“Thank you for trusting me, Kara,” he breathed. “It’s something I’ll cherish for the rest of my life.”
Tears welled up and spilled over her cheeks. How did he know how to make her cry so easily? She both hated it and loved it.
“Thank you for this… For tonight,” she replied, her lips trembling as she spoke. This man had been so brave to stand between her and danger, had almost died for her, and now it seemed the most natural thing in the world that she could open herself up to him this way, to let him inside her body… maybe even inside her heart too.
Dangerous, so dangerous… but I can’t find it in me to care right now.
“So long as we are together, Kara, I am yours.”
If only it could be forever, she thought.If only.
But it can’t.That voice in the back of her mind that she could never fully silence screamed for her torun.
As if hearing her silent scream, Angelo’s arms tightened, holding her close. She surrendered to him, laying her face backon his chest again. His steady heartbeat thudded away against her ears, as if sayingstaywith every beat.Stay. Stay. Stay.
Kara closed her eyes, her limbs weary and limp. A peace she’d never known before in her life settled into her body and soul. She didn’t even realize she’d fallen asleep until she was gently stirred awake when Angelo moved in bed beside her. The lamp was off now and she wasn’t sure how long she’d been asleep. Her first instinct was to bolt awake, ever ready to move at any sound or change in time, but Angelo was beside her, keeping her calm with his soothing presence.
Safe. I’m safe.
“Hold on,” he murmured. She felt him roll his body, gently untangling from her as he slid out of the bed.
“Angelo?” She curled up, her gaze wide-eyed she watched him disappear into the bathroom. When he returned he was smiling at her.
“As much as I adore lying in bed with you sleeping on top of me, your stomach keeps growling.”
“Oh…” Suddenly mortified, she put a hand to her stomach, unaware she was hungry. Yes. They’d had pizza a while ago but she was somehow, surprisingly hungry again.
“I’ll be back in a minute,” he called out. When he returned from the bathroom had a pair of pajama pants on. “Do you like chicken noodle soup?”
She nodded. “Sure.”
“Good. That means I can feed you andIwill really enjoy that.” He leaned over the bed and kissed her softly. “Put on whatever feels comfortable and come to the kitchen.”
“Okay.”
She stole one of Angelo’s T-shirts and put on a pair of underwear and sleep shorts before joining him in the kitchen. He was standing, shirtless, heating a pot on the stove. She sawchicken cooking in a saucepan, and he was dicing vegetables next to a broth that simmered on another part of the stove.
“Pull up a seat.” Angelo nodded at the row of barstools that faced a tabletop bar looking into the kitchen. His gaze briefly landed on her body where he seemed to realize she was wearing his shirt and the soft smile he gave her sent her heart fluttering.
Kara sat on the closest stool, admiring how the open floor plan allowed the kitchen and family room to flow easily into each other, with the bar top acting as a gentle separation.
She said nothing as she watched Angelo cook. He cooked from memory, and the aroma that drifted to her was mouthwatering. The muscles on his back moved as he reached for ingredients and stirred the soup.
“So, not exactly just opening up a can of Campbell’s, huh?” she said.
Angelo winced dramatically. “Don’t say that. I’ve already been stabbed once.”
“I’m just saying, it’s a lot more effort than I was expecting.”
He looked at her again over his shoulder. “You’re worth the extra effort, Kara. Never forget that.” Then he turned back to his work again.
She saw the faint scouring her nails had left on his back and blushed, tucking her fingers into her palms. She’d never been so aggressive before. She’d never wanted to be. But he let her feel like she could touch him, like she could lose control and still be safe.
The other encounters she had over the years had been rushed, frantic couplings. She’d held fast in her control and focused on reaching a pinnacle of pleasure as quickly as possible. Tonight, Angelo had shown her how wonderful it was to linger, to savor each touch and each kiss. It had heightened the experience so much. And with him she’d felt that undeniably spark that kept setting her passion ablaze all over again.
Angelo readied two bowls of chicken soup and handed her one with the spoon. She held the bowl up and inhaled it. The scent hit her hard as memories of her mother heating up a can on the stove in a ratty apartment flooded back to her.
Mom. Home.While her sense of home had always been a transient thing, her mother had been a constant presence in her life, making each new apartment feel like home. Five years… it had been a long time since she’d felt like this. She set the bowl down and covered her face as she fought off hiccupping sobs.
