His eyes bore into mine, forged into bands of steel. “Not even your brother could tell me who I can love. He will accept it. Or not. I don’t fucking care any longer.”
Me either. My heart couldn’t beat without his love. My inability to control my feelings might be what will cause the biggest rift between them.
I open and close my mouth, trying to make sense of what I want to say. “He doesn’t need to know what happened.”
He closes his eyes for a moment, but not before I glimpse his torment. “Even if that will remain our secret, what I’m doing behind his back is…”
Treason. Betrayal.
I sigh, my head dropping. “I’m sorry.”
He cups my cheek, placing a sweet kiss on my lips that I feel down to my toes. “Don’t be. It’s not your fault. It’s not even mine. I never believed in destiny until I realized that staying away from you would only bring me misery. All my roads end up leading me to you.”
Jumping into his arms, I hold him so tight as if wanting to glue myself to him so nothing and no one can separate us.
We stay like that, intertwined and connected—skin to skin and heartbeat to heartbeat for long minutes. I could get used to lazy days and time spent together.
He rings the household chef to bring us dinner.
The staff carries in plates of scrumptious fish and crispy vegetables.
The instant the delectable smell invades my nostrils, my belly grumbles even more. What I do next has nothing to do with eating. I swallow more than chew.
He chuckles. “Baby girl, no one will take it away.”
“Your fault. I’ve exerted a lot of energy,” I say through a mouthful.
He thrusts his head back and laughs so wholeheartedly. Those rich sounds make me pause for a moment to savor his joy.
Time with him has a nasty habit of slipping away, and he’s not listening to my desperate pleas to show me some mercy, be graceful, and slow down to prolong our time together.
In the foyer, I stare at the door as if it’s my biggest enemy. I am rooted in place when he guides me toward the piano.
“Play for me first.”
I glance back at the door. “We should…”
Even if my sister-in-law does a fantastic job at owning all my brother’s attention, keeping him on his toes, plus his work, it would be silly of me to think Enzo would forget about me.
I am feeling guilty but not guilty enough to put a stop to this.
Inside the piano room, I play for my man. I would play for him until my fingers bled.
He’s the only audience I need. The truth is I’ve played exclusively for him. The audience is just background noise. I will play for him till the end of time.
A tear falls down my face and splashes on the keyboard.
“I love you, baby girl. More than I thought possible. I don’t deserve you, but you’re mine.”
“Never stop, Mika. I’m sure I could survive anything but not that.”
He stands up from the armchair, cutting the distance between us.
Palming my face, I notice his eyes glistening with pure emotions. “I’ll die loving you. Doubt everything but not how madly in love I am with you. I’m a deeply flawed man, but my feelings for you are pure. Will never waver. There is no beginning nor an end to my love.”
I cry softly in his arms, loving him with everything in me.
32
