The fire stops. The smell of mercury assaults my nose.
There are voices mumbling in the background and I pay no attention as my wife’s body becomes cold and limp in my arms.
The early morning warm sun is beaming on my face as I sit on the terrace to our room. I have a soft, cozy blanket covering my legs, curled up sipping my coffee as I look out over the grounds. There is a crispness to the air letting me know that fall is around the corner and the warmth of summer is on its way out. I hear the workers that help keep the grounds to the house neat. The sounds of the gust of wind rolling through, making the leaves on the trees dance.
I snuggle back into the lounge couch when I hear my husband’s dark, raspy voice. “Are you daydreaming again?”
My head turns to him. My gaze trails his body, and I lick my lips with still remnants of my coffee on them. Enzo is shirtless, showing his tan tatted skin, glistening with the sweat from his workout. He has on basketball shorts that hang low around his and his muscles contract with every breath.
I roll my eyes at him with a small laugh. “No, I’m enjoying the warmth of what is left of summer in the city before fall comes knocking at the door.”
He pushes off the door, steps on to the terrace and pulls up the blanket covering my legs before he drapes them over his with the fabric covering us both. “I’m sure we have a few more weeks of summer. It’s too soon to think of the cold.”
I take another sip of my coffee all while ignoring how his fingers lightly glide up and down my legs making my pussy ache for his touch, and how my stomach flutters. “Winter is not my favorite. The city becomes a tundra, and everyone is socranky because of it. Sure, it’s pretty with the first snow fall.” I pause and look at him.
His face is soft with his dark eyes locked on mine.
“There is something kind of magical about the city when it’s between the two seasons, summer and fall. It feels more alive. It feels more relaxed. It feels more fun. I mean think about it, in the summer, everyone is cranky because it’s too hot. Or how long it takes to go to the beach, not that I would know since I have never seen or been to the beach.”
He raises an eyebrow at me.
“That is on my bucket list one day.” I turn to look back out over the grounds. “But when its fall, a touch of crisp in the air, suddenly I feel happy and excited.” My gaze cast down to my hands, holding the cup. “I have always wanted to go apple picking, watching Halloween movies, hayrides, and more but it was never in the cards for us. For me.”
Enzo pulls my legs more toward him, lifting me on to his lap. “Then we will do all those things you want to do. I promise to you that I will make all your dreams come true.” He drags his knuckles across my cheek, and I lean into his touch. “Every day I strive to make you smile, to make you happy, to make you feel loved. So, if doing all those things with you makes you happy, fuck, I will do it a million times.” He moves to tuck a piece of my hair behind my ear. “I would do anything for you.”
I blink to hold back the tears that are threatening to escape my eyes, and I lean forward to kiss him. His hand snakes behind my head, holding me by the nape of my neck, controlling the kiss.
I pull back before either one of us can deepen our need for each other. “Thank you.”
Suddenly, my eyes spring open. My eyes shift around. The walls are white and crisp, a loud beeping sound echos, and my hands have IVs in them. I shift my gaze to the figure next tomy bed. His head is resting on top of his arm with one hand wrapped in mine. I tilt my head to the side and wince in pain to see that his face has not been shaved. It’s grown out, and his hair is disheveled. He seems to have not truly rested in weeks if not longer.
I lick my lips to open my mouth, and his head snaps up at my movement.
“Amuri mui.” His voice is raspy, and his eyes bloodshot from being so over tired.
“Enzo,” I say his name, but it feels like sandpaper and weak.
He kisses my hand and brings it to his face. “Don’t move or speak. Let me get the doctor.”
I nod my head and try to not wince at the pain of what feels like a sledgehammer was taken to it.
It does not take long before Enzo is by my side again, touching me in some form and I never want him to stop. And a middle-aged woman in a white coat walks in with a smile on her face.
“Good to meet you, Mrs. Ricci.” Her voice is soft as she slowly walks into the room.
Enzo moves from the chair to stand next to the bed, his hand still holding mine.
“Doctor Rose,” he greets in his firm protecting voice.
“Mr. Ricci.” She acknowledges him before looking at the IV machine and walks to the other side of my bed. “Mrs. Ricci, do you remember what happened?”
“I was shot.”
She looks at my IV machine and the monitor that is beeping and back to me. “Do you remember anything else?”
I take in a deep breath, but it hurts to do so and the images from Ian flash through my mind, and I squeeze Enzo’s hand.
“Um, I was at the coffee shop getting my favorite scone and coffee. Then I had to use the restroom. That is where…he drugged me.”
