Chapter Fifty-four
RONAN
Present Day
NEW YORK CITY
I’ve been back in the city for two long weeks, and every second away from her has been a nightmare.
FaceTimes and texts were mere lifelines, barely scratching the surface of what I truly craved.
There was no substitute for coming home and sinking into the warmth of her embrace, the way her body fit against mine like it was always meant to.
Damn, I missed her.
Her face, with its captivating beauty that could light up the darkest room, haunted my thoughts every night.
Her body, so perfectly molded to mine, the way it felt beneath my fingertips.
I longed for the sound of her voice, that soothing melody that could chase away any shadow of doubt or weariness.
My jet was prepped and ready to go, waiting only for the final nod from my schedule to whisk me back to Florence.
I refocused my attention on the patient before me, grounding myself in the present.
She had undergone surgery two weeks ago and was here for her post-operative check-up.
Her recovery was progressing well, and the relief in her eyes was a small but meaningful comfort amidst the turmoil of recent days.
After addressing her concerns and finalizing her treatment plan, I felt a surge of satisfaction knowing I could make a difference, even in these trying times.
“What a surprise,” I said, turning to see Azzaria seated as I entered my office.
“Ronan,” she greeted, her smile faint and weary. “How are you?”
“I’m great,” I replied, smiling genuinely. “How about you?”
“I’m good,” she answered, though her eyes told a different story. “Well, not good, but you know... I woke up today and baked you a mocha cake. I know you don’t like sweets, but it’s more on the bitter side.”
I grinned, touched by her gesture. “Thank you, Zar. But what’s this for?”
“For everything,” she said, her eyes full of gratitude and vulnerability.
“You took care of my mom, helped with her bills, and loved her. Even after she passed, you stuck around, helping me despite everything. We haven’t known each other long, but you’ve been the best male friend a girl could ask for.
I didn’t know what to get you, so I baked this. ”
Her words moved me. I walked over and pulled her into a warm hug. “I’ll always be here for you, and I’ll definitely eat the cake.”
“Thanks,” she whispered, her voice softening.
“How have you been? How’s Dillon? I haven’t heard much from him,” I asked, steering the conversation to lighter ground.
She shrugged, her shoulders slumping. “I don’t know how he is.”
“But you live together.”
“I mean, I don’t know... Some days, I’m difficult, and he’s busy with a new bill at work. Everything’s all over the place, and I feel like I’m stressing him out,” she said, her voice trembling with panic.
Her vulnerability hit me hard. I placed a reassuring hand on her shoulder. “Breathe, Zar. Dillon knows grief. Have you talked to him?”
She shook her head, eyes clouded with uncertainty.
“There you go,” I said gently, my voice steady. “Talk to him. He’s deeply in love with you. It’s okay to trip out. You just lost your mother. Give it time, Dillon will understand.”
“Thank you, Ro,” she said, her shoulders relaxing. She grabbed her purse, more purposeful now. “He’ll be home soon, and I want to see him before his five o’clock Zoom.”
“You’re always welcome, Zar. Take care and get home safely. And thanks again for the cake.”
She gave me a grateful smile before heading out. As the door closed, I felt relieved that I’d been able to comfort her.
My phone buzzed with a call from Rachel, signaling I was free. I gathered my things and stepped outside, only to freeze when I saw her.
Nina. L’amore della mia vita.
She stood by the entrance, dazzling in a mini-black dress that clung to her and red heels. Her hair was pinned up, and a coat draped over her shoulders. My heart raced as I blinked in disbelief. “What are you doing here?”
She walked closer, her heels clicking on the marble floor, and kissed me—slow, lingering. “Not happy to see me?” she whispered, teasing.
I kissed her back, a smile spreading despite my confusion. “I’m always happy to see you, but... What’s going on?”
Her gaze softened, and for a moment, I could see the vulnerability in her eyes. “I’m here to choose us.”
I searched her face. “What?”
Nina took a deep breath. “I’ve loved and lost. When I met you eight years ago, you changed everything.
You’re the guy who dyed your hair auburn so I wouldn’t feel alone.
The one who bought the store I worked at was because I was overworked and underpaid.
The man who flew across the world to see me every chance he got, because he needed to be with me.
The one who kneeled to kiss the scars I hate.
The guy who let me use him as a human pin cushion when I needed to.
The man who waited an entire year to have sex with me because I wasn’t ready, and never took my body for granted.
The man who color-coded my notes at workshops because he knew how peculiar I am.
That’s who you are, and that’s not even everything.
When you left, it broke me, but I held onto the memory of you.
I tried to move on, but I realized… some things can’t be done without you.
Even when I thought I hated you, I knew deep down I loved you. ”
Tears slipped down my cheeks, one after another.
Her voice trembled with emotion. “I spent the last five years thinking you forgot about me… and I learned I was wrong. In fact, you did everything possible to make sure I lived my dreams. When you came back, you turned my world upside down. Everything you did made me happy—the little things, the big things, the way you made me feel. And you spent the past year making it up to me. You never stopped. You never gave up. But it was that night at High Line, when I looked into your eyes, that I knew. I wanted to try again. I want to choose us.”
My heart pounded as I processed her words. “What about your boutique? Your life back home?”
Her smile was tender yet firm. “Inaya will run the boutique in Italy. I’ll visit, but my heart is here. With you.”
I searched her face, a mix of hope and concern. “And your mom?”
Her eyes were full of joy and determination. “She encouraged me. She’ll be fine, and she’ll visit. It’s time for me to move forward. If I wait any longer, I’ll never truly live.”
I held her gaze, my heart aching. “Are you sure?”
She gripped my hand, her voice steady. “I am. I’ve never been more sure.”
Relief and love flooded through me. “Ti amo, Nina.”
“Anch’io ti amo, Ronan. You’ve made me feel things I didn’t think I could feel again.”
Her eyes glistened with tears as she kissed me, her lips telling me everything words couldn’t express.
When we pulled away, I looked at her with fierce determination. “So, when are you moving? How do we make this work?”
Her smile was radiant, eyes shining with the promise of a future together. “As soon as I can. I’m finally choosing happiness.”
I nodded, a surge of determination rushing through me. “I’ll arrange for movers. And if you don’t like the penthouse, we’ll find a new one together.”
Before I could say more, she silenced me with a kiss—soft yet resolute, a silent promise. When she pulled back, her gaze was fierce, filled with love.
“We’re doing this together. There’s no ‘what Ronan wants’ or ‘what Nina wants.’ It’s only what we want. Together.”
Her words soothed me, solidifying our unity. The future we were building felt inevitable, as if it was always meant to be.
The moment Nina and I stepped through my front door, our lips met in a kiss that deepened with every second. Our hands roamed, exploring.
“Take me,” she whispered, her voice a seductive command. “Fuck me against the walls of your house.”
I kissed her again, refusing her request. “No, I’m taking you to my bed.”
Our eyes locked—vulnerable, open—as we fell into each other.
She lowered her gaze, unbuttoning my shirt slowly, each release heightening my desire. She watched me, her eyes never leaving mine as her hands slid inside my T-shirt, moving from my belt upwards, fingers brushing my chest, sending tingles through my body.
Without thinking, my hands slipped under her dress, dragging it down to expose her breasts. My left arm moved behind her, locking her wrists against the small of her back as our bodies pressed together. My right hand cupped her chin, pulling her into a deep kiss.
I bent her back as my lips moved to her jawbone and then lower, kissing and nibbling and delicately licking her neck and continuing to her warm chest. Her breathing and heartbeat were quickening, and as such, I dropped my head to her breasts, circled and aroused both of her nipples with my flicking tongue, and massaged them with my lips as I sucked the tip.
Her head fell back with a barely audible moan.
The sound of her pleasure ignited me to put her breast in my mouth and suck more deeply, suck as if I am trying to draw her through her delicious nipple, causing her to deliberately arch her back to shove herself more fully into my mouth.
The gasp that escaped her throat was surrendered. “Ronan.”
I stopped only long enough to switch to her other nipple. My free hand mashed and squeezed her other breast, rolling her nipple between my thumb and forefinger, pinching and releasing. Her breathing quickened, and her head rolled back.
I pushed her dress the rest of the way down her body to fall, puddled around her feet, so my hands could freely explore her back as I pulled her against me.
My hands roamed up and down, from her shoulders down to her tight waist and the perfect feminine curve of her hips. It felt like my hands were everywhere at once, and her skin glowed from the intensity of their adoration.
Finally, my roaming led me to where she wanted my touch most, her pussy, and to my delight, she was dripping wet.
“Please,” she whimpered. “Right there.”