I'm yours, You're mine

•Olivia•

I woke up in his arms.

His body was wrapped around mine like he was afraid I'd disappear. His breath was warm against my neck. His hand was splayed across my stomach, possessive even in sleep.

I didn't move. I didn't want to.

I just lay there, feeling his heartbeat against my back. Feeling the weight of his arm around me. Feeling... safe.

Last night flooded back.

The way he'd worshipped every inch of my body. The way he'd whispered my name like a prayer. The way he'd stopped, even when he was desperate, to make sure I was okay.

I'd never felt so cherished.

"Good morning, gattina."

His voice was thick with sleep. Rough. Sexy. I felt his lips press against the back of my neck.

I turned my head. He was smiling at me. His eyes were soft. Warm. Full of something I'd never seen directed at me before.

Love.

"Good morning," I whispered.

He kissed my forehead. "How do you feel?"

I thought about it. About last night. About everything.

"Happy," I said. "I feel happy."

His smile widened. "Good. Because I'm going to make you happy every single day for the rest of your life."

I laughed softly. "That's a big promise."

"I keep my promises, principessa." He pulled me closer. "Now, what do you want for breakfast?"

"Breakfast?"

"Yes. I have a chef. He can make anything you want. Pancakes. Omelets. Fresh fruit. Croissants." He paused. "Or we could just stay here and I could make you feel happy again."

My face burned. "Diego!"

He laughed. It was a beautiful sound. Deep and warm.

"I'm kidding," he said. "Mostly. But I do want to feed you. You need your strength."

I rolled my eyes, but I was smiling. "Fine. Pancakes."

He kissed my nose. "Pancakes it is."

~An hour later~

We were sitting on the balcony, eating breakfast.

The view was incredible. The city sprawled beneath us, glittering in the morning sun. The sky was a perfect blue. The air was warm and sweet.

I felt like I was in a dream.

Diego was watching me. His eyes never left my face.

"What?" I asked, self-conscious. "Do I have something on my nose?"

"No." He smiled. "I'm just looking at you."

"Why?"

"Because you're beautiful. Because I still can't believe you're mine." He reached across the table and took my hand. "Because I've waited my whole life for this moment."

My heart fluttered. "You're going to make me cry."

"Don't cry." He squeezed my hand. "I hate seeing you cry."

"Then stop being so sweet."

He laughed. "I can't help it. You bring out the sweetness in me."

I shook my head, but I was smiling. "You're impossible."

"And yet, you married me."

"I was forced to."

"Were you?" He raised an eyebrow. "You could have run. You could have stayed in that car and refused to come inside. You could have walked away at any moment."

I opened my mouth to argue. But he was right.

I didn't run.

I stayed.

"I stayed because..." I paused, trying to find the right words. "Because you made me feel safe. Because you saw me. The real me. Not the version my family wanted me to be."

Diego's eyes softened. "I'll always see you, Olivia. The real you. And I'll always protect you."

I didn't know what to say.

So I just squeezed his hand back.

Later that morning. We were in the library.

Diego had insisted on giving me a tour of the penthouse, and the library was my favorite room. Floor-to-ceiling shelves filled with books. A cozy reading nook by the window. A fireplace that crackled softly.

"This is incredible," I breathed. "I've never seen anything like it."

"Read whatever you want," Diego said, leaning against the doorframe. "They're all yours now."

I turned to look at him. "All of them?"

"All of them." He smiled. "I told you. I want to give you everything."

I walked over to a shelf and ran my fingers along the spines. Leather-bound classics. First editions. Books I'd only ever dreamed of owning.

"This is too much," I said quietly. "You're giving me too much."

"No." He walked toward me. "I'm not giving you enough. You deserve the world, Olivia. And I'm going to give it to you."

I turned to face him. "Why? Why do you care so much about me? You barely know me."

He stopped in front of me. His hand came up to my face, cupping my cheek.

"Because I saw you," he said softly. "At that gala. You were hiding behind a pillar, reading a book. Everyone else was pretending to care about each other. But you were real. You were yourself." He paused. "I've spent my whole life surrounded by people who wanted things from me. Who feared me. Who pretended to care. But you—you didn't even know who I was. And you were still the most beautiful thing I'd ever seen."

I couldn't breathe. "Diego—"

"I know it's fast," he continued. "I know we barely know each other. But I've been watching you for three months, Olivia. I know you love to read. I know you write poetry when you think no one's watching. I know you rescue stray cats. I know you hate parties. I know you're terrified of being trapped." He smiled. "I know you."

"How?" I whispered. "How do you know all of that?"

"Because I've been paying attention." He brushed a strand of hair from my face. "No one's ever paid attention to you, have they?"

I shook my head. "No."

"Then let me be the one who does." He leaned in, pressing his forehead against mine. "Let me be the one who sees you. Who loves you. Who gives you everything you've never had."

Tears burned my eyes. "I don't know what to say."

"Say you'll stay." His voice cracked. "Say you'll give me a chance."

I wrapped my arms around his neck.

"I'll stay," I whispered. "I'll give you a chance."

His smile was blinding.

Then in the evening, we were sitting on the couch, watching a movie.

I don't remember what it was about. I was too focused on Diego. The way his arm was draped around me. The way his fingers traced patterns on my shoulder. The way he kept looking at me instead of the screen.

"Stop staring," I said, laughing.

"I can't help it." He grinned. "You're more interesting than the movie."

"You haven't even watched the movie."

"Don't need to. I've got the best view in the room."

I shook my head. "You're ridiculous."

"You love it."

I opened my mouth to argue. But he was right.

I did love it.

I loved the way he made me feel. Loved. Desired. Cherished.

I leaned into him, resting my head on his chest. His heart was steady beneath my ear.

"Diego?" I asked quietly.

"Yes, gattina?"

"What happens now? After all of this?"

He was silent for a moment. Then he spoke.

"Now, we live. We love. We build a life together." He pressed a kiss to my forehead. "I know it's not going to be easy. I have enemies. Dangerous ones. And your family—" He paused. "They're not going to make this easy."

"No," I agreed. "They're not."

"But I promise you this." He pulled back, meeting my eyes. "I will protect you. I will keep you safe. I will give you everything you've ever wanted and more." He smiled. "You're mine now, Olivia. And I don't let go of what's mine."

My heart swelled.

"I'm yours," I whispered. "And you're mine."

"I've been yours since the moment I saw you."

He leaned in and kissed me.

Soft. Gentle. Full of promise.