“Mmm.” Sabrina hummed, her voice husky from lack of sleep. “He’s somewhat of a mystery, but he’s growing on me.”
“A mystery?” He asked. Sabrina listened to the sound of leather shoes stepping into rubber waders.
“Mhmm.” Sabrina answered. Freckles snuffled from beneath the towel.
“What’s the mystery?” He asked, amused as he opened the pen gate, looking far too handsome for someone in waders and a mask. His muscles flexed as he closed the pen behind him, and picked up the funnel and feeding tube lying on the shelf. He connected them easily enough, and handed the contraption to Sabrina.
Sabrina hadn’t fully thought this through. It may have been her sleep-addled mind, but at the moment, all she could think about was the odd mix of feelings beginning to run through her as she looked up at Cesare from where she now effectively knelt at his feet.
Cesare’s eyes darkened and flared as he took in the sight of Sabrina on her knees before him. “You look so beautiful.” He uttered in the room's silence.
“I look like I’ve been up all night, and I’m in waders.” Sabrina answered hoarsely.
Cesare’s expression was pure hunger.
“We need to feed Freckles.” The red head whispered, her heart pounding as she grasped onto the first diversion available. She looked back down at the seal pup with pink cheeks.
Cesare’s gaze raked over her once more before turning back to the feeding solution and pouring it down the tube. “Am I putting it in all at once or bit by bit?” He asked.
Sabrina froze. Could he hear himself? Her cheeks flushed even more and her mind was fuzzy. “You can put it all in at once.” She answered faintly.
“What’s in this stuff?” He asked.
Sabrina furrowed her brows. Why was she so dizzy? “Uh, formula, cod oil, and pureed fish.” She watched the last ofthe milkshake go down Freckles’ feeding tube and into his esophagus.
“Good job, Freckles.” She soothed. “You took all of that just fine.” Sabrina adjusted her grip on the towel, turning to look back at Cesare. “I’m going to pull the tube out and back out of the pen.”
Cesare moved out of the pen to give her room to maneuver, and Sabrina released the seal. Freckles wriggled about with his reclaimed freedom as Sabrina stood, and immediately swayed.
Everything went silent except for the high-pitched whine of an old-fashioned radio dial that got louder and louder until everything went black.
Something clattered to the ground outside the pen, and the next thing she knew, she was up in the air and it smelled amazing. Cesare. Darkness, silence, and Cesare. Sabrina tried to open her eyes, she really did, but her lids were so heavy and he smelled so good. She could stay here forever.
“Sabrina, can you hear me?” His voice rumbled.
“Yes.” She spoke, but all she could hear was a moan. Was that her?
“Sabrina, I need you to open your eyes, tesoro.” His voice urged.
Sabrina wrinkled her nose in distaste at the idea, her mind still somewhere further away than it usually was. She let out a sigh before her eyelids finally fluttered open.
Visible relief crossed Cesare’s face, before he returned to looking concerned once more. “You need to lie down.” He frowned.
Why was he frowning? Cesare was so handsome. Didn’t he know he was so handsome? “I bed in back.” She mumbled nonsensically.
“Wrap your arms around me.” He replied, and Sabrina followed his instructions like avery good girl. She closed her eyes and nuzzled into his chest happily.
Cesare carried her bridal style through the rescue and into the back offices.
Sabrina nuzzled her nose into the crook of his neck and let out a deep sigh, breathing in his musky scent; feeling it wrap around her like a warm hug.
She was fully aware that she was delirious. But Sabrina was suddenly just as aware, delirious or not, that somehow Cesare Lombardi had already become home.
Chapter Fourteen
(Cesare)
They were in a small office with two desks running the length of the back wall. Two windows, centered above each desk, overlooked the harbor.
