My hand glided up her spine, pressing her closer to me. “Because it is right, Bambolina. I have never been surer about anything than I am about my love for you.”
“Maybe somewhere in the middle. University Hill or the city. I’d like to be close to Nora.” Her dreamy expression fell. “Oh God, Nora—”
“Will be fine.” I kissed her forehead. “She just wants you to be happy.”
“I know. I just feel bad. College was supposed to be this big adventure, the start of our freedom...”
“You can still have a life, Bambolina. I will never clip your wings, Arianne.” I brushed my lips over hers. “I only want to make you happy.”
“You do; so, so much.” She deepened the kiss, sweeping her tongue into my mouth and tangling it with mine.
Need pulsed through me, and I picked Arianne up. She wrapped her legs around me as I dropped to my knees gently, before lying her down on the soft rug. “Are you hungry?”
I plucked a strawberry from the container and hovered it over her pink swollen lips. “Open, Bambolina.”
Her mouth parted letting me feed the fruit to her. “Hmm,” she moaned. “It’s good.”
I pulled it away and juice spilled over her chin. Dipping my head, I licked the trail of sticky sweet nectar away.
“Nicco.” My name was a whispered plea on her lips.
“Tell me what you want, amore mio?”
“You.” She twisted her fingers into my sweater, dragging me closer “I want you.”
“You have me.”
Possession flared in her eyes, making my chest swell. “Then show me,” she uttered.
And I did.
All night long.
Chapter 28
Arianne
“How are you feeling?” Luis asked as we rolled to a stop at the gatehouse. The guard took one look at us and waved us through.
“I’m okay,” I said, staring out at my father’s estate. The place that had once been my childhood playground no longer felt like home. Instead, it was a lingering memory, faded by time.
“The last time I was here, my father sat me down in front of Mike and Scott and told me I was promised to him. I’ll never forgive him for that.”
“And I don’t blame you.”
“But?”
Luis drove up the winding driveway and came to a stop next to my father’s town car. “People make mistakes, Arianne, but it doesn’t mean their mistakes should define them.”
“You’re a good man, Luis. But I need time.” And even then, it might not be enough to forgive my father.
“I try.” He gave me a wistful smile. “Ready?”
I inhaled a deep breath and squared my shoulders. “As I’ll ever be.”
He climbed out, coming around to open my door.
“Arianne, sweetheart.” My mother came running from the house, wrapping me into her slim arms with such force the air whooshed from my lungs. “I’ve been so worried.” She held me at arm’s length.
“I’m okay.”
Her gaze narrowed. “You seem different.” She studied me.
“We should probably talk. Where is my father?”
“He’s in the sunroom. Since Mike’s... warning,” the word came out strangled, “he rarely leaves.”
“You know about that?” My father had been shutting her out, so I was a little taken aback to find out she knew.
“He finally broke down and told me everything. But don’t worry, sweetheart, he’s going to fix it.”
I grimaced. She was still blinded by my father’s empty promises, and it made my heart ache. “We should go inside.” I glanced to the security men posted either side of the door.
Luis followed us into the house, moving ahead of me, no doubt as a precaution. Restless energy flowed through me, making my stomach vibrate. Since discovering the camera feeds into the house, my father’s men had swept the place and eradicated them all. But I knew Luis and Nicco still had concerns. It was probably why my father was in the sunroom. It was one of the few rooms that hadn’t been bugged.
“Father,” I said, stepping inside.
The formidable Roberto Capizola was a mess. Dark circles ringed his eyes and his attire was unkempt. He reminded me of some of the clients at the VCTI; people who didn’t have the luxury of a hot shower and fresh clothes.
“Arianne, mio tesoro. You are safe.”
“No thanks to you.” My voice was flat.
My mother inhaled a shaky breath. “Arianne, that isn’t—”
“Fair, Mamma? None of this is. But it doesn’t matter.” I moved to one of the soft leather couches. “Everything will be taken care of soon enough.”
“Whatever do you mean?”
“She means... she sold me out.” My father’s voice held a trace of disappointment.