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Since that time at her brother's ball, I'd realized she doesn't like to draw attention to herself—especially not inthismanner. So I've attempted to comport myself accordingly.
I may suffocate with want at times, but it's a small price to pay to ensure she's happy.
Just this time.
She releases a small sigh before returning the kiss full force, her arms wounding around my neck as she gives herself to the embrace.
It's only an increasingly louder coughing sound that makes us break apart, both of us flushed and already panting.
And as I raise my eyes to the table, my sight already fogged with desire, I realize how improper I've been with her—again.
"I see you're trying to catch up, lover boy," Vlad chuckles, while Sisi has a knowing smile on her face.
Venezia is the only one looking away, a blush staining her cheeks.
"My apologizes," I offer, arranging Noelle in my lap once more, this time more setting-appropriate.
"You don't have to apologize, Raf," Sisi waves a hand in the air. "You can't imagine how happy I am seeing you two like this. Vlad is, too," she says just as she elbows Vlad in his side, his cue to add something too.
"Of course I'm happy to see him like that," he grumbles to her. A play of her eyebrows and he turns, directing his words tous.
A smile plays at my lips at the silent exchange, especially as Vlad continues talking.
"As a matter of fact, I can officially allow you in my home now."
"You mean we weren't allowed before?" Noelle asks, barely holding a laugh.
"Not…exactly," Vlad sheepishly responds, which earns him a look from Sisi. "From now on I won't close the door in your faces. How's that for an improvement?"
"I'm impressed, Vlad," I chuckle. "That isdefinitelyan improvement. Your husband is exceedingly generous today, Sisi."
"Right," she adds dryly, shaking her head half in amusement, half in resignation. I can't imagine what it must be like living with Vlad, and I certainly don't envy her that.
"Come on, hell girl. Don't I deserve a prize for that?" He leans into her, fluttering his lashes suggestively before whispering something in her ear.
By the blush that climbs up Sisi's cheeks, I can wager a guess it's not anything PG-13.
"You'll have to forgive Vlad,again. He's not used to being social," Sisi makes the excuse for him, her face still red from whatever Vlad told her.
"I reckon we have that in common," I add, surprised to find myself agreeing with Vlad for once, which earns me a playful wink from him.
"We should do this more often. Next time we can invite Catalina too. She could certainly use the distraction," Sisi suggests. The conversation turns to Marcello and his case once more as we try to come up with ideas that could help him.
Noelle is mostly quiet, listening attentively but not contributing, and I have to wonder if she's still shaken from before.
By God, she'd looked so small and helpless, and her terrified expression just won't leave my mind.
Most of the time, I try to ground myself in the present and enjoy our time together, yet sometimes it's impossible to ignore the past—ourshared past. To think that someone could have hurt her… Even worse, to think that someone had done it while I'd been languishing in my cell, helpless to do anything to prevent it… That simply kills me.
I've tried not to overwhelm her with my feelings, or the fact that the past is still fresh in my mind, with the good or the bad. She seems content as we are, and I certainly don't want to mar our happiness with my worries and doubts.
Yet seeing her about to be hurt today opened up that door again, threatening to send me in a spiral ofwhat-ifs.
My arms instinctively tighten around her.
She's so small, so fucking frail… I squeeze my eyes shut as the images of her hospital records flash before me again—those pictures of her blue and purple, her entire body covered in bruises and bleeding wounds. How could anyone have done that to her? How could anyone have laid a hand against her?
It scares me to consider what I would have done to Sergio had he still been alive. For her, Iwouldturn into a monster ready to burn down the entire world if necessary.
