Sergio was probably already wondering if I’d fallen into the toilet or something, I’d just have to check later that night.
I positioned the bikini over my breasts as best I could and prayed I wouldn’t flash him as I slowly descended the stairs, careful not to add even a little bounce lest one of the girls pop out.
“Sergio?” I called.
“Kitchen,” he answered right away.
I slowly walked in and nearly passed out. He was shirtless. Of course he was shirtless, why, in this scenario, did I not think of that? That he would be without a shirt.
And that I’d see massive amounts of olive skin as he moved gracefully through the water. The marks on his side were a glaring reminder.
He was dangerous.
But his danger was no longer in what he could do to my body.
But to my heart.
“You don’t mind getting wet?” He didn’t turn around as he grabbed a bottle of wine and two glasses.
“Um, we are swimming right?” I awkwardly crossed my arms over my chest then huffed out a mild curse as I realized it only made the situation worse.
“It’s raining.” He pointed to the windows.
“Eh, it’s okay.”
“Great.” He turned around and swore a string of curses that had my ears burning red and my arms itching to grab a towel, blanket, muumuu — anything.
“This one fit the best,” I said, voice shaking.
“Clearly,” he choked, quickly turning around and bracing one hand against the counter before pushing off and walking briskly past me. “Follow me.”
I couldn’t tell if he was angry with me or just dealing with memories of swimming with Andi.
Was that reaction good or bad?
I had no idea, because I didn’t know men the way I should, and I really didn’t know Sergio the way I should.
Again, it was hard to keep up, so I started doing a slow jog after him, not watching where I was going until I turned a corner and slammed into his back.
“Sorry!” My arms flew around his midsection as I steadied myself, he was warm, cut, he was everything.
With a sigh he bowed his head, shoulders tense, he grabbed one of my hands and held it firm against his rock hard stomach. “We aren’t in the pool yet.”
“No.” My voice sounded weak, breathy.
“So touching is allowed right?”
“R-right.” I should have said wrong, but he felt so right, and his closeness was exactly what I’d been craving. I needed it more than I ever wanted to admit out loud, especially to him.
Carefully he set the wine glasses on a nearby table along with the wine and turned, his one hand still holding mine against his stomach.
Once we were face to face, he released me only to cup my face with his hands and whisper, “I want you.”
I didn’t know what to say. I know what I wanted to say, what my body was screaming for me to say, but I stayed silent instead.
“But I don’t deserve you. I’m not sure I ever will,” he finished, his eyes hooded. “Do me a favor?”
“What?” It was impossible not to be drawn in by his icy blue eyes and smoldering body heat.
“When I can kiss you again… tell me. I can’t read minds. I’m a guy. I need you to come out and say it. I need you to declare it out loud, so I know.”
“Okay.” Kiss me, kiss me, kiss me. “I can do that.”
“Good.” He swore. “Great.” Another curse. “Out we go.” He quickly turned and opened the door to the outside patio then reached back inside for the wine glasses and wine.
The rain wasn’t too bad. At least not yet.
“The pool’s heated.” Two towels were already placed under the pergola, on one of the chairs. “Last one in—”
I surged past him and jumped into the pool — and immediately flashed the wall. Luckily, I was able to adjust my suit as he jumped in.
We swam for an hour. He asked me about life with the uncles.
I asked him about life in the mafia.
From favorite foods, to animals, movies, drinks, books, we covered everything, until I realized we weren’t even swimming at all. We were sitting on the stairs in the shallow end, talking.
That was it, just talking while the rain continued to pour on our heads.
Eventually I told him I was freezing, so we moved to the hot tub.
“Did you have any best friends growing up?” He leaned back on his elbows as he lazily swirled the wine in his glass.
“One.” Shivering, I scooted closer to him. He naturally lifted his arm as I scooted in his direction. “She was amazing.”
“What was her name?”
“Ara.” I shrugged. “She was gorgeous.” I don’t know why I said it, but she’d been stunning, so beautiful that you wanted to hate her, but in the end couldn’t help but love her.
“What happened?”
“Hmm?” I glanced up.