ISABELLA
After yesterday’s shit show, when we found out my mother’s been hiding at St. Monarch’s all along, Alexei’s been tense as hell.
He only came to bed in the early morning hours and was gone when I woke up. I’m trying to think of a way to help, but right now, I’m coming up empty-handed.
I grab a bottle of water from the fridge when Alexei comes stalking into the kitchen.
Giving me an impatient look, he says, “You better drink that quickly.”
“Why?”
“I want to take you somewhere.”
I take a couple of sips and then place the bottle on the counter while asking, “Where?”
Alexei grabs hold of my hand, and then he drags me out of the kitchen and up the stairs to our suite. Gesturing at the closet, he says, “Change into your leather pants and jacket. I’ll wait downstairs.”
I watch him stalk out of the room as if he’s off to kill someone, then I pull clothes from the closet. I quickly change and put on a pair of boots, hoping whatever he has planned will ease his stress level a little.
When I look at my reflection in the mirror, a familiar sensation flickers through me. I feel comfortable in the clothes as if they’re a second skin.
Also, I look badass.
Walking out of the room, I head down the stairs and find Alexei standing by the open front door. His eyes lock on me, and then the corner of his mouth lifts as if he’s satisfied with what he’s seeing.
We step out of the house, and when I see the motorcycle, a smile spreads over my face.
Alexei climbs onto the metal beast then holds a helmet out to me. “Come.”
I take the helmet and put it on, and then I climb onto the back of the motorcycle and grip hold of Alexei’s sides.
He starts the engine, and when he pulls away from the house, I wrap my arms around his middle.
The moment he steers the motorcycle off the property, he opens the throttle, and we dart forward.
I let out a burst of laughter, feeling more excited than when I’m at the shooting range.
When we hit the highway, the wind rips at us. Exhilaration rushes through my veins, and I close my eyes, losing myself in the moment.
With my arms wrapped tightly around Alexei, and the motorcycle’s power between my legs, the moment feels… perfect.
Losing track of time, I have no idea how long we’re riding or where we’re heading until Alexei brings us to a stop. Glancing around, we’re near a cliff overlooking the ocean.
We climb off, and after removing the helmets, Alexei takes hold of my hand and leads me up a trail. When we reach the top, I stare out over the beautiful view, still smiling.
“Isabella.”
I turn to Alexei, and seeing the serious expression, I give him a questioning look.
He takes a deep breath and then tilting his head, the seriousness makes way for a tender look that causes my heart to constrict.
“Whatever happens in the future, I want you to remember this moment. I mean everything I’m going to say.”
“Okay.” My tongue darts out to wet my lips.
Alexei takes another deep breath, and then his eyes lock with mine. “I love you.”
The words hit me straight in the heart, which is weird because it’s not the first time he’s saying them to me. But this time, it sounds different… heartfelt.
He shakes his head, emotion tightening his features. “I fucking love everything about you. I could spend the next hour going into detail, but I won’t. I want you. All of you. I want you next to my side. I want to wage wars with you. I want to build empires with you. I want you in every new memory I make because there isn’t a woman on the face of this planet I respect more.”
Alexei’s words knock the breath from me, filling my racing heart with overwhelming emotions. Happiness. Comfort. Anticipation. But most importantly, affection… and the first glimmer of love.
“Isabella Terrero, will you marry me?” Alexei asks.
I stare at him for a moment, taking in the importance of what’s happening on this cliff.
It’s not just about love. It’s us forming an unbreakable alliance for life. Together we’ll fight. Together we’ll die.
But first… together, we’ll live.
“Yes, I will.”
Alexei’s eyes drift closed, and relief washes over his face. “Thank fuck.” He lets out a chuckle then reaches into his pocket, pulling out a ring. “Give me your left hand.”
“Who said romance was dead?” I mutter playfully as I offer my hand to him.
Alexei slips his ring onto my finger, and then his eyes lift to mine. “There’s no going back now.”
I lower my gaze to the princess-cut diamond. “An alliance between a Koslov and a Terrero, who would’ve thought.”
When I meet Alexei’s eyes again, he says, “I can’t wait to change your last name to Koslov.”
Isabella Koslov.
I inhale sharply from how powerful the name sounds.
A new name for a new life.
Alexei closes the distance between us, and lifting both his hands, he frames my face and stares at me with absolute devotion.
Raising myself on my toes, I press my mouth to his, and then I wrap my arms around him… the man I’m going to marry… the man I’ll conquer the world with.