love your body and your pure soul. I even love those fucking ridiculous t-shirts you wear.”
“You love me?” My heart was fit to burst at his words. It was everything I’d ever wanted.
“Mi sono innamorato di te.”
“I think you should show me,” I said around a smug grin.
Enzo scooped me up in his arms and carried me over to the bed. “Your wish is my command il mio cuore.”
Our story wasn’t perfect.
It was messy and raw and painful, but it was also real. It was ours and nobody could ever take that away from us.
Sometimes you had to go through the darkness to get to the light…
And I wouldn’t change a single thing.
Enzo lay me down on the bed and hovered over me. “I can’t believe I almost lost you.” He stared at me like he was seeing me for the first time.
“I’m right here.” I leaned up to kiss him, letting my lips slide softly against his. He buried his hand in my hair, stroking the slope of my neck as he kissed me deeper.
“Is this okay?”
I nodded, locking my hands around his neck and pulling him closer. “I love you,” I whispered, and I felt him shiver at my words.
It was a heady feeling, to know that I could bring this man to his knees. But I wouldn’t ever take his love for granted or wield it as a weapon.
“I want to touch you, Gattina…” He let the words hang between us. I knew what he was asking me, and the truth was, I didn’t know how I felt about being with him so soon after his brother’s vicious attack.
I wanted Enzo, that wasn’t the problem, but I knew I still hadn’t dealt with everything that had happened.
“I… I think I’m ready.” My voice cracked, betraying me.
“We’ll take it slow.” He climbed off me, before shedding his clothes. Then he reached for my hand, tugging me gently.
Enzo handled me softer than he ever had, taking his sweet time to undress me. His fingers followed the curve of my waist, gliding up my spine as he drew me into his warm body. “I need you, Nora. I will always need you. But I need to know that you’re safe more.”
“Kiss me,” I said.
He dipped his head, capturing my lips in a bruising kiss. His tongue curled around mine, slow and unhurried, tasting and teasing while his fingers stroked a blazing path across my skin.
“So fucking beautiful,” he hummed against my skin.
“I love this side of you,” I murmured overwhelmed with how good he was making me feel.
“Yeah? Well don’t tell anyone. I have a rep to protect.” Enzo smirked, before guiding me back onto the bed. But this time, he climbed beside me and pulled me close into his body.
“What are you doing?” I asked.
“I figure we should probably talk.”
“You want to talk? Now? Who are you and what have you done with the Enzo Marchetti I know and love?”
“Gattina,” his icy gaze pinned me to the spot. “We need to talk about this.”
“I know.” I expelled a small breath.
How did you talk about something you wanted to pretend had never happened?
Enzo was there… he watched as his brother—
A garbled sob spilled from my lips.
“I’m here,” Enzo said. “I’m right here and I will never let anyone hurt you again. I swear to God, Nora.” Fierce possessiveness clung to his words.
My fingers clawed at his chest, needing to get closer as I broke in his arms. Enzo didn’t try to shush me or talk to me, he just held me. Held me until the tears subsided and my breathing slowed.
“What happened,” he said, gently nudging his nose against mine, “I need you to know it changes nothing for me. Not a damn thing, okay?”
I nodded. “I just hate that you saw it… that it will always be there, between us.”
“It doesn’t have to be. We can choose to look forward and not back. Someone once said to me, all I needed to do was take a leap of faith. Well, I’m asking you to do the same. Take a leap on me, Gattina… with me, and I’ll always catch you. I promise.”
“You’re good at this, you know.”
“That’s where you’re wrong. I’m not good at this… you are. You make me want to try, Nora. You make me want to be a better man.” Enzo kissed me, stroking his thumb over my cheek. This, lying here with him, was like a salve to my bruised soul.