Total pages in book: 80
Estimated words: 78627 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 393(@200wpm)___ 315(@250wpm)___ 262(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 78627 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 393(@200wpm)___ 315(@250wpm)___ 262(@300wpm)
“Why haven’t you told me you’re back?” Mamma scolds him.
“I haven’t had a chance yet. Come here and let me hug you.”
I chuckle as I hear her grumble something before I dart into the room and lay the dress out on the bed. My eyes drift over the white lace, and picking it up again, I hold it in front of me.
Gosh, it’s pretty.
There are no frills. It looks like a dress you’d wear to run through wildflowers.
I love it.
“What do you think?” Mamma asks as she comes into the room. She shuts the door. “Put it on so we can see whether I have to adjust it.”
“It’s so pretty, Mamma,” I say as I take off my leggings and shirt. I feel a little self-conscious and quickly pull the dress over my head.
It falls to my ankles, and I wish there were a full-length mirror so I could see what I look like in the dress.
“Oh,” Mamma gasps. “You look beautiful, piccola.” She comes closer to fuss with the fabric around my waist. “I should bring it in an inch. It will sit better.”
“Okay.” A smile spreads over my face. “Can you take a photo of me so I can see what it looks like?”
“Of course.” Mamma takes her phone out and grins at me. “Smile, piccola.”
I let my happiness show as she takes the photo and rush closer to her to see.
My heart.
My face is beaming, my eyes alight with sparks of bliss. The dress makes me look carefree.
“I love it so much. Thank you, Mamma.”
I pull her into a hug, and when her motherly arms engulf me, emotion wells in my chest.
“I’m so happy,” I admit to her. “Thank you for accepting me into your family.”
“Hush, piccola. You’re going to make me cry,” she sniffles. Her hand brushes over my hair and back. “Make my son happy, and I promise not to be a mother-in-law who nags you all day.”
I let out a sputter of laughter as I pull back. “It’s a deal.”
Lifting her hand to my face, she tucks a couple of loose strands behind my ear. “And give me grandbabies.”
“I will.”
God-willing.
Chapter 27
Tiana
I’m getting married to Armani De Santis.
Sitting on Mamma’s balcony with a cup of coffee, I stare at the dimly lit street.
It’s two am. I’m too excited to sleep.
Misha and Aurora will be here at nine, and the Aslanhovs will arrive in time for the ceremony that’s taking place at one this afternoon.
I’m getting married.
To an amazing man.
Mamma insisted that I sleep at her house. The groom and bride cannot see each other the night before the wedding. Armani protested but gave in when Mamma threatened to slap him upside the head.
I suppress a chuckle.
“Tiana,” I hear a whisper from the street below.
Setting my cup down on the little table, I get up and peek over the railing. I see Armani looking up at me as if we’re reenacting a scene from Romeo and Juliet.
Smiling, I wave at him. “Hi.”
“Stand back. I’m coming up.”
“How? There’s no–”
Armani jumps and grabs one of the railing’s bars. I quickly move back, and my eyebrows lift when I watch how easily he pulls himself up and over.
That’s hot.
He lands on his feet, and with two strides, his hand grips the side of my neck, his body hits mine, and his mouth delivers a scorching kiss.
The fluttering in my stomach is intense, and I push up on my tiptoes as I kiss him back.
His lips knead mine until he lifts his head and looks deep into my eyes. “I can’t wait to marry you.”
A wide smile spreads over my face. “Me too.”
Emotion washes over his handsome features. “I’m going to love you so hard to make up for all the days you felt unloved.”
My heart stutters in my chest before bursting. My eyes tear up, and pushing up again, I kiss him with all the happiness he’s given me.
In such a short time, Armani has given me more love and respect than I’ve ever experienced. It feels like a dream, like I’m getting a glimpse of heaven.
I’m pushed into the room, and he begins to tug at my shirt to pull it over my head.
“Mamma will hear,” I whisper against his mouth.
Armani pulls back so he can remove his own shirt, then he drops it on the floor. “Then you better not make a sound.” He squeezes my breast and presses a kiss to my nipple before I’m pushed back until I sit down on the bed.
When he tugs my leggings off, he grumbles, “I need to be inside you, bella.”
I scoot back while Armani takes off his sweatpants. Opening my legs for him, he crawls over me, and the full weight of his body pins me to the mattress.
His hands move up and down my sides before he pushes them beneath my butt, gripping my cheeks tightly. His hardness rubs through my slit, the friction on my clit so good I struggle to keep from moaning.