A lot of them.
And she was going to answer every fucking one of them.No matter how pissed I was at her leaving me all those months ago—I still wanted her.Even if she didn't want me.
That was secondary to the current issues.Which were getting the hell out of the city and far, far, far away from Raul.And getting both of us to the safety of my brother's place.Where Raul and his followers couldn't get to us.
I drove as fast as I could without drawing attention.The last thing I needed was to get hauled in for excessive speed tonight.That would leave Francesca open and exposed.Not to mention the cops would take one look at Francesca and charge me—and her—with solicitation.
Because, fuck—she looked like every man's wet dream right now.
I swallowed audibly and tried my best to concentrate on the road.My mind raced almost as quickly as my car.
I had so much to ask her.
So much to tell her.
And most of all—I wanted to touch her.
And kiss her.
And tell her that everything was going to be okay.
3
Francesca
“We're here,” Stefan whispered.His hand rubbed my arm.We were in my bed.In my crappy apartment above Bernie’s butcher shop.
Stefan was trying to wake me up.
Maybe he needed help getting to the bathroom.Or his wound needed dressing.
“Francesca.Wake up,” he said again, squeezing my arm gently.Gosh, I loved it when he touched me.It always felt so good.
So right.
“Francesca,” he said a little louder.He must need water.And pain meds.
I'd get up.
Grab what he needed.And then come back to bed and we'd snuggle.
Stefan was an awesome cuddler.
“Tired.Gimme a minute,” I mumbled and swallowed.“Do you want pain meds?Or just water?”I tried to open my eyes—but my eyelids felt like cement.They were physically impossible to open.
“What?”he asked in a confused tone.“Francesca, open your eyes.We're here.At Carlo and Giselle's.”
My heart—stopped.And my eyes opened immediately in panic.
I was in Stefan's car.Not my old apartment.We weren't in my bed.And Stefan wasn't injured and weak.
I blinked a few times and sighed.“Sorry.I guess I fell asleep.”I moved my shaky hands over to my seat belt.
But Stefan beat me.He undid it.Instead of just letting it slide over my body, he held it in his hand and moved it to the side.I slipped my arm through and let the belt roll back into place.
Stefan had leaned over to accomplish all of this—which meant his body was incredibly close to mine.Our mouths were mere inches away.My eyes met his.Stefan's gaze dropped to my lips.And then further down.To my chest.His eyes flared for a quick moment before his hands pulled my jacket closed.
Well, technically, it was his jacket.It must've slid open while I slept.
