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“Hey, dolcezza,” he calls out, smiling. Sweetness. I equally hate and adore Leo’s pet name for me. I love he calls me something no one else does, but why does it have to be something so innocent and pure and sisterly?
Loving someone who doesn’t love you back has got to be the most agonizing thing to endure. I thought it was bad when he wasn’t aware of my feelings. But that pales in comparison to this.
bet the man never has to chase any girl. I bet they flock to him like bees swarming a beehive.
“I didn’t thank you,” I say, cupping his cheek. “You saved me yesterday. You got shot protecting me. I will never forget that.” “I would take a thousand bullets for you, dolcezza, and you never need to thank me. Protecting you is the one thing I am permitted to do. And I am going to protect you until the day I die, even if I have to cherish you from the shadows.”
His father presses his foot down harder, and a gargled sound rips from Carlo’s mouth. Silently, I urge Don Greco to keep going. To choke the life from his son and do me a solid.
“I live for these moments with you, Leo. Where we can escape reality and I get to pretend this is what my life would be like if I was allowed to choose you.” Her words gut me, and I feel the same. I place my hand over my heart. “In every lifetime, I would choose you, Natalia.” Taking her hand, I place it over my heart. “We may be apart, dolcezza, but you will always be the only woman I love.”
Leo leans down, pressing a gentle kiss to her cheek. “I will see you tomorrow, Mama Rosa.” “Remember what I said,” Mama tells him, grabbing his face with more strength than she usually possesses. “You’re a good man, Leonardo. I love you.” “I love you too,” he rasps, tears clouding his vision. “Until tomorrow.”
I know Leo knows what he’s doing and he’ll make it good for me. For us. He’ll show me how to please him, and the thought of learning all the ways I can turn him on helps to dispel my fears. I trust Leo. With my life. My body. My heart.
My hands grip her head through her hair, and I pull her face closer. “Dolcezza,” I croak. “I love you,” I add before crushing my mouth to hers. God, this. This is what I’ve been missing these past seven weeks. Natalia breathes life into my body with every sweep of her lips and every stroke of her tongue, and I forget everything except the way she feels pressed up against me and the taste of her on my tongue.
cupping her face. “I love you enough to let you go, and if you love me too, then you must do the same.” “I think I’m destined to lose everyone I love. Destined to never know a moment’s happiness.” She drops her eyes, refusing to look at me, and I let go of her face.
“Thank you for telling me the truth,” she says, easing out of my embrace. She wraps her arms around herself. “I love you enough to protect you from my father. As much as I love the old bastard, I know how ruthless he is. I know it’s no idle threat. I would die if you died, Leo, so I would rather live my life missing you every single second of every minute of every hour of every day, knowing you are still out there somewhere, living your life without me in it.”
“You will always be with me, and I will always be with you.” “Maybe in the next lifetime, we will get to be together,” she says, smiling sadly before ripping her hand from mine and yanking the door open. “Until then,” she whispers, looking at me one final time as tears roll down her face. “Stay safe, my love.” And then she leaves. Taking every single part of my heart with her.
Bennett flinches, and I hold his hand tighter. “I loved Matty,” I explain, looking up at him. “And no one could ever take his place, but you’re my brother too. A brother who deserves to exist in his own right, and our relationship will be ours, because we want to care for one another, not because you are trying to fill Mateo’s shoes.” I hope he gets the meaning behind my words. “I have never had a brother or sister,” he tells me. “I’m used to fending for myself, but I would like to get to know you.” “I would like that too.”
Only a foolish woman continues to love a man who never truly loved her.
“I miss you,” he whispers, slowly opening his eyes. Discreetly, he hooks his pinkie in mine, and my breath stutters in my throat. “I miss you so fucking much.” Drawing strength from somewhere, I step away from him. “Don’t do this,” I whisper back. “Don’t undo years of progress.” “Don’t bullshit me, dolcezza,” he snaps. “Don’t pretend like you haven’t been living half a life too!”
I love you so much I can’t breathe sometimes. I ache for you, Natalia. In every part of me and in every way.”
It’s wholly intimate, in a way I haven’t felt connected to another soul since the night I gave Leo my virginity. “You are the other half of my soul, Leo,” I rasp as another climax builds momentum inside me. “And this is everything. Everything,” I whisper. He kisses me. It’s hard
“Please tell me you feel this.” He moves his lips to my neck, right in that sensitive spot underneath my ear. “Tell me I’m not the only one feeling this.”
“Surprise!” the small crowd shouts as we enter the large dining room at Ben and Sierra’s house an hour later. My mouth hangs open at the sight of the transformed room. Wedding banners and photos of us throughout the years are hanging on the walls. Balloons and fresh flowers decorate the dining table, and soft candles line the mantelpiece. A gorgeous wedding cake resides on a side table along with several wrapped presents.
He knows what you are up to now, and I doubt he’ll want to play any longer.” “Get out of my house!” he roars. “Gladly.” I flash him a wide smile. “Nice doing business with you.” I blow him a kiss before straightening my shoulders and walking out with my head held high and the most self-satisfied expression on my face.
I plan to feed you with good food and wine, and then I’m going to massage all the stress from your body.” “Fuck, dolcezza.” He subtly grinds his groin against me so I can feel his semi. “I can’t eat a family dinner with a boner.” I giggle. “It hasn’t stopped you before.” A smirk plays on his lips. “True.”
