Pivotal.
Having him in my home feels like I’m fully opening the door that we’ve been gently nudging open for weeks.
After passing Sly his glass, I swirl mine and take a sip, letting the crisp tang of the fruity notes settle on my taste buds before swallowing it down.
He does the same then takes both of our wine glasses and places them on the table. The moment they leave his grasp, he turns, and both of his hands cup the edges of my jaw, his fingers weaving into my hair as his lips descend to mine.
This time when he kisses me, I feel it too. He missed me just as much as I missed him.
Expertly, he claims my mouth, holding my face in his hands as he throws every ounce of passion he possesses into his kiss.
Or maybe I’m wrong. Maybe he’s just a phenomenal kisser—but something tells me it's more than that.
After a few moments, he breaks the kiss, leaning his forehead against mine. “It feels as though you were made for me, piccola ladra. And I’ve never been more torn between right and wrong.”
“I feel like we’re on a runaway train,” I whisper. “I’m terrified we’re going to crash.”
“What is it exactly that makes you so scared?”
“This,” I stress. “You and I. My family finding out.Yourfamily finding out. They’ll rip us apart.”
Standing up straight, he slides his hand to my cheek and rubs his thumb comfortingly against my skin. “We’re adults, Vincenza. Ultimately, they cannot decide what we do or who we love.”
My eyes burn with unshed tears as I look up at him. “My father would never forgive me if he found out we were together.”
For a moment, sadness sweeps past his eyes before it’s replaced with a look of annoyance.
“Your father is a bastardo. The last person I care about?—”
“He’s my father, Sly. Like it or not, I love him. I loveallof my family, even if the feeling isn’t always mutual.”
“Has he done something again? Joseph?” he asks quickly, pressing my hand between his. He places it against his chest, and I swear I can feel his heart racing.
“No,” I tell him, and I can visibly see the relief wash over him.
Leading me to my couch, he sits and pulls me into his lap. “I don’t want to argue, piccola ladra. I just want to spend time with you. I meant what I said before. I won’t ask you to sneak around with me?—”
“You’re not.”
“I want you to live the life you deserve. To be taken places. Spoiled. I cannot do that for you behind closed doors.”
Pressing my hands against his cheeks, I mirror how he held me earlier, and look him deep in his eyes. “Listen to me, Sly. I don’t care about being paraded around the city or going on lavish dates. I want to be right here, with you. I wantyou. Evenifit’s behind closed doors.”
“But for how long, piccola ladra? We’ve already established that our families will not approve. There will come a day you want a man who you can go places with. Have afuturewith.”
Thoughts of said future flit into my mind, and so clearly I can envision everything withhim. A beautiful wedding and saying “I do.” Children, Christmases, birthdays, lazy Saturday mornings.
The only thing that isn’t clearly visible in that daydream is a life filled with our families.
“Let’s just take it day by day,” I whisper, looking down at my lap. I won’t lie and say there isn’t sadness in my heart.
Pushing the length of his finger beneath my chin, he lifts it gently, encouraging me to look at him. “Day by day, piccola ladra, is more than I should even ask for.”
Pressing his lips against mine, he kisses me slowly. His touch instantly makes me melt—my sorrows disappearing into thin air. I wrap my arms around his neck, letting him guide the kiss.
Suddenly, it’s like a fire ignites within me and I needmore. Without allowing our kiss to break, I reposition myself so I’m straddling his lap, letting my body sit directly on top of his.
He groans when my center meets his groin, and I feel him harden beneath me as he fists the hair at the base of my skull. Deepening the kiss, I rock my body gently against him, slowly exploring, testing the boundaries.
