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“I shouldn’t have— Why’d you leave?” He asked, and I chewed my bottom lip. “Tell me. Be honest, Nirah. Why’d you leave that day?”

I sighed, my heart rate picking up. I wanted to buy the morning after pill…

I swallowed, unable to twist the knife he’d clearly been carrying around in his chest, by audibly admitting it.

He slowly nodded, not needing me to say another word.

“I should’ve been the one with you that morning.”

I shook my head. “You couldn’t have known—no one could have, Antonio.”

He opened his mouth to speak but I cut him off.

“Sit with me.” I took his hand in mine, pulling him to the chair. “Let’s enjoy the view. Sit.” I demanded and when he did, I sat on his lap with both my legs over his and my arm around his neck.

“I’m not a dog, Nirah.” He fed my words back to me and I smiled, turning my head to look at him.

“And yet you still sat down, didn’t you?” I lifted my free hand to cup the side of his face, the stubble pricking my palm.

He leaned into my touch and I brushed my thumb across his cheek.

“I’ll have the jet ready in the morning.”

I pulled back. “Have the jet ready?” I scoffed in disbelief, unable to hold back my smile. “We are on the beautiful island of O’ahu, Mr. De Luca. We are not going anywhere.” I fixed my arm around his neck, pressing my cheek to his as I extended my hand out toward the breathtaking view. “I mean just look at this place.”

I could feel him smiling against my cheek before his lips kissed the side of my face multiple times. His hands rested on my waist, pulling a short-lived giggle out of me as he attacked my neck with kisses.

“Okay okay.” I caught my breath, leaning away from him as I locked my hands around his neck. Slightly tilting my head I widened my smile. “I guess that means we’re staying?”

“Of course we’re staying, Mrs. De Luca.”

This time, it was my turn to attack him with kisses of excitement.

I sighed in contentment, resting my head on his shoulder as we enjoyed the view of the island.

His hand gently rubbed up and down my thigh and even though I didn’t want to ruin the moment, I knew I had to apologise.

Hesitantly, I sat up and looked down at my fingers on my lap. “Antonio… I’m sorry,” I whispered, too afraid to look at him.

“What are you apologising for?” He cupped my face in an attempt to make me look at him but I resisted.

“What I said that night in your bathroom—I didn’t mean to hurt you.” I quickly blurted out, taking his hands in mine. “It’s your story to tell and— and if you don’t want to, that’s okay, I just— Antonio, I’m sorry.” My eyes began watering.

He inhaled heavily before sighing, and I couldn’t stop the panic rattling my spine.

“I found out but I was trying to be patient. I wanted you to tell me but you didn’t and so I just— I wanted to help you, like you helped me but—“

With both hands holding the sides of my face he pressed his lips to mine, cutting me off.

I allowed my eyes to flutter closed, soaking up his kiss before he pulled back to look at me.

“Nothing happened, yeah? Forget about it.”

I opened my mouth to protest, torn between respecting his decision and wanting to help him. Letting him know that it was okay…

His eyes hardened for a second, before he took my hands in his and kissed the back of my knuckles. “I don’t want to talk about this again.”

I could only nod, knowing that if I said anything I might say the wrong thing, or upset him.