“What does it look like?” He gives me a small, almost tender smile. “Tell me about your sisters.”
I hesitate for a second, then the words start spilling out as he continues cleaning my face with careful strokes.
“They’re everything to me,” I say softly. “After our mother died, I became the one who protected them. Rosalia’s already married off, but Sienna, Camilla and Daniela… they still look to me for advice and help. I’ve always tried to stand between them and my father’s anger. I feel like if I’m not there, they’ll break. Especially Daniela. She’s the youngest. She still gets scared easily.”
Nico listens intently, his fingers gentle as he wipes the last traces of lipstick from my mouth. Tears start gathering in my eyes.
“I’m really sorry about tonight,” I whisper, voice cracking. “I know it was risky. I didn’t think Gallo would recognize me. I just… I just needed to see them. To know they were okay.”
The tears spill over. I try to hold them back, but they fall anyway.
Nico shushes me softly, pulling me into his arms. He wraps me up completely, one hand cradling the back of my head, the other rubbing slow circles on my back.
“It’s okay,” he murmurs against my hair. “Everything’s going to be alright.”
He stays like that until my breathing evens out. Then he gently helps me out of the dress, unzipping it slowly, letting it pool at my feet. His fingers are careful as he removes the hairpins, takes off the wig and lets my hair fall loose down my back.
He unhooks my bra and slides my panties down my legs, all without being sexual.
I help him too, unbuttoning his bloodstained shirt, sliding it off his shoulders. My fingers brush over the waterproof bandage on his ribs.
“It’s nothing,” he reassures me. “Just a scratch.”
He turns on the shower, adjusting the temperature until it’s perfect, then guides me under the warm spray with him. The water cascades over us, washing away the night, the fear, the blood, the chaos. I lean into him, resting my forehead against his chest as the steam rises around us.
Nico turns me around and reaches for my shampoo, squeezing some into his palm before working it gently into my hair. His fingers massage my scalp in slow, soothing circles, and I close my eyes, leaning back into his touch.
There’s nothing sexual about it, just care. He rinses my hair carefully, making sure no suds get in my eyes, then picks up the loofah and my body wash.
He lathers it and runs it over my shoulders, down my arms, across my back, and over my legs.
When we’re done, he turns off the water and wraps me in a thick towel. He dries me thoroughly, then lifts me into his arms.
“I can walk,” I murmur against his chest.
“I know,” he says simply. “But I like carrying you.”
He carries me back to the bed and lays me down gently, pulling the covers over me. I watch as he starts to move away.
I reach for his hand. “Please… stay with me. I don’t want to be alone right now.”
He hesitates for only a second before sliding into bed beside me. The moment he’s close, I lean in and kiss him. He kisses me back at first, and I try to deepen it, pressing my body against his, he pulls away with a small shake of his head.
“Not tonight,” he murmurs. “You need to rest.”
“I don’t,” I whisper, pressing closer. “I’ll rest after you fuck me.”
Nico groans, low and rough, his cock already hardening against my thigh.
“Fuck, Eleonora,” he breathes. “You saying shit like that does dangerous things to me.”
I can feel him getting harder, pressing insistently against me. I shift my hips, rubbing myself against his length.
“Please,” I beg softly. “I need you.”
He pulls back just enough to look at me, eyes dark with lust and concern. “You sure?”
I nod, biting my lip. “Yes.”
