There was no concern or worry for the unexpected jump they had made together. Nor was there any fear of the unknown; of rushing, of caving in and giving herself to Marco. For once, everything seemed to fall into place. Just as it was meant to.
‘Allora, last night . . .’ Marco started. A grin formed across his face, which he attempted to hide behind a mouthful ofpandoro.
‘Yep. Last night.’ Stella, suddenly self-conscious about how wearing Marco’s t-shirt might look to his family should they walk in, stifled a chuckle. ‘Yeah, that was something, alright.’ Her cheeks blushed.
‘I . . . didn’t expect that.’
‘Me either.’
‘We’ve donemanythings together. But never . . .that.’ He laughed, shaking his head.
‘No. Never.’ Stella added, ‘It was pretty amazing.’
‘The most amazing start to a new year I’ve ever had.Buon anno! And who knew these hands could do more than just paint!’
Stella threw her head back and snort-laughed. ‘Yeah, well, filling all thosecannolishells by hand have served you well.’ Stella snuggled further down next to him on the couch, resting her head against his naked chest. ‘This is very sexy, by the way.’ She traced the outline of Marco’s full moon tattoo with a finger.
‘Youare,’ he teased. ‘Even inthis.’ He pulled at the gaping fabric of his t-shirt. ‘It’s just a little big.’
‘It smells like you.’ She sniffed the round collar. ‘It’s so comforting.’
‘I could say the same thing. Yourprofumohas been driving me crazy for months!’
‘Oh no!’ she giggled.
‘Quante volte,Stella. Quante volte! Just your smell . . . I would lose my mind. I thought I was going crazy.’
‘I’m so sorry, Marco.’
‘Shh.Basta. Enough of that.’ He tilted her chin and his lips caught hers – soft and supple – for a long, intense kiss. Closing his eyes again, he said, ‘This feels right, Stella.’
‘I know.’ She held him a little tighter as he dropped his head to rest on hers. ‘So, what now?’ she asked, taking in the final mouthful of her coffee.
He took her cup and placed it on the table. ‘We go back to bed, then take a shower and eventually go and face Roma. Together.’
‘Sounds like a plan. Can you just promise me one thing?’
‘Anything.’ His hands gave hers a reassuring squeeze.
‘Let’s not go back to how things were before.Thisis where we need to be.’
‘Prometto.’ He mimed locking his heart and tossed the imaginary key over his left shoulder.
‘Never again,’ she said, pausing for a moment as those familiar loaded words absorbed a new meaning.
Marco stood and pulled Stella to her feet. ‘A letto,’ he said, motioning towards the bedroom. At the door, he stopped and brushed a few stray locks of wavy fringe from her eyes. ‘From now on, we go slow. Rome wasn’t built in a day,eh?’
She smiled. ‘So, I’ve been told.’
Giacomino left Carlotta and Marcella to chat at the table while he cleared away the lunch dishes.
After a few moments of quiet, Marcella finally asked, ‘Do you have a resolution for the new year?’
Carlotta scowled. ‘You know I never make resolutions.’
‘This year feels different.’
Carlotta’s brow hooked. ‘It’s thirteen hours old and you can already feel a change?’
