Page 24 of Spring Break with a Mafia Prince
“Yes.”
She didn’t stutter this time, didn’t stumble over her words or misspeak.
The corner of my mouth crooked up. “You haven’t heard the offer yet.”
Bella twisted, seeking out my hand with hers. I laced our fingers together as she turned to me on her knees. “Is it something that means we aren’t a state away from college? Because I looked Rippton U up the other day. It’s in Cali. That… is not where I go to school.”
I smirked. “Smart girl.” I tugged her closer, sliding my hands to her waist when she crept toward me on her hands and knees. Hell, the view of her like that in her soft green dress did things to my head that I didn’t question right now.
“Maybe.” Her smile faded. “It’s an exclusive school. My father’s business… he isn’t good at paying attention. Not since…” She looked down at the rug, studying our entwined hands. “I haven't checked recently but I think we’re as close to broke as we can be without selling everything up.”
“Ah.” I leaned in. “I’m pretty sure Rippton offers scholarships.”Or I’ll make my own if she won’t let me pay her tithe. The school demanded the students pay their personal feesout of their own pocket directly. But that system could easily be overturned. Money did that. “We can work something out. They have an excellent art department. I’m sure there’s something you could enroll in that would suit.” The edge of desperation settled into my words.
“Maybe,” she whispered.
I kissed her, needing her closer. “Try this with me,” I begged, not caring how I sounded. “I know it’s been a few days. I know this is crazy, but?—”
Christ, her stutter was contagious. The whole thing was laughable. I should head back to the marina, do what my father required of, and sail the fuck away.
I knew I wouldn’t.
“I want to try.” She pressed her body to mine. “It’s weird and I know I’m not supposed to latch onto the first person who—” A small frown interrupted her smooth skin when she didn’t complete her sentence.
“Don’t you dare finish that,” I threatened lightly after it became clear she wouldn’t anyway. “Whichever asshole gave you that idea is an idiot. Give your respect and love to whoever makes you feel the safest and happiest, Bella. Make it your choice, not the end result of some system that was never designed with you in mind.”
She blinked at me. “That was quite a speech.”
I smirked. “Been known to happen.” I shoved up to my knees and kissed her again, then stood. “I’ve got one job to do, then I’m yours. I’ll walk you to the jetty if you won’t let me take you all the way home?”
She nodded, letting me haul her upright. We stood there, latched together, wobbling and giggling together like the teens we weren’t. Her kisses left me heady and I knew I wouldn’t forget this woman fast as she left me at the end of the jetty witha soft kiss that sliced through my heart and the sort of goodbye I never wanted to hear again.
Because she made it sound like she meant it for the last time.
Everything we’d talked about slammed into me as I gripped her waist tight when she turned away.
“No.” My voice came out too loud and clear for a still morning, the sound sure to carry over the water. “You do not leave me like this, Bella. Not now, or ever. That sounded like—” I ground my teeth together, boring my gaze into hers.
“Goodbye,” she whispered.
“Do you believe that?” I caught her chin and tipped her head back.
She shook her head, then shrugged. “I don’t know what to believe. You're so perfect and beautiful and sweet. And I’m just…” She shrugged again.
I pulled her against my chest, the need to claim her consuming me. “I need you to listen to me, Bella,” I said in a low voice, but loud enough for her to hear me clearly. “Some time since I met you I’d fallen in love with you and no amount of pretending that hasn’t happened will change that. Shh,” I added when she opened her mouth. “Please, hear me out. I’m shit at this stuff, so please, let me say this. Last night—that nearly broke me. Seeing you hurting because I did that to you? Fuck, Bella. That was one of the hardest things I’ve ever done. But one of the most beautiful, too. Because you came to me, willingly. Me, of all people. I’m so far from fucking perfect it’s not funny. I’m not some good boy you take home to daddy, beautiful. You do know what it is I do, don’t you?” I raised both eyebrows.
She huffed and tapped at my face. “Stop that. You’ll give yourself a headache.”
“Bella,” I warned, though a reluctant laugh bubbled up inside me.
“Yes, I know what you do, Falcon,” she said crossly. “I’d have to be a fool to not know you’re mafia. You were shot, for heaven’s sake. I’m sure you do your fair share of that too.”
I blinked at her. “Do you understand the connotations of that? Because most people run screaming at this point if they aren’t in the life.”
Her head tipped to one side as she watched me with that sweetly curious expression. “Are you going to shoot me?”
“No, Bella.”
“Are you going to hurt me?”
