ZOE DEAN'S POV
NOTE: THIS PART IS EXPLICIT. PLEASE SKIP IF YOU DON'T READ THAT. THANKS AND YOU'VE BEEN WARNED.
The days blurred into three quiet, golden ones. No drama. No danger. Just peace.
Nero, Benny, Emily and I spent the time doing nothing particularly special—eating together, walking by the garden, laughing at the smallest things. Emily was glowing, her hand always resting over the gentle curve of her belly. It felt good, seeing her happy. After everything, we all needed the break.
But now… it was the morning I'd been dreading.
I lay on my side, watching Nero sleep beside me. The sunlight had slipped through the curtains, tracing soft lines across his face. He looked calm, almost boyish in sleep, the hard edges gone from his expression. My chest tightened.
He was leaving today.
I'd known this day would come, but knowing didn't make it easier. I wanted to be selfish, to beg him to stay. But I couldn't. So instead, I watched. Memorizing.
My fingers moved before I could stop them, brushing lightly against his cheek. Just the barest touch—enough to feel the warmth of his skin, not enough to wake him. I needed to feel him. To steady myself.
How strange life was. We hadn't begun like normal lovers. Far from it. I'd been his captive once… and now, I couldn't imagine life without him. I didn't even know when exactly the shift happened—when fear turned to trust, and trust turned to love—but it did. And I didn't regret a thing.
His lashes fluttered, and slowly, he opened his eyes. That sleepy, unguarded softness in his gaze made me smile.
"Good morning," I whispered, my voice barely above a breath.
"Good morning," he murmured, his voice rough from sleep. His hand found mine on his cheek and held it there, tracing my fingers with his thumb.
We just looked at each other for a long, quiet moment—no words, just silence thick with things neither of us could quite say.
"I'll miss you," I finally whispered, the words spilling out before I could stop them.
He smiled—a soft, tender curve of his lips that made my throat tighten. "I'll miss you more," he said. "I promise I'll come back to you as soon as I can."
I tried to smile too, though it trembled. "Just… don't come back hurt. Please. Be safe."
He chuckled quietly, his voice teasing. "Yes, ma'am."
That made me smile for real. I leaned in and pressed a quick kiss to his lips before I could lose my nerve. It was meant to be brief, just a whisper of goodbye, but when I pulled back, his grin widened, boyish and bright.
"Hey," he said, mock-offended. "That's not fair. I wasn't ready. Do it again."
I rolled my eyes, laughing. "Grow up."
"But I really wasn't ready," he said, pouting a little. "Please?"
I sighed, still smiling. "Fine."
I leaned in again, slower this time—but before I could pull away, his hand slid into my hair and he kissed me back, properly. Gently, but with a quiet urgency that made my breath catch.
Our lips moved together, soft and slow, until the air between us thickened and the kiss deepened without either of us meaning it to. When he finally pulled back, his forehead rested against mine, his breathing uneven.
What I saw in his eyes made my pulse trip—heat, yes, but also restraint. Desire held on a leash.
"Nero…" I whispered, my voice unsteady.
He swallowed, his voice raw when he spoke. "You have no idea how much I'm trying to be strong right now."
Something inside me twisted. I'd never heard him sound like that—so open, so honest, like every wall he'd ever built was slipping.
And God help me, I wanted him too.
"I don't want you to fight it," I whispered, my heart pounding. "I want you too."
He froze, staring at me like he wasn't sure he'd heard right. His voice dropped to a rough whisper. "Are you sure? You won't regret this?"
I shook my head, smiling faintly through the nerves fluttering in my stomach. "I won't."
His breath hitched, and then he kissed me again.
This time, there was nothing tentative about it. I melted into him, hands clutching at his shirt, eyes closing, the world falling away until there was nothing but his breath against my lips, the tremor in his chest, the unspoken things between us.
Even then, even in the heat of it, I could still feel his restraint. His hands stayed gentle, his movements careful—as if he was terrified of crossing a line I didn't draw.
When he finally tore away, gasping, he pressed his forehead to mine again, voice shaking. "Zoe," he breathed, every word trembling. "If I don't stop now… I might not be able to stop at all."
I opened my eyes and met his—dark, uncertain, full of anguish and want. My heart was beating too fast, my lips still tingling.
And somehow, without thinking, I smiled.
"I don't want you to stop," I whispered.
*******
STEFANO RUSSO'S (NERO'S) POV
I was taken aback when she whispered that she didn't want me to stop. The soft light fell across her face, and I saw the faint tremble in her lips, the quiet courage in her eyes. My chest tightened in a way I hadn't expected.
A slow smile tugged at my mouth—not one of triumph, but something warmer, gentler. God, this woman.
I leaned forward, kissing her again, slower this time, careful and deliberate. She moved with me, her breath catching softly when I shifted, guiding her down against the mattress without breaking the kiss. Every movement felt fragile, sacred almost—like one wrong touch could shatter the moment.
When I pulled back, she looked up at me with wide eyes, her cheeks flushed. My hands itched to touch her, but I hesitated—because for once, I didn't want to rush anything.
I reached for the hem of my shirt and pulled it over my head, never looking away from her. Her gaze flickered down, then back to my face. I could see the uncertainty there, but also trust.
When I leaned in again, she met me halfway. Her fingers brushed my skin, tentative at first, then firmer, tracing the lines of my back. A low moan escaped me before I could stop it.
It struck me then: since Zoe came into my life, I hadn't wanted anyone else. It was like she came into my life to matter to me.
Breaking the kiss, I traced soft kisses down her ear to her neck, making her groan in pleasure and moan.
"Nero." She breathed my name with her eyes closed. The sound was a plea, a confession, and it undid me completely.
I didn't stop kissing her down her body until I got to her thighs. Gently, I took off the shorts she wore and when I parted her legs slowly, she froze and closed her legs instinctively, her eyes opening and blinking at me. I could see the mix of want and hesitation written all over her face.
"Oh no, baby," I whispered softly, parting her legs gently again. "Don't be shy. I just want to pleasure you."
She blinked up at me—shy, uncertain, but sure enough to nod. That small movement broke something open in me.
I smiled softly. "Good girl."
And slowly, I leaned in and sucked gently on her aching, sensitive flesh making her head fall back in pleasure.