“The sky isn’t technically blue.” Dom’s voice is apologetic. “But there is sand, and the sea. And the sunset.”
Memory flickers.
I don’t remember him saying those words. But Stefan did, repeated them back to me. Gave me hope that I didn’t even realise how much I needed.
“Dom.” My voice is thick. I don’t – can’t – say anything else. So I pull his face down to mine, kiss him deeply, trying to push everything I’m feeling –too much– into it.
My cheeks are wet when we break apart. He leads me to the blanket, opening the cooler to reveal an ice bucket and a chilled bottle of white. “You thought of everything.”
He hums as he pours me a glass, pulling out a bottle of beer for himself. We settle against the pillows, my head on his stomach as we watch the colors move across the sky and deepen into rich, vivid red.
Dom plays with my hair as we talk – about memories, our childhood, about anything that isn’t the bloody reality we’re trying to forget, just for tonight.
I sit up as he lights the candles around us, the flickering amber lights sending shadows bouncing across his face as he leans down and fiddles with something next to the cooler.
My cheeks crease when the music starts. “I like this song.”
“I know.” He holds out his hand. “Dance with me, Caterina Corvo.”
I’m going to dance with you as the sun sets.
The area around us is deserted, either by design or by chance. So there’s nobody to see us as I rest my head against Dom’s chest and we sway to the quiet melody, his arms wrapped around me as we face the setting sun, watching until the last rays disappear on the horizon.
“Full marks for you, Domenico Rossi,” I whisper. “You’ve set the bar extremely high, you know.”
He kisses the top of my head.
I tip my face up to his, catching his lips with mine before I glance around.
His brows dip as I take a step back, my hands rising to the back of my dress. “Caterina.”
I tug at the zip, pulling it as far as I can before I turn, sweeping my hair back. “I need a little help.”
His fingers brush against my skin. “Someone might see.”
“Live a little.” I suck in a breath as he drags the zip down, his lips following. My whole body heats as I feel the touch of his tongue. He tugs the zip down to just below my hips before pausing.
“You don’t seem to be wearing any underwear.”
His tone is wry, but there’s heat flickering beneath as I turn, pushing the dress down until it slips to the floor. “I forgot it.”
His arms band around me in the next second, lifting me before he lays me back against the blanket. My hand moves to the button on his chinos, but he bats my touch away. “My turn first. Hands up.”
I stretch my hands above my head, curving my spine like a cat for his mouth as it travels over my skin. Letting him think he’s won.
The noise he lets out as I wrap my legs around him and flip us is… satisfying. I grin down at him. “Stay.”
“Cat.”
As I unbutton his shirt, his fingers grip mine. “I was going to keep it on.”
I pause, my eyes moving to his. “Dante told you?”
“Not everything.” His eyes sweep my face. “Just to leave it on. Was he wrong?”
Slowly, I shake my head. “Unbuttoned is fine.”
I move down, my finger brushing the hard length beneath Dom’s trousers as I undo his buttons, sliding my hand in and cupping him. “Looks like I’m not the only one who forgot my underwear.”
