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Angela's POV

*

The clanking of forks I was used to whenever I was at family gatherings was almost non existent at this table as we ate the delicious goodness that had been prepared before I and Eros's arrival.

Chicken Marsala, Pasta Puttanesca with so many other delicious looking dishes that made my mouth water at the sight were sitting in different plates and saucers, waiting to be consumed. The taste was also superb.

"So, how did you meet?" The question pierced into the silence. It had come from Ritalin, Eros's mom who had been nothing but warm and kind to me since we got here.

I almost rolled my eyes at the cliché question but refrained at the last second.

I looked up and realized that every single person at the table were staring at me with curious eyes. Including Eros, who had an interesting look in his eyes. I shook my head unapologetically in response to him alone, knowing I certainly couldn't be the one to answer the question.

"I've also been wondering the same thing. Eros has never brought any of his past girlfriends home...except Nola." Eros's dad stated with his deep voice and his brothers faked a cough, going back to their food as if nothing was happening at the table.

"Who's Nola?" I blurted and faced Eros without even thinking it through.

"Typical of women. The only thing she heard was Nola. By the way, sorry but I made the name up." Eros's dad chuckled with a teasing look in his eyes and gave his wife a knowing look.

She ducked her head as a tinge of hue slightly tainted her cheeks.

My eyes widened as my cheeks burned in slight embarrassment. I couldn't believe I just blurted that out while everyone's gazes were still on me.

Eros cleaned the sides of his mouth. "I met Angela at a wedding. Stephano, her brother's wedding and that was where it hit off."

Where what hit off?

I furrowed my brows and thought back to that day. I hadn't even seen anyone that looked like Eros at the wedding and I was very sure that I wouldn't have forgotten such a man. Not with Eros's charming charisma and beautiful hazel eyes.

"And you two fell for each other at the spot? Stephano Alfonsi's wedding happened just like two months ago." Eros's sister, Malia asked with a sly smirk and I nodded.

Eros sure did move fast. He must've spoken with Stephano at the reception that day or not long after because he already won Stephano over somehow. My brother trusted him so much with my safety and that was quite shocking.

But then again, Eros was pretty serious about his feelings for me so it would only be normal for him to easily win Stephano's trust. My brothers were quite protective over me and always did background check on any guy I was spotted with.

It was overbearing but over the years, I learnt not to care so much about their probing eyes on my relationship life.

"I fell for her at the spot. Can we stop talking about this?" Eros turned to face me and placed his hand on my thigh while I just stared at him with incredulous eyes.

I never even knew that I had caught his eyes that day and moreover, I was sure he didn't approach me.

"We deserve to know." Malia said with a roll of her eyes and winked at me.

Giovanna and Giavanna were identical twins and they giggled each time someone said something they found funny but this time, they both nodded. They were the last borns in the family and were very cheerful and they were still in highschool.

His brothers didn't speak at all, they just observed me and would occasionally meet my eyes before looking away. Geronimo and Giacomo looked so alike and had their mother's dangerously dark orbs.

The both of them were only a year apart.

They had similar heights and even physique with Eros but unlike Eros's eyes which were hazel like that of his dad's, theirs were very dark like that of their mother. Malia on the other hand also had hazel eyes like Eros's. The twins had green eyes and their brown hairs were styled into loose buns so I would say they had their grandmother's hair since Eros's parents both had shiny black hair colors.

I was the same height with Malia and we had similar body shape though I had fuller bust. She seemed to have taken a liking towards me and even occasionally teased Eros this evening, all the while giving me either a wink or a sly smirk.

"So Angela, you're a model." The last person at the end of the table stated. She had observed me under sharp green, predatory eyes since I got here but I wasn't on edge like I'd expected to feel.

They were all eager to meet me as I was to meet them and that made me more relaxed.

"Yes ma'am." I replied Maria De Zola, second of her name and president of the women's right activist in the whole of Italy. She had been in the military for more than thirty years and was also very fierce. I'd heard a lot about her so I knew not to take it personal if she didn't like me.

This woman was Eros's grandmother. Her gaze was taunting and I knew she didn't like me very much, or so she wanted me to believe.

"So when you get married, you will travel everyday and leave my Mario Erosio all alone." She attacked with a smile that didn't reach her eyes, making sure her tone was fierce. She had thick Italian accent.

"No ma'am, we haven't discussed that but we'll make sure it is convenient for the both of us." I replied to my best ability.

"Conveniente? Si. Of course you will say that. You girls of this generation don't know a thing about marriage and responsibility. You want to do business, everyday, leave your husband alone. Azienda. Only work. He'll carry other girls come to your house when you don't take care of your man and you will start weeping, piangere, cry like a sissy-"

Eros sent a sharp glare her way, probably getting upset because his Nana was beginning to put rubbish ideas in my head. "Nana please. What we decide to do is what will be best for us as a couple and we aren't trying to please anyone." He said sharply.

Maria De Zola gasped with wide eyes. "Now he talks back to his elders and he is not even married yet! We know what is best for you, piccolo. Don't you see that this issue should be addressed as soon-"

"Let's not do this right now." One of his brothers, Giacomo tried to put an end to the conversation but she shot him daggers with her pretty green eyes.

"You keep quiet there!"

"That's enough. Don't ruin my dinner." Luca commanded her and she immediately kept her lips sealed, scowling at me.

"At least we know what we want before marriage." Eros said even though the whole table had gone silent.

"See how he talks to me? It's all my fault. Why did I tell you my love story with Luca? What if I got pregnant before we got married?" She frowned, clearly displeased that Eros could throw a jab at her. I chuckled and pinched Eros's thighs.

"Stop being so naughty." I scolded him under my breath.

"You can punish me when we get home...I've been bad." He flirted shamelessly instead and trailed his hand on my thigh upward, succeeding in silencing me. I could only glare at him.

"Baby, it's okay." Luca patted his wife's back gently because she was still glaring but no longer at me, instead the glare was directed at Eros. Smirking at him, the 'old' lady leaned into Luca's neck to give him a peck, her calm demeanor returning.

I was at loss for words.

This was a dining table and this old couple were openly showing such an affection.

This family was a bit interesting, well apart from Eros's grandma. I would look forward to coming here again in the nearest future.

Maria De Zola looked at me again and stared skeptically.

"So, the wedding date? Have you picked it?"

"No more talking at the table. Now eat." Eros's dad ordered and that was that. Everyone picked their cutleries and we began to eat.

Eros's hand moved over my left thigh and he traced random patterns on it. I heaved a contented sigh, realizing that his hand was actually a good distraction for me right now. "Enjoying dinner?"

My lips curved up into a small smile as I nodded and reduced my voice so only him would hear me. "I can't help it. Your family is quite interesting."

Immediately we were done with dinner, Eros's mom invited me to a fundraising event next week and I accepted immediately. We needed time to bond as mother and daughter-in-law after all.

They showed me some of Eros's pictures in highschool and I giggled at almost all of them. Even my brother Giuliano sometimes had a blank expression but Eros's was worse. He was unsmiling in all his pictures.

Whenever I giggled, he would smile again as if he was supposed to. Those smiles should have been for these pictures, not for my current laughter. He had his hands around my waist throughout as if I would run away.

It was almost two hours later when I finished talking with Eros's family we were preparing to leave. And I could say it was really nice meeting them.

"Come to my place next week erm, Saturday. We will make some Tuscan Tortellini Soup and Caprese Stuffed Chicken before I go for my conference in Spain." Eros's grandma told me with a scowl and looked from me to Eros with a complicated expression.

The sides of her eyes was wrinkled than the remaining parts of her face but her skin was glowing and she looked to be in great health. I was a head taller but knew from one glance that this woman had been very beautiful in her prime.

Eros randomly caressed my waist, leaving delicious tingles all over my body. He leaned closer and whispered, "She's trying to know if you are good in the kitchen."

I shrugged. Well I wasn't a chef but I definitely helped out in the kitchen at home and I also knew how to prepare some foreign dishes, because of my touring experience.

"That would be great Mrs-"

"Call me Nana," She turned around and pushed her bag into a maid's hand, "Let's go to our home Luca. I need to relax!" She snapped and Luca walked out slowly. I stifled a giggle and watched them leave together with two bodyguards, the maid carrying her bag and another two armed men who caught up with them at the entrance.

Oh, the joy of being one of the feared men in the country and also married to someone who used to be in the military. Bodyguards would always be scattered around.

Mrs Ritalin, Eros's mom came to join us.

"So, we'll see next week at the function?"

"Yes, sure Mrs-"

"Since you call his father dad, you should call me mom too. Now come here." She gave me a hug and pecked my cheeks then did the same with Eros. Eros's brothers both nodded while Malia and the girls hugged me tightly.

It felt as if I was parting with new friends.

We left for Eros's place after that but I noticed a car was following us as I looked at the rear mirror. The same car had been behind me when I was going for Brody's burial as well.

"Eros..."

"Yeah?"

"A car is following us."

"Yes, that's Nate. You don't have anything to worry about. He's merely doing his job."

He rested my head on his shoulder as I mulled over the fact that Nate was back to being my bodyguard. Then a thought struck me.

"Wait, you told me you loved me while we were going to your parents place. Is that something you usually say to everyone?"

"No. Why do you ask?"

"Well, you repeated it several times."

"That's because I love you and there's no telling what will happen today or tomorrow or even in the next second. If you love someone, tell them immediately you realize it."

"Oh."

"Yep. I love you."

My breath caught in my throat. "I ...I like you."

"Thank you for liking me." He kissed me at the hollow of my throat and I craned my neck to the side. "You smell very nice. Very sweet."

I pulled his head from my neck and gave him a quick kiss on the lips before pulling away, suddenly feeling a yearning for him. If this proceeded any further, I'd have him under me in no time and it wouldn't be good to do it in a car.

My hands drummed on my lips as they tingled and butterflies danced in my stomach. I felt like a teenager who was feeling giddy around her crush.

His touches set my heart on fire and I was afraid that if I kept kissing him, I would ask him to do things to me so I only stole glances at him, feeling somewhat embarrassed at myself for wanting to be intimate with him so badly.

We'd only just met weeks ago and I was acting like a woman in heat. I licked my lower lip at the thought of him on top of me, riding me with vigor and swallowing my moans while his figure would be sprawled over me and driving me to ecstasy with his delicious thrusts.

My legs clenched as I subtly rubbed them and admired his slight stubble, wondering what it would feel like to have it brushing over my skin.

Eros was about to say something but caught my look and his eyes widened.

"Jesus angel, what are you thinking of? Why are you staring at me that way? You know what, fuck it! Fuck this space I was trying to put between us. If you're looking at me this way then I guess I should just do what I have in mind since our thoughts are currently alike." He leaned over and took my lips, this time fiercely. He was taking so much as his hands caressed everywhere and I loved it.

I loved it so much. His kisses made me breathless.

I moaned as he grabbed my left butt cheek to pull me closer to him, kneading it. It wasn't comfortable in the limo but we could manage. I leaned back as we kept kissing till he was lying on me and my hands were both in his hair and on his neck.

"Your ass is so soft." He rasped against my lips and pressed himself against me as he went in for another kiss and I could feel his hardness on my stomach.

I craned my neck to get an easier access to his lips, loving the way he gently sucked my lower lip into his delicious mouth. The excitement thrummed inside me even though I felt a little naughty to be doing this on the road.

A sound at the window brought us back to our senses. "Sir, were here."

"Thanks Arland." Eros told the driver and my cheeks colored a little as I realized we'd gotten so lost in our own little world that we didn't realize when we got to his place..

Eros got off me and I helped me tidy my hair before he opened the door for me to alight.

We got down and I was in awe at the beautiful penthouse we were standing in front of. Eros dismissed the driver and wordlessly lead me into his penthouse with a smile on his lips.

My mind was reeling after the kiss we'd just shared even as he opened the door for me and ushered me in.

"Welcome to my home, angel."

He smiled and kissed me again and I chuckled against his lips, smiling when he quickly pressed me against his body.

We talked after that. Played. Joked. Took a bit of alcohol and then slept off after he settled me in another room and my whole body tingled as he pecked my forehead just minutes before I fell asleep.

I couldn't wait to spend more time to discover more things about Eros Del Peiro.

The man who'd stolen my heart.

*

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