Chapter 134 RAINA, MY WIFE.
\~~~RAINA.
Tears streamed down my cheeks as I watched Luciano on his knees before me, his voice raw with emotion. The man who had always seemed unbreakable, and the one who commanded rooms with a single glance, was pouring out his heart like I had never seen. His words hung in the air, heavy with truth, about how I'd changed him, and how losing me terrified him more than any war or bullet.
He promised me safety, truth, and a life without shadows. And there, in the soft glow of the nighttime clearing, with flowers swaying gently in the breeze, he held up that ring, asking me to be his wife again. Not out of duty, but because he was nothing without me.
I had known him for seven months.
Seven months of fear, distance, tension, mistakes, passion, anger, and silence.
And this… this was the first time I was truly seeing him.
Not the mafia don.
Not the man everyone bowed to.
Not the man who ruled with blood and fire.
But Luciano.
Just him.
Vulnerable. Honest. And human.
For the first time, I saw his heart clearly, without walls, and without armor. And it shattered something inside me in the most beautiful way.
I hadn’t expected this.
After I told him how I felt in the hospital, I hadn’t expected grand gestures or declarations. I only wanted him back. I only wanted to stay and to love him quietly if that was all he could give.
Even if it meant carrying the weight of affection for both of us, I was willing. I'd loved him through the pain of our separation, through the doubts and the distance. Seeing him like this now, it only made that love swell, filling every corner of my soul.
My gaze dropped to the ring in the velvet box he held. It sparkled under the lantern light, a delicate band of white gold that twisted like vines, adorned with a central diamond that caught the stars above. Smaller stones flanked it, twinkling like captured fireflies, simple yet elegant in their design.
It was nothing like the one I'd returned after the divorce. That one had been a heavy, ornate piece, symbolizing the life we had built under pressure, full of expectations and unspoken resentments.
This ring felt different, lighter, and personal. It spoke of renewal, and of a promise forged in quiet moments rather than grand illusions. My hand trembled as I reached for it, the tears blurring my vision but not my resolve.
Amidst the crying, my voice broke free, soft but sure. "Yes. I love you, yes!"
His eyes lit up, a mix of relief and joy flooding his features.
He took my hand gently, sliding the ring onto my finger. It fit perfectly, warm against my skin, like it had always belonged there. He rose to his feet, pulling me into his arms, and our lips met in a kiss that started tender but quickly turned hungry, passionate.
His mouth claimed mine with a desperation that mirrored my own, tongues dancing, breaths mingling in the cool night air. My fingers tangled in his hair, pulling him closer, as if I could fuse our bodies and souls right there.
The world faded, the flowers, the silk tent, and the distant rustle of leaves until it was just us, rediscovering each other in this raw, electric connection.
We broke apart eventually, both gasping for air, foreheads pressed together. I blinked away the remnants of tears, my eyes wandering over the romantic setup once more. The clearing was transformed into a haven. The lanterns strung between trees casting a golden glow, petals scattered on the grass like a carpet, and that softly lit, silk-draped tent at the center, its fabric billowing invitingly in the breeze. It looked like something out of a dream, intimate and perfect.
"How did you have the time to prepare all of this?!" I exclaimed, pulling away slightly to walk toward the table nearby. It was laden with delights of crystal glasses filled with chilled champagne, a tiered cake frosted in white with fresh berries cascading down the sides, platters of finger foods like chocolate-dipped strawberries, creamy pastries, and an array of desserts that made my mouth water.
The scents mingled sweetly vanilla, fruit, and a hint of something spiced. I traced my fingers over the edge of the table, marveling at the attention to detail.
Luciano chuckled, that deep, rumbling sound that always sent shivers through me. He stepped closer, his presence warm at my back. "I had the best people working on it with me. They know how to make things happen."
I turned to face him, my curiosity piqued. "Who?"
He smirked, his eyes twinkling with amusement. "Guess."
I tilted my head, thinking. Gabriel came to mind first, he was always the smooth operator, and the one who handled the finer things. "Gabriel?"
"And Viktor," he added casually.
I gasped, my hand flying to my mouth. "Viktor?!" Laughter bubbled up from my chest, unexpected and light. Viktor, with his gruff demeanor and no-nonsense attitude, was the last person I'd pictured stringing lanterns or arranging desserts.
The man barely tolerated small talk, let alone romantic setups. He didn't even seem to fancy me much and our interactions were always polite but distant, like he was keeping a professional wall up.
“He doesn’t even like me that much,” I said between laughs.
Luciano smiled, a little softer this time. “Trust me, he’d do anything to earn your forgiveness.”
I blinked. “My forgiveness?”
He didn’t answer.
Instead, he stepped closer, closing the space between us. He cupped my cheeks gently, his thumbs brushing away the last of my tears and he leaned in, his breath warm against my lips. "I love you, Raina Marielle," he whispered, the words wrapping around me like a promise.
My heart fluttered, the sound of my full name on his tongue making it all feel even more real. "Me too. I love you, Luciano Rafael."
Our lips met again, this time slower at first, savoring the moment. But the passion reignited quickly, deepening as his arms encircled my waist, pulling me flush against him. I melted into the kiss, my hands roaming over his broad shoulders, feeling the strength beneath his shirt. His tongue explored my mouth with deliberate strokes, drawing soft moans from me that he swallowed greedily.
The taste of him drove me wild, my body responding with a heat that pooled low in my belly.
He broke away just enough to trail kisses down my jaw, nipping at my earlobe, sending sparks through my nerves. I arched into him, lost in the sensation, until he bent down suddenly, scooping me up into his arms with effortless strength.
His lips found mine again, the kiss unbroken as he cradled me against his chest, my legs dangling as he started toward the tent.
"You are going to open your wound again," I gasped, breaking the kiss for a moment, my voice breathless with concern.
He groaned low in his throat, not from pain but desire, as he nuzzled into my neck. "I didn't bring the first aid kits along for aesthetics, baby," he murmured, his mouth descending to kiss the swell of my breasts above my neckline.
Each press of his lips was hot and insistent, making my pulse race as he carried me forward, his steps steady despite the intimacy.
The silk tent loomed closer, its entrance fluttering like an invitation. Inside, I could make out plush cushions and more lanterns, promising a night of unrestrained closeness. My fingers clutched at his shoulders, a mix of worry and want warring within me, but his touch drowned out everything else.
This was us, raw, real, and ready to rebuild.
The air inside the tent was warmer, scented with jasmine from hidden diffusers, the silk walls enclosing us in privacy.
Luciano lowered me onto a nest of pillows, his body following mine down, and never breaking contact. His hands slid up my sides, pushing fabric aside to expose more skin, his kisses growing bolder. I tugged at his shirt, needing to feel him, to trace the lines of his body that I'd missed so fiercely.
"Raina," he breathed against my collarbone, voice husky. "My wife."
The word sent a thrill through me, ownership and love tangled together. I pulled him back up for another kiss, pouring all my emotions into it, gratitude, and desire, the deep-seated affection that had survived everything.
His weight pinned me gently, a comforting pressure, as our bodies aligned perfectly.