Elodie nods enthusiastically as she takes a sip of her wine, and I bark an incredulous laugh.
“But you don’t eat what you bake…”
It’s her turn to laugh as she shakes her head, depositing her almost empty glass back onto the table between us. “Of course I don’t.” She arches an eyebrow, her gaze filled with mischief. “I have a stressful life, Handsome. I’d be as broad as Sasquatch if I ate even one percent of what I bake.”
I throw my head back, laughing long and loud, mostly amused at her ability to poke fun at herself, and when I look back at her, she’s still giggling in delight.
“So, no sweet shit for you, then?”
She snorts before bringing her hands up to frame either side of her face. “I’m sweet enough as I am, I’ll have you know.”
My grin is both entirely shit-eating and a million percent out of character as I incline my head in acknowledgment. “Duly noted.”
I’m about to lift a second bottle of Cabernet from the table in a desperate attempt to extend this stolen moment, when Enzo steps into the verandah.
“Apologies for the disruption,Fratello…”
Heaving an internal sigh of disappointment, I rise to stand and shoot Enzo a sharp nod. “Un momento, Enzo.”
He leaves us discreetly, and as I help Elodie to stand, she barely manages to stifle a yawn.
“Thank you for today, Rafe.” Her wide-eyed gaze meets mine, and she tucks her hair behind both ears. “And for yesterday, for that matter.”
I nod in silent acknowledgment before pressing gentle kisses to her silken cheeks, and as she moves to leave the verandah, I slip my hand into hers, squeezing reassuringly. “I meant everything. I’ll keep her safe. I promise.”
Hope flickers in her eyes before she lets go of my hand, and makes her way into the main house.
I’ll keep you both safe, just mark my words,Stellina.
Having finally workedthrough all the details for my trip to New York in six hours, I climb the stairs, and in my sleepy haze, find myself outside Elodie’s suite.
I blink rapidly, shaking my head as a crazy need overtakes my body, and before I can regain control of myself, I’ve twisted the handle. Pushing open the door, I stepped over the threshold, my eyes landing on the moonlit bed where Elodie is lying curled up on one side.
Her long blonde hair splays across the pillow at her back, her hands clasped beneath her chin as though in prayer. As I move closer, I realize with a jolt that her eyes are fixed firmly on my actions, and I freeze in place.
“I didn’t mean to?—”
I slam to a halt when she throws back the light sheet covering her body, extending a silent invitation, and at light speed, I’ve climbed in beside her fully clothed and uncaring in my need to be close to her.
Wrapping my arm around her waist, I bring her back flush against my chest, burying my nose in her fragrant locks.
“Grazie.” I breathe my thanks against the back of her neck as my chest tightens with the force of my long-buried emotions.
She burrows against me as a soft sigh escapes her lips, and the last thing that runs through my mind before sleep claims me is that I’d crawl through the fires of Hell to keep this woman safe.
And mine.
ElODIE
“But I wantto see him now.”
Sasquatch shakes his head for the hundredth time, appearing even more dour than the first time we’d met. There’s no sign of the camaraderie we’ve built up during my time at the Caruso compound. “Just put on the clothes Maria laid out for you. We have places to be.”
I let out a frustrated sigh when I glance back at the dark blue workout clothes Maria had placed on my bed earlier. I’d woken alone yet again, disappointed to find no sign of Rafe.
When I returned to my suite after our dinner, I climbed into bed, but it felt altogether too empty without Rafe’s warm body next to mine. As soon as he walked through my door, my entire body relaxed in his presence, and it was the most natural thing in the world to invite him to lie beside me.
But now, I’m frustrated, and in need of answers, because the question of what the hell is happening between us—or if there could even be such a thing as anus—is a burning one, to say the least.
