Julia saw in his eyes that he was absolutely serious. She knew that if he’d given her an engagement ring, she would have been shocked, but she would have accepted it. There was no other person in the world for her, just him. So why was she hesitating?
On the one hand, there was her pride, and on the other, there was the thought, the painful unacceptable thought, that she would hurt him by rejecting his gift. She didn’t want to hurt him. She loved him, which meant that her decision had already been made.
“They’re beautiful. The most beautiful gift I’ve ever received, next to your love. Thank you.”
He kissed her fingers in gratitude. “Grace would be happy that we found one another. I believe that, Julianne. I believe that she’s looking down on us and offering us her blessing. And she would be overjoyed that I was able to give her earrings to the woman I love.”
He smiled, extending his hand and pulling her into a passionate embrace. “Thank you,” he whispered.
After he’d kissed her, he took the box from her hand and helped her place the earrings in her ears. And he pressed a tender kiss to each earlobe. “Meravigliosa. Marvelous.”
Julia laughed nervously. “Everyone downstairs is staring at us.”
“Not everyone. The waiter is in the kitchen.” He smirked at her, and they both laughed.
He caught her eye and leaned forward to whisper in her ear, “Behold, thou art fair, my beloved.”
Julia flushed deeply at Gabriel’s erotic Hebrew poetry and murmured her reply against his neck, “By night on my bed I sought him whom my soul loveth: I sought him, but I found him not. I will rise now, and go about the city in the streets, and in the broad ways I will seek him.”
Gabriel responded with a slow, surprised smile and kissed her until the waiter returned.
When Julia declined dessert and the wine bottle was empty, the blissful couple floated in the direction of their hotel.
“How are your feet?” Gabriel gazed down wistfully at her beautiful high-heeled shoes.
She squeezed his hand. “I can’t feel my feet. I can’t feel anything at this moment except happiness.”
He smiled at her tenderly. “My sweet girl.”
He chose a single lock of hair and wound it gently around his finger before releasing it. “Can you tolerate a detour? The Duomo is beautiful by night, and I’ve never kissed you in its shadow.”
She nodded, and he led her to the church so they could admire Brunelleschi’s dome. It was an incredible feat of renaissance architecture, a great egg shaped dome with a tiled roof soaring above a beautiful church. They walked to the front of the structure, near the Baptistery opposite, gazing at the fa?ade and up at the roof. It was breathtaking, even at night.
Gabriel pulled her to his chest and kissed her lovingly, winding his fingers around the loose tendrils of her hair.
She half-moaned as he dragged his lips to her earlobe, drawing it into his mouth gently.
“You have no idea how it feels knowing that I gave you these.” He nuzzled her earring with his nose. “Knowing that you wear my love for everyone to see.”
Julia responded by kissing him eagerly.
With fingers entwined, they found themselves drawn to the Ponte Santa Trinita, the bridge where Dante saw Beatrice. Standing on the bridge, they looked down at the Arno, illuminated as it was at night by the lights of the buildings on the riverbanks.
“Julianne,” he murmured, holding her in his arms as they watched the river flow.
“Gabriel.” She smiled up at him and angled her face for a kiss.
He kissed her softly at first, but their kisses grew more and more intense. He pulled away, well aware of the fact that they were becoming a spectacle for the foot traffic across the bridge.
“I’m so glad I found you again. I’ve never been this happy.” He stroked her cheek lazily and pressed his lips to her forehead.
Impulsively, she reached out and grabbed his silk tie, pulling him so that their faces were mere inches apart. “I want you,” she breathed. And with that, Julia pulled him even closer and kissed him.
And what a kiss it was. Here was the tiger emerging from behind the fa?ade of the kitten. Julia’s passion, ignited by Gabriel’s affection, poured into his mouth as she endeavored to show him how much she felt for him. Her hands, which had normally rested on either his shoulders or in his hair, left his tie to explore his chest and his back, feeling his muscles through his clothes, pressing him tightly against her.
Her aggression delighted him. He reciprocated within reason, well aware of the edge of the bridge at his back and the clusters of impertinent youths who continued to walk by.
When they were both panting for air, she brought her lips to his ear, “Make me yours. Now.”
“Are you sure?” he rasped out, caressing her hips and her backside.
“With all my heart.”
He brushed his thumb against her now swollen lower lip. “Only if you’re ready.”
“I’ve wanted you forever, Gabriel. Please don’t make me wait any longer.”