My tongue traces my bruised lip. A swallow leaves my throat a little uncomfortable. But I don’t care. I’m buzzing with something new. Something incredible, like seeing snow for the first time or standing in front of a roaring fireplace after having enough of the cold weather. Massimo is the reason for that. He’s changed everything I thought I knew about the world in a matter of days. What could he do if we had longer?
“Let’s eat, and then we’ll head out, if you’re feeling up for it,” he says. “If not, we can wait until tomorrow.”
“No, you promised I’d get to swim with the sharks,” I laugh, looking up at him. “I was scared after what happened yesterday, but I’m a little intrigued to see what kind of danger is waiting in the Pacific.”
Massimo chuckles and helps me into my seat. Nothing in the Pacific Ocean is as dangerous as the man who sits down across from me. I’ve seen him kill without hesitation, but I’ve also seen his pain. And I’ve seen the beauty beneath his ink. The good that beats in his heart, despite what he says.
My hunger takes over as soon as I get some food on my plate, so we mostly eat in silence. After we’re done, we clean up, shower, and get ready for the day. Since I’ll be in the water, I put on a swimsuit under my t-shirt and cut-off jean shorts. I walk into the main part of the suite and Massimo emerges from his bedroom a few minutes later. He’s dressed in jeans, a t-shirt that seems even tighter than the one he wore yesterday, and his hiking boots.
“Where do you think you’re going in those shorts,la mia bambina?” he growls, narrowing his eyes.
“Uh, everywhere except the ocean,” I laugh, pulling my shirt up to show my swimsuit. “They’re coming off before I see the sharks.”
“I should put you over my knee,” he grumbles. “If you were mine, I’d never let you walk outside in something like that. But suit yourself.”
“I-I’ll change,” I stammer, hurrying back to my bedroom before he can say anything else.
I’ve never been comfortable showing much skin, but I didn’t think the shorts were that bad. Obviously, Massimo disagrees.I peel them off, toss them in my suitcase, and grab my jeans. I’m able to kick my sneakers off and slip them back on without bothering with the laces.
“You didn’t have to change,” Massimo grunts when I step back into the main part of the suite. “I don’t have a say—can’thave a say.”
“I may not be yours, but I’m going to pretend I am,” I say, meeting his gaze. “As long as I can.”
“Then get your ass over here,” he snaps, pointing at his feet.
I walk over without hesitation, even though I’m not sure what to expect. Massimo grabs my arm, spins me around, and bends me at the waist. Then I get several hard slaps on my bottom that make me dance on my toes.
“That’s for the shorts,” he says, slapping my ass a few more times before letting go. “Since you want to pretend you’re mine.”
“Ow,” I mutter, rubbing the back of my jeans and pouting. “No shorts, got it. Are you going to spank me again if I have to take off my jeans to swim with the sharks?”
“No,” he says. “I’ll just throw the boat captain into the water with the chum if he dares to look anywhere below your neck.”
“Seems… a bit drastic,” I say, my eyes getting wide.
“I don’t think so,” he says, reaching into his pocket and pulling out the motion sickness patches. “We’ll go with one behind each ear to be safe.”
I move my brunette curls out of the way so Massimo can put the patches on. His fingers are gentle again, and I tingle a little asthey brush against my skin. Then they’re gone, and all I can do is sigh.
“Let’s go,” he says, motioning for me to follow him.
I notice Massimo has a gun tucked into the back of his jeans, but I don’t mention it. I’m becoming a lot more comfortable with firearms after what happened yesterday. If he hadn’t gotten his hands on the shotgun, horrible things could have happened to me.
Massimo leads me to the elevators. I touch his hand and rub my fingers along his while the elevator descends. I can’t tell if he’s okay with the show of affection or not, but he doesn’t pull away, so I let my hand linger there. Only a little more and we would be holding hands. But that gesture would probably be too romantic. Too much for what we’re sharing in his final days.
It’s Wednesday.
On Saturday morning, Massimo is going to die, and I’m supposed to go back to living my life the way I did before I met him.
I’ve never felt more directionless.
CHAPTER 19
Lea
I trace Massimo’s fingers as the elevator descends.
He pulls away when the doors open, and I don’t try to stop him. I fall in place beside him, feeling a strange ache because I can no longer feel his skin against mine.
