The mont the jet touched down, I knew this place would stay with forever.
Santorini was a dream painted in shades of white and blue. It was all light, air, and calm. From the window, I could already see the cliffs cascading into the sea, sunlight scattering like diamonds across the water. Even the air felt different here. It felt way softer.
When we stepped out onto the private tarmac, the breeze swept through my hair and carried the faint scent of salt and citrus. It felt like the world had finally slowed down like ti itself was catching its breath for us.
Jace’s hand brushed mine. "You like what you see?" he asked.
I turned to him, smiling. "Like it? Jace, this is... perfect."
He grinned, that quiet, satisfied grin that told he’d been waiting for that reaction. "Good. Because I plan on keeping you here for a while."
The villa was tucked away on the edge of the caldera. It was private, secluded, and absolutely breathtaking. The mont the gates opened, I couldn’t stop staring.
Whitewashed walls glowed under the sunlight, curving gracefully with the hillside. The steps were lined with lavender and small olive trees, their silver-green leaves rustling in the breeze. Ahead, an infinity pool spilled seamlessly into the horizon, its edge lting into the sea below.
Inside, everything was open and bathed in natural light.
There were marble floors and soft linen curtains. A view that made you forget how to breathe.
The living room opened into a terrace shaded by white drapes, where a single wooden table sat facing the endless blue. Every corner was artfully simple vases of white roses, wicker furniture, candles waiting to be lit when night ca.
And our bedroom... oh my God. It was straight out of a dream. The walls were smooth plaster, curved like waves. A glass door led straight to the terrace, where a small plunge pool shimred under the sky. From the bed, you could see the ocean stretch endlessly, its surface kissed by sunlight.
The rose petals scattered all over the room floor made it even more romantic.
I turned to Jace, wide-eyed. "You did all this?"
He leaned against the doorfra, hands in his pockets, pretending not to look proud. "Maybe."
"Maybe?" I walked toward him, raising a brow. "This looks like it ca straight out of a movie, Jace."
He smiled faintly. "I wanted sothing that felt like peace."
For a mont, I couldn’t even respond. Peace. That word had haunted us for so long, always out of reach. I loved this sweet little bubble we were in and I didn’t want it to end. Ever.
I like the thought of living a normal life with no mafia problems. But telling him that now could ruin the mont so I decided to let it be.
I slipped my arms around his waist and rested my cheek against his chest. "You’re full of surprises, Mr. Romano."
He kissed the top of my head. "Only the good kind, I promise."
We spent the afternoon exploring the villa, barefoot, hand in hand, laughing over the smallest things. The fridge was stocked with Greek pastries and champagne. The staff had left us a note that read Welco to forever. I smiled when I saw it. It felt right.
Later, we wandered down the narrow stone path that led to a small private cove. The cliffs were dotted with white houses, and the sea shimred like liquid glass. Jace carried our sandals, insisting the rocks were too warm for to walk on, even though I told him I was fine.
He was still impossibly protective, but now it felt... tender. Not control. Just care.
By sunset, the villa glowed like molten gold. The sky turned from pink to deep orange, the horizon lting into the sea. Jace opened a bottle of wine and poured two glasses as we settled on the terrace, the ocean stretching endlessly before us.
It was quiet, just the sound of waves below and the occasional call of seabirds. The kind of quiet that didn’t feel heavy this ti. It was just beautiful.
I turned to him. "Do you ever think about how far we’ve co?"
He looked at for a long ti before answering. "Every day."
He reached out and tucked a loose strand of hair behind my ear. "I think about the girl who once stood in front of with fire in her eyes, swearing she’d hate forever. And now..."
I smiled softly. "Now?"
"Now she’s my whole world."
The words hit straight in the chest, I almost cried.
I leaned into him, resting my head against his shoulder as the sky deepened into violet. "You’re ridiculous," I whispered.
He kissed my temple. "You love anyway."
"Unfortunately."
He laughed, low and easy, and I felt it rumble through like a heartbeat.
We stayed that way for a long ti, watching the day give way to night, stars flickering to life above the water. When the lights from the nearby villages began to twinkle like scattered constellations, I turned to him again, catching his gaze in the dim glow.
"What are you thinking?" I asked softly.
He traced his thumb over my fingers, his voice quieter now. "That I want to spend the rest of my life watching you fall in love with the world again."
And I knew right then he already had . Entirely.
~
A little over two hours later...
The wine was half-gone, the stars were out, and the air slled faintly of salt and lemon. Sowhere below the cliffs, waves hit the rocks in slow rhythm. It was steady, almost hypnotic. I didn’t even realize how long we’d been sitting there until the chill of the night brushed against my skin.
"You’re cold," Jace murmured.
"I’m fine," I said, even though my shoulders betrayed with a small shiver.
He shook his head and stood, disappearing inside for a mont. When he ca back, he had one of those soft white blankets draped over his arm. He tucked it around , his movents careful, quiet and almost reverent.
"Better?" He asked.
"Much better," I whispered.
He didn’t sit back down right away. He just looked at so intently like he was trying to morize the mont. The wind played with my hair, and the candlelight flickered across his face. There was sothing in his eyes I couldn’t quite read.
"What?" I asked, smiling.
"Nothing," he said, though his voice ca out low, thoughtful. "You just look so out of this world."
I laughed softly. "Jace, co on now,"
"But it’s true." He insisted, making blush even more.
He joined under the blanket, pulling between his legs, my back pressed against his chest. His arms ca around easily, like they’d always belonged there. Well they did.
"Do you rember our first night together?" he asked suddenly.
"Of course I do," I said with a small smile. "You scared half to death."
He chuckled, his breath warm against my neck. "You did everything to push away."
"And you deserved it."
"Probably." He kissed my shoulder, the laughter still lingering in his voice. "We were a ss back then."
"We were," I agreed. "But maybe that’s what makes this... sweeter."
He humd in agreent. His fingers brushed slow circles against my skin, lazy and absent-minded, like even now he couldn’t stop touching . I tilted my head slightly, resting it on his shoulder.
"I keep thinking about how far we’ve co, Jace," I said quietly. "How everything led to this exact mont."
Jace didn’t answer right away. His heartbeat was steady against my back, grounding and calm. "I do too," he said eventually. "And I’d go through it all again if it ant ending up here."
My chest tightened. There were monts with him that didn’t need grand gestures.
Jace’s lips brushed the side of my neck, feather-light. It wasn’t rushed, just careful. It was a question, not a demand.
I turned slightly to look at him, and our eyes t. The sa look I’d seen on our wedding day was there again. That fierce, tender and certain look.
"You should stop looking at like that," I murmured.
"Like what?"
"Like you’re about to ruin ." I said, biting on my lower lip.
He smiled, slow and dangerous. "That’s the plan."
I tried to laugh, but the sound caught sowhere in my throat. He leaned in, closing the space between us, and the world seed to narrow — the stars, the wind, the sea, everything else faded until it was just his breath against mine.
"Jace..." I whispered, but the word ca out like a plea.
His hand found mine, fingers lacing together before he brought them to his lips. "Happy honeymoon, mia cara," he said softly, his voice low and steady.
He lifted into his arms, carrying straight into the bedroom, where he laid on the bed and ate out like I was his last supper.
When he slipped into with so much gentleness, I felt my insides relax.
We made love so much, we lost track of ti.
The sea murmured below, the candles burned low, and I let myself forget everything else, every scar, every fear, every shadow. All that existed now was the man who once broke my world and then rebuilt it, piece by piece, until it felt like love again.
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