Page 127 of The Ache That Stayed

“Santino—”

“You’ve always been mine.”

Her body moved against my hand, chasing friction,

“I’ve spent my whole life feeling like I wasn’t built for things like this.”

My forehead rested against hers.

“Love. Peace. A life that didn’t hurt.”

I swallowed.

“And then you happened. And suddenly, I wanted things I’d spent my whole life believing weren’t meant for me.”

Her expression softened. My grip flexed gently around her neck.

“So maybe I’m crazy. Maybe I’ve finally lost my fucking mind.” A rough breath left me. “But there’s a part of you that knows me, Volpi. The same way I’ve always known you.”

My thumb stroked her pulse.

“And maybe that’s what scares you. Because when I say you’re mine…”

I held her gaze.

“I don’t mean I own you. I mean there has never been a version of my life that didn’t end with me finding you. And I think…”

I exhaled softly. “I was always going to.”

I slowly thrust my fingers in her pussy, scissoring. In. Out. In. Out. Her desire slicked my fingers, dripping down her thighs.

Her thighs trembled.

“And when I say I want you—” my thumb circled her clit, “—I mean all of it.”

Her grip tightened on my shoulder.

“Your laughter. Your tears. Your nightmares.”

I slowed. Stopped. Right when she needed it most. Her eyes snapped open, a soft sob escaping her.

“Everything that breaks you,” I murmured. “Everything that makes you feel alive.”

I pressed my thumb down on her clit, curling my fingers, pressing down on her sweet spot. Her eyes fluttered shut. Her lips parted into a silent ‘O’, a soft sound slipping free as her forehead fell against my shoulder. And fuck—even now she trusted me enough to fall apart. That realisation nearly brought me to my knees.

I didn’t slow down even as a knock sounded at the door. Her body convulsed around my fingers, her mouth opening in a broken cry that I swallowed whole in a deep kiss. I wrung the aftershocks from her body, relentless, wave after wave, until she broke apart completely. And when she sagged against me, breathless, wrecked—I kissed her forehead.

“No more hiding.”

My fingers slipped from her, and I licked them clean, holding her gaze as I did.

“You made me miss breakfast,” I added lightly. “Consider this payback.”

She shoved at my chest. I just kissed her again, consuming.

Because that was what she was. Consuming every thought, every breath, every reason for me to live.

Her phone buzzed. And everything shifted instantly. I saw it happen in real time. The colour drained from her face first. Then came the fear. Her grip tightened around the phone like it might brand her. My eyes narrowed.