by Alexa Kang
At that moment, she looked at him, this beautiful person with whom she had fallen in love. She thought of all the dangers and miseries he had suffered. He had been in battle for so long in Anzio, out on the front, sleeping in the rain, the cold, or the snow. If that hadn't been bad enough, he had to watch his own men die brutal deaths day in and day out. The enemy was ruthless. His own army had no mercy. To both the Allied army and the enemy, he was disposable. The command expected him to carry on with his missions even if it meant he would be killed. He bore his burdens alone, with a company of men relying on him for their lives. His own life was always at stake.
When she thought of all this, she no longer had the heart to hold anything back from him. She abandoned her own feelings of modesty and all remaining sense of propriety. What he wanted was so little, compared to what had been asked of him. If this was what she could do for him, then she would give herself over to him. From this moment on, she would give him everything he would ever ask of her. She rose up and kissed him to reassure him. What they did tonight would be her declaration of love for him.
Her willing response excited him. She could see the fire growing in his eyes when he saw the full view of what he wanted to see. He laid a gentle kiss on her lips and caressed her, touching her everywhere and laying claim to every part of her. He took his time and explored her body, arousing in her sensations of pleasure she had never known. Even when the sensations became unbearable, he would not stop. He teased her, titillated her and imposed his will upon her to reveal to him all her physical reactions to his touch. He would not let her hide anything from him.
When he finally came into her, she was craving him, aching to become one with him. She wanted his body to melt into hers. She couldn't get close enough to him.
Remembering all this, Tessa smiled. While she indulged in her thoughts, she sensed Anthony stirring next to her. He brushed her hair away from her back to one side and kissed her bare shoulder. His kiss took her breath away. It made her body limp and tingle all over. She let go of herself and sank into the bed. She could feel his passion growing stronger. He wanted her again. Her breaths quickened as he slid his hand down her side and her leg. She loved the way he touched her. She loved that he needed her. She loved that he couldn't get enough of her.
Still behind her, he rolled on top of her back and, placing himself between her legs, entered her. Slowly at first, he pushed his way in, fulfilling her and removing all her feelings of void. His rhythm picked up, faster and faster and laden with desire. Not satisfied, he got up on his knees, pulled her hips up toward him, and plunged himself into her. She felt him reaching deep inside her. She loved what he was doing, the possessive way he took her body, and the voracious way he was making love to her. A primal, instinctive force was driving him. That force electrified her, swayed her. It overpowered her until a euphoric bliss subsumed her mind and all she wanted was to surrender herself to him.
How could she have known? Anthony, always so gentle, always so upright and in control, could be so rough, so demanding, and so untamed when they were alone.
Under his force, all her remaining inhibitions vanished. She wanted him to see all of her. Have all of her. She opened herself wider, thirsting to receive all of him. She felt his hardness thrusting inside her and his groin grating against her. His movements inflamed her and made her tremble from within. In a state of ecstasy, her whole body tightened. She grabbed the sheets beneath her hands as waves of spasms spread through every inch of her. The sensations rose to a height of rapture, propelling her to cry out for release.
Responding to her cries, he came at her until he reached his own climax and they both collapsed, breathless and spent.
Afterward, they lay next to each other, holding hands. Softly, he kissed her lips, over and over again until the flickering flame of the candle burned out and the orange glow of the wick extinguished in the dark of the night.
Standing in front of the mirror the next morning, Tessa gazed at her own reflection and put down the hairbrush on the dresser. She raised her fingers and touched the red marks peeking out from the collar of her bathrobe. A surge of excitement burst within her heart. She moved her hand from those reminders of intimate secrets to the rose pendant hanging around her neck. This was the best feeling in the world, to be in love.
Anthony came out of the washroom from his bath, wearing only a towel wrapped around his waist. He embraced her from behind and kissed her on the neck.
"What do you want to do today?" she asked.
"We can go visit the Montellos. They can't wait to meet you. Later tonight, maybe we'll go see the show we missed last night?"
"And tomorrow?"
"How about we get married?" He held up a small velvet box and opened it to reveal a pair of gold rings inside. Stunned, she turned around.
"I asked Mother to send these. I sent her a telegram before I went back to the front after I visited you on your birthday. They got here just in time, right before we got to Rome." He hugged her closer. "What do you say? Will you marry me?"
Not expecting this at all, she touched the velvet box and gazed at the shining golden rings. She had always thought that they would somehow live their lives together in the future, but she could not believe he was proposing to her, here, today. How long had he been thinking about this? "Are you serious?"
"Of course I'm serious. I wouldn't have done all the things I did with you last night if I wasn't serious."
His answer made her laugh. That was Anthony. Always responsible, always honorable. Before she gave him an answer, she couldn't help ruffling him a little. "You said you asked Aunt Sophia to send the rings after my birthday?"
"Yes."
She pushed his arms lightly off her and stepped away. "You don't have to do this."
"What do you mean?"
"You don't have to feel obligated to marry me because we made love." She turned her head so he couldn't see she was suppressing herself from laughing. "Perhaps that's what other girls would expect, but…do you remember what I told you back in Chicago that night by the lake? Remember I told you what kind of girl I am? Are you sure this is what you want to do? I love you, but I'd rather not marry someone only because he thinks it's the honorable thing to do."
"You think that's why I want to marry you?"
"Why?" She feigned ignorance. "What other reason could there be?"
He put the jewelry box down on the dresser. "It's not the only reason." He pulled her into his arms again and kissed her. "How's this for a reason?" He untied her bathrobe and took her to the bed. He started kissing her from her lips to her neck. As he caressed her body, he whispered, "Do you like this?"
"Yes." She giggled.
"How about this?" He began to make love to her.
She squeezed her eyes shut in delight.
"You like this too?" He pushed inside her again, rougher and more forceful this time.
"Yes…" She fell back and gave herself up to the force of his seduction.
"Will you marry me?"
"Yes…" She opened her eyes. "Wait! What? I did not…"
"Too late. You said yes. You can't take it back."
"That's not...I didn't say yes..."
"You just did. I'm not taking no for an answer."
"You can't…You tricked me!" Gasping, she tried to dispute him but was too aroused to argue.
"Will you marry me?" He drove deeper into her.
"Yes…" Yes, she wanted him to continue.
"Say it again." He continued, setting off all the senses of her body.
"Yes, yes..." Delirious and out of breath, she raised her hips to meet the fullness of his thrusts.
"Louder. I can't hear you."
"Yes!" She cried out as her body reached its climatic height. She didn't know what question she was answering anymore. It didn't matter. Whatever he asked of her now, she would not be able to say no.
Joining her in the peak of their passion, he whispered, "I love you. I love you forever."
&nbs
p; 6
Approaching the Montellos' home, Tessa felt uncharacteristically anxious. Although Anthony had known the Montellos for only a few days, he was talking about them like they were family. She felt as if she was on her way to meet her boyfriend's family for the first time.
No. Not boyfriend. Fiancé.
Fiancé. She was still getting used to the idea. Everything was happening so fast, she had hardly any time to think. Right now, she had to get through lunch with the Montellos. She hoped she liked them, and they liked her. This was important to Anthony.
Her worries turned out to be unfounded. The moment she entered the Montellos' home, they welcomed her like family too.
Sonia was the first one to greet them. The little girl ran out of the house as soon as she saw them arrive. "Hi Tessa," she said, taking Tessa's hand. "We've been waiting for you. Anthony said you're beautiful. We couldn't wait to see what you look like."
"Anthony was exaggerating."
"No, I wasn't," Anthony said. "She is beautiful, isn't she?" he asked Sonia.
"Very!" Sonia said and led Tessa inside with Anthony following behind.
Although embarrassed, Tessa couldn't stop smiling at his open compliment.
Inside the Montellos' home, Signora Montello had already set lunch out on the table. As soon as they came in, the woman hustled everyone into the dining room, where a hearty meal awaited.
The Montellos were a merry bunch. While they ate, Tessa watched them talk loudly over each other. Their boisterous warmth was contagious. She could see why Anthony loved them.
One of them, though, was noticeably silent. Rocco, the small boy sitting across the table from her, didn't speak. Anthony had told her Rocco was deaf and could not talk. The boy ate quietly by himself, occasionally looking up to observe the others. She suspected that he could read lips. Sometimes, when someone said something funny or witty, he would smile. When someone said something disagreeable, he frowned.
Sensing her watching him, Rocco raised his eyes to meet hers. She smiled at him. He looked down at his plate, then looked up again and smiled back.
"Tessa dear," Signora Montello said when they finished their pasta. "I must apologize. You're an important guest. I wish I could have prepared a more elaborate meal. I still cannot find some of the food and ingredients I wanted. I can make a very good lamb dish, but there is no way to get meat."
"Oh, no, Signora Montello," Tessa said and wiped her lips. "This meal's great. Everything is delicious."
"Now, Anthony," the kind woman said. "Do you have any news to tell us?" She gave Tessa a big smile. "What did she say?"
"She said yes." Anthony put his arm around Tessa and pulled her close to him. The whole table broke out in cheers, and Tessa could feel her face burning up.
"Have you talked to my brother about finalizing the arrangements yet?" Signor Montello asked.
"I'm meeting with him this afternoon." With tender eyes, Anthony looked at Tessa. "We're getting married tomorrow."
Cheers erupted from the table again.
"You're all invited, of course." He looked around the table.
"We're so honored," Signora Montello said. "Thank you for including us in your special day. You must allow me to prepare a wedding dinner for you to celebrate afterwards."
"We'd love that," Anthony said. "Thank you."
"Tessa," said Fabia, Signor Montello's sister. "Has Anthony told you yet? Mia is a dress maker." She looked over at Mia, her sister-in-law. "We know the timing is too rushed for you to have a wedding gown made, but Mia has a few dresses at her shop you might want to look at."
A wedding gown? Tessa hadn't even thought of that.
"It has been a long time since Mia offered one of her fancy dresses to anyone. During the war, very few people bought clothes and she did mostly mending. But she has some nice ones she had made before the war. We would like to take you to her shop after lunch. You can see if you like any of her dresses."
Mia, who spoke limited English, smiled and nodded in agreement.
"Thank you," Tessa said. How could she say no to them? They had thought of everything. Everyone was so exceedingly generous. "I'd like that very much."
After lunch, Anthony took Tessa aside in the Montellos' family living room. "I'm sorry everything is so rushed. Our wedding shouldn't be so slapdash. You deserve so much more."
"No!" Tessa touched his face. "I'm thrilled. Really. As long as we're together, it's all that matters."
Her answer eased his concerns somewhat. "Do you want to invite anyone from the hospital?" he asked.
She would. Ellie immediately came to her mind. And Dr. Haley. Gracie too, since they were tentmates. "Can we invite Ellie, Gracie, and Dr. Haley?"
"Done," he said. "I'll go to the hospital on my way to my meeting with Father Lorenzo."
Tessa put her arms around him. She had never felt happier in her entire life. "Did you invite anyone?"
"I invited Warren to be my best man. He's on standby. We just wanted to make sure your answer was yes. I'll let him know later the wedding is on."
Tessa laughed.
"I invited Jesse too, but he declined."
"What?" Her heart dropped. Why would Jesse not come to their wedding?
"He said he doesn't like going to weddings. I really wanted him there, after everything he has done for us, passing messages for us back in Anzio and all."
Her heart sank further. Even if Jesse didn't like weddings, she still would have thought he would come to hers. Although they had never talked about it, she knew that at Anzio, he considered her a friend more than anyone else. His refusal to attend their wedding did not feel right. What was more, his refusal hurt. It surprised her she felt hurt.
"Tessa, are you ready to go?" Sonia came into the living room. Her older sister Sophia was right behind her. They were both ready to go with her to Mia's dress shop. Fabia, Mia, and Signora Montello too had come in. Rocco followed them, stealing timid glances at Tessa.
"Yes, of course." Tessa let go of Anthony. She was still troubled that Jesse had turned down Anthony's invitation, but there was no time to think about this anymore. Everyone was waiting. She glanced at Rocco. "Anthony, what do you think if we ask Rocco to be our ring bearer?"
"That's a great idea!" Anthony said. "Sophia, would you help us ask him?"
"Certainly."
They looked over at Rocco. The sudden attention from everyone confused him. Sophia made a series of gestures with her hands to explain their request to him in sign language. When he realized what they were asking him, he broke into a huge smile. He nodded in acceptance and replied with a series of his own gestures.
"He said this is the best thing that's ever happened to him." Sophia interpreted for them.
Tessa went over to Rocco and gave him a hug, then turned to the Montello sisters. "Sonia, Sophia, would you do me the honor of being my bridesmaids tomorrow?"
The two girls cried out in delight. Happily, they each took one of Tessa's hands as they left to go to Mia's dress shop with the rest of the Montello women.
At the dress shop, Mia hung up several white dresses for Tessa to choose from. Signora Montello, Fabia, Sophia, and Sonia sat on the cushioned chairs and watched with eager anticipation. Tessa touched each one of the dresses, feeling their soft fabric. She could not decide which one she liked best. After wearing only her uniform for months, all civilian clothing looked gorgeous. Moreover, she wanted to look as beautiful as she could for Anthony on their wedding day. She held each one of the dresses, unable to make up her mind.
Mia looked her up and down, then picked out the one with an embroidered lace design. "This. Try this."
Tessa agreed and took the dress into the fitting room to try it on. In the mirror, the dress looked prim with its high collar. The princess seams, however, accentuated the shape of her waist, providing a sensuous contrast to the conservative neckline at the top. The capped sleeves and the yoked waist with a full skirt added dramatic flair. The effect was breathtaking. She loved
this dress.
Back in the main room, the Montello women gasped in awe when she came out with the dress on. Signora Montello's eyes became teary, and Fabia pretended to faint.
"You look like a princess, Tessa," Sonia said.
Tessa smiled and looked at herself in the full-length mirror. She wished her mother was here. Her mother would have been thrilled to see her right now.
Mia brought her a matching pair of shoes, and said something to Fabia in Italian. Fabia interpreted for Tessa. "Mia said a daughter of a wealthy family ordered this dress to be made before the war. The girl never came to pick it up because her family escaped and left Rome soon after she ordered it. Then the war started, and a formal dress like this one had no use for anyone."
"It's a gorgeous dress," Tessa said.
"She said it's yours if you like it."
"Thank you."
Mia came behind Tessa and pulled on the looser parts of the dress. She marked those parts with pins and said in broken English, "Need to tighten waist and shorten the hem. I'll tailor this afternoon."
"Hold on," Fabia said. "You need something for your hair. We'll borrow one of Mia's hair clips." She opened the display case of custom-made accessories on the table, picked out a floral hair clip sewn with rhinestones, and clipped it into Tessa's hair. "There." She took a few steps back for everyone to admire the way Tessa looked. "Now it's perfect."
"Not yet." Signora Montello held up her hand and shook her finger. "One more thing." She took a jewelry case out from her purse and opened it to show Tessa a string of pearls. "This is something I own. It's our wedding present to you."
"Oh no, Signora," Tessa said. "This is too much. I can't accept."
"Yes, you can. A bride has to wear jewelry for her wedding." She put the string of pearls on Tessa, then held both of Tessa's hands to reassure her. "Please accept our gift. It's been a long time since something joyful has happened to us. The war has gone on for too long. Now we can finally celebrate. I think of Anthony as my American son, so you're like a daughter to me too. We are happy to be a part of your wedding."