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I swatted her shoulder playfully and walked towards the door. “I was thinking about nothing. Let’s go.”
We took the stairs by way of the kitchen, and I pulled out two bottled waters from a shelf before collecting the backpack I had stored in the sunroom next to the patio. It surprised me that no one removed it, but it wasn’t a room ever used. It always made me laugh that the seats in the room had no creases, and the book display on the coffee table hadn’t changed in years.
We stretched and moved next to each other as we took the stairs, and happiness filled me as we synced, running down the path like we had done hundreds of times before, over the years, at many parks at boarding school and college. Just her presence next to me lifted my spirits despite everything. Cass slowed down by the swan house on the water where a new gazebo stood, and Mr. Marini’s benches had been moved around it.
“This is truly breathtaking,” she exclaimed, her voice filled with awe.
My eyes stung, and my chest tightened. “Yeah…yeah, it is.” I cleared my throat. She gave me a questioning look, and Iexplained. “Mr. Marini and I used to meet here and talk when I came to town.”
I could see him still, standing there next to it with his card in my hand.
“Resilience is your superpower, Adelina.”he had once told me.
I felt Cassidy’s arm around my shoulder. “I’m sorry, Lina.”
I rubbed warmth into my arms as a gust of wind blew over us. “It’s all a surprise. Honestly, I can’t believe he’s gone.”Orwhat I read. It’s not possible he’d do anything to hurt me. But was I groomed to believe so?
I sighed heavily. “Let’s move on.”
We jogged further down the reservoir over the footbridge. It was the end of summer, and most of the flowers were gone, and some trees were already dropping leaves. We took drinks from our water.
“I’m quite surprised you’re back here,” Cass said in a gentle voice. “Did something happen with Rocco?”
I shrugged. “He’s busy with his family, the funeral, and businesses. We postponed the wedding, so….”
“So? Don’t worry. It’ll be rescheduled,” she said, nodding in emphasis. “Anyway, how do you feel about him?”
I smiled and covered my lips. “He’s really…great.”
She wrinkled her nose. “Just great? That big, beautiful man is just great?”
I laughed. “Okay, honestly he’s amazing.” My face heated and I dipped my head.
She poked my side, chuckling. “Now we’re getting somewhere. How’s the sex? And please don’t give me one word answers. I need the deets.”
I groan-laughed. “Okay, okay. Rocco’s gorgeous naked. He’s an amazing kisser, very experienced in bed, and dominant.”
She danced in place. “Ohh yeah. I knew there was some power behind all that muscle.”
I tensed.Had I told her too much?
She swiped her arm and sealed her lips. “Don’t worry. It’s in the vault.”
My expression turned serious. “Good. I don’t want to upset him by telling all his sexy business.”
She crossed her heart and kissed her pinkie. “I swear…now let’s get back to the part I’m most interested in, how dominant are we talking here?”
My cheeks warmed. “He takes over in the bedroom. It’s a lot of commands.”And multiple orgasms.
“What kind of commands? Acrobatics or suck me?” She cocked a brow.
I lifted a shoulder, smiling. “I guess some of that. And a bit of humiliation, but not all the time. Most of the times he’s tender…romantic.” I touched my lips, then glanced at Cassidy. She beamed at me with stars in her eyes, and I knew what she was thinking.
I shrugged. “I don’t know.”
She swiped my arm. “You do, Lina. Gah, look at you, falling in love—”
“No, I am very much in lust,” I quickly spoke over her.