“What is it?”
“Amara.”
The friend whose number I pulled from her phone the other day. I hadn’t been able to do much with it other than a cursory search. So far, there’s been little to no information on the girl, so I’ve requested the information Zeno said he found ages ago, back when they first became friends, to see if there’s something he missed.
“My messages still won’t go through, like she’s disconnected her phone. She’s always been a bit secretive, but so was I due to Z, so I didn’t think much of it. But not only did she disappear at the party, she’s disappearedperiod. At first, I was annoyed. Now…now, I’m a bit concerned.”
“I’ve already been looking into it,” I admit, watching for her reaction. “When I did your phone transfer, I took her number to search around for information, because I knew what she did bothered you.” And admittingly me, because something about this friendship feels dangerous. Then again, what do I truly know about friendships?
“And?” Hope tinges her tone.
“Nothing yet, but I’ll keep looking, I swear it.”
She smiles faintly and whispers, “Thank you,” before dropping her head onto my shoulder and curling up into my side.
After two more episodes, she twists to me, hand sprawling across my thigh. She doesn’t make my nerves want to tear from beneath my skin. In fact, the opposite, as my muscles relax, like she’s made to be with me.
“Thank you again for taking me to the ballet.”
“You’re thanking me for something that hasn’t happened yet.” It’s strange people do that.
“It’s all I’ve thought about all afternoon—in between studying, of course.”
“Sorry for distracting you.”
She slides in closer, twisting until she’s practically on my lap, and fuses her mouth to mine. Her hand slides up my chest and cups my neck, but this time, I don’t touch her. My hands remain beside my lap, letting her retain the lead.
A week ago, everything about this would have been worse than murder. Now, I’m trying to figure out how I’ll survive without it. What it’ll be like when she returns to Italy, and I come down to the basement to see the TV but noprintessa.What wasmy safe place will be yet another area that overwhelms me. Memories of Serafina—the first time she was down here, finding her passed out, waiting for me, or yesterday, with her on my lap—will linger, but without her, they’ll be ghosts within my mind.
The next time we’ll see one another is when Zeno and Vanessa bring both sides together, but we’ll be around others, and nothing can happen. Maybe she won’t want it to either. Once Vitale is dealt with, Serafina will live her life. Maybe even meet someone worthy, someone good and normal and perfect for her. A doctor, lawyer, businessman, trade worker—anyone but me.
Why does the thought ofanyof that have me gripping her tighter, kissing her harder?
I don’t know how to let her go.
This is what makes something an obsession, and breaking myself from Serafina will be impossible. It’ll be a full-body detox, but even then, I’ll need to be cut up and have her bled from me. This girl’s made it into my soul.
How does one regain a soul when the very person giving it life and strength is no longer around?
She’s my fixation. The balm to everything wrong with me. She’s the newest thing to call my own.
Her arms wrap around my neck as she kisses me deeply, no longer tentative and assuming I’ll toss her off. Admitting my issues makes moments like this more meaningful. She begins inching off my lap towards the floor, but I grip her hip.
“Don’t.” She wriggles against my hold and continues down, lowering to her knees. While my cock immediately responds as she reaches for my jeans, this isn’t something she needs do. I’m happy without it—happy withher. Everything else is extra.
“You don’t have to.”
Red blossoms across her cheeks as she takes my zipper in her grip. “I want to, but you’ll have to let me know what you like. I’ve only done this twice. Both with A?—”
“Do not speak his name when you’re on your knees for me.”
Not if she wants me in control. Thatsiklo—coward—has no right to her any longer, not even her thoughts. I’ll be damned if he slips in between us. It’s bad enough I might lose her to reality one day, to her brother taking her home. I won’t allow Alessio fucking Vitale to ruin this.
She swallows the fire running through my veins as she reaches inside my jeans. “I want this to be good for you. If there’s something you need, tell me. Please.”
Only you, printessa.
“Do what feels natural.” I sweep her hair off her shoulder as she takes my cock in hand, the feel of her touch removing any other worry. Worry over Vitale, over the fact my sister is two floors above us, over Vanessa being due home any hour now.
