15
CIRO
I stood in the doorway;my large frame took up most of the space.
“What do you want?” She glared at me, wholly exasperated. I’d seen the expression many times leading up to the end of us. I hated to see it now.
“I hurt your feelings, and I’m sorry.” I entered the small bathroom, closed the door and locked it.
“I’m fine. Please get out.” She backed up, putting distance between us. Only a few feet, given the small box of a room. Still, any amount of space between us was too much for me.
Nothing I said would please her, so I did the one thing that always worked. I stalked toward her. She continued to move back until she was against the green tile wall.
“Don’t, Ciro.” She put her hands up. “I know what you’re doing and I’m asking you to stop.”
“I’ve missed you terribly, My-la.” I caged her in, putting my hands on either side of her head.
“You missed me so much that it took you fifteen months to come for me.”
I lowered my head and pressed my forehead against hers. “I told you. A lot has happened with my family. The past year was hell, baby.”
“I’m sorry you had a hard year, but so did I.”
I kissed her temple and gripped her hip, which felt fuller. “Tell me about it.”
“No. We broke up, Ciro.”
“Not because I wanted to break up.” I dotted soft kisses on her face.
“Please stop.” She placed her hands on my chest and pushed me back.
“My-la,” I said her name, my voice full of emotion. “I regret letting you leave that night. I have so many regrets.”
“But you did let me leave.” She stared at me with tears in her eyes. “And it’s been over a year. Why now? Why are you really back?”
“I told you. Nightmares. But also, I’ve been miserable. So fucking miserable without you.” I cradled her face in my hands and lowered my mouth to hers. When she didn’t stop me, I captured her lips.
It was like coming home. We kissed, totally in sync with each other. She didn’t just stand there while I devoured her. Her hands snaked up to my neck, and she clasped them behind my head like she used to.
Dammit, this was what I’d been missing.
Her.
Us.
Together.
Passion exploded between us. Our kisses became more frantic and if we were anywhere else, I would fuck her on the spot. But this tiny ass bathroom, laced with germs on everysurface, was the last place I wanted to have sex with her for the first time in over a year.
“Let’s go to your place,” I said into her mouth as our tongues tangoed.
She froze and before I could process what I’d done wrong, she slipped out from under me and rushed out of the bathroom.
“Isla!” I shouted as I went after her.
Paolo appeared and blocked my path.
“Move out of the way!” I yelled at him.
