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“I loved it,” I admitted. But it wasn’t the parasailing that I’d enjoyed the most; it was doing it with Rocco. His pride and praise had fed my soul. The ease he put me at, and the sweet kisses.He’s so good to me.
Cassidy repeated what I thought I’d only said in my head. “He’s good, and now you’re scared because you don’t want your man in danger. You love him.”
“I…I don’t know,” I mumbled, chewing my lip as nerves fluttered in my stomach. “Maybe I’m overreacting. We’re just good friends.”
“Nope. Rocco cares about you more than a friend. I’d say he’s in love, too.”
I scrunched up my face. “So soon? No…?”Do I love him? There are certainly many things about him that I admire and love.
He said he wanted my love, but I hadn’t thought he meant I already had his.Be careful not to get ahead of yourself.And then I thought about Rocco’s character, and I couldn’t help but think that if Rocco loved me, he would have told me.What if….“You think so, Cass?”
“Yes, without a doubt.”
I placed my hand on my stomach as nerves danced inside of it. “How do you know?”
“Because I loved you the second I met you. How could he not?”
My eyes stung, and I scolded her. “Cass, you’re going to make me cry. That’s not your bestie job right now, gorgeous.”
She laughed. “I’m just telling you the truth. Also, it’s okay to show him how you feel.”
That’s what I mostly avoided because I was so afraid of getting hurt. But what would I do if I ran out of time? It would crush me forever that Rocco didn’t know how much I cared about him.Maybe I’m not ready to use the word, but I am ready to be closer to him.
Zane appeared, and my heart jumped in my throat.
“You have news?” I stood up.
“Rocco and a few others arrived with the emergency services. He helped organize another place for the family to stay on the island while they repaired and discovered the cause of the fire. He’s on his way back.”
I sighed heavily in relief, and my shoulders dropped. “Thank you so much.”
Zane left, and I told Cassidy.
“See? You just needed to calm down. Now fuck that man until he’s too exhausted to try to save the world.”
I smiled. “Good advice. I’m going to go fix myself up.”
“Oh, sexy underwear? Try nothing and thank me later. I love you.”
“I love you too, Cass.”
I was about to change when the sound of the boat’s motor drew close.Rocco.
My pulse jumped in my throat, and I ran down the stairs across the patio to the pier. Rocco had his phone in hand and stopped when he saw me running. Tears dropped down my cheeks, but I kept running. He opened his arms wide, and I leaped into them when I reached him. He caught me and held me tight. My arms wrapped around his neck, inhaling the sweat and smoke on his skin, reminding me of how much danger he’d been in.What if I lost you, Rocco?
Our mouths connected into a searing kiss. “Are you okay? Were you hurt?”
“No, Bella. I’m absolutely fine. I wasn’t in any danger,” he said, then kissed me hard again. “Are you okay?”
“Yes. I am now. I was so worried about you,” I sobbed.Get it together, Lina.
My body burned, and my soul cried out to him.I want you.I wanted his passion and craved his possession, so I grabbed the front of his shorts.
He groaned and yanked up the end of my tunic, squeezed my bare ass, and he let out a moan lifting higher. I gripped his neck and wrapped my legs around him. I was pressed against him and I felt his erection behind his shorts; it sent a wave of desire for him inside me, so intense that it felt unbearable.
“I need you,” I whispered and moaned.
“You do,” he said, kissing over my face and back to my lips.