“You should! He’ll kill you.”
Laughter rumbles from his chest. “Don’t insult me,dolcezza. If anyone is getting killed, it’s thatstronzo.”
“Why me when you can have any unmarried woman without complications?” I ask, shucking out of his hold. I can’t think clearly when he’s touching me like this.
He links our hands. “I love you. I desire you. You’re the only woman I want in my bed and in my life from now on.”
Disbelief shimmers in my eyes. “I know you’re not short of female company or willing bed partners.”
He rests his brow against mine. “I haven’t slept with anyone in two months, and I don’t want to. I’m obsessed with you, Natalia, and I’m done denying what I want. Whatwewant.”
“What are you saying?” I whisper over his lips.
He eases back, peering deep into my eyes. “I’m saying we have suffered enough, sacrificed enough, and it ends now.” He kisses me softly. “I want you,amore mio, and I am done resisting you. You need me, and I need you. Let’s be selfish. God knows, we have waited long enough.” A pregnant pause ensues. “Unless you’re telling me you don’t love me anymore and you don’t want me. Obviously, that would change things,” he quietly adds.
I should lie to protect him, but I’m tired too. It’s not like years ago when I was a naïve girl who thought she was a woman and Leo was asoldatowith little influence or power. I’m old enough now to know what I want, to go after it, and own my decision. Leo is a powerful man with loyal men who will fight for him. And there’s Ben. While I don’t want to drag him into this, I know my brother would not let anything happen to us.
“I still love you,” I say, projecting my voice so there is no doubt. “I never stopped, Leo. I have been in love with you since I was fourteen years old. Maybe even earlier, but I didn’t realize what the feeling was. There has never been any other man for me but you.” I kiss him this time. “In case that isn’t clear, I want you too.”
He kisses me passionately, hauling my body against his warm chest and sliding his arms around my back. I fall into him, and everything I have ever felt for him comes rushing to the surface. I could drown in his taste and his touch, but before we go any further, we need to make sure we are doing the right thing.
“How?” I ask in a breathy tone, ripping my lips from his. “How will we do this?”
“We’ll have to sneak around. Mainly meet here,” he says in between planting open-mouthed kisses on my neck. “I’ll get you a burner cell.”
“We’ll be lying to our family. Our friends,” I say.
He lifts his head, staring solemnly into my eyes. “Yes. I don’t like it, but if it’s a choice between having you and having to lie to our loved ones, I will always choose you.”
“It might be difficult for me to get away. I’ll be at college, and I have the boys.”
“I’ll be busy with work, but we’ll make time. Any time with you will be cherished, even if we only manage to see one another once a week.”
“What about other women?” If I’m risking my life and his to enter this affair, I’m not sharing him.
“There are no other women. There is only you.” He kisses the backs of my hands. “I won’t be with anyone else. Why would I want to if I’m with you? You are all I have ever wanted.” He kisses the tip of my nose. “I will be faithful to you, Nat. I’m not like that prick. I would never cheat on you.” His eyes blaze with sincerity. “I know what I did in the past hurt you, but it was never real, and I was too weak to do what I should have done. I’m not that man anymore. You can trust me. I swear.” He dots kisses all over my face. “I know I need to earn that trust, and I will prove it to you, if you just give me a chance. Giveusthis chance we never had.”
Can I do this? Can I take such a huge leap of faith? Can I enter this with Leo knowing I’m hiding a big secret from him? One he may never forgive me for if he finds out?
I should tell him.
I should let him know the truth and decide then if he still wants to be with me.
But if I tell him, he will kill Gino, and that will ignite a whole chain reaction with a set of consequences that would not end well for me, him, or my brother.
Is it wrong to keep that truth locked away in my heart if it’s the best way of protecting him?
Leo is waiting anxiously for an answer. Fear mixes with pain and longing on his face as he stares at me while I make my decision. I look into his gorgeous gray-blue eyes and rake my gaze over his handsome face, and I know I can’t reject him. I can’t do that to him or to me.
It feels like everything that has happened has been leading to this moment.
If I want to take control of my life, it starts here.
It’s as simple as that.
“Yes,” I say, freeing a smile. I wind my arms around his neck. “It’s time to risk it all to be together. Nothing has ever felt more right or more real, and I want to do this with you.”
I don’t get another word out because his lips crash upon mine as he reels me into his lap, and the time for conversation is over.
