It was symbolic.
That was the path his voice had to take to form words.
I closed my eyes and held on to her hands.
Even though she was close to me, she barely looked at me. No other woman had ever gotten under my skin the way she had, and her quietness weighed on me. I realized why when our eyes met through the mirror and she looked away again.
Her expression was conflicted enough to turn haunting.
Her two sides were at war as well—the side meant to be by my side, and the side wild enough to spread its wings and try to fly away from me.
Her position behind me sent a cold chill through my usually hot veins. It felt symbolic to me, like I was seeing her in my rearview, her expression haunting me until I closed my eyes for the final time.
She gasped when I pulled her around and set her in front of me, my arms wrapping around her while our hands stayed entwined. I set my lips and nose against her shoulder, breathing her in.
“Change your clothes. Casual with layers. Wear your boots. Pack your things.”
“Where are we going?” Her voice was full of gravel. “And for how long?”
“You will see. And for a few days.”
She nodded and went to break out of my hold. I refused to let her go until she acknowledged how deep inside of me she was, and that I would never let her go. She was as vital to me as my heart. When I was finally satisfied with the look in her eyes—high on the freedom only I could give her, even behind the cage my hold made—my arms opened, and she went to pack her things and change her clothes.
I did the same, but it only took me one bag and ten minutes. Ava was still getting her things together when I went to Beni’s side of the penthouse. I told him where I was taking Ava and to have one of the pilots bring our things.
He walked me to the door. “Be safe,cugino.” He set his hand on my shoulder and squeezed hard enough for me to feel it.
I nodded and met Ava at the door on my side. I looked her over from head to toe. She squirmed some, like my hand was caressing her skin.
I had done my job. She could feel me without me putting a hand to her body.
She was under my skin.
I was under hers.
“I didn’t ask before, but I want to know now,” she breathed. “When is the wedding?”
The air stilled between us, and it felt like it might crack if either of us made a move.
“Summer.”
The date seemed to fly out of my mouth, shatter a piece of her, and ricochet back, doing the same to me.
Out in the universe, the fractured glass clock startedtick, tick, tickingbetween us, its hands loud, looming, even if the date was not near on the calendar.
She nodded and I snatched her hand, keeping it in mine as I pulled her back into the penthouse and into my closet. I removed her long coat and hung it up. I pulled my own coat off another hanger and slipped it over her arms.
I grinned. It ate her up.
“You are so fucking gorgeous wearing my clothes.” I took her by the lapels and pulled her in, kissing her until her knees grew weak and it was my responsibility to hold her up.
She broke the kiss, breathless and holding on to me.
I turned some and grabbed a beanie from the dresser and set it on her head, pulling it down some. Her blue eyes were bright, even in the dimness.
She touched her head and then her arm. “Hat. Bomber jacket.” She looked down. “Boots.” She looked up. “Are you taking me flying?”
“In a sense.”
