Page 88 of Carnal

"Go on."

I try not to smile but can't suppress it. "I know you like to be creative with different tools."

"You find that amusing?"

"Well, you did use a potato slicer. I mean, that was pretty creative," I confess.

Tristano's expression makes me laugh.

"Don't be so serious," I accuse.

"Pina, what happens down there is serious. Men die."

Silence fills the air. I finally break it. "Yes. I know."

"You don't think it's horrible what we do?" he asks.

I contemplate how to answer his question and finally respond, "You say you have the devil in you, but those you slaughter are the true devils. So, no, I don't judge anything your family has done."

He stares at me. My anxiety continues to grow. He demands, "You never breathe a word of this to anyone, okay?"

I nod. "I swear you're the only person I've ever discussed this with besides Dante."

His entire face gets so dark, it scares me. He adds, "Good. You need to keep it that way."

"I will," I vow. "Let's change the subject."

More tension surrounds us until he grabs a piece of pizza and shoves it in my mouth.

I shriek, laughing.

He pins me on the floor and smears the slice on my breast. His eyes light up as he says, "Damn. Guess I have some more body parts to lick."

15

Tristano

A Few Days Later

The plane landsand the fasten-seat-belt light goes out. I kiss the top of Pina's head, gently stating, "Wake up, baby girl."

We left at midnight to get back to New York in time for her to be at work at her normal time. Almost as soon as the plane got in the air, she curled into my chest and fell asleep. I didn't have the heart to wake her and make her move to the bedroom.

She softly moans. Her eyelids flutter open and shut a few times. It makes me smile, feeling even happier than I had the past few days, which I didn't think was possible.

We spent the entire weekend enjoying the ocean, snorkeling, kayaking, sunbathing, and laughing about crazy things. I told Pina things I've never discussed with anyone. And every revelation she revealed only made me fall deeper for her.

"We landed?" she groggily asks.

I grin. "Yep. Back to reality."

She groans then yawns. "Can we just go back?"

I chuckle. "I wish." My butterflies kick off. "So? Does that mean you had a good time?"

She reaches for my cheek and tenderly caresses my jawline. "I had a great time. Thank you."

Giddiness fills me. I lean closer to her face. "You know what that means, then?"

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