Leo reaches out and grabs my hand, pulling me in tight with one expert tug.
My body hits his and we are suddenly hip to hip, chest to chest, my heart thumping hard against my rib cage. He lifts my left hand up and tightens the grip on his other around my waist, pulling me even closer, before he whispers into my ear.
“Or we could just keep dancing,” he says, with a tipsy grin, his eyes hooded.
“I wouldn’t call what you are doing dancing,” I say teasingly, as I feel his hips rocking, his moves suddenly feeling expert against my body. My heart kicks harder and I allow myself to fall further into his arms.
Leo’s breath hits my ear as he spins me around, and I feel the first drops of rain on my arms. Leo spots them too.
“Not now, storm,” he says sharply. “How rude.”
“It’s not too late to run for cover,” I say meekly, my voice strangled and weak.
“Let’s have this one dance,” he says as he spins me again. “As us.” He pulls me in a little closer still, so that all my concerns float away and my body melts into his.
“As Olive and Leo,” I say, dreamily imagining he’s just a guy I met at a wedding. And not... whatever entanglement we do have.
I give in and rest my head against his chest, listening to his heart,as another lightning strike cracks overhead and the heavens start to open. The band, who are sheltering under cover, continue to play as the dance floor heaves with drunken guests, not caring as the rain falls.
“This is completely cheesy,” I say, closing my eyes as my dress slowly soaks through, clinging to me. “Dancing in our best clothes in the rain.”
“So cheesy,” he replies. “And yet...”
I look up at him and suddenly our eyes are locked, staring into each other. Leo’s shirt clings to his body, the outline of his muscles hard under the soaked cotton. I have never wanted anyone as much as I do him in this moment.
His eyes drop to my lips and I will him to do it.Kiss me, Leo, I think, tipping my head back slightly.
“You’re too much,” he says, his body stiffening against mine, the tension unbearable.
“I’m wet,” I reply.
And then he groans a little and pushes his mouth to my ear, dragging his lips across my cheek and then back again. “Tell me more about that,” he says.
“Stop it,” I say, laughing, putting my hands up on his chest, feeling it tighten under my fingers. There is just this slight, wet fabric between my hands and his smooth skin, I think with longing. I drop my head forward and I bury my face in his neck, breathing in the smell of summer rain and cinnamon and the hint of sweet sweat. It is intoxicating.
“Stop it now,” I say more firmly, into his neck.
“It would be messy,” he agrees, his nose in my hair, his hot breath doing more than enough to feed the desire that is threatening to overwhelm me.
And then his lips move slowly toward mine. Leo and I are lost in this moment as his lips meet mine in the softest, most gentle kiss. Not even a kiss really, just his lips touching mine, the wet of the rain making everything slick.
He pulls back to look at me, and I’m burning with a desire that I’m willing myself to fight.
“Leonardo!” says a voice from above us on the terrace.
I snap my head up to see Chiara, looking down at us and waving frantically.
“Dai! Come inside!” she calls out. “We move inside. They’re cutting the cake!”
“Coming, Zia!” Leo calls, and then he looks down at me again and pulls himself away, tugging on the leg of his pants as he does. I fold my arms around my dress—soaking wet, clinging to every inch of me.
“I’m not done with you,” he says. “Whatever happens.” He looks up at the house and then nods for me to follow him.
“Leo,” I say, panicked. Afraid to leave it like this. “Wecan’tdo that again. Not before we’ve gone through the proposal. Before we’ve closed the door on Nicky’s. It’s too confusing.Please.” I wring my hands as his eyes trace the line of my body underneath my soaking dress.
His eyes fix on me, and I watch his face fill with a sudden clarity. He nods.
“Do what?” he says with a wry smile. “We were just dancing. I don’t remember a thing.”
