Chapter 40 You're My Wife

Morning light filtered into the dimly-lit bedroom. When Alessandro awoke, his headache had gone. All that was left was a dull ache from the wound in his left arm. He flexed his right arm and found that he couldn't get it loose at all. Lucia was splayed on the other side of the bed with her head resting on their intertwined hands. Her long, dark hair fanned out on the back of his hand. Alessandro didn't move a muscle as he silently gazed at Lucia, who was fast asleep. Memories of last night surfaced in his mind in fragments. He recalled hearing Lucia say that she wasn't going anywhere. Not Elena, but this living and breathing woman lying in his bed. Lucia's lashes trembled slightly as she awoke from her slumber. Her eyes met Alessandro's, and she swiftly jerked awake. She instinctively retracted her hand from his. "Don't move," Alessandro said hoarsely. He tightened his grip around her hand, thumb caressing the back of it. Lucia's cheeks felt warm. "Did your fever go down? I'll