“I thought this would help. I don’t know how to make you feel better. I’m at a loss, but maybe this can give you the peace that you need. Even for just a little while,” Alessio confessed, looking a little nervous.
He didn’t know that he already brought me peace. What he just gave me was more than I could ever ask for. He didn’t know, but he was my peace.
“Thank you,” I said again, my throat closing around the words. “This is truly so beautiful.”
Alessio nodded and stayed silent, his eyes never shifting from mine. But I was the one who broke the connection. Turning back around, I stared at the creek and field again, another smile stretching across my lips.
I turned my face up toward the sky and into the sunlight. Closing my eyes, I basked in the serenity and welcomed the warmth that brushed over my skin.
I was always trapped inside my father’s mansion. Never allowed to leave. I was only allowed to walk around in the backyard but never further away. When I escaped, that was the first time I had been outside the gates and into the real world.
Keeping my eyes closed, I felt Alessio watching me. He made me feel warm and happy. I opened my eyes but didn’t look at him. Instead, I stared straight ahead.
I didn’t know how long we stayed like that. Me admiring the beauty while Alessio kept his gaze on me. But after some time, my feet started to hurt from standing and I felt Alessio shift beside me.
“We should go back. It’s almost time for lunch,” he said, softly.
I turned toward him, and blinked up, disappointed. “We can come back tomorrow,” he suggested.
I nodded and then looked back at the stream. “C’mon,” he urged. When I felt Alessio moving away, a sudden panic filled my chest. I turned around to see his back to me.
I didn’t know what came over me, but I lurched forward and grabbed the back of his jacket, halting his movement.
Alessio glanced back toward me, his eyebrows furrowed in confusion and question. My hand was shaking and I didn’t know why.
I wanted…no…I needed something, but I didn’t know what it was. My fingers tightened on the fabric of his jacket and his eyes shifted to them. Alessio turned around and I had no choice but to let go. I felt empty.
Bringing my hand up, I placed it over my chest, trying to calm my wildly racing heart.
“Ayla?” he questioned.
His eyes were intense on mine as he waited for me to say something. Taking a deep breath, I stepped closer to him. His eyes widened slightly and he cocked his head to the side, waiting.
I stopped and then looked down.
“Can you please hold me?” I asked softly.
Alessio had given me this beauty but I needed something more.
I needed him, his warmth. His arms around me, holding me safely. I needed the peace that only he could give me.
I simply needed him.
When I felt Alessio moving closer, my heart stuttered. He stopped only an inch from me. I felt his finger on my chin and he slowly tilted my head up so that I was staring into his eyes. He seemed surprised.
“Are you sure?” he asked. I swallowed hard and then nodded. That was the only answer Alessio needed. He wrapped his arms around me, and gently pulled me into his body, holding me firmly in his embrace.
My head was right over his heart and I closed my eyes. His heart was beating just as loudly and fast as mine. Placing my hands on his chest, I curled into his body, sinking into his warm, gentle embrace.
My fingers tightened around the fabric of his jacket as I held on, never wanting to let go. His warmth surrounded me, until the only thing I could smell, feel, and think was him.
We stayed like that for what felt like eternity. And when he started to pull away, I didn’t want to let go. So I didn’t. My fingers stayed wrapped around the fabric as I tilted my head up to stare at Alessio.
He blinked down at me and I saw him bring his hands up. His fingers feathered over my cheeks and I sighed in contentment.
Alessio’s gaze was soft and warm on mine, as he palmed my cheeks gently. He slightly bent down, his lips inches away from mine.
My heart did a flip at the thought of his lips on mine. My fingers tightened on his jacket and I instinctively moved even closer until our bodies were pressed together.
I didn’t feel repulsed. Instead, all I felt was…peace.
Alessio stared into my eyes and then moved his gaze to my lips. I saw him swallow hard and he looked back into my eyes again. I knew what he wanted.
So, I gave him a small nod.
His eyes flared in surprise but then his lips pressed ever so gently on mine.
I gasped against the fullness of his mouth and relaxed into his hold. He held me so gently, as if I was made of glass and he was scared of breaking me. His lips were soft on mine.
Alessio was exceedingly tender as he explored my mouth. His lips moved over mine, almost feather-light, and then he created the slightest pressure.
It was intoxicating. I felt a rush I’d never felt before, and I never wanted it to end. As he continued to kiss me, his tongue brushing lightly over my tender lips, I felt his fingers caress my cheeks and then he deepened the kiss just a little bit.
When I let out another sigh, he slightly pulled away, his lips only an inch away from mine. He was breathing hard, his chest heaving under my palm. I felt the exact same way.
Looking up at him, I found him staring at me with wide eyes, filled with emotions I couldn’t place.
When I brought a hand up and touched my tender lips, his eyes softened even further.
What he didn’t realize was this kiss…
This kiss was my first real kiss.
Chapter 38
Alessio
Ayla’s gaze was fixated at the beauty in front of her, while all I could see was her. The small yet sweet smile that stretched across her lips had lightened up her whole face. Her vivid green eyes were glistening with excitement and pure happiness. Her cheeks were slightly flushed and I couldn’t take my eyes off her.
All I could think was how beautiful she looked in that moment.
She tilted her head up at the sky and closed her eyes. I took a step closer and then stopped. Swallowing hard against the ball of emotions in my throat, I turned my gaze away from her and stared straight ahead.
We were both silent for some time. For some reason, I felt nervous. This place was sacred. After my mother’s death, I would come here almost every day, desperately trying to clear my mind.
It felt like I had given her everything that I had. Everything that I held close to my heart, it was hers now. And I didn’t know how to feel about that.
I was confused. The way my heart stuttered when I looked at her. And the way I always found myself lost in her. I didn’t understand those emotions. I wish I knew how to deal with them. They only got me frustrated.
Taking a deep breath, I looked down and then cleared my throat.
“We should go back. It’s almost lunch time,” I said softly. I felt Ayla shift beside me and I looked up just in time to see her turning toward me.
She seemed disappointed, losing her smile. “We can come back tomorrow,” I said.