I leaned forward, pressing my hands on his black tee. “Yes, you did. But I forgive you.”
With that, I kissed him.
It wasn’t a soft kiss. There was a raging ball of energy in me that needed an outlet. The kiss was possessive, and I poured my emotions into him. He tasted like salvation. Warm and hard, his mouth was everything I needed.
Before I could pull him to me, slide his unbreakable body over mine as a shield, I broke the kiss.
“That wasn’t a bad one,” I croaked. My voice still sounded funny.
Vincenzo growled low in his chest. “You have them frequently.”
Oh, lord! I didn’t want to admit the truth. But my silence only confirmed his observation.
“Mandy,” he said my name like a prayer. “I didn’t know it was this bad.”
“It’s been building all morning,” I confessed. “You took my mind off it—for a bit.”
Vincenzo barked a rough laugh and shook his head. “Instead of hitting resume on our date, I should have checked to make sure you were okay. I’m so sorry.”
I squeezed his arms.
“I like…having you here when they come,” I whispered. “They don’t feel as scary.”
His smile didn’t reach his eyes. “That’s good to hear, fiore.”
Flower—his flower. I closed my eyes and let the much-needed oxygen fill me. I was an idiot to resist this man. He might not do things in a conventional manner, but he was the rock I very much needed. I didn’t know how we would navigate the future, but as I slid my hand into his and let him help me stand, I didn’t feel so alone.
And that wasn’t something I was going to lose.
Chapter 44 – Vincenzo – The Past
Light spilled slowly across the shore, warming my face before the rest of me, turning the water copper and pale pink. Gulls cried somewhere above. Their calls sounded thin and lonely. Amanda leaned back against me, letting the moment wash over her. The sun was almost here. There were only the two of us, hidden away on the cove.
It was pure bliss.
Wrapping my arms tightly around her, I waited. The air tasted faintly of salt and metal, sharp enough to wake me. Not that I was sleepy. We’d done it. Snuck away from the city and, found a cozy bungalow.
Waves slid in with a steady hush, folding over themselves like quiet breaths, while a breeze lifted the fine hairs on my arms and carried the clean, briny smell of kelp and wet stone. The first true heat of the day settled into my skin, gentle and promising, as if the morning had noticed us sitting there and decided to stay awhile.
“Happy birthday, Mandy,” I whispered against her hair.
She sighed happily. Pushing against me, she rose. “Come on.”
My brows knit together as I studied her. “Where are we going?”
“Back to bed.”
I almost teased her. Almost pointed out that we’d set an alarm, crawled out of the house, walked over the dark beach, just to see the sunrise. But the glow in her electric blue eyes wasn’t the look of someone who was sleepy.
Oh…ooohhhh.
The next breath was a shiver.
Dio mio…va bene.
I scrambled to my feet, trying to act cool. Blood rushed south, and the basketball shorts tented in the front. I pulled my sweatshirt low to hide it.
“Are you sure?” I asked,looping my arm around her shoulder. “I’m good with waiting.”
