Page 84 of Carnal

"Chill. Nothing bad."

I release a tense breath. "Okay. So what does it mean?" I ask softer.

He pecks me on the lips then admits, "It means I really like you."

My heart swells and sinks, fighting with my brain. I wish I could turn it off. I open my mouth and then shut it.

Hurt fills his expression. "You don't like me?"

"No! Of course I do!"

"Then why did you just look like you wanted to crawl into a hole and die?"

I cringe. "I didn't mean to."

"But you did. So what was that all about?" he presses.

Blood pounds in my brain. I confess, "I really like you, too, Tristano."

His face hardens. "But?"

"You know the but."

He shakes his head. "You're worried about things that aren't going to happen."

I close my eyes and try to shut off all my fears.

"Pina, look at me," he demands.

I obey, blinking hard and wishing I didn't feel so emotional all of a sudden.

He kisses my forehead, nose, then lips. He adamantly states, "I won't let anything happen. I promise."

I stay quiet, processing his words and wondering how that's possible.

"You don't believe me, do you?"

"It's not that. I just—"

"You're just in your head."

I nod.

He kisses me again, but it's not a peck this time. It's another out-of-body experience that leaves me whimpering in his arms. He retreats and grins. "I know you felt that."

"What?" I ask.

"Don't play dumb."

For some reason, I feel shy, which isn't something I'm used to. I softly agree, "Okay. I felt it."

His lips twitch, and he declares, "Good. Now that we got that out of the way, do you think there's pizza at this resort?"

I laugh. "Pizza?"

He rolls off me, rises, then pulls the covers over me. "Yep. I need the biggest pizza they have. Maybe some goat cheese garlic knots, too."

"Well, don't get specific or anything," I tease.

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