“And?”
“Someone who loves me truly is a rare find and if I find that person, then that’s the one for me. I have to hold onto that hand no matter what—”
“And no matter who it belongs to,” he finished for me and turned me again. “Becausehemight not be there tomorrow.” He pointed to Lorenzo. “Go to him. He’s your forever.” He gave my shoulders a gentle squeeze. “I’ll always love you, son. Unconditionally.” With that he nodded to Lorenzo and walked out, taking my hot chocolate he knew I’d forget to drink now with him. I stared after him. Shocked crystalized my thoughts, trying to process what just happened.
“Would you like me to leave?” Lorenzo’s quiet words pulled my gaze.
“Do you want to?” I scoffed without thinking, angrier with myself for walking away from him.
“My little cocky shit.” His lips twitched.
“I’m not little, old man” I scowled, yet desperate to put an end to my frustration.
He took a step closer, almost closing the space between us. I held my breath and waited, but he didn’t say anything, just continued to scan my face then he grasped the back of my neck, his touch shocking warm waves of pleasure through my body. “I will never change you, Rayden. I love you the way you are. Cocky shit and all.” He teased my lips with a soft kiss. “You feared what your family would say. I get that. But what your father said just now, is true.”
“What?” I frowned.
“The last time you walked away, you took my heart with you and I let you.” His warm breath fanned my lips. “This time you walk away you’ll take my soul with you and I’m not sure if I can let you.”
“Take your soul?” I asked.
“No. Walk away. You’re my forever, baby boy, if you’ll have me.”
“How are you always so fucking calm around me, no matter what I do, what I say. I was foolish to walk away, and I treated your love so recklessly, yet you still want me. I’m aggressive, arrogant, full of fucking shit at times. Why would you want anything with me?”
“Because I can see the person beneath the mask,” his words had me lifting a questioning brow. “You once told me that I allowed you to be arrogant. I do and I can. Because I can handle your brand of aggression. You might be a ticking time bomb to some but you’re also vulnerable, Rayden. You’ve been hurt so many times, you’re not prepared to take another chance. You’re scared and I understand. But I’m not walking away again.” He raked a hand through his hair. “Fuck, baby, just allow yourself to be vulnerable, to be happy, repercussions be damned, remember. And I’ll hold your fucking hand if I have to.”
For a moment, I let myself get lost in his warm gaze, in his encouraging words. Then I balked. Panic set in once more and I wondered if he was right or if it was the fear of the unknown between us that made me ask, “and what if I’m not ready for forever with you?”
He took a step back and contemplated my words. “I don’t do mushy, Rayden.” He ran a thumb over my lip. “But just this once, I want to try. Just for you. And because Dario said he’ll kick my ass if I didn’t.” He chuckled, making me smile then cupped my face in his warm hands. “I can’t promise not to make you cry, baby, but I will kiss away your tears. I can’t promise not to make you angry, but I will hold you until you calm down. I can’t promise not to leave you, but only if you ask me to go. And I can’t promise not to hurt you, but I will try until I die.” He gripped my arms. “There are two promises I can keep, though. To mend your broken heart but only if you let me in. To show you what it means to love again but only if you give me a chance. Forever. That’s how long I’ll love you, even if you can’t.”
His words filled me with something I couldn’t explain yet I felt my chest explode with the knowledge that with him on one side of me and my father on the other, I could shout out to the whole fucking world that I was with Lorenzo Rossi—a hardcore, mafia head who wanted to be mushy, just for me.
“Stay the night.”
“Are you asking me or telling me?” He gave me a wicked grin.
And even though I had no idea what morning would bring. Right now, I just wanted to be with him. I wanted him to conquer the very air that I breathed, to stake his claim on me, to push boundaries I didn’t know I had because for once, that feeling of the unknown I was scared to test, didn’t matter anymore. All that mattered was being with this man, full and completely.
“I’m telling you.”
His low chuckle teased the fine hairs at my nape. “In that case, I hope your bed springs can handle my weight and if your room isn’t soundproof, you better hope your family wears earbuds to bed.
I had no response.
