by Lylah James
I couldn’t wait to see Alessio.
When we reached the clearing, my steps faltered.
Alessio was standing there. His back was to me; one of his legs was placed on a rock as he leaned against it.
I instinctively moved toward him, but Viktor and Nikolay held me back. I gave them an impatient look.
Viktor was the first to move. He leaned forward and surprised me with a kiss on my forehead. I stilled, my heart fluttered.
“You both deserve each other,” he whispered before pulling away.
And then Nikolay took his place. Another kiss on my forehead.
He too whispered in my ears. “Be happy.”
When he stepped back, Phoenix moved forward. Placing a kiss on my forehead, he smiled. “Make him a happy man.”
And then they were walking away, leaving me in shock. I blinked several times, trying to wrap my mind around what just happened.
But I was just drawing blanks.
I turned back toward Alessio to see him staring at me. He had a small smile on his face. And in his hands, he held a large bouquet of white peonies.
I could feel my lips moving, spreading in a loving smile. Slowly, I made my way to him. Alessio held out his hand for me, and I immediately took it.
His hand was warm and gentle as he wrapped his fingers around mine. Pulling me closer, he held me against him.
“Angel,” he whispered softly before claiming my lips.
His kiss was tentative at first, but then he kissed me harder, kissing me like he owned me. I loved it when he did that.
He kissed me like he’d never have enough. When we pulled apart, we were both breathless. I didn’t mind though. I wanted him to kiss me more.
His hand found its way to my neck, his fingers softly caressing my veins there. His soft touch sent shivers through me.
The way he stroked my skin, his touch, everything about him…it warmed me. My heart fluttered like crazy. My stomach flipped with nervous butterflies.
“Ayla,” he rasped, his voice suddenly rougher.
“Alessio,” I whispered in response, moving even closer. As close as I could get.
“You look so beautiful right now. Like a true Angel,” he said, his eyes smiling down at me. “I love you in white. It’s the best color on you.”
I felt my cheeks flush under his compliment and looked shyly at his chest. “And this,” Alessio continued, placing a finger under my chin and tipping my head back. “I find it so endearing that you are still shy around me.”
That made me blush even more. I couldn’t help the smile. I felt so at peace. So loved and treasured. Alessio did this to me.
He pulled away slightly and presented me the flowers. “These are for you.”
I took the flowers with a soft thank you. “I love these flowers. They’re my favorite.”
“I know,” he replied ever so arrogantly.
I looked around the creek. Next to the tree, I found some pillows, a basket, and a large blanket laid down. My eyes moved back to Alessio’s, and I pointed at the tree.
“What is this?”
He shrugged and cleared his throat.
Alessio swore under his breath, and he avoided my eyes for a few seconds. He took a deep breath before meeting my gaze again.
I waited for him to speak.
He opened his mouth but then snapped it shut again.
He hissed, running his fingers through his hair agitatedly.
“I had this planned. I even fucking practiced,” he growled under his breath.
“O-kay?”
I held the flowers closer to my chest, waiting for him to continue.
“Right,” he said, clearing his throat again. “You deserve everything, you know that, right? Even a romantic proposal. I want to do this right.”
Oh. Oh. OH!
I gaped at him. He was proposing?
Was it possible for my heart to beat faster? I didn’t know, but it sure felt like it.
“Flowers…” he said suddenly. Alessio pointed at the flowers, and I nodded slowly.
Okay. Flowers.
“It’s you…I mean, flowers represent beauty. That’s you. The most beautiful.”
That was really sweet. Like really, really sweet. So I told him. “Thank you. That’s really thoughtful and sweet.”
“The pink peonies are supposed to be romantic,” he continued.
I looked down to see two light pink peonies in the middle of the white bouquet. Awww.
“But I’m giving you the white because that’s the first flower I ever gave you. It was the start of us,” Alessio broke off at the end and paused. “Why the fuck am I talking about flowers?” he asked suddenly.
“I think it’s sweet. The meaning behind why you gave me the flowers. I love it,” I replied honestly. He really did think this through, even if he was being a little funny at the moment.
He looked so lost and bashful, confused but really determined.
“Okay.” He nodded. Alessio took a deep breath again.
I saw him jerk at his tie in frustration. Unable to see him like this, I moved closer and laid a hand over his wildly racing heart.
“It’s okay, Alessio. Stop trying so hard,” I soothed gently. “Just be yourself. I need only you.”
“I ruined the proposal, didn’t I?” he asked, a frown on his face.
I leaned up and gave him a quick peck on the lips. “Nope. So far it’s perfect. Just say what you want to say. From your heart. That’s all I want.”
He nodded and took a step away from me.
Only to kneel on one knee.
I brought a shaking hand to my mouth and held back the tears.
Alessio took my hand in his. He placed a soft kiss at the back of my hand, letting his lips linger there. “I love you, Angel.”
With his lips still against my skin, he continued. “I was such an asshole when we first met.”
He paused and let out a low chuckle. “Okay. Maybe sometimes I still am. But you changed me, Ayla. You made me feel when I didn’t want to. When I didn’t think I was capable of feeling.”
A tear slid down my cheek. He brought his head up and kept holding my hand.
“You taught me how to love when I didn’t even believe in love. I thought no Angel existed. I had lost hope a long time ago, but then you came into my life and proved me wrong,” Alessio said, his voice a little scratchy with emotions.
“I know I’m not the perfect man. But I know I can be the perfect man for you. I will be the one who holds you at night, wipes your tears away. Makes you smile and laugh. I will be the man that makes your heart flutter. I will make sweet love to you.” He paused, and his gaze moved over my face.
I saw a small smirk. I should have guessed what was coming next, but I didn’t because I was so lost in his sweet words and captivating blue eyes.
“I will be the man who fucks you too. Slow. Fast. Deep. Rough.”
I shook my head, a small laugh bubbling from my chest. “You are impossible.”
He shrugged before swallowing hard. Alessio was silent for a few seconds before speaking again.
“Give me a chance to love you, Angel. Let me love you the way you deserve. Let me be the man for you. Will you marry me, Angel?”
I couldn’t do anything except nod. My voice…my words were robbed from me.
My throat was closed up with emotion, and I swallowed back my sob. Alessio continued to break and mend my heart with his words.
He reached behind him, removing something from his pocket. And then he was presenting me with a box. A small red box. He opened the lid, and a small gasp escaped past my lips.
The ring that lay in the middle was beautiful. It was simple, small, but oh so beautiful. So elegant. There was a round diamond in the middle. On either side of the bigger diamond were several smaller ones.
“Will you do me the honor of being my wife? Will you be Ayla Ivanshov? Will you lead with me…rule with me…by my side as my queen?”
“Yes,” I wh
ispered, my voice barely audible.
Alessio smiled and took the ring out of the box. He placed it on my ring finger. It shone in the sunlight.
He stood up, towering over my smaller height. “Alessio, you make me the happiest woman. I don’t think I can ever be happier than this.”
“I know neither of us wants a big wedding. We have already made vows to each other before. So I wanted this to be our small wedding. Just us. We don’t need anyone else,” Alessio explained.
And it was absolutely perfect. I loved it.
He was right. We didn’t need a big wedding. This was much better. Just us. Only us.
I looked down at Alessio’s hand. “But you don’t have a ring.”
He gave me a sheepish look. “I got everything planned. Well, I did get a little help from the others.”
“The dress. It’s white. Like a wedding dress. The bouquet,” I said thoughtfully, finally understanding what went on.
Alessio nodded.
A sudden realization dawned on me, and my eyes widened. “The guys,” I exclaimed.
He smiled and pulled me closer. “They were walking me down the aisle?”
“They wanted to. We thought it was fitting. They are your champions. They gave you away…to me.”
That was really sweet. Tears slid down my cheeks, and I sniffled. Alessio wiped away my tears.
“Do you want to finish this ceremony?” he teased in my ear.
I nodded. Alessio pulled back and kissed me on the forehead. “I take you to be my wife. I promise to honor you, support you. I will be your savior. I promise to love and cherish you until I take my last breath.”
He took a deep breath before continuing. “And I promise to protect you and our kids.”
His voice got lower, for only my ears. “I will kill for you…I love you, Angel.”
My breath hitched and caught in my throat. “So do you take me as your husband? Do you accept me?”
“Yes. I do.”
“Fuck yeah!” He crushed me to him and took my lips passionately.
“Wait,” I mumbled. “My turn.”
I placed the flowers down as he nodded and handed me another box. I opened it and there lay his ring. It was a simple wedding band, but it held so much power. Placing it on his ring finger, I said my vows.
“I take you to be my husband. I accept you, Alessio. Every part of you. You are mine just like I am yours. I may be your Angel, but you are my guardian Angel. My savior. I chose you to be my love, my husband, and the father of my babies. I promise to hold and love you forever, until I take my last breath. You are in my heart, Alessio Ivanshov.”
Alessio pressed his lips together, his blue eyes shining. “Do you take me as your wife? Will you let me love you the way you deserve?”
“Yeah. I do.”
I smiled while Alessio bent his head. “You are my wife, Ayla Ivanshov.”
And then he kissed me.
Slowly at first. He took his sweet time.
Until he got impatient. Which was so Alessio.
Alessio’s hand cupped my cheeks and angled my head to the side, pushing his tongue into my mouth. We kissed, taking each other in. Our tongues mated together, just like our hearts did.
His fingers whispered over the length of my neck, and I shivered. I heard him groan, the sound going straight between my legs.
I clenched my thighs together as Alessio continued to explore my mouth. His kiss became more aggressive. More demanding. More possessive.
And I let him in. I let him take whatever he wanted…needed.
I needed him too.
Alessio nipped at my lower lip, pulling it between his teeth. And then he kissed it better.
Hot and cold. Soft and hard. That was how he kissed me.
My hands tightened around his shoulders, pulling him closer. My fingers went to his hair, holding on. I kissed him back with the same passion.
His fingers continued to trail a warm path down my neck, resting just in the middle of chest, between my breasts.
I pulled back, breathless but needing more.
Alessio’s lips trailed kisses down my jaw, reaching my neck. He nipped at the skin before sucking it between his lips, leaving his mark there.
I moaned, my fingers tightening in his hair. He continued to lay kisses on my neck, leaving a wet trail. My head fell back, giving him better access.
He groaned in appreciation, and my eyes pinched closed when his fingers moved over my breast, feeling my nipple through my dress.
Alessio pulled the strap of my dress down, lower and lower, until my breasts were freed from my dress.
“Alessio,” I whimpered as he thumbed my hard points. “Here?”
“Here,” he said.
“Now?”
“I want you, Ayla. I want you so fucking much.”
My breath hitched as he unclasped my bra and threw it away. My breasts were bared to him, and he lowered his head, his lips hovering over my left nipple.
I shivered in anticipation, and when he licked a hardened point, an unashamed moan left my lips. His fingers played with my other nipple, circling, pinching and pulling…driving me crazy.
His tongue continued to masterfully play me. He was careful not to hurt me. His touches ignited sparks between my legs.
I trembled against him, pulling him closer. “Alessio.”
I was lost in his touches…lost in the fire he created in me. My skin felt warm and flushed. I felt out of breath.
His lips explored my breasts. Kissing, sucking, not letting an inch of the skin go untouched and unloved.
Alessio palmed my breasts together, and I moaned. He hissed when I pulled at his hair urgently.
“I love seeing you like this, losing control,” he whispered against my skin.
“Alessio…please…”
He stood to his full height and pulled my dress over my head in a swift movement. I bit on my lips as his fingers played with the string of my lingerie.
“I want you naked to my eyes. I want to feast on your body, Ayla. I’m going to eat your pussy, then I am going to make love to you,” he said roughly in my ear. “Maybe I’ll fuck you later too.”
He pressed his finger to my burning core. Even though he wasn’t touching my skin—the thin barrier of my lingerie stopped him—I felt him.
He pressed against my clit, circling his thumb over it. Alessio slowly pushed the lacy cloth aside, his finger pushing against my wetness.
“You are already so wet for me, kitten.”
He pushed a single finger inside of me, and my head snapped back. “Oh…”
Alessio pumped his finger inside of me. In and out. Slowly. Teasing me. I whimpered, wanting more.
When he pressed another finger in, I clenched around him. He hissed, moving his fingers inside of me. He pulled me over the edge, so close. But he stopped me from falling.
His thumb circled over my clit faster and faster. I grew dizzy with need, but still…he didn’t let me fall.
I dug my fingers into his back, but Alessio was relentless. He continued his torturous assault, and then he stopped, pulling his fingers out of me. Leaving me empty.
A small growl of frustration escaped past my lips, surprising me.
Alessio pushed a finger deep inside of me. I bit on my lips hard, suppressing my moan. He stopped again and pulled his finger out. My eyes snapped open to see him smirking, licking his fingers clean.
His lips met mine in a hard kiss. I could taste myself on his lips. His words drove me close to the edge, my body flushing red. “You taste so fucking good, baby.”
Alessio pulled me in his arms, cradling me to his chest. He walked us to the blankets and pillows. Laying me down on the softness, he knelt between my spread legs.
Without warning, he had my underwear removed until I was completely bared to his eyes. With my legs open, he saw everything.
I tried to close my legs, but he spread his thighs more, stopping my movement. His eyes feasted over me with hunger and so much
desire.
Alessio quickly removed his suit jacket and shirt. He almost ripped it off him in his haste. Before I could move, he was bending his head to my dripping core.
There was no warning before I felt his tongue licking at my wetness, lapping at the juices gathered there.
I let out a small scream as he pressed his tongue to my opening. His fingers gripped my thighs tighter, spreading me open. He pushed my knees up and bent outwards.
I could hear how wet I was as he continued to lick and suck. His tongue circled over my nub as my legs quivered with the need for release.
“Play with your nipples,” he demanded. “Pretend it’s my hand.”
I shyly brought my hand to my breast, doing as I was told. I imagined it was his fingers circling and pulling at my hardened points.
“Alessio…I need…”
I broke up with a moan when he pressed a finger inside of me again. His tongue never stopped working its magic on my core.
When his finger curved inside of me at the same time he softly bit my clit, my back bowed off the ground. A small scream escaped me, my eyes closing as I came.
I surrendered to Alessio. Wave after wave of ecstasy coursed through me.
When he pulled away, my eyes dreamily opened to meet his heated ones. I blinked down at him. He wiped his chin off with the back of his hand and quickly removed his pants.
When he was finally naked, he settled between my spread thighs again. “I’m going to make love to you, Angel.”
“Please, Alessio. I need you.”
His eyes were filled with love as his lips descended to mine. He kissed me for a long time.
“Put me inside of you,” he ordered huskily against my lips.
My heart stuttered as my hand went between our bodies. I wrapped my fingers around his hard length, and Alessio groaned, thrusting against me.
He pulsed in my hand as I rubbed my thumb over the head, feeling a bit of wetness there. “I need to be inside of you. Right now.”
Alessio pushed his hips closer, thrusting in my hand. Our mouths fused together, tongues licking and sucking.
I was hyperaware of his warm skin against mine. The way he felt above me made me quiver in anticipation and need.
I ran my other hand over his back, feeling his tensed muscles. A low groan came from him as I continued to stroke his cock.