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He scoots closer on the bed, attempting again to take my hand. I let him this time.
“The thought of seeing you grow round with my child thrilled me… it still does. I don’t regret that, Ella. But I do regret that it upset you, that you felt blindsided.”
I eye him suspiciously. It’s easy to say this now when things went his way, and he got what he wanted. But did he?
After all, I ran, and there was no guarantee he’d find me. Though with the resources at his disposal, my chances of succeeding were always slim.
I study his face for long seconds. He’s not shying away from my scrutiny.
All I see is sincerity.
“Is that why you ran?” Tiero eventually asks, gently stroking his thumb over my skin.
The small contact sends shivers down my spine, and I become acutely aware of him. All my senses seem heightened. Every detail becomes magnified—the subtle scent of his cologne, the warmth emanating from his skin.
His touch is delicate yet powerful, leaving a trail of electric sensations in its wake. My heart beats faster, my breath quickening with each passing second.
His thumb continues its mesmerizing motion, exploring my skin with a tender reverence that makes me feel cherished and desired. I lose track of my surroundings, drawn deeper into the intimacy he so easily weaves around us.
Has it always been like that? Or is it my awareness that we are so much more than just lovers… that we share a soul?
Letting out a long breath, I pull my hand away, needing a respite. We have things to discuss, and I can’t think with him touching me. Still, the sensation of his touch lingers like an echo of his presence.
“Ella?” Tiero prompts.
What were we talking about? My brain seems fried. Well, at least that sensation is a familiar one when it comes to Gualtiero De Marco.
“What was the question?” I ask, feeling self-conscious.
A knowing smirk plays on his lips. “Did you run because you were upset with me? Because you believed I forgot the condom on purpose?”
Ah, that’s right. How could that topic slip my mind? It’s what caused all the heartache and is the reason I moved halfway across the planet.
“Yes, I was furious with you. After overhearing you and Mateo, I needed to vent all that pent up energy. I went for a run. I didn’t contemplate ways to escape or anything, just ways to castrate you and cause you maximum physical pain.”
That makes Tiero chuckle.
“When I saw the gate was unmanned, it didn’t register right away as an opportunity to flee. I actually ran past it before it clicked.
“I didn’t think about any consequences or long-term plans. All I wanted was to get away from you and your overbearing attitude of deciding what happens in my life. I wasn’t okay with that, Gualtiero. And I never will be. So I ran.”
Then my mind replays the events at the train station, and I tense up. It was such a close call.
I so narrowly escaped Tiero’s clutches. Even now, I can hardly believe I made it out.
However, that triumphant escape came at a heavy cost, leaving me shattered.
“When I watched you from the train in Monza, it broke my heart seeing you so distraught,” I admit, experiencing the pain all over again. “I bawled my eyes out. But all the wheels were in motion—literally. And no matter how much it hurt, there was no going back.”
“Who helped you?” Tiero wants to know.
“If you were still in the dark about that, you wouldn’t be here.” I reply, not willing to reveal the extent of my resources when I don’t know for certain how much he’s aware of. “How did you find me?”
“Rhia,” is the one-word answer I get.
“Was it the postcard?” I ask.
Tiero’s eyes narrow. “What postcard?”
