Chapter 27 - The Morning of the Tyrrhenian
The Mediterranean sun rose over the cliffs of Positano with an arresting, theatrical brilliance, painting the whitewashed stone of Villa Moretti in soft strokes of apricot and gold. Down below, the Tyrrhenian Sea was a vast sheet of liquid sapphire, unmarred by a single ripple as gentle morning swells kissed the rocky shorelines far beneath our terrace.
I woke to the soft, rhythmic sound of the waves and the comforting weight of Roman’s arm securely wrapped around my waist. The king of Chicago, the ruthless architect of a global empire, slept with the deep, undisturbed peace of a man who no longer had to guard his back against the shadows.
I turned slowly in the bed, careful not to wake him, and studied his profile. In the bright morning light, the hard, unforgiving lines of his jaw and the cold intensity that usually defined his dark eyes were softened by sleep. He looked human, vulnerable, and entirely mine.
As if sensing my gaze, Roman’s eyes fluttered open. A slow, effortless smile touched his lips, transforming his expression into something devastatingly warm.
“Good morning, sunshine,” he murmured, his voice thick and gravelly with sleep as he pulled me flush against his chest.
“Morning, Mr. Moretti,” I whispered, tracing a finger lightly along the stubble of his jawline. “Are you sure we don't have an emergency board meeting in Zurich or Tokyo that requires your urgent attention?”
Roman chuckled, a deep, resonant sound that vibrated against my ribs. He captured my hand, pressing a soft, lingering kiss to my palm. “The world can burn to the ground today, Harper, and I wouldn't lift a finger. My only priority is sitting by that infinity pool with you.”
“A dangerous attitude for a global sovereign,” I teased gently.
May you like
“Not a sovereign,” Roman corrected softly, his dark eyes locking onto mine with an intensity that took my breath away. “Just a man who finally found his home.”
We lingered in the quiet sanctuary of the bedroom for another hour, letting the world outside spin on its axis without us, before finally stepping out onto the sun-drenched terrace to begin our first full day of absolute freedom.
