With her first indrawn, semi-conscious breath, Allegra stretched under the covers. The room was oddly warm, almost as if she’d somehow curled up beside the heating unit in the wall. Startled, she blinked her eyes to clear her vision, an old habit that she’d never managed to outgrow, even after all these years, no matter how many times she’d woken up to the darkness before her. The surface beneath her was soft, as if the bed cradled her body in comfort. “So I’m not on the floor.”

“Hardly.” The voice that answered her held a hint of humor somewhere beneath the brittle surface of tension. “You’re in our bed.”

Our. That woke her completely, pushing her up from the bed on a bent arm beside a warm, hard body.

She felt a blanket draw up and over her arm and up to her shoulder. “Go back to sleep, Stellina. There’s more than an hour before you have to be awake.”

Once the blanket was draped over her body, warm fingertips trailed over her cheek.

“Besides,” his sigh pulled at her like a caress, “I want you back in my arms.”

Allegra couldn’t seem to move. “I slept with you?”

A hand slipped down her side to settle on her hip, and only then did she realize that he’d had a hand on her ribs while she was sleeping. The thought was seductive on its own. She fought down the thought… but her feelings grew.

It was hard enough to relax into the touch of another person, a man, even more so, but she’d slept beside Valerio for at least a few hours if her calculations were correct. She slept beside him and the nightmare hadn’t returned.

She felt the gentle warmth of his hand on her side and she cuddled against him. “I bet I’m taking up a lot of room,” she yawned slightly and settled in even closer against his side, “if you want, I can sleep on the couch or something.”

Valerio swallowed and then she heard him draw in a deep breath. “No.” His voice was rough, she could almost hear it scratch through the tender flesh of his throat.

Allegra struggled to sit up beside him. It would have been easy enough on her bed, she was an active sleeper, turning and tossing enough to kick her blankets to the ground instead of tangling around her legs, but in this case, there was another person in the bed. Where she was tall, she was also curvy, but Valerio seemed to take up every inch that she didn’t.

“Let me help.” A moment later she felt him untangle the sheets from her legs before he sat up beside her in bed. “Better?”

Allegra held still for a moment, drawing in his scent. She hasn’t been this close to a man since… since the darkness and even if she couldn’t see the way he held her or the way he looked at her, she was sure that Valerio was unlike any other man she’d ever been with.

Yet, even that list was a little lacking.

She sighed. “Very lacking.”

He bristled against her. “Explain.”

His breath was warm against her neck, her hair caught against his cheek. She lifted her hand to brush against her cheek and felt the tender spot high on her cheekbone where they’d likely brushed against each other while they were sleeping. The intimate touch burned her cheeks with more heat. “My experience with,” she moved her hand away from her cheek to gesture at the bed beneath them, “this… is sorely lacking.”

His arms tightened around her body but she didn’t feel any pain, or constriction, she felt sheltered, protected. “I’m glad, Allegra.” His voice was barely a whisper in her ears. “The thought of anyone touching you,” she felt a growl vibrate through his body, the sensations rolling through them both, “we don’t like it.”

“We?” The odd choice of words piqued her interest. “What does that mean?”

He tensed against her back, leaning his cheek against the crown of her head. She wondered what he was thinking about.

“I should blame it on the fact that I grew up speaking Italian,” he began, “but there’s something you should know about me. Something that might change the way you think about me, but not how I think… how I feel about you, Allegra.”

“Okay,” she hesitated slightly but didn’t pull away from him, “what is it?”

A knock sounded at the door and even though Valerio tensed initially, he leaned back and let out an indulgent sigh. “Come in.”

The door opened a few inches. “It’s just me and I’m not looking.” Allegra recognized Natale’s voice and the warm humor that spread through it like a smile. “So, if you two are indecent I can’t tell.”

Allegra reached up to touch her shoulder and remembered that she was still wearing her tank top and sleep-pants from the night before. Allegra answered, “I’m dressed,” before turning toward her shoulder to ask, “are you?”

His hand settled on her hip and gave her a squeeze. “Enough.”

“Enough?” Allegra’s question was coupled with a cough of laughter. “What does that mean?”

She felt a quick kiss touch her temple before Valerio swept her hair back behind her ear.

“I’m dressed enough that Natale can come in here and Salvatore won’t rip me apart.”

“Oh please,” Natale entered the room and crossed toward the bed, “Salvatore wouldn’t do that even if you weren’t. He knows how angry I’d be if he hurt you.” Something heavy touched the bedside table. “I brought coffee for you both.”

Allegra hesitated but didn’t say a word.

“If you’d like tea, I have some brewing in the kitchen,” she explained. “Still, we have to get going.”

“Going?”

Valerio doubled Allegra’s question, holding Allegra closer to his chest. She tried to ignore the thick length of his erection under her thigh. “We have time before Allegra needs to go to rehearsal.”

Natale’s sigh was telling. “You have time unless you forgot to pack her things and bring them over last night.

“But I’m betting that you were in such a hurry to get her here that you didn’t think to bring her a change of clothes.”

She felt Valerio’s body tense and if someone offered even money on a bet, she would guess that he was blaming himself.

“We didn’t bring anything,” Allegra answered it herself, “which was my fault, really. He had his hands full.” The admission made her grimace at the sound of her words, but not Valerio. He cuddled her closer and she could feel his body’s grateful reaction, it had the same effect on hers. “If we leave in a few minutes I can get a cab and-”

Natale’s laughter interrupted her first and then turned into a motherly ‘shhh’ to Valerio. The growl, that Allegra was quickly becoming used to, filled her ears. “If you’ll both just calm down for a minute, I have a perfect solution.”

Valerio calmed down first, giving in to his sister-in-law in what Allegra could only believe was a survival thing. After all, who was going to argue with Natale Orsino?

Natale’s hand closed over hers. “Let’s have you come with me, Allegra.”

As soon as Valerio eased his arms from her middle, she scooted to the edge of the bed and slipped off the edge and onto the floor.

“Allegra.”

She stopped and felt Natale’s reassuring squeeze as she turned her ear toward the sound. “Yes, Valerio?”

“Let me know when you’re ready.”

She nodded but it took a moment for her voice to form her answer. She heard what he’d said, but maybe it was just her imagination, but she wondered if she’d ever be ready for a life like this. A life with someone like Valerio.

She only hoped that she might have a chance to find out.

* * *

They made it all the way to Natale’s closet before Allegra started to explain. “We weren’t, you know… doing anything in his bed.”

“Oh?” Natale’s voice was muffled by the clothing she was searching through. “Then you weren’t sleeping?”

“Oh yeah! Yes. I mean, yes, we were sleeping together-”

“Oh?”

“No!” Allegra reached up a hand and gathered a handful of her sleep-tousled hair. “I mean, yes. We were sleeping and in his bed, but not ‘sleeping together.’” She cleared her throat. “You know?”

There were a few scrapes of metal on metal, likely hangers. “Sure, I know.”

Allegra’s shoulders sagged in relief. “Good. Thanks.”

Natale laughed and the sound made Allegra smile. “That must really suck. Beside Salvatore, you won’t find a man with more inches of sexy muscle up and down his body than Val. And just like his brother,” she sighed, “he’d be entirely devoted to the woman he loved. You.”

“Me?” Allegra shook her head. “That’s not who I am to him. I know what he said, but that’s just… I just can’t believe it.”

“Give it time, Allegra. Being with an Orsino brother… well, it takes a lot of getting used to.”

Natale took Allegra’s hand and set it on a hanger. “Given what you’re going to be doing today I have a few choices of outfits. We’re nearly the same size, but you’re a little taller than I am, so none of my slacks would fit you, even though they’d likely be the easiest for you to wear and play.

“So, the dresses I have here are all jersey. Comfortable and easy to wear. You’ll need a coat outside, but it’s fall so you’d need one anyway. I’ll match the color when you pick a dress.”

Allegra trailed her fingers over the dress, feeling the fine stitches along the neckline and then the armscye. She gave a little wince. “Do you have one with sleeves?”

Natale’s laughter was shared. “I know what you mean. I wear this one with a light jacket, but I can see how that wouldn’t work for playing an instrument.”

A soft clatter of sound said that the dress was set down.

“This one has three quarter sleeves and wraps around.”

Allegra hesitated again. “I don’t want the bow to get caught in the ties.”

“That would be something to worry about.”

“You probably think I’m a huge pain. You’re really doing me a favor and I’m just being picky-”

“You want to feel good. Believe me, Allegra, I understand.” A gentle hand settled on Allegra’s shoulder. “The whole reason I started my Bellezza line was to give women of all sizes beautiful clothes that not only made a woman look as gorgeous as she is, but to feel just as amazing.

“Now, here, this one,” the fabric was set against Allegra’s hand, “this one has three quarter sleeves, cut on the bias to flow around your body, but keep out of your way. If you like this one, we can have it made in any color or fabric that you like.”

“No, please don’t put yourself to any trouble, I just need something to wear until I can get my things from my… I mean, until I can go back to my apartment.”

“Right,” Natale’s tone told her she was fooling herself. “Now let’s get you into the shower. I have some soaps you can use until we have your brands delivered.”

Allegra’s head was spinning. So much had changed in less than a day, and somehow, she knew it was going to keep changing.

And for the first time, in a long time, the thought of change didn’t bring a rush of fear.

* * *

“Take a break everyone!” The conductor closed his score and moved around the stand as the musicians made a mad rush to set aside their instruments, head to the restroom, breakroom, or out into the alley for a smoke.

Allegra remained in her chair waiting for the noise to fade before she tried to get up from her chair.

“Miss Rossetti?”

Leaning forward, she set her bow down on the table at her side. “Mr. Nylund?”

The older man chuckled. “Please, please,” his accented voice was delightful to listen to, carrying an old-world charm, and his clipped enunciation had a rhythm of its own, “call me Essa.”

Allegra was flattered. Prior to signing the agreement to play with the Gotham Chamber Orchestra, she’d done research on Essa Nylund. He had a long career as a respected conductor. He had mentored a small number of musicians, shepherding them through the beginning of their careers, helping them achieve stardom. Her goals were not so lofty as that, but she did want to please him.

He’d shown her nothing but kindness since she’d begun her work with the orchestra and she wanted to repay him for his efforts with her own.

“I don’t know if I could do that,” she laughed, “I’m sure I’ll cave in and call you Mr. Nylund from time to time.”

He returned her laughter. “I would not mind if you did, my dear.” He cleared his throat. “Would you mind if I sat for a moment and spoke with you?”

“Please.” Allegra shook her head and then bent to the side to lay the cello safely beside her chair. “Have a seat.”

She waited for him to speak.

“I wanted to thank you for the effort that you’ve put into your rehearsals with us, Miss Rossetti.”

“Call me Allegra, please.”

He chuckled and she could almost imagine him wagging a finger at her. “Allegra, yes. You have been a joy.”

“I am very grateful for the chance to perform. For years I had thought that part of my life was behind me. Now,” she drew in a breath, “I feel as though I have a second chance to share my music with others. I’m willing to work very hard to earn my place on any stage at all.”

She startled when she felt his hand cover hers.

“Please forgive me, Allegra. I did not mean to make you feel… uncomfortable.”

He began to move his hand away, but she covered it with her other hand and smiled. “No, please, don’t worry. It was just a little shock.” She could feel the affection in his touch just as she heard it in his voice.

“I wanted to speak with you about the upcoming performance at the Bronx Zoo.”

A little thrill moved through her. “Have you decided which pieces we’re going to play?”

“Yes, well,” he began to explain, “while we have a number of pieces ready for performance, I was quite taken with your rendition of ‘Swan,’ and feel that it would be the perfect piece to end the performance.”

Allegra felt her face warm with a blush. “I would be honored.”

“Good,” she heard a slight squeak of chair legs on the linoleum floor as Essa stood up, “I’d like to schedule some rehearsals and…”

“Yes,” Allegra struggled to concentrate on his words, “whatever you need. Thank you.”

She felt a gentle touch on her shoulder. “Just keep doing what you’re doing, Allegra. You’ll see more of these opportunities come your way.”

* * *

When he’d taken her to the rehearsal hall that morning, Valerio had asked Natale to come along with them and had to endure more than his fair share of taunting from Uberto. His younger brother had called Salvatore’s mate their chaperone.

While the term fit in its definition, he knew that Uberto had missed the point entirely. Natale hadn’t gone along to keep the two apart, he’d asked her to come to ease the tension in the car.

Being in such a closed space with Allegra was going to be hard enough, but his bear, who had been exceedingly patient since the incident in the subway, was now riding Valerio hard. Hard enough that after holding Allegra in his arms for just a few hours, he wasn’t quite sure that he had the ability to let her walk away at the door.

Natale was the perfect person to keep the bear in check, it recognized her as family and didn’t see her as an obstacle.

Now, standing outside the rehearsal hall, it was all he could do to keep himself outside the door, shoes planted on the cold fall concrete sidewalk.

He watched as half a dozen people exited the building from the door before him, and then there was a long gap before another nine left the building. The final person from that group was the Oboe player he’d met the day before.

“Well hello there, tall dark and,” she looked up into his face and he saw her smile fall a little, “sadly not interested.”

He cleared his throat and looked back toward the door before looking back at her. “Is Allegra finished?”

Linda sighed. “Don’t I wish.”

Valerio felt an odd sensation in his middle. “Is something wrong with Allegra?”

The question seemed to catch her by surprise. “Wrong?” She made a vague gesture with her hands before she shrugged. “No, she’s just talking with someone about her new schedule.”

That caught his interest. “New schedule?”

Linda’s teeth locked together for a moment. “I think I’ll let her tell you the good news,” she sighed. “I have to get home.” She left a moment or two before the door opened again.

Allegra stepped outside, holding onto the arm of a woman quite a few years older than her.

Valerio opened the door and held it for them, earning him a bright smile from the other woman.

“The man you were telling me about,” she stage-whispered into Allegra’s ear, “would he be tall, muscular, and devastatingly handsome?”

Allegra gave it a moment’s thought. “Tall, yes… muscular, very… and handsome?” She turned slightly and he thought she might be using her hearing to listen for a reaction from him. “He certainly makes my head spin and my insides all tingly.”

“Oh,” the other woman leaned closer and laughed, “then I think he’s standing just to your left. And my, my,” she sighed out loud, “he would make my insides tingly too, if I didn’t already have a love of my own.” She held out her hand to shake and he took it. “I’m Jane South.”

Allegra nodded toward the other woman. “She’s a wizard on the piano.”

“You’re just fluffing up my ego and I love you for it.” She pressed a kiss on Allegra’s cheek. “If you need to adjust any of the rehearsal times, just call me. I put my information into your phone.” Holding out Allegra’s hand to Valerio, Jane stepped away when he stepped closer. “You,” she settled her direct gaze on his face, “take good care of your lady.”

She walked off down the street whistling a jaunty melody.

He would have been content, tucking her arm into the crook of his to walk her to their waiting car, but it seemed that Allegra wasn’t. Turning toward him, she lifted her arm to wrap around his neck, using contact with his chest and then his shoulder to judge the distance.

He tensed until he drew in her scent, enjoying the sweet spice of her skin under the familiar floral soap that Natale liked to use. He held still, keeping a tight rein on his control, until she turned her head to lay her cheek against his chest.

The bear within him was a step behind his human half in that moment as Valerio wrapped his arms around Allegra and pulled her in close, burying his face against her neck where it met her shoulder.

The bear stirred within him, eager, hungry to mark her as theirs. Her scent was addictive. Her curves the perfect cushion to his hard planes. He opened his mouth to speak but she took the words from his lips.

“I missed you.” She pulled him closer and he gathered her up in his arms as if she were as light as a feather. “All day long, I’ve been thinking about you, waiting to see you again.”

Her words humbled him, made him weak and bolstering his strength at the same time.

“I needed you just as much.” His words were feathered kisses on her neck, gentle caresses against her skin. “And now that you’re with me, I have somewhere to take you.”

She flushed when she leaned back in his arms. “Where are we going?”

“One of my favorite places.” He waited to see if she’d ask him more questions. She had every right to.

Instead, she smoothed her hand down his arm and linked their fingers together. “Show me.”