Chapter 29


"Dio Lizzie, you are incredible," Alessandro rasped against my cheek once he'd found the strength to ease himself out of me. "How are you feeling?"

Still so high on this afterglow, a dazed smile was all I could offer him. "You didn't use protection," I finally whispered.

And suddenly the afterglow evaporated.

"Cazzo!" Alessandro swore, practically leaping off me like I had some sort of infectious disease. I knew what he was thinking, because I was thinking it too. My falling pregnant to him now, while I was still his brand new 'bride', screamed an even bigger scandal than the one that we were presently in the cusp of. We wanted people to believe we'd married for love, not because it looked like he had knocked me up. I felt my stomach sink, my hand inadvertently going to my womb as if I could already feel the little life kicking and squirming inside of me. Oh god. What was I thinking? What was he thinking?

"I'm so sorry, Lizzie," he said.

I sat up after him and tugged my dress down over my hips.

"I'm sure it's fine," I lied. "This sort of stuff happens with people all the time with no repercussions, right?"

Alessandro's expression basically flat-lined but he nodded regardless. "Let's not do that again."

Then, because he was the boss and this was still during the workday, Alessandro's phone blared to life. He stalked over to his desk to glimpsed the caller ID and, switching back to business mode, answered with a short, "Pronto?"

I tuned out of the conversation that took place in Italian, taking a moment to regain my bearings as I made another glance about his office. Trying to distract myself from that feeling of utter loss of control that seemed to be overtaking me more and more with every day I spent with this man. The space was huge yet sparsely furnished, though what furniture he did have was luxurious and expensive. An out-of-the-way door grabbed my attention and getting up to investigate, I realised it was a fully fitted bathroom with its own shower. Attached to that was a dressing room where Alessandro kept his coats, a spare suit and several shirts.

I freshened up in the bathroom, taking note of the dull ache between my thighs and the tiny, finger-shaped bruises already forming on my hips. High risk factor aside, his possession of me had been wild. Just thinking about it had my head spinning and my body burning up even despite the urge to panic over something that might not even happen.

By the time I stepped from the bathroom, Alessandro had finished with his phone call. I caught his broody expression.

"We need to be in Florence in a couple of hours," he said.

"Florence?" I shot a glance through the huge, floor to ceiling windows at a sky that was already darkening to deep shades of blue and black. "But it's evening." Then finally the rest of what he said registered. "Wait. You said we?"

"Yes. A last minute arrangement. The helicopter is waiting for us on the roof."

"Helicopter?" I parroted.

"," he nodded. Then stopped short when he suddenly realised he was being bossy. "Er... that is if you want to come."

"To Florence?"

"."

"Um. Yes!" Then it was my turn to stop. "Except, I have nothing else to wear."

He gave me a quick once over, a smile tugging at his lips and I felt myself burn under his gaze, knowing all too well that he was recalling the fact that I wasn't wearing underwear under this pencil dress. He slipped around his desk and moved for the dressing room only to return a few seconds later wearing one of his cashmere coats. He carried a second coat over his arm.

"Here, put this on. It's going to be cold outside. I'll arrange for a wardrobe to be delivered to you in Florence."

He slipped it onto my arms and secured it over my much smaller frame that seemed to get lost in it. It smelled just like him.

"I somehow think this is tailored to fit just one body type," I chuckled, flapping the sleeves that hung over my hands.

I watched his expression soften. "And yet you still manage to make my clothes look so sexy on you." He hunted for my hand in the oversized sleeve and promptly whisked me from the office.

Alessandro's secretary was already waiting for us outside the doorway. She handed him a folder and me my clutch that I had completely forgotten I'd dropped when I'd witnessed Lydia feeling up Alessandro earlier. Then heading for the stairs, we made our way to the roof where a sleek helicopter baring the Zingaro insignia waited.


We arrived in Florence under the cover of darkness where we were then promptly whisked to a stunning 16th century palazzo that had been converted into a luxury hotel. Alessandro and I walked hand in hand through a foyer fit for royalty with its warm Italian marble and stunning frescos of Renaissance nobles arrayed in all their fancy dress. Giant hanging lanterns that looked like they could have been as old as the palazzo itself hung from the high ceilings and lit our way with the soft glow of candlelight, giving the place an air of history and romance. It felt like we had been transported back in time.

"Another one of your transformations?" I barely managed to rasp.

"The Zingaro Empire is vast, bella mia," he husked, his smugness evident in the way he watched my slack-jawed awe. The place was a palace.

Alessandro picked up a package from the reception desk and I couldn't help but notice the way the staff watched me with a mix of intrigue and apprehension.

As to be expected of Alessandro's tastes, the suite that had been specially prepared for us was vast and luxurious, complete with its own private rooftop terrace hosting the most immaculate view of Florence. I'd barely finished exploring the space which was fit for royalty, when there was a knock at the door and Alessandro allowed entry to a woman carrying what I soon realised was an arm full of outfits for me to choose from. He instructed her to set up in the living area and, while I made my selection, he escaped to the en suite to shower and freshen up.

I had no idea where we were going but given that it was much colder here in Florence than in Rome, I opted for a red winter dress, ankle high boots and a thick coat, as well as picked out a few other potential outfits for the coming days. How long would we be in Florence for? I hadn't bothered to ask. The woman seemed happy with my selection and left me to get ready for Alessandro's first business do with me by his side. When I finally emerged dressed and made up, Alessandro was sitting in the living area dressed to impress in a sharp, tailored suit that made me think of the old Italian Mafia movies. He was reading through the pile of paperwork his secretary had handed him in his office before we left for Florence. He frowned in concentration, every so often twiddling an expensive gold pen between his fingers only to scribble something down on the page. Then realising I was there, his head came up and his frown deepened.

I felt my stomach sink. "What is it? I look terrible, don't I?"

Setting the paperwork aside, he rose from the couch to get a better look at me and my breath caught in my throat. Oh god. With his black hair slicked back and fitted suit that worked more to enhance his frame than hide it, he really did look like a Mafia man. Must have been something to do with the pinstripes.

"Quite the opposite," he said. "You look stunning, Lizzie."

I gave him the quizzical raise of an eyebrow, attempting to hold back the insistent wobble in my suddenly jelly-like legs. "Then why the frowning?"

"Because I know for a fact that every other man who sees you will be thinking the same thing and I don't like the idea of you occupying another man's mind."

I tried unsuccessfully to hide the smirk as well as keep my knees together. If he took another step closer, I was going to combust.

"This isn't funny, Lizzie," he rumbled.

"Would dressing as a nun perhaps be more pleasing to you, caro?" I asked. "Because this is what the women are wearing. Or so I'm told."

Alessandro had no choice but to concede. He reached for his coat and I grabbed his arm, feeling the delicious, firm muscle underneath his sleeve.

"And besides," I said, giving it a pat and blatantly ignoring the sensual shiver that rattled its way down my spine as my body responded to his closeness. "I know for a fact that you have a mean right hook. No man would dare look at me sideways with you by my side."

"That's why I don't intend to let you out of my sights." With his free arm he reached into his coat pocket and pulled out the small box he'd picked up at the reception desk. "One more thing."

The box came open with a satisfying click to reveal a string of diamonds hanging from a gold chain. The necklace was simple and dainty but probably worth a small fortune.

"Just a small gift for my lovely wife."

I sucked in a breath. "Oh Alessandro. This is too beautiful for words."

I brushed a shaky finger over diamonds that glittered like tiny white suns. When in the world did he find the time to organise these? Releasing it from its catch, Alessandro signalled for me to turn around and he clasped the necklace around my throat.

"It's wonderful. Thank you, Alessandro."

"You are quite welcome," he said, turning me back around to get a better look at me. The smile formed on his lips. "La mia bella regina." My beautiful queen.