Page 122 of Their Reckless Thief
“This is it,” I said, stopping at the entrance. “Home away from home.”
She gave me a curious look as I led her inside, her hand still in mine. The cave opened up into a larger space that was cool and dim. The walls were covered in carvings I’d made over the years—my name, symbols, and stupid little drawings from when I was just a kid, trying to make sense of the world. A hammock hung on one side, slung between two rocks.
“This is where I came when I needed to be alone. No one else knew about it.”
She walked over to one of the carvings, tracing her fingers over the lines. “You did all this?”
I leaned back against the wall. “Yeah. It’s not much, but it kept me grounded when things got tough.”
A quiet understanding passed between us. I threw myself into the hammock, making a show of getting comfortable.
“Come here,” I said, holding my hand out to her. “There’s plenty of room.”
She hesitated for a second, but then smiled and joined me. I pulled her gently on top of me, her body fitting against mine like she’d always been meant to be there.
I couldn’t help but marvel at how perfectly she fit me. The warmth of her skin, the way her body molded to mine… it was intoxicating. And in that moment, everything else faded away. It was only her and me, here in this hidden part of the world.
“You know,” I said softly, trailing my hand up her back. “I get that you have your boundaries. And I know I’m not the only guy in your life. But…” I hesitated, then let out a heavy sigh. “I love you, Celeste. You deserve to know that.”
Her breath hitched, and she looked down at me, surprise flashing across her face. She didn’t say anything, and honestly, I didn’t expect her to. It was too soon, too complicated. But I’d needed to say it. I needed her to know.
She leaned forward, her face inches from mine. My pulse raced, and I braced myself, not knowing what she was going to do. Kissing was her line, her rule. No kissing on the lips. But, fuck, I wanted it. I wanted to feel her lips on mine, even if only for a second. She looked down at my lips like she wanted to, but she was holding back.
At the last moment, she curled up against my body instead, nuzzling into the crook of my neck and letting out a soft, contented sigh.
It was enough. More than enough. I would wait an eternity for her if that’s what it took.
I wrapped my arms around her, holding her close as we swayed gently in the hammock. This right here was everything I needed.
My phone buzzed in my pocket, yanking me back to reality. I reached for it with a sigh, already knowing who it was.
Vincenzo. Bastard.
Vincenzo:Get your ass back to the mansion. NOW. There’s a situation with Luca.
I clenched my jaw, my arms tightening around Celeste briefly. I didn’t want to leave. I didn’t want to face whatever bullshit was waiting for us back at the mansion.
I had no choice, though. Duty called.
“We have to go,” I murmured into her hair, my heart heavy with the weight of unspoken things. “Vincenzo needs me.”
She pulled back slightly, her brow furrowed with concern. “What’s wrong?”
I shook my head. “I don’t know yet. Something with Luca.”
Her lips pressed into a thin line, and she nodded. I helped her out of the hammock, and for a moment, I simply stood there, watching her, memorizing the way she looked against the backdrop of the cave.
“Let’s go,” I said quietly, reaching for her hand once more. “We’ll deal with it. Together.”
37
LUCA
Vincenzo’s voiceechoed off the high ceilings and marble walls of the main hall, slicing through the quiet like a whip. I didn’t have a fucking clue how we’d gotten to this point, but he’d cornered me, accusing me of keeping secrets and hiding the truth from him.
“You’re not telling me everything, Luca,” he growled, his gaze narrowing with a glint of betrayal that cut deeper than I wanted to admit. “You think I haven’t noticed?”
His words were laced with fury, each syllable landing with a force that was personal. After everything I’d done… after all I’d sacrificed. Of course there were things I couldn’t tell him.
