I had already wasted my chance once.
I wasn’t going to waste it again.
This time, I wasn’t going to wait.
I was going after the happiness that had always been mine—happiness I’d almost destroyed with my own hands.
I would win her back actively. Day after day. Gesture after gesture. Until Valentina had no doubt that my heart belonged entirely to her.
And even if I didn’t deserve hers in return… she’d give it to me anyway.
Because there wouldn’t be another option.
She shifted beside me, beginning to wake, and my breath picked up with the anticipation of that moment. The last time she’d woken in my arms, things hadn’t gone well.
Her lashes fluttered before her eyes finally opened, revealing the dark gaze that had always disarmed me completely.
For a second, she looked confused to find me so close—but memory returned quickly, flushing her cheeks with a soft, adorable pink.
“Good morning,” I murmured, unable to hide the gentle smile on my mouth as my fingers continued to stroke her cheek. I kissed her chin. God, I wanted to kiss every inch of her.
“Good morning,” she answered quietly—almost a whisper—looking away slightly.
“You’re beautiful when you sleep,” I said softly, still watching her. “I missed waking up like this. With you beside me, Valentina.”
Her eyes came back to mine, and her expression turned vulnerable. I noticed the way her breathing changed—more irregular, more nervous.
“Enrico…” she started, uncertain.
I stopped her with a light touch of my fingers to her lips.
“Don’t say anything yet.” My gaze stayed locked on hers. “Just… let me stay like this with you a little longer?” I asked quietly. “Let me have a few more minutes of this before we go back to reality. Please.”
She hesitated only a few seconds, then gave a small nod.
I pulled her carefully into my arms, and something in my chest clicked into place.
This was where she belonged.
And soon she was going to understand that I would never let her slip through my hands again.
Not without fighting for her with everything I had.
And I was ready to start that battle immediately.
We stayed in silence for a few minutes, her breath warming my skin in a way that made my entire body feel too full.
Then she sighed softly and lifted her face, looking at me with an expression that mixed desire and fear.
“Enrico…” she began again, her voice too weak to match the intensity of her gaze. “I don’t want you to misread what I’m about to say, because last night… I know I was wrong too.” She inhaled, bracing herself. “But we can’t keep doing this.”
“Mistake?” was all I managed.
Valentina drew a deep breath.
“We have to go back to the rules, Enrico. Back to the safety we established.”
I raised an eyebrow, studying her.
