"I can't believe you can light a fire on a plane-well, jet."

He reached for the skirt of her dress and began pulling it up.

Angelina glanced toward the cockpit door. "Are you certain Gunnar and Patrick won't come back here? I'm even more nervous now that I know who's flying the plane. What if they need to use the bathroom?"

"They have their own lavatory up front, but I assure you they know they are not welcome back here for the next ten or eleven hours."

"Gunnar's so...well, intimidating."

Marc grinned. "Sadists generally are."

"He's a sadist?"

"Taught Damian and Grant all they know."

"Grant, too?"

"I can assure you, Grant fits the description of sadist quite well."

"Do you remember much about her part in the scene?"

"Enough to know I wouldn't want to be her submissive."

"You said you don't want to be anyone's submissive."

"Very true." He stroked her arms, causing chill bumps to rise in the path of his fingers. "However, even if Gunnar or Patrick ventured back here, you have nothing to be ashamed of with your beautiful body."

The familiar dropping of her stomach made her voice sound raspy, too, as her train of thought derailed. "I remember Patrick from Adam's wedding. Such a gentleman. I love how he takes care of his mother."

"Much more a gentleman than I, because I intend to have my wicked way with your body nonstop over the next few hours."

Her clit throbbed at the promise. "You guys have formed an amazing family, you know."

Marc nodded. "I should have realized long ago I'd already been adopted-by Adam and the Masters at Arms Club family. Adam's quite the collector of lost souls. We share so much more than ownership of a kink club."

He looked away a moment. "Luke's a big part of my family, too."

"I can't wait to get back and call to check up on him. I haven't gotten an update since we left for California. So much has happened so quickly."

"We'll see him soon, cara." She nodded. "My family keeps growing. I've been a very lucky man. Having you beside me now makes me the luckiest one around."

"Oh." Still uncertain about how private they would be, she continued to hold down her dress to keep him from removing it. "Why don't we let the cabin warm up a little bit first?"

"Ah, the lady wants to be warmed up? That can be arranged."

Her breath caught in her throat. She loved having her playful Marc back. When he glanced down at her chest, her nipples peaked, and she lifted her arms to let him remove one more barrier separating them.

Angelina reached up to undo the buttons of Marc's white shirt. He squeezed her bare nipples, and she hissed. Despite the romance of being in Italy, with all the new emotions churned up every day, most nights they'd been content to hold each other and talk about his and Gino's childhood and later years.

Not that Marc had neglected giving her an amazing orgasm with his tongue last night. To relax her, he'd said. She giggled at the memory.

"I am trying to seduce my beautiful, sexy woman and am finding her giggles quite distracting. I haven't even started touching your ticklish spots. What's so funny?"

"I assure you, that giggle was because of a special memory you gave me of our time in Brescia."

Time to return the favor. She slid the shirt down his arms, and his fingers and thumb broke contact with her nipples for a moment. Together, they shucked his shoes, socks, pants, and boxer briefs.

After Marc settled onto the rug, she joined him, resting her cheek on his chest. Her hand roamed down across his abs to the curls below. His erect penis bobbed against her hand, and she wrapped her fingers around it.

Marc moaned. "Feels so good."

Once upon a time, he'd have had her on her back pleasuring her by this point. She smiled. He'd become much more responsive to her meeting his needs on this trip. Letting go of his penis, she knelt and placed a kiss on his lips before trailing kisses to his pecs, flicking her tongue over his nips.

She bit one playfully, earning her a slap on the butt, and smiled as she licked her way down his abs to his penis. His hand now stroked her butt cheek, as if to rub out the sting. Knowing how much he enjoyed the view when she went down on him, she straddled him as she took him deep inside her mouth.

She groaned, wanting more but also wanting to meet his needs, too. His hips bucked up, and his cock bumped against the back of her throat. Relaxing her muscles, she eased him deep into her throat and breathed through her nose the way he'd taught her to avoid the panic of a gag reflex. His fingers opened her lower lips, and his tongue flicked against her clit hood. She wasn't going to last long, unless he forced her to wait.

Please don't torture me, Sir.

They weren't in high protocol so she wouldn't have to ask to come, as if she could. Marc's tongue flicked harder, faster. She nearly came undone but wanted to wait with him. She pumped up and down on his penis until her lips felt his cum starting to work its way up the shaft.

The power of his impending orgasm distracted him a moment, and his lips left her. "Oh, pet, that feels so good!" He shot his cum deep into her throat, groaning his release. "Merda! So hot!"

He rammed two fingers into her pussy, curling them around to her G-spot.

"Oh, yes! There, Sir!"

She moaned as she continued to milk him while he prepared her for a takeoff of her own. His tongue flicked against her hard clit and she ground herself against his face. She pulled away from his penis and screamed her own release through her raw throat as he took her over the edge.

"Mio Dio! Yesssss!"

Hours later, and another orgasm behind each of them, Marc tossed back the sheet he'd covered them with. "I'm going to get dressed."

"But we're only halfway home. What's the rush?"

He shook his head. "You're insatiable, pet."

The time was almost right, but he wouldn't do this naked. She might someday tell their children how Papa proposed to her-and Marc would be damned if she'd tell them they were naked on a jet plane. His girl would get the most decent proposal he could devise. Lord knows he'd had enough time to plan one.

Yet he still had no idea exactly what he would say. Nothing sounded right despite having practiced a dozen versions.

Angelina knelt and retrieved her dress, a souvenir from their day trip to Firenza, slipping it over her curves. Good. Maybe now he could think more clearly. He didn't want to mess this up.

He surveyed the small but opulent cabin. A U-shaped sofa with a chess game laid out on the coffee table in between. Six leather executive chairs for passengers. The fireplace seemed the most romantic place. Taking her hand, he led her to stand in front of the fire.

Marc stared down at her a long moment until she wrinkled her brow. "Why so serious?"

"Angelina, there's something I've wanted to ask you for a long time but never found the confidence to do so-until now."

Her hand flew to her mouth, and tears formed in her eyes before he could even start.

"Amore mio, I chose this time and place because we are an equal distance between the homeland of my childhood and the place I've lived now for the past two decades. As I told you, I have no strong sense of home in either place. Lombardy and Colorado are mere geographic locations on a map."

Angelina's expression grew quizzical as she lowered her hand to her side, but her lips continued to tremble.

Marc stroked her cheek with his fingertips. "One thing I've learned with you-and even more during the time I was separated from you-is that I have only one home. Wherever you are."

Tears spilled from her eyes, and he brushed them away.

"Tesoro mio, you have given my life back to me."

No, too trite.

"Scusa. I'm nervous." He took a deep breath and started over. "Tesoro mio, you've helped me learn to live life fully for the first time ever. You have nurtured me, kicked my ass, and loved me like no one before."

Angelina framed his face with her hands. "Oh, Marc, you're so easy to love."

"That's debatable."

She grinned. "Well, I did have to peel away a few layers to find the real you."

"You saw past my flaws and weaknesses and loved me anyway." He reached into his suit pocket and retrieved the ring. A glance at his watch told him now was the time and place.

Marc took her hand and knelt on one knee. Tears flowed with abandon now. He cleared his throat, hoping not to blow this again.

"Amore mio, will you marry me?"

Shit. He'd forgotten something very important. He held up his hand. "Wait. I'm sorry. There's more."

She nodded, seemingly too overcome with emotion to speak anyway. He hoped he could finish without losing it himself.

"Angelina Cristina Giardano, you would do me the greatest honor if you would choose me to be the man you agree to share the rest of your life with, if you would allow me to love, honor, and protect you, to provide for you and any children we are blessed with, and to share all of the moments-good and bad-of the rest of our lives."

Okay, now that sounded like wedding vows. How could he...

She launched herself into his arms, and he held her tightly before easing her to her knees beside him. Her hug seemed to be the answer he wanted, but he wasn't finished yet. He separated their bodies and framed her face with his hands.

"As your Dom, I also promise to guide you, to do everything possible to help you reach your highest potential, and to give you whatever your heart desires that lies within my power and your best interests. My life would be complete-everything I've ever dreamed of-if you agree to stay beside me."

Angelina pulled his face toward hers and kissed him, short-circuiting his brain. When he could think again, he stared into her eyes. "Is that a yes?"

"Of course it's a yes! On all counts, Sir."

Marc's eyes filled with tears, but he didn't care. Through a throat suddenly closed off he whispered, "Grazie, amore."

Remembering the ring, he took her hand again and slipped the sleek, elegantly carved platinum ring over her finger. He knew she wouldn't cook with an elaborate gemstone ring on her finger without constantly removing it. This ring, he wanted to stay on her hand more often than not. He kissed the ring before standing and pulling her to her feet again.

"Angelina, I've been trying to find the words to ask you to marry me since New Year's, but until now, I never knew what to say. Well, as you can see, I botched it a bit."

She shook her head. "Those were the most beautiful words anyone has ever spoken."

"I've changed so much this year-for the better, I hope. But I finally understand what it is I want-I need-and what I have to offer you."

She nodded. "Oh, yes, Sir. You most definitely have a lot to offer. I'm just glad you can see it now."

He smiled, a little more relaxed. "I'm finally beginning to understand who I am, why I act the way I do. I'm no great prize for womankind, but you, mio angelo, you have made my life complete by accepting my ring-and my heart. I will do everything in my power never to disappoint you...ever again."

Angelina couldn't tear her gaze away from Marc long enough to look at the ring. She'd never seen him so at peace, despite his nervousness. How could he think she would not have accepted such a heartfelt proposal?

When she'd seen a momentary flash of anxiety in his eyes, all she could think was "trust me."

"Marc, I would be honored to remain a part of your life for the rest of time."

Tears dampened her cheeks, but she dashed them away.

"Cuor mio. Marc, you will always be my heart. Always."

He pulled her toward him and kissed her until she lost her balance sending them both tumbling onto the fur rug. She bumped her head on the coffee table and giggled as he cradled her, checking her forehead for injury.

"If I bring you back to your brothers with visible bruises, Rafe might rescind his reluctant blessing."

She pulled away and grew serious. "You asked Rafe for his blessing?" That's what Marc had talked with her eldest brother about? Wow. That he would brave the lion's den to make such a request warmed her heart, but knowing he'd done so even before he'd completely made his peace with the past during this journey of discovery melted her to the core.

Marc grinned. "Well, he balked at first. I think I'm going to be on probation for years, maybe decades-or until I give you the first few babies-before he will believe I can make you happy." He sobered. "Amore, I promise I will spend every hour of every day making sure I achieve that mission in life."

"What, giving me babies?"

He drew his brows together, replaying his words probably. Realization dawned. "No! I mean, of course I want us to have babies one day, but I meant my mission to make you happy."

"Good, because having babies will be one of those details you'll need to consult with me about." Angelina hadn't really thought about being a mother until she'd spent so much time with Marisol this spring. Nothing would please her more than to give Marc a house full of tiny D'Alessios.

Marc grinned. "Duly noted." He pulled her face to his and pressed his lips against hers. She opened wider, allowing him to deepen the kiss.

When his hand trailed to her breast, she pushed him away.

Angelina cleared her throat before she could speak past the tears. She had some words to say, too. "Marc, being your true partner is all I've ever wanted."

"Before any children, we'll need to decide where we'll live. We'd quickly outgrow your-."

"Oh, Marc!" She wrapped her arms around his neck. "You said, 'we'll need to decide.' You really have changed!"

His chuckle rumbled against her breasts. "I'm trying, pet. I can't promise I'll always think to consult with you before I act-I do have this tendency to make rash decisions-but something as important as where our bambini will be raised requires your input."

"As long as we're all under one roof, we'll be where we belong."