Page 29 of Ti Amo

“We were friends before we were lovers. Yes, I’m married and we both know why that should have never happened. Don’t push me away when you need me to prove you’re strong. It only proves how weak you are.” Catalina slowly lowered and sat on his lap. Dominic wished he could summon the conviction to push her away, but he was so tired, and so in need that his body responded. He ran his hand over her thigh and his other arm wrapped around her waist to keep her there. She pulled his face into her breast and stroked the back of his head. Dominic breathed out of his nose slowly and inhaled her beautiful feminine smell.

“Relax,” she said softly, cradling him to her breast.

“This is harder on me. I can’t share you like this.” Dominic said, his voice hoarse with self-loathing and longing.

“He doesn’t touch me, Domi. He treats me like a sister instead of a wife. You two really should change roles,” she said with a sad smile. “You aren’t sharing meamore mio. I belong to you.”

“Give it time, Catalina. What we’ve been doing won’t help the situation. He’s your husband. It has to stop.”

Catalina stroked his shoulders and ran her hand back down his back. “The failure of my marriage is not your fault. It’s not my fault. I was young and stupid to agree to such an arrangement thinking I could be happy. There’s no passion with Franco and I. You know I’ve tried to be a wife to him. He goes through the motions, but he doesn’t want me any more than I want him,” she said her voice quivering around a sob.

Dominic lifted his head. The sight of her tears would break him. He pinched her chin and drew her soft lips to his, plying them open with his tongue and letting it plunge deep. Her sweet response filled him with strength. He touched her throat and kissed her deeper until they both were left breathless. Breaking away was the hardest thing he could manage, but he did.

“Let’s tell Gio. And think of what we have now. Abambinain the family. This has to mean good fortune for us all. Gio will change his heart and release me from my marriage.”

“Never. He will never grant it, and neither would the church. You are married. It’s donecara.”

“Domi please listen. Let’s talk to him. He found Mira again, which means love survives. Haven’t we tried to stay away from each other? We can’t. I won’t do this anymore. I won’t.”

“Catalina! If he ever learned that I touched you hewillkill me. Do you understand? I violated you before you married your husband. It was wrong then, and it’s a sin now!”

“Go to hell!” she rose from his lap, tears streaming down her face. “It’s not a sin. It never was. What is wrong is the lie you tell yourself to keep running from me.”

Dominic wiped both hands down his face.

Catalina walked away. She went to the doors of the office that faced the back gardens behind Villa Rosso. Folding her arms around herself, she wept.

“Domi, I want a word.” Lorenzo charged in.

Dominic’s head turned. Lorenzo frowned at him then glanced up at Catalina. “What’s happened? Why is she crying?”

Catalina wiped her tears and forced herself to smile. She walked over to Lorenzo and threw her arms around his neck kissing both sides of his face. “I didn’t know you were here.”

Dominic cleared his throat. “Catalina’s upset that no one told her about Mira. She feels that we keep her in the dark. I told her it isn’t the conspiracy she thinks it is.”

“How could you know she was alive and not tell me, Lo?” Catalina let him go and stepped back. “Is that why you questioned me about a man in Mira’s life?”

Lorenzo closed the door behind him. “I’m sorry princess, but it couldn’t be helped. Did you hear the best part?”

Catalina smiled. “We have abambina, and Mira named her after Ma-ma. I know Giovanni must be too happy!” She hugged Lorenzo excitedly once more. He hugged her back eyeing Dominic suspiciously. Dominic knew Lorenzo didn’t care for how he sat in Giovanni’s chair when he was away. Lorenzo even told him once it was a little presumptuous on his part. “Yes, and she’s a angel. Wait until you see her.” Lorenzo said.

“Domi said that might be soon. They went to Ma-ma’s villa? I guess to be alone?” Catalina’s gaze switched to Dominic. He didn’t meet her questioning stare. Catalina released a defeated sigh. “I will go find Franco and tell him the news. He will be happy too.Ciao.”

“Something I can do for you?” Dominic asked Lorenzo as soon as Catalina left the room.

“I’ll wait on the big man himself.” Lorenzo smiled. “Happen to know when he’ll return, it’s been two days?”

“Soon.” Dominic rocked back in the chair. “I’ve called a meeting tonight. I need you and Carlo to be present.”

“You? You called the meeting?”

Dominic sighed, “Is that a problem?”

Lorenzo chuckled. “Shoes too big for you to fill little one. Yes it’s a problem. But who the fuck am I to question anything.” He plopped down in the chair in front of the desk and crossed his long legs.

“Everything I have, Lo, I have it because I earned it.”

“Cut the shit Domi. If I hadn’t had this little disagreement with Giovanni, you’d still be whacking common hoods.”

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