ISABELLA
Three months later.
“Where are we going?” I ask again as Alexei steers a speed boat across the water of Lake Superior.
“And people say I’m impatient,” he chuckles.
As the sun begins to set, I glance around us but can’t figure out where we’re heading.
Soon enough, I finally get my answer as Alexei steers the boat into the private bay of an island.
“Really? You could’ve just told me,” I say as I glance at the double-story house that has the same Mediterranean feel as the mansion in LA.
My gaze drifts over a helipad and pine trees. I notice half the island consists of rocks.
“Welcome to my home away from home,” Alexei says as he steps off the boat. He holds his hand out to me and then helps me step onto the dock.
“It’s beautiful.”
“It’s our safe haven,” Alexei explains.
Liking the sound of that, I smile as we walk to the front door. Alexei keys in a code, and then the door swings open.
I step inside and glance around the lavish décor of the open-plan kitchen and living room.
“Did you purchase it like this?” I ask.
Alexei sets our luggage down next to a couch, then walks to a side table to pour two tumblers of vodka. “No, I had it built.”
“It’s impressive.”
He comes to stand in front of me, handing me a glass, then he meets my eyes, “I have a fondness for beautiful things.”
I take a sip of the vodka, then say, “I’m more of a tequila girl.”
Alexei’s eyebrow lifts. “I’ll keep that in mind.” He sets his tumbler down on the coffee table and picks up our bag. “Let me show you upstairs.”
I place my drink next to his and follow him to the upper level.
“These are guest rooms,” he says as we pass closed doors. “Demitri’s room.” He gestures to our left, then he opens a door. “Our room.”
Seeing it’s black and silver, the corner of my mouth lifts. “It has a similar feel to our bedroom at home.”
Alexei places the bag on the bed and zips it open, then he takes a box out of it and puts it on the covers. “Change into this, then come downstairs.”
I give him a questioning look but answer, “Okay.”
As soon as Alexei leaves the room, I lift the lid off the box. Taking hold of the shimmering black fabric, I hold it up, and then laughter bursts over my lips.
It’s a replica of the dress I wore the night I crashed the party.
I lay it down on the bed and walk to the bathroom to take a quick shower. When I feel refreshed, I take my makeup bag from the luggage and sit down by the dressing table.
I don’t go overboard, even though I wish could do the skull look myself.
I slip into the risqué dress, sans underwear, and step into a pair of stilettos. When I leave the bedroom, my heartbeat speeds up, excited to find out what Alexei has planned.
Coming down the stairs, I don’t see Alexei. I begin to look through the rooms, and when I step into an entertainment room, it’s dark, except for the light shining on Alexei, where’s he’s sitting on a chair as if he’s a king on his throne. Music is softly playing as I walk to the middle of the room, and then I stop. My eyes lock with his. “You’ll do.”
“I’d fucking hope so,” Alexei says as he rises to his feet.
“That’s what I thought when I saw you at the club.”
His lips curve up as he slowly walks toward me. “My party crasher.”
“My devil,” I murmur as he stops in front of me.
Alexei takes me in his arms, and then we slowly begin to dance. Soon intimacy weaves a spell around us, and everything else fades away.
Alexei’s eyes hold mine prisoner, and then he says, “Whatever happens in the future, I want you to remember this moment. I mean everything I’m going to say.”
I smile, remembering the words he said to me on the cliff. “Okay,” I murmur.
Alexei stops moving and lifting his hands, he frames my face. Then, staring deep into my eyes, he says, “I love you so fucking much, Isabella.”
Emotion warms my chest. “I love you, too, Alexei.”
He lets out a chuckle. “Shit, you weren’t supposed to say that right now.”
“Oh.” I raise an eyebrow. “I must’ve missed the script.”
“Don’t sass me, woman. I’m trying to be romantic,” he chastises me.
“I’ll give you an A for effort.”
“I was hoping for a BJ.”
I let out a burst of laughter. “Of course.”
His features grow serious again. “I trust you with my life.”
This time his words hit me right in the heart, knowing how rare trust is in our world.
“I trust you too.”
A smile tugs at his lips, and then he lowers himself onto one knee. Taking hold of my left hand, he rubs his thumb over the engagement ring. “Isabella Terrero, will you marry me?”
And then I finally get it. Alexei is proposing to me – the me with all of my memory intact.
“I accept all of you, Alexei. Your devil’s side, your ruthlessness, your amazingly big heart, and your demons you hide from the world. I love everything about you. There isn’t a man on this planet I respect more.”
Absolute devotion shines from Alexei’s eyes, then he grins, “Is that a yes?”
“Get up,” I mutter, and once he’s standing in front of me, I wrap my arms around his neck. “That’s a hell fucking yes.”
Lifting myself on my toes, I crush my mouth to his – the man who stole my heart and saved my life in more ways than one – the man who turned out to be my salvation.