“What’s the big joke?”
“That was from the movie The Color Purple. It is a cultural thing. Trust me, it’s funny.”
“I’ll take your word for it.”
We were pulled to and fro by our mothers wanting us to take a shit ton of pictures in every possible location that looked good as a photo op. They were freaking maniacs. I was tired, my heels were hurting my feet, and I needed something in my belly. I hadn’t eaten all day for fear I would throw it up.
“Let’s get another group picture over here by this mural,” Mrs. DeLuca chimed.
I looked at Nicolo, silently pleading with him to end this torture. He seemed to be as irritated with the shenanigans as I was. I was sure he was only doing this because he thought I wanted it. He wrapped one arm around my waist and held me close.
“Enough, Mother. We have more pictures than we know what to do with. It’s time for us to greet our guests and get something to eat. I am starving, so I know Simone has to be.”
“But Nicolo, we just need a few more shots.”
“We’ll meet you at the reception.”
With that, he ended the photo session. I was so grateful that I reached up and kissed him. He growled his reply as his hand moved further down to my backside. When he pulled away, I gazed into his eyes, acutely aware of how handsome he was. The man was stunning standing there in his crisp black tuxedo. His brown eyes bore into me, making me want to run to the nearest bed and get naked.
“Well, that was torture.”
He chuckled as he led me to our changing room so we could get comfortable. My feet were grateful for the reprieve. I kicked my shoes off and squidged my toes into the carpeted floor. Nicolo reached over and touched my face so tenderly. I leaned into his hand wanting more. He leaned in and kissed me gently.
“Thank you for marrying me. I promise I will never make you regret it.”
The way he was connecting with me made me think the man could possibly have feelings for me. I don’t know what was wrong with me. It could have been all the flowers and wedding stuff. It could have been the dress and the tux. Hell, it could have been because it was Saturday. All I knew was, that I was overcome with emotion. That’s the only excuse I had for what I said in response.
“Nicolo, I think I am falling hard for you. I really want this to be a real marriage, not just a business transaction.”
“Then that’s what we’re doing. You are my wife, Simone. I will die for you. Most importantly, I will kill for you. As long as there is breath in my body, you will never have to worry about a thing. I will always take care of you. I will always be true to you.”
Shy of him telling me that he loved me, that was everything I wanted to hear in that moment. In fact, that was better than love. Sometimes love can be flighty, but loyalty is everything. I pulled him down to me and kissed Nicolo with every emotion I had. I wrapped my arms around his neck and never wanted to let go. The best thing about that feeling was, I never had to let it go. He was mine.
“I have something for you,” I purred to Nicolo.
I presented him with a black box with a red ribbon. The top of the box contained the DeLuca Family Crest. After speaking with my now mother-in-law, I found out that the family had a specific supplier for weapons. Since my man had a fetish for quality knives, I purchased him a beautiful set with his initials engraved on the steel.
“What did you do?”
“I just wanted you to have something to remember today by. Something you can carry with you throughout the years to keep you safe.”
He opened the box, and the look on his face was priceless. Nicolo ran his hand over the knives, seemingly mesmerized by the steel. They were a one-of-a-kind set, custom made just for him. The Deluca Crest had been fashioned into a handle on each of the seven knives.
“Perfection. They’re beautiful pieces. Works of art, Brazen. Thank you.”
“You’re welcome, baby.”
Nicolo set the knives aside and pulled me back into his arms. I braced myself for another kiss, but the man buried his head in the nook between my neck and shoulder. He held me so tight to him that I struggled to breathe comfortably. We stayed like that for about five minutes before Nicolo gathered his emotions. He wiped the moisture off his cheeks as he looked at me with glassy eyes. He cleared his throat and looked embarrassed.
“You’d better get changed before your mom comes looking for us. Here, let me unzip that beautiful dress for you.”
I turned my back to my husband and allowed him to help me get undressed. I was still bouncing off the walls that I was a married woman. As I changed into my sassy reception dress, I couldn’t stop smiling. The sexy man who was sitting in the corner watching my every move was going to blow my back out as soon as this shindig was over. I was very much looking forward to my wedding night.
My dress was sexy and made me feel like a goddess. The V-neck accentuated my ample breasts, while the sheer material got your attention, giving the illusion that I was naked underneath. The sparkling sequins that covered the entire length of the gown, caught the eye, and kept it there. The flowy skirt made it easy to move. I was ready to party.
“Brazen, Brazen, Brazen… you look damn good in that dress. Fuck! Let’s get out there before I take you against the wall.”
“Would that be so bad?”