I want to know. I need to know. But I can’t bring myself to ask. Luca is here, and that's important. He’s important.
“Sixteen hours,sleeping beauty.” He lifts my hand to his lips, opening it to place a kiss along my palm. A shiver of pleasure shoots through me.
“Wow,” I say.
“It was a long time. Doctor Hadfield said you were well, but…”
“I needed the rest.” I offer.
“Esattamente.” He smiles softly, his eyes closing slowly. He looks tired, and guilt eats at me.
“How long did you sit with me?”
And why isn’t Matthias here?
Luca reclines back a moment to shrug the blanket from his shoulders. “I’ve been here for about four hours;before that, it was…him.” He says ‘him’ almost reluctantly.
“Thank you for staying with me.”
“Of course,Fiore.”
I nod numbly. Tears form in my eyes. Luca pulls me towards him. He lets me cry into his chest, until his t-shirt has a wet patch the size of my palm.
The tips of his fingers trace soothing swirls along my back, tenderly massaging the tension away. He runs a finger up my spine, shockwaves of pleasure trailing behind it. I shiver, and mistaking me for cold, he pulls me in closer, wrapping me in his strong arms.
I sneak a glimpse up at his handsome, sleepy face, to be met with his piercing brown eyes, already watching me. I lick my dry lips, and his eyes shoot down, following the motion. Savouring the attention, I draw it out by slowly sliding my tongue across my top lip. I push up on one elbow, bringing myself closer. His gaze struggles to decide between my mouth and my eyes.
We’re so close. My chest heaves with each breath as my breasts push tight against his firm chest. His arms encase me in his grasp.
Our breath mingles. I can’t help but think about how mine must smell awful, but he doesn’t seem to care.Not remotely.
He looks at me hungrily, and I am ready to be devoured. He leans forward, our noses bump slightly. Closing his eyes, he inhales deeply, resting his forehead against mine before he starts to pull away.
I don’t want to be alone.
“I am glad you’re okay, Alex.” I blink, confused at the sudden shift. “Let me call the Doctor to check you over.” He moves towards the door. “Hadfield,” He calls out.
“Wait, Luca,” I say softly.
He pauses to turn back to me. “You are beautiful,Fiore.But the next time I touch you, it will be because you asked me to. Right now, you have too much adrenaline clouding your senses.”
“Oh,” I reply lamely. He’s right. My mind is cloudy, but as the fog clears, there is only one person I want, and he’s not here.
Luca squeezes my hand. “I am so glad you’re alive.” He smiles sadly.
A gentle rapping sounds, before the panel slides open, a blonde head pokes inside, destroying what was left of our intimate moment, and using up just about the last inch of space in here.
“It’s me.” Doctor Hadfield’s gentle voice rings out.
I sit up, trying to reorient myself and bashing my elbow against the stretcher I'm strapped to. Luca doesn’t speak, just adjusts himself, coming to lean against the stretcher.
“Ciao,Doctor Hadfield. How’s the patient?” Luca asks.
I freeze, my whole body tensing as I remember dragging Chelenko’s lifeless purple body from the lab.
“Is he–” I start.
The doctor holds her hand up to stop me. “I told you to call me Callie, remember?” Her head tilts to the side as she watches me nod numbly. “How do you feel?”
