For a long moment, it’s just us. The machines. The quiet. The fact that I’m still breathing and he’s still here.
He raises his other hand to my face. His thumb brushes my cheek, reverent. I lean into his touch without thinking. When he leans down, closing the space between us, I don’t hesitate. Ourlips meet, soft and careful, like we’re both afraid this might disappear if we move too fast.
Then, I tilt my head and open for him. A quiet moan slips from my throat.
Whatever restraint he had burns away, and suddenly it’s as if he’s been starving—tongue, heat, lightning. Everything we’ve buried for decades detonates at once.
My hand slides into his hair. His grip tightens at my jaw. Touch after touch, greedy and desperate, mapping what we’ve denied ourselves,fuck. It feels like coming home.
Eventually, we pull back before we do something truly stupid in a clinic bed.
I smile crookedly. “At least you wouldn’t have to worry this time about Pippa leaving you for another man.”
He arches a brow, wary.
“She’s already with the other man.” I smirk.
He groans and drops his head against the side of the bed.
I chuckle, then wince in pain.
He laughs, just a little. “Maybe, but that doesn’t change the fact that we don’t really know her.”
“You’re right,” I say. “I know protecting Eva and me is the most important thing to you. But, shit, maybe we should try to get to know her more instead of pushing her away.”
“It may be too late for that,” he admits.
I know him well enough to know whatever damage he’s caused, this won't be resolved right away. “We’ll talk to her when she gets back, then. Yeah?”
He nods.
“Did Doc say I was cleared for more than kissing?” I waggle my eyebrows.
“Absolutely not, pretty boy,” he says as he gets up, smiling. “Let me get her again. You need some food and some pain meds.”
“Enzo?”
“Yeah?”
“I love you, too.”
We smile at each other a few beats.
He squeezes my hand one more time, kisses my forehead, and exits the room.
I close my eyes with the biggest grin on my face.
Enzo is mine.
Enzo Luciano. My best friend. My world. He’s decided he can give me everything. Fucking everything.
Together, I know we can get Pippa back. I just wish it didn’t take me getting shot to make us open our eyes. But now that they’re open, I don’t want to close them ever again.
TWENTY
tenuous
Hudson
