Chapter 97: Chapter: 97

ANDREA

An hour later, the cogs in my brain were still turning from Alessandro's revelations. I was leaning against the deck railing, watching the blue sea that rivaled the mystery that was Alessandro. Though I've learned a lot about the man I love, there's still so much I don't know.

Luigi had anchored the ship somewhere on the sea, which allowed Alessandro to set up his fishing rod. I watched him set up the bait on his hook and drop it into the sea. He'd take off his shirt, leaving his tattoos and hard pecs bared for my eyes to feast on.

“What are you going to do about your grandfather?” I couldn't help but ask. I know he said he would take care of everything, and I trust that he would, but I wanted to know how.

“Do you know how to fish?” he asked calmly. My brows scrunched in confusion. What has my question got to do with fishing? Though I'd learned a thing or two about fishing from my dad years ago. I really didn't care much about it.

“Alessandro, what does fishing have to do with my question?” I asked, exasperated.

“Everything, so answer the question.”

“No, I don't know how to fish, looks interesting though,” I replied, waiting to hear the reason he asked. His dark eyes glinted with dark amusement.

“Come then, I will teach you.” He pulled me closer to him as he explained slowly.

“Fishing is all about the bait, patience, and waiting.” Then he went on to explain the do's and don'ts of fishing and how you choose the bait. I was only half listening to him, my eyes taking in how darker his brows are compared to his hair this close.

His lashes were too long for a man; my eyes fixed on his hard-looking mouth. I know how very soft they are when he kisses me.

“You aren't listening to me, are you?” he asked, bringing me back to earth. I blink. His mouth twitched.

“No! I am, I…was,” I said guiltily, then I sighed and confessed.

“Not really, you lost me right around the time you were talking about the different types of baits.” he chuckled and walked me backward into the railing, crowding me.

“I will explain to you in simple terms. Right now I'm fishing. Marco had used you as the bait to lure me back; he'd found the chink in my armor. It is time I do the same. I can't take any action against him until we find the men watching your friends. After that, it's game over. I just had to wait, also, there's something I have to find!”

“What if we get Logan to discreetly tell them to leave, that their lives are in danger?” I suggest, instantly, I know it wasn't possible, telling them would be cruel and endanger them even more. He shakes his head.

“They will die or go to the police, and where will that leave them? Dead! So no, we can't tell them.”

His long fingers comb through my hair, watching the different emotions I'm currently displaying on my face. After everything I'd learned, I seriously don't want to go back to the villa. Marco Marchetti is a controlling psycho who wants to take my child from me. Living with this kind of man under the same roof is hell in itself.

“What are you thinking about?” Alessandro's voice cut through my musing.

“I'm thinking about the picture of your mom, I don't know why, but she looks familiar, like I know her when I know I've never met her before in my life,” I voice what I've been mulling over, deflecting from my current worries.

Alessandro hands circle my waist, his thumb stroking, even through the shirt. I felt them.

“You might have seen her portrait in Nicklaus's townhouse back in New York.”

“Yes! The portrait I'd seen the day I drove Jules home, no wonder her face looks familiar to me.” I bite my lips to stop from prying.

“Spill it out, I can see you have more questions,” Alessandro said, staring at me.

“Don't you have any resentment towards her?”

“I don't, not anymore. There was a time I resented her so much. But it no longer matters. I understand she was young and desperate, and with an enemy like Marco, it can't have been easy for her. I accept my lot in life,” he replied. I understand what he's saying.

Sofia was younger than me when she made those choices. She was an orphan who wanted to protect her children from the violence that took her parents' lives.

Though I hated her for abandoning Alessandro, I also admired her strength: she stood up for what she believed in and protected her children. She did what she could.

“You're a good son, Alessandro.”

“That's an exaggeration if I ever heard one. I am not a good son and definitely not a good person! Far from it,” he said, his voice accepting.

He truly believed that. I shake my head, staring him straight in the eyes and wanting him to believe me.

“You are, I'm not saying you are a good person, Alessandro, I'm not delusional or blind, you're in the mafia for God's sake. But you're a good son to your mother despite everything. She left you the responsibility of protecting your siblings. You protected your brother, saved your sister, and even now are still protecting…,”

His mouth slammed into mine, silencing me. His kiss was soft and hard at the same time, taking and giving. I kissed him back softly, poured everything I felt for him, everything I've wanted to say but couldn't, into that kiss, until we were both breathless.

When we parted I sucked in air greedily, my chest heaving.

Alessandro, like always, doesn't look winded like I do, though his eyes were dark with lust, and he was hard, his length pressed into me. I finally did what I've always wanted to do since I first saw him at Villa Marchetti.

My hands stroke his facial hair, scratch his silky soft beard gently, softly, his eyes hooded.

“You don't look like your mother, though I haven't seen your father's face clearly. I'm guessing you take after him.”

“Hmm,” he hummed, noncommittally, his eyes closed, his hands on the ship railing behind me, caging me with his huge sculpted body. Surprisingly, I didn't mind. He looks so handsome and relaxed, the wind ruffling his dark, silky hair.

Being out here with him, away from our troubles with water everywhere, feels magical. I smoothed back his hair, his brows. The urge to kiss him suddenly consumed my thoughts, so I did.

For the first time since we reunited, I made the first move: I kissed him softly, slowly, watching his face. His mouth softened as he kissed me back. His eyes flutter open and stare into mine, then flutter close again.

My eyes slid shut as we said what we felt with our lips and tongues. Alessandro allowed me to set the pace, which was a first.

It was sunshine and rainbows, raindrops, wind, and flowers; it was everything I felt and more. It was equally as consuming as his dark kisses.

The rest of the day was spent there on the deck. Watching the endless vastness of water with Alessandro at my back, eating and drinking the lunch prepared and sent to us by the Cook in the galley. And of course, fishing. While we occasionally chatted.

Alessandro was more interested in listening; he's a good listener and a great thief too, stealing kisses whenever he wants. The two fish he caught, he took below deck to the Cook in the galley for our dinner. When he came back, he was in a different pair of shorts.

He'd invited me to swim on the upper deck, where the swimming pool is. Obviously, I said yes, not that he needed my answer. I went back into the master suite to change into my swimsuit while Alessandro waited for me there.

Now, dressed in my new white Versace Greca cutout swimsuit, I was surprised by what I saw. I look…hot! Anticipation of Alessandro seeing me like this made goosebumps erupt all over my arms.

Even after everything we'd done together, I still feel a little bit shy. I decided to tie a white sarong around my waist and take it off when I'm going into the water.

My heartbeat was erratic, and anticipation made my stomach flutter with nerves. I smiled when my eyes caught sight of the stiletto high heels. I suddenly strap them on.