Divided

chapter THIRTY-ONE

It had been several days since I had been home, so Vittorio took me there when we left The Chapel.

He walked me to the door, where we stood awkwardly for several moments. I felt like a teenager on her first date, wondering if she should kiss the boy, or wait for him to kiss her, or to run inside before anything could happen.

“I know my place isn’t fancy, but, would you like to stay here tonight? I mean, you don’t have to if you don’t want to…” I trailed off.

He pulled me close to him. “Mio amore, it will take time for me to trust you completely again, and for the hurt to go away, but I still long to feel you close to me.”

Once inside, I realized just how uncomfortable this must be for Vittorio. For one thing, he had nothing to change into, and while his outfit was stunning, I was willing to bet it wasn’t the most comfortable thing to wear.

“I have some workout shorts that might fit you, if you want to try them, and a large t-shirt.”

“Thank you,” he said.

I searched through my dresser and found the shorts. “The bathroom’s right around the corner.”

He took the shorts without a word.

I changed into a red silk nightgown and lay in bed, waiting for Vittorio, tired, but too tense to think about sleep. I opened my eyes when I felt him in the doorway. My shorts barely fit him and looked as if they would tear at the seams. He knelt by the foot of the bed and laid a kiss on my ankle. My body tingled as he moved up my leg, gently planting kisses the entire way. He stopped at the hem of my nightgown and moved to my other leg, working his way up. Next, he kissed my fingertips, hand, and arm, ending at my neck, drawing a soft moan from me. Still, he continued, across my chest, always staying just at at the line of my nightgown, teasing. My heart raced and my breath came fast. When he finally kissed my lips, I put my arms around him, pulling him to me. I wrapped my legs around his waist, using my eyes to wordlessly beg him for more. He stopped and gazed into my eyes. “What do you want?”

“You,” I breathed and pulled him to me again. My hands explored the muscles of his back, dipped below the waistline of the shorts, then back up. My body ached for him. I gently let my power go to him and felt his answer.

We knelt on the bed; he pulled my nightgown over my head, and I pushed the shorts down. I cried out as he pressed against me.

When he entered me, it was unlike anything I had ever felt. Our powers truly became one, as did our bodies. I felt his emotions, the years of pain, the abandonment from his parents, his gratitude to Dr. Fondazione, his brotherly love for Samuel, the hurt my betrayal caused him, and on top of it all, the pureness of his love for me. Tears came to my eyes.

I felt his power tug at my soul, but it was not the tearing away he described. It was gentle, exploring, loving. I welcomed it in, invited it to find all it could about me. It hesitated, cautious about what it would find. There were no more lies, though, and my soul told the power as much, as it swept through me. I let it see my regret and sorrow, and love.

The misty green and amber of our power surrounded us, encasing us in protective, healing warmth.

When we finished, Vittorio collapsed on top of me. The weight of his body on mine was magnificent. I never wanted him to move. I held him, gently kissing his neck and shoulder because I loved the feel of his skin against my lips. Our powers lingered, swirling around us in an almost tangible mist until they faded.

“That was incredible,” I whispered.

Vittorio propped himself on one elbow to look into my eyes. “Yes, mio amore, it was better than I ever could have dreamed.” He rolled onto his back, and I lay my head on his chest, knowing the healing had begun.“I’m going to make some coffee and see what I can scrounge up for breakfast. What do you like?” I asked when we woke the next morning.

“You,” Vittorio said, kissing my back.

I sighed happily. “You’ve already had me.”

“In that case, you decide.”

Kevin walked in as I was frying bacon and scrambling eggs. I wasn’t much of a cook, but breakfast I could handle. “Breakfast and your fancy robe. What’s the special occasion? Have you finally decided you view me as more than a brother-type?”

“Keep dreaming. I’m a new woman, Kevin.” We heard the shower turn on upstairs.

“Oh, I think I get it.” He went to look out the front window to see Vittorio’s car parked out front. “He’s upstairs, huh?”

“Yep.” I smiled.

“Okay, then, I’ll be on my way. Wouldn’t want to ruin your lovers’ breakfast.”

“You might have to rethink coming and going as you please. It might get a bit awkward.”

“I always imagined my first threesome being with two girls, but maybe if you get me drunk enough…” He wiggled his eyebrows up and down.

“Go away, Kevin,” I said, playfully pushing him toward the door. “I’ll come by later.”

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