CHAPTER TWENTY-EIGHT
“A delina, we have to go.”
I could hear Zane’s voice, but it sounded muffled, as if he was speaking through a thick blanket.
I knew I had to leave, but my feet were rooted to the shore. I just couldn’t bear if anything happened to Rocco.
“The boat won’t get close. The emergency crew is probably there already. Rocco only wants to help, but don’t worry. He won’t risk hurting himself.”
My head jerked, and a giggle rose in my throat. We both knew that it wasn’t Rocco, who saw danger and charged toward it. Heck, he charged into my grandparents’ house with a judge and married me before a funeral. He was romantic and frustratingly persistent. Once he decided on something, he went all in—something I admired in him but also feared. Rocco may not have found a limit yet, but one was out there.
My gaze fixated on the thick smoke still billowing from across the island. The fear of losing him gripped me like a vise.
“I don’t want to do this, Adelina, but Rocco told me if I need to carry you back, I can. I’d prefer you just come with me, Okay?” His threat snapped me out of my haze, and I glared over at him.
Zane was doing his job, and I would never risk putting him in a bad position. “Promise to give me updates, no matter how bad.”
“I promise,” Zane said without hesitation, and I liked him for that. We finally left the cafe to go to the curb, where another one of Rocco’s staff was waiting in a parked car.
“Sorry. Thank you for waiting,” I told him.
“No problem,” he told me.
Boom.
I jumped at the sound of an explosion, and turned back. I could see more fire and smoke. It must be worse from that loud noise . “We can’t leave—”
“Sorry, Adelina. I have to follow orders. Please trust me and try not to worry.”
But how could I not?
I walked with him back to the car, still turning to see what I could behind us as we drove as we had when we arrived on the island, but this route had more fruit trees and fragrant colorful flowers. Though it was beautiful, my heart was worried. He’ll be okay, Lina. When we got to the Marinis’ gate, the driver put in a code then drove in and parked. We walked together up to the first floor. There, he stopped and told me, “He’ll be fine. If you need me, just give me a call. All right?”
“Sure, thank you.”
I tried to distract myself by taking a quick shower and settling down in a zip-front tunic to read a mystery book from the library, but I couldn’t keep my mind off Rocco. An hour had passed and he still wasn’t here and I hadn’t heard from Zane. If he’s hurt, Rocco would tell me, right? If he could tell me….
I rang Zane’s number, but it went straight to voicemail.
Then, my phone buzzed with a call.
“How is he?” I asked.
“How is who, gorgeous?”
“Cassidy? I thought you were Zane,” I said and tensed.
“Nope. Just me. You sound stressed. Hang on. Bestie meeting, you have to go.”
“What?” a male voice called out. “I thought we’d spend the day together.”
“No, we’re not,” Cassidy said abruptly.
I grimaced. “Cass, that’s harsh.”
“What about tomorrow?” the male voice said, close to the phone.
“Depends on how easy it is for you to leave now.”
I shook my head and grinned . Yikes. Burn. There’s no way he’s going to put up with that crap.
“You’re so… Fuck it. I’m going,” he shouted.
I heard the door slam.
“He left,” she announced.
I laughed. “Yeah, I got that. My God woman, you’re so mean.”
“No, I’m direct. If he can’t take no for an answer now, he won’t later. It’s a dystopian wasteland out here dating. I have no time to waste on men with thin skins.”
“So, it was a date?”
“I wouldn’t call it that. Walter’s a classmate. We were studying, decided to have dinner, returned to mine and made out. He’s a really good kisser. Too bad. But wait, hold up. Aren’t you on your honeymoon?”
“We are. A fire broke out. Rocco left to help.” My voice caught in my throat, a sob threatening to escape.
“Hey, hey, hey, Lina. Slow down. What do you mean he left?” she gentled her voice. “Slow down and breathe.”
I took a few breaths to calm myself and closed my eyes. “Rocco went to…help with a fire that broke out on the island. He just jumped in a boat and over to a burning house. I know it’s gross I’m complaining about that, but…”
“He’s a Superman,” she huffed.
“That’s what I called him.” I stared out towards the water.
“Frustrating. I get why you’re worried. Honestly, these resorts have excellent service for every issue. There’s a fire department, police, and emergency responders on call. Rocco probably won’t get close. All right?”
Some of my tension eased. “Yeah.”
I just wished I had an idea if he was okay. Cass was right and there were a lot of emergency responders on hand, and I think that’s what I didn’t understand. If trained personnel are there, why isn’t he back? I took a deep breath to get a grip on my emotions.
He will be fine.
“How’s it going, though?”
Magical. Wonderful .
“We went parasailing,” I said with a lift in my voice.
“Parasailing,” she shrieked. “Yay. I love that for you. How was it?”
“I loved it,” I admitted. But it wasn’t the parasailing that I’d enjoyed the most; it was doing it with Rocco. His pride and praise had fed my soul. The ease he put me at, and the sweet kisses. He’s so good to me.
Cassidy repeated what I thought I’d only said in my head. “He’s good, and now you’re scared because you don’t want your man in danger. You love him.”
“I…I don’t know,” I mumbled, chewing my lip as nerves fluttered in my stomach. “Maybe I’m overreacting. We’re just good friends.”
“Nope. Rocco cares about you more than a friend. I’d say he’s in love, too.”
I scrunched up my face. “So soon? No…?” Do I love him? There are certainly many things about him that I admire and love.
He said he wanted my love, but I hadn’t thought he meant I already had his. Be careful not to get ahead of yourself. And then I thought about Rocco’s character, and I couldn’t help but think that if Rocco loved me, he would have told me. What if…. “You think so, Cass?”
“Yes, without a doubt.”
I placed my hand on my stomach as nerves danced inside of it. “How do you know?”
“Because I loved you the second I met you. How could he not?”
My eyes stung, and I scolded her. “Cass, you’re going to make me cry. That’s not your bestie job right now, gorgeous.”
She laughed. “I’m just telling you the truth. Also, it’s okay to show him how you feel.”
That’s what I mostly avoided because I was so afraid of getting hurt. But what would I do if I ran out of time? It would crush me forever that Rocco didn’t know how much I cared about him. Maybe I’m not ready to use the word, but I am ready to be closer to him.
Zane appeared, and my heart jumped in my throat.
“You have news?” I stood up.
“Rocco and a few others arrived with the emergency services. He helped organize another place for the family to stay on the island while they repaired and discovered the cause of the fire. He’s on his way back.”
I sighed heavily in relief, and my shoulders dropped. “Thank you so much.”
Zane left, and I told Cassidy.
“See? You just needed to calm down. Now fuck that man until he’s too exhausted to try to save the world.”
I smiled. “Good advice. I’m going to go fix myself up.”
“Oh, sexy underwear? Try nothing and thank me later. I love you.”
“I love you too, Cass.”
I was about to change when the sound of the boat’s motor drew close. Rocco.
My pulse jumped in my throat, and I ran down the stairs across the patio to the pier. Rocco had his phone in hand and stopped when he saw me running. Tears dropped down my cheeks, but I kept running. He opened his arms wide, and I leaped into them when I reached him. He caught me and held me tight. My arms wrapped around his neck, inhaling the sweat and smoke on his skin, reminding me of how much danger he’d been in. What if I lost you, Rocco?
Our mouths connected into a searing kiss. “Are you okay? Were you hurt?”
“No, Bella. I’m absolutely fine. I wasn’t in any danger,” he said, then kissed me hard again. “Are you okay?”
“Yes. I am now. I was so worried about you,” I sobbed. Get it together, Lina.
My body burned, and my soul cried out to him. I want you. I wanted his passion and craved his possession, so I grabbed the front of his shorts.
He groaned and yanked up the end of my tunic, squeezed my bare ass, and he let out a moan lifting higher. I gripped his neck and wrapped my legs around him. I was pressed against him and I felt his erection behind his shorts; it sent a wave of desire for him inside me, so intense that it felt unbearable.
“I need you,” I whispered and moaned.
“You do,” he said, kissing over my face and back to my lips.
He placed me on his feet, and I unzipped my tunic and stepped out of it to stand naked on the sand. Anyone could see, but I didn’t care.
“You need my cock,” he growled and grabbed my waist, crushed my lips, and lifted me again, backing us against a stone pillar. I pushed into him, moving my clit up and down on his bulge.
My eyes fluttered, and I moaned loudly. “I do, please fuck me.”
“Christ, Adelina,” he cursed and grunted, squeezing my ass.
He unfastened his shorts and moved us down on the sand, grabbed my legs to move behind him, and shoved inside of me in a powerful thrust. I screamed as I gave into the thick push and pull, sensuous drags of his cock. The roughness sent my pleasure soaring to ecstasy.
We sweated and heated, pressing chaotic kisses as we breathed.
“I can’t get enough of you,” he moaned. He lifted a thigh, angling his thrust against that spot that made me lose control.
I dug my nails into his shoulders. “Ohh, Rocco,” I yelled as I writhed. He thrust into me harder, slamming with all his strength. The sound of the waves and my screams of pleasure filled the night air. It was so intense that I didn’t hold back, coming and tightening around him.
“I can’t. Oh, Bella.” He jerked hard, and I held him tight, my head on his shoulder as he came, enjoying the feel of him throbbing inside of me. “Mia Bella. I’m okay. I’ve got you. We’re okay.”
If this is love, it’s both terrifying and exhilarating.
But I know one thing for certain—Rocco Marini is mine.