“Valentina?” he asked softly, cautiously, as I got out of bed quickly, still trying to organize my completely tangled thoughts and emotions.
“It’s fine,” I said hurriedly, grabbing my clothes from the floor, my face hot with embarrassment and nerves as I dressed as fast as I could. “I’m just… tired.”
He immediately sat up, the sheet sliding slowly down his naked body as he reached out and caught my hand, stopping me from leaving.
“Hey—wait. Don’t leave like this, please,” Enrico asked, his expression serious now, sincere, vulnerable. “Stay with me. Sleep here tonight, Valentina.”
I swallowed hard and bit my lip, looking straight into his eyes, feeling utterly exposed by the vulnerability I saw in him at that moment.
My heart screamed for me to stay—to let myself enjoy the intimacy I had wanted for so long and that he was now offering openly.
But my fear was still too great.
This was how it had to be.
I might have completely lost control over my body, but my mind was still mine. And because of that, I always left as soon as we were done.
I had to go.
“I can’t,” I murmured almost in a whisper, trying to hide the tremor in my voice. “It’s better this way, Enrico. I… I can’t.”
He sighed heavily, squeezing my hand gently, his eyes insistent yet kind, full of a patience that only made leaving harder.
“You don’t have to leave every time we make love, Valentina,” he said calmly, his gaze locked onto mine with almost painful intensity. “You don’t have to run from me. You don’t have to run from what we have. Not anymore.”
I took a deep breath, emotion tightening my throat as I pulled my hand free, even though my heart protested fiercely.
“I do, Enrico. It’s better this way,” I repeated firmly, trying to convince myself more than him.
He remained still for a moment, watching me with a patience and tenderness that only deepened my inner conflict.
“Alright,” he finally agreed, sadness unmistakable in his voice. “But I want you to know—no matter how many times you leave, I’ll always be waiting for the day you finally decide to stay.”
A knot formed in my throat.
Before I could change my mind—before I could give in again to that dangerous feeling—I turned quickly and left the room, closing the door softly behind me.
In the quiet hallway, far from Enrico’s intense gaze, I took a deep breath, trying to calm my racing heart as I closed my eyes, fighting the tears of frustration and desire threatening to fall.
I couldn’t keep running forever.
But right then, running still felt like the only thing I knew how to do.
***
“Are you sure this is really necessary?” I complained once again as I stumbled clumsily while getting out of the car. The soft fabric of the blindfold pressed against my eyes, plunging everything into complete darkness. “My God, I never imagined walking blindfolded would be this hard!”
Clara’s delighted laugh echoed nearby as her little hands squeezed mine tightly.
“Mom, it’s way easier to make my dolls walk in the right direction than you!” she teased, tugging my hand forward.
I couldn’t help laughing, shaking my head as I stumbled again—only to be immediately steadied by Enrico’s strong, firm arms as he positioned himself at my side.
“Careful, Valentina,” he murmured near my ear, his tone full of amusement. His hands wrapped around my waist, holding me steady against his warm body for a moment that lasted far too long to be innocent. “I can’t let you fall now, can I?”
A delicious heat spread through me as I tried to ignore how completely that simple touch still disoriented me.
I let out an exaggerated sigh, feigning indignation as I shook my head.
