Page 158

“You cut your hair.” I lean up and touch the sides of his face. I’m not ready to have a full-on conversation about my parents right now. “You look handsome.”

“Are you trying to change the subject?” He cocks his head to the side and smiles. “We don’t have to talk about us if you’re not ready.”

“I don’t know if I am or not.” I bite down on my lower lip.

“That’s okay, as well.” He nods. “What did you want to do?”

“Can you just hold me?” I whisper, and he nods again. We move up the bed, and he pulls me into his arms. I cradle my head on his chest and close my eyes. My hand moves up and down his chest, and I feel his hand on my back. I feel safe here. He is my safe space.

My love.

My true love.

My home.

I open my eyes and look up at his face. My breath catches as I see that he is staring at me. He gives me a loving smile and just continues to stare at me.

“I was?—”

“We don’t have to talk,” he says softly, a tender look on his face. “I can wait. I’m just glad you’re here.”

“Your letter touched me.”

“It was from the heart.”

“You hurt me.”

“I will regret that every day of my life.”

“Life is complicated, isn’t it?”

“Dreadfully so.” He nods. “But my love for you isn’t. I will always love you, Elisabetta. I will always be here for you. I’m going nowhere.”

“You didn’t have to stay, you know. I know you have work.”

“It means nothing to me. You are the only one that means something to me.”

“I heard everything is going crazy,” I admonish him. “Skye said Max, Remy, Kingston, and Gabe are working around the clock to come up with solutions.”

“That’s why I pay them.” He shrugs like he’s not about to lose everything.

“But it’s your company, it’s everything?—”

“You are everything.” He cuts me off. “All I care about is you. You and your feelings will always come first.” His face darkens. “I thought I lost you, Elisabetta. I will fight for you. I will do whatever it takes to have just one more chance.”

“I love you, you goofy man.” I shake my head, and because I can’t help myself, I lean up and give him a small kiss on the lips. He groans and then kisses me back. I shift so that I’m on top of him and kiss him harder.

“We don’t have to do this,” he says, gasping as he picks me up and moves me back over. “I want to show you this is about more than the sex.”

“I know it is,” I mutter as I shift back on top of him and shimmy my nightgown up. I shift back so that I’m straddling him now. “But I’ve missed my friend.”

“Oh?” He grins and groans as I reach down and guide his cock out of his boxers. “You have?”

“Yes, very much.” I lick my lips and moan as he reaches up and squeezes my breasts. I slip my panties to the side and guide his cock between my legs. I sit up slightly and then slide down. He grunts as he fills me up, and I grab his hands. I move back and forth slowly, enjoying the feel of him inside of me again. My eyes don’t leave his as I ride him. He grabs my hips and thrusts up inside of me as I bounce down on him.

“I love you, Elisabetta.” He grunts as he increases his pace. He pulls my head toward him and slides his tongue inside my mouth as we continue to reach climax. “I fucking love you.” He grabs my hair as his body stills for a second, and then he explodes inside of me. I crash down on top of him and he holds me to him tightly. “I never want to let go of you.”

“You never have to,” I whisper gently against his lips. “I forgive you. I don’t want to stay mad at you anymore.”