate and pulled her closer, using his other hand to take hold of the finger she’d presented to him.

“Until then,” he pressed a kiss lightly against the cut, “I’m going to take care of this cut and try to make your knees weak.”

“What,” she swallowed as his lips closed over the first part of her finger, “I mean why would you want to do that?” She flushed as his tongue swept over the pad of her finger. “Because you make me weak just by touching me.”

He leaned back to speak and she mourned the loss of his heat. “Because then I can carry you in my arms when I take you to bed, and I do so love carrying you.” He pulled her back into his mouth, slowly tangling his tongue against her finger.

“You’ll get no arguments from me,” she sighed, leaning closer into his embrace.