"My chest," I confirm, because watching her spiral is entertaining as hell.
Kristen shoots me a look that promises murder.
Lily just stares at her mother with the blank acceptance only a four-year-old can manage. She doesn't care about the explanation. She doesn't understand that two minutes ago, her mother was grinding on my lap like her life depended on it.
Thank God for small mercies.
"Are you done examining?" Lily asks, already shuffling toward Kristen. "The shadows were being scary and I want to sleep again."
Kristen's entire demeanor shifts. The panic drains away, replaced by worry. She drops to her knees and pulls Lily into her arms.
"Of course, baby girl. The shadows can't get you when Mommy's there."
Lily burrows into her mother's neck. "Is Mr. Nico going to be okay?"
"He'll be fine." Kristen stands, hoisting Lily onto her hip.
Kristen finally meets my eyes over Lily's head. Her cheeks are still flushed, her lips swollen from my mouth. She looks wrecked in the best possible way.
"Goodnight," she says. The word carries a thousand things she can't say in front of her daughter.
This was a mistake.
We can't do this again.
I want to do this again.
"Goodnight." I keep my voice even. Controlled. Like I'm not dying to drag her back to this couch and finish what we started.
Kristen turns and walks toward the hallway. Lily waves at me over her mother's shoulder, Sir Floppington flopping limply in her grip.
"Night night, Mr. Nico. Feel better."
"Thanks, Lily."
Then they're gone. Swallowed by the shadows of the hallway.
I sit there for a long moment, staring at the empty doorway. My cock throbs against my zipper. My skin burns where Kristen touched me.
Fuck.
I scrub a hand over my face and lean back against the couch cushions.
Kristen
The kiss plays on loop in my head like a broken record I can't stop.
Monday morning breakfast comes and goes. Lily chatters about the pancakes I made, shaped like bunnies because of course they are. Nora laughs at something Vittoria says. Sophia picks at her food, still worried about Lorenzo being in Sicily.
I smile. I nod. I pour orange juice.
But my brain? My brain is stuck on last night. On Nico's hands in my hair. On his mouth demanding everything I had to give.
Get it together, Kristen.
His chair at the table sits empty.
Giulia told me that Nico sometimes disappears. Works through the night. Forgets meals exist. "He's been like this since he was a boy," she said, shaking her head with fond exasperation. "The mind never stops with that one."
