Page 66 of Royally Roma
What in the world just happened?
Every bone in her body had somehow melted. She was languid and liquid, nothing but a puddle on the bed. She couldn’t have moved if she’d tried. Her throat burned. She tried to swallow and found that she couldn’t, tried to speak but could only manage a hoarse whisper.
With complete and utter mortification, she realized that her voice was spent from crying out Nico’s name.
She lifted the impossible weight of her arms and covered her face with her hands. How could she ever look at him again? He was still completely clothed, head to toe. His tie was barely crooked, for goodness’ sake, and never in her life had she been so wholly exposed.
And she still didn’t even know his name.
She squeezed her eyes closed. It was too mortifying to even think about.
This is what you wanted. Remember?
Her own words echoed in the dreamy place that had taken up residence where her brain used to reside.
I still want it. I never stopped.
She hadn’t been talking about anything as innocent as a kiss. She knew that, and now so did he. He hadn’t needed aBocca della Veritàto unlock her secrets.
He’d known all along.
The mattress dipped and she felt Nico’s warmth beside her, felt him watching her, waiting. She peeked at him through her hands. He wore a look of smug satisfaction that made her want to die.
Not that she could blame him.
“Julia, look at me.” He removed her hands from her face.
It seemed outright inconceivable that she could feel more naked, yet somehow she did.
How did people do this? How did they open themselves up without feeling like they’d just willingly walked off of a cliff?
Maybe it was too late for her. She’d been through too much to give herself so easily. Perhaps at all.
She’d just experienced the most blissful moment of her life with this man, and now she could barely look him in the eye.
“Take off your clothes,” she said. “Do it now.”
She’d feel safer once he was naked, too. More in control. At least that’s what she told herself.
But as soon as he’d unbuttoned his shirt, she knew better. Control was no longer part of the equation.
Do you want it to be?
She didn’t know anymore. She couldn’t think. Couldn’t move. She was still suspended in a languid, liquid state of bliss.
Yet when Nico slid in bed beside her, his body even more beautiful than she’d imagined, she felt it again. Desire. It curled low in her belly, exquisitely seductive and sweet.
She reached for him, wanting, needing to touch him, to stroke him, to take him inside. But she couldn’t seem to lift her arm off the mattress. She’d gone leaden. Boneless.
He kissed her, slow and sweet this time, with long, unhurried strokes of his tongue.
“Close your eyes,” he whispered. “We have all night. There’s no rush, my darling.”
My darling.
Her eyelashes fluttered closed. Niccolo tucked himself behind her, spooning her against his warmth. His muscular arm reached around, pulling her close.
And as sleep pressed down on her, Julia suddenly felt close to tears.
