CHAPTER NINETEEN
LORENZO
I meant it when I said it was something I would do for the rest of my life.
I wanted to care for her and show her the kind of affection and care she never got. But when she didn’t respond, I knew it was a sentence that carried a lot. So, I stood up and gave her space, going back to my room.
I didn’t really expect a response from her, considering how I was too much of a coward to respond to her last night when she asked how I saw her.
It wasn’t like I didn’t have an epistle written down somewhere in my memory of exactly how I felt about her. It just felt wrong. Not when I still keep a lot of secrets from her.
I knocked once before stepping into Maria’s room. The last time I’d seen her, she was wrapped in a blanket, looking like a sickly burrito, barely able to lift her head without groaning. Now, she was sitting on the edge of the bed, scrolling through her phone like she hadn’t spent the last twenty-four hours cursing existence.
“Well, look who decided to rejoin the land of the living.”
Maria stretched her arms above her head, her shirt riding up slightly. “And look who’s still babysitting me like I’m fragile.”
“Considering you looked like death this morning, I’d say I’m justified.” I crossed my arms, taking in her slightly flushed cheeks. At least this time, it wasn’t from a fever.
She scoffed, pulling the blanket tighter around her. “You act like I was on my deathbed. I’ve survived worse.”
“Yeah?” I leaned against the doorframe. “Like what?”
She tapped a finger against her chin, pretending to think. “Remember when I broke my toe trying to kick you?”
My lips twitched. “You mean when you attempted to roundhouse kick me and missed so badly that you kicked the wall instead?”
Her face scrunched up. “It was a miscalculation.”
“It was an act of self-sabotage.”
“Whatever.” She waved a hand dismissively, then pointed at me. “Also, let’s not forget the time I got food poisoning after you dared me to eat that expired yogurt.”
I smirked. “To be fair, you’re the one who kept saying, ‘Expiration dates are a scam.’”
“And to be fair, you could’ve stopped me.”
“I could have,” I admitted, stepping closer. “But then, I wouldn’t have gotten to watch you dramatically lay on the bathroom floor for three hours, lamenting your life choices.”
Maria huffed, rolling her eyes. “You know, if you weren’t so insufferable, you’d be halfway decent.”
“Halfway?” I raised a brow. “That’s generous.”
“Don’t get cocky,” she warned. “I’m still recovering. If I had my full strength, I’d throw something at you.”
“Recovering,” I echoed. “Is that why you’re still wrapped in that blanket like some ancient Greek philosopher?”
She patted the duvet around her shoulders. “This is comfort. You wouldn’t understand.”
I leaned down, bracing a hand on the back of the chair she was sitting on. “I don’t know,” I murmured. “I think I’d understand just fine. Girls wrapped in duvets are my specialty.”
Then, she tilted her head, a smirk playing on her lips, teasing but strained, like she was using humor to anchor herself. “If I knew you were into girls wrapped in blankets, I would’ve used this technique sooner.”
I let out a low chuckle, shaking my head, but my voice came out rougher than I intended. “Yeah? That’s your strategy? Seduction via extreme coziness?”
Her breath hitched, and in that heartbeat of hesitation, the air in the room seemed to disappear, and what was left was a familiar comfort and desire wrapping around us like the very duvet she had cocooned herself in. Neither of us moved, but something shifted, and it was impossible to move when her eyes were locked on mine like that.
Her fingers tightened around the fabric, knuckles going white, yet her eyes glinted with something dangerously tempting. “Hey, don’t knock it till you try it.”
The way she said it, breathy and playful like she was testing a boundary that we both knew didn’t exist anymore, sent a deep and primal wave rolling through me.
I took a step closer, close enough to feel the warmth of her body seeping through the thick layers between us. My fingers brushed the fabric, just barely, but even through the barrier, I could sense her, heat radiating and chest rising and falling just a little too fast.
“Alright,” I murmured, my voice lower now, the amusement edged with something darker, something raw. “I’ll bite. Is the goal to make me agree or just to see how far you can push before I do something about it?”
Her lips parted, but no words came. Her eyes flickered with a bit of uncertainty, desire, and a silent challenge, which made me realize she wasn’t just playing anymore. Neither of us were.
“Lorenzo,” she whispered. It wasn’t my name—it was a plea, a breaking point wrapped in a single breath.
Weeks. We had been toeing this line for weeks, testing the boundaries of restraint, and pushing and pulling until we were frayed at the edges. Every glance, every lingering touch, every sharp inhale when we got too close—it had all been leading to this.
And now, there was nothing left to hold onto. The walls, the excuses, the pretense—they had crumbled.
I knew if I didn’t speak now, I would never be able to.
“Maria,” I exhaled, my fingers tightening slightly on the fabric between us. “I have never seen you as a sister but as a woman who I have wanted so badly but couldn’t have because she was my best friend’s sister.”
The confession left my lips like a sigh of relief and a curse all at once. The feeling of it settled between us, knowing this was inescapable.
Maria’s breath stilled, and her gaze locked onto mine, something flickering behind her eyes. Then, just for a second, her gaze dropped to my mouth.
A small shift, barely perceptible, but it was enough. Enough to shatter whatever thread of resistance I had left.
I reached up slowly but deliberately, tracing the edge of her jaw with my fingertips. Her skin burned under my touch, warm and alive. Her lips parted slightly, her breath feathering against my own, unsteady and expectant.
She didn’t say anything. She didn’t have to. The acceptance, the longing—it was all there, raw and unguarded. And that was all it took.
I closed the distance, and the moment our lips met, everything else ceased to exist. My lips came crashing into hers. It wasn’t soft or hesitant. It was the kind of kiss that came after years of knowing someone too well, of pushing and pulling and pretending the tension didn’t exist.
Maria’s fingers curled into my shirt, pulling me closer. I tilted her chin up, tasting the remnants of something sweet on her lips. She sighed into me, and for a second, everything else faded—the past, the teasing, and the years of trying to keep things just a little bit out of reach.
When we finally pulled apart, she blinked up at me, dazed. “So,” she breathed. “That happened.”
I dragged my thumb over her jaw, “Tell me to stop it now, and I will.”
She exhaled a laugh, shaking her head. “Shut up and kiss me again.”
And who was I to argue.
I gently carried Maria to the bed, my heart pounding with a rhythm I had never felt before.
Her body felt light in my arms, but the weight of the moment was anything but. I laid her down softly, our eyes locked, and in that gaze, I saw the desire and tenderness that mirrored my own.
Slowly, I leaned in, my lips brushing against hers, before trailing down to kiss the contours of her face. My mouth lingered on her cheek, her jawline, and then down her neck, where her skin was warm and soft. I could feel her breath quicken as I kissed along her collarbone, my hands resting gently on her shoulders.
“Lorenzo,” she whispered, her voice trembling. There was so much I wanted to tell her but couldn’t.
I paused, looking into her eyes, before continuing. “I’ve waited so long for this,” I murmured, my voice thick with emotion.
I paused. I knew there was no going back from this, “I want you.”
Three words. Just three words changed my entire brain chemistry. It released every adrenaline and dopamine in my body and pushed me from a hesitant state to a state where I knew I didn’t want to hold back. Not anymore.
I unbuttoned the oversized shirt she was wearing, sliding it off her shoulders and letting it fall to the floor. Her bare skin was a canvas I wanted to explore and worship. I pressed my lips to her shoulder, then down her arm, my hands tracing the curves of her body. My own shirt followed, discarded on the floor, leaving me bare from the waist up.
Maria’s breath came in short gasps as I moved closer, my hands sliding to the waistband of her trousers. I hesitated for a moment, wanting to savor this, but her eager moan urged me on. I slid her pants down her legs, leaving her in nothing but her panties.
Her body trembled, and I could see the desire in her eyes, the way she wanted and needed me. I leaned in, my lips finding hers again. My words whispered between kisses. “I’ve wanted this since the day you came back,” I confessed. “You’ve been in my thoughts and my dreams…I can’t hold back anymore.”
Her response was a kiss, deep and hungry, her hands tangling in my hair. I groaned, my control slipping as I slid her panties off, leaving her completely bare.
Her skin was flawless, her body a work of art, and I wanted to worship every inch of her. I buried my head between her legs, my mouth and tongue moving slowly, passionately, savoring her taste and her scent. Her moans grew louder, her hands gripping the sheets as her body arched into me, craving more.
“You’re so beautiful,” I whispered, my breath warm against her skin. “I’ve always wanted you, Maria. Every part of you.” she smiled and whispered something inaudible. But I didn’t want to spoil the mood by asking her what she had said. All I wanted to do was give her all the pleasure she deserved.
I kissed her inner thighs, my tongue tracing patterns that made her squirm and moan. I took my time, wanting to drive her wild and make her feel every ounce of my desire. My hands roamed from her stomach to her breast, and I gently fondled them as my mouth continued to explore in between her legs.
“Fuck,” she almost screamed out those words. I knew I was doing crazy things to her because her moans were making me so hard, and I could feel my length hardening by the minute. I wasn’t sure how long I could keep up with this without losing control myself.
When I finally stood up, my own trousers were tight, my cock throbbing with need. I pulled them off, my eyes never leaving hers. She watched me, her breath coming in ragged gasps, and her body flushed and wanting.
I positioned myself above her, my body pressing against hers, my lips brushing her ear as I whispered, “Are you ready for me?” I wanted to be sure.
“Yes,” she breathed, her hands reaching up to pull me closer.
I thrust inside her slowly, drawing out every sensation.
Her walls clenched around me, tight and wet, and I groaned, my head falling back for a moment as I savored the feeling of being inside her. Her moans were soft and breathy, her hands clutching at my back as I moved, our kisses deepening with each thrust. I wanted to make this last, to feel every moment, every touch, and every breath.
As she neared the edge, I switched our positions, guiding her to straddle me. She rose above me, her movements urgent yet controlled, her body moving in perfect harmony with mine. I reached up, my hands finding her breasts, my mouth sucking and nipping at her skin, my whispers of affection mingling with our shared breaths.
“I’m right here,” I murmured, my voice hoarse with desire. “Let go, Maria. Let it all out.”
Her cries filled the room, her release overwhelming, her body trembling as she came apart on top of me. I held her close, my hands gripping her hips as I thrust upward, meeting her movements with my own. Our kisses grew frantic, our bodies tightening as the tension built. I could feel my own climax approaching, a relentless tide that threatened to consume me.
“Lorenzo,” she gasped, her voice breaking as she looked down at me, her eyes filled with love and desire.
“Cum with me,” I groaned, my voice raw with need.
Her movements quickened, her body pressing down on mine as she rode me harder and faster. I could feel her pussy clenching around my cock, milking me, driving me to the edge.
My own release tore through me, my cum shooting deep inside her as I cried out her name. We collapsed together, breathless and spent, our hearts racing as we held each other close. In that moment, there was nothing but us, our bodies still trembling and our breaths mingling. I kissed her forehead, then her lips, my hands stroking her hair as we lay there.
“That was everything,” I finally said, still breathing heavily. She laid her head on my chest and planted a soft kiss on them.
She was quiet for almost a minute until she finally whispered words that I almost didn’t hear. “You are everything,”