“You don’t have to give up anything, Nina,” he says firmly, cutting me off, and presses his forehead to mine. “Not for me. Never.”
Nero pauses and takes a deep breath, filling his lungs with the air we’re sharing. “I told you before,Little Fae. We can buy a bed anywhere, and a couch, and a nightstand.”
The beginning of a smile blooms at the corner of my mouth as I remember that conversation we had weeks ago, the first time I went to his new apartment.
“I should have told you that day.”
He shrugs. “We can’t change what’s already passed.”
“We can’t.”
“But we don’t have to repeat our mistakes. I don’t care how much time you need—I’m not going anywhere.”
“The programme lasts almost two years, Nero. And I need to complete all of it.”
“Then maybe I’ll need to go to Dubai a few times a month,” he replies simply. “It doesn’t change the fact that I’m not going anywhere away from you.”
“You’re making ‘staying scared’ a very difficult task for me.”
“Thank God!” he exhales with a laugh, and I laugh too. “I want you to feel safe, Nina. I know you think we happened too fast, but why does that have to be a problem? I spent thirty years of my life without you. That was enough.”
I bite my lip, feeling every crack in my heart being filled by Nero’s words until it feels new and bright again.
I step closer, pressing our noses together and closing my eyes. I breathe him in—every fibre of my body sings with his proximity and leans toward Nero. His hands slide down, caressing me softly until they settle at my waist.
When I try to fit our lips together, though, Nero steps back, pulling away just enough that I can’t reach him, while still touching me. I frown, confused, and he quickly explains.
“There’s nothing I want more right now than to kiss you until my body forgets it needs to breathe and we both pass out from lack of air,Little Fae, but your mother is right next door, and I’m almost certain she’s probably listening behind the door.”
I roll my eyes.
“You’re afraid of an Italian woman who’s barely five feet tall?”
Nero removes his hands from me and lifts a finger toward me before his face twists into an angry caricature and he speaks in a high-pitched voice:
“My daughter deserves respect! She’s a good girl from a good family!”
His imitation of my mother pulls a loud laugh from me, and I sincerely hope she’s not actually listening behind the door. Nero smiles at me.
“From now on, I promise I’ll put nothing but these smiles on your face,Little Fae.” His thumb brushes the tip of my swollen nose.
I step forward to try to kiss him again, but he retreats once more.
“Nero!” I protest, but he laughs.
“Keep your hands off me. I’m a good family boy!” he mocks.
I narrow my eyes and open my mouth, then cross my arms, indignant.
“You just made me vows of eternal love and now you’re running away from me?” I tease—but the mood shifts from light and playful to suddenly terrifying when I realise the words that just left my mouth.
Before I can try to patch them up, Nero answers.
“I think I love you,Little Fae.”
CHAPTER 32
NINA MARCHESI
