Chapter 411

My king, so easy to coerce to my will now I know how.

We walk out of the room steadily; me clinging onto him as I quell my nerves by latching to his body, and Lync jumps to attention, waiting patiently for his master by the door. He's looking very smart and groomed and wearing a little bow tie for the occasion in the matching dark blue that the bridal party is wearing. Those freakily similar eyes are sparkling with glee because he loves nothing more than attention.

I love this dog to bits, and although Alexi told me under no circumstances would his dog get dressed up, I managed to swing one little cute accessory. Red has a matching hair bow and is upstairs already being held hostage by Alessandra. Red is the ultimate Diva and will never do what you want her to do if she doesn't want to do it. Sitting pretty for my big day is not high on her list of cat priorities but luckily, she loves my best friend Alessandra and will sit in her lap for hours to be petted. Red has blossomed into a beautiful cat, the spitting image of her departed father.

Alessandra and I have become inseparable. We spend many lunches and shopping trips comparing our twins and spending ridiculous amounts of money on clothes and shoes, and maybe the occasional pet accessory seeing as she adopted Red's sister. Luckily our brothers like each other's company and we frequently double date with them. The little happy group of perfect companions who accept me as I am, flaws and all.

It's helped bring Alexi back to the land of humans and normal things. Cinema trips, the zoo, picnics in the park and all that gushy stuff he avoided like the plague. He and Gino seem to be closer than ever before, and Gino has even quit his occasional use of narcotics and far too much booze. He's trying to grow up and act like an adult. I mean, he is scheduled for his own wedding in six months" time.

They much prefer taking their women to clubs and weekend getaways to hang out in saunas and hot tubs nowadays than getting smashed and hungover on trips to Vegas, where anything can happen while under the influence.

Alexi is even teaching me how to ski.

Crazy.

We head up the stairs from the bedroom floor to the roof, and I stop him as we get to the door to the outer area, having a last moment of panic and insecurity. Insides churning with nerves, hands trembling as reality kicks in and we're right here about to do this thing. One step away, to be precise.

"Wait." I grip onto his arm tightly, taking a second to suppress my doubts and swallow hard.

"Tell me you love me." I blurt it out, sounding small and afraid. Something that hits me every so often when my demons and dark doubts plague my brain, threatening to choke me with crippling self-doubt. Alexi turns to me slowly, he knows the drill by now, he is adept at dealing with me when my lack of worth peeks out.

He runs a gentle finger across my temple and down my cheek, tracing me tenderly, eyes locking on mine as he allows me a few seconds to breathe slowly. A minute to gather myself as his touch brings me around. He pulls me close and rests his head against mine, so we are nose to nose and the rest of the world seems to fade away into oblivion.

"I love you, more than anything in the world." It's said with conviction, that low soothing tone of his melting away my woes and worries. Reminding me that nothing is ever scary when by his side, and I sink against him. Breathing out and remembering all the reasons I want to do this.

"You want this?" I ask meekly, always afraid that one day the answer will be no, even though I know it's stupid. I'm working on those insecurities though. I know one day they will stop, and I won't ask this anymore. He will stop having to reassure me and we can just live in blissful harmony.

Maybe.

"There is nothing I want more than this, except you." He nudges his nose against mine, which pulls a smile from me and a quiet little giggle. He can be cute sometimes, even though he hates it when I call him that.

Perfect answer. I'm training him well.

I smile properly, sinking against him all the more, instant putty in his hands as he always knows what to say.

"Right. I can do this. Then Sicily for two weeks of sun, sex and meeting extended family, right?" Back to the place Alexi spent most of his childhood; back to the source of that sexy hint of an accent. A holiday away from all of this before I start my new job.

"Right." He nods at me adoringly, never breaking eye contact.

"Okay."

I inhale as slowly as I can, trying to steady my trembling hands as those wolf-like eyes settle me down and that calm, cool stillness he exudes brings the same sense of serenity to me. I never noticed until recently just how much I need that solid, statuesque quality he has when I'm in a crisis. His icy manner and impeccable stillness. He's my rock.

"Okay." He repeats and this time, without hesitation, takes my hand.

The End.