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“Goodnight,” he murmured back.
But still we refused to let each other go.
“I should go.”
“You should.”
“I’m tired,” I said.
“I know. Me too,” he replied, his words soft.
“I really should go.” My voice was barely a whisper as I pulled my head up and stared into Alessio’s eyes. He nodded and the sighed, releasing his hold on me.
Was that a pout? It was so small, but it was definitely there. But then it was gone. I thought it was just my imagination, but I had seen it.
“You were pouting,” I said.
Alessio glared at me and then grumbled something under his breath. “You are delirious from lack of sleep, kitten. Go to sleep. You need it.”
“I’m not.”
He sent me glare again. “Ayla.”
With a sigh, I got off his lap and stood in front of him. “Goodnight.”
He gazed up at me and then smiled. “Goodnight, kitten.”
As I walked out and closed the door, I mumbled under my breath, “He was definitely pouting.”
After quickly washing my teeth and face, I closed the tap and dried my face. When I had changed into my light pink nightgown, I opened the door of my bathroom and walked out.
But I stopped when I saw Alessio sitting on my bed.
“Alessio?” I took a step closer but then stopped again.
He was holding his jacket, the one I kept under my pillow.
I started to panic, my stomach twisting painfully in knots as my heart raced wildly in my chest.
I took several deep breaths, trying to control myself.
“I can explain,” I whispered, desperately hoping he would understand.
Alessio stood up, still holding his jacket. Our eyes met.
His gaze was intense while mine was filled with fear.
Alessio took a step closer and then threw the jacket on my sofa.
Keeping his eyes on me, he whispered his next words.
And they took my breath away. This time my heart accelerated, but for a different reason.
“You won’t be needing this anymore.”
Chapter 45
I stared at Alessio in complete shock, my lips parted in astonishment. My gaze moved from his and to the sofa chair where the jacket sat.
“How?” Looking back at Alessio, he stared at me with knowing eyes.
Realization sank in and my stomach dropped. I brought a hand up to my neck and rubbed it nervously. His eyes tracked my movement and then he cleared his throat.
“You were the one who kept the jacket there?” I questioned, my voice barely audible. I had asked the question but the answer was already clearly written on his face. Alessio’s face softened at my question and he gave me a sharp nod.
Shaking my head, I tried to get rid of the web of confusion. “But how?”
Alessio let out a tiny sigh and raked his fingers through his hair, a sign of either nervousness, frustration, or anger. But in this moment, I didn’t know what he was feeling.
“I heard you and Maddie talking. When she asked you about my jacket.” His eyebrows furrowed when I took a step back.
“Ayla—”
He cared.
And that wasn’t something I expected from Alessio. Not from a man who was supposed to be ruthless, heartless, and a killer.
Tears blinded my vision and I swallowed past the heavy lump forming in my throat. This moment felt surreal. A fragment of my imagination.
But it was real.
I opened my mouth to say something. Anything. I just didn’t want this moment to vanish. I didn’t want to lose this feeling that was blooming in my heart.
But when I finally spoke, my words came out as an accusation. “You were spying?” I asked.
I flinched at my own tone and I saw Alessio’s eyes widen before his back straightened in a rigid posture.
“I was not,” he replied, looking very much affronted. “I heard you and Maddie when I was walking down the hallway.” He paused and then rubbed his jaw, giving me a sheepish look. “Well, I did stop when I heard Maddie ask about the jacket. I was curious.”
He shrugged and walked toward me, stopping right in front of me. Alessio brought a hand up and trailed a finger down my cheek, swiping my tears away. “Can’t blame me. Anyone would be curious.”
Cupping my cheeks in his hands, Alessio tilted my head up. “Why are you crying, Ayla?”
“You gave me your jacket,” I whispered brokenly and then closed my eyes. I sounded so pathetic.
“I did,” he agreed. I felt his thumb right under my eyes and he rubbed the spot gently. Instinctively, my hand came up and I grabbed hold of his jacket in a death grip, holding him close to me. Alessio was my anchor.
“Open your eyes,” he muttered. My fingers tightened around him and my eyes fluttered open with his soft command.
“But you won’t need it anymore,” Alessio said. His words rang with finality and I shivered in his arms.
“What do you mean?” I murmured. He smiled at my question and bent down, brushing his lips gently over mine.
