Page 97 of Death

She scrunches her nose. “I wouldn’t know what to do with myself.” Her eyes drift to Santiago. “And someone has to take care of him.” She looks at me again. “And you, too.” Her features soften. “I’m so happy you’ve learned to love him.”

“Thank you for accepting me with open arms,” I tell her, meaning every word.

I think with time, Astrid will become like family to me.

While we eat the delicious food, my thoughts turn to Santiago again.

The words I love you have been hovering on my tongue, but I just haven’t found the right moment to tell him how I feel.

Before the thought pops into my mind, my heart starts to beat faster, as if the organ knew before I did.

Tonight. When we get home, I want to give the final piece of me to Santiago.

Even though I’ve made up my mind, my knee begins to bounce, and I chew at the inside of my cheek.

Santiago leans into me. “Are you okay?”

I nod quickly. “Yes.” My mouth curves up. “Are you having fun?”

“Yes, but I’d rather be alone with you. Ready to go home?”

As ready as I’ll ever be.

Climbing to my feet, I take Santiago’s outstretched hand, and as he leads me in the direction of the villa, anticipation and nerves spin inside my chest.

My teeth keep tugging at my bottom lip, and when we walk into our home, Santiago says, “Let’s shower and put on comfortable clothes, then we can sit out on the veranda.”

“Okay.” Considering what I want to do tonight, a shower is a good idea.

“Why are you nervous?” Santiago asks as we head up the stairs.

I stop by my old room and pull my hand from his. “Let’s shower first, then I’ll tell you.” Worry tightens his features, and it has me adding, “It’s nothing bad.”

“Why are you going in there?”

“To save time,” I answer while nudging him in the direction of his bedroom, “Go shower.”

I quickly dart into the room and shut the door behind me. Placing my hand on my stomach, I suck in a deep breath before I rush to the bathroom. I quickly switch on the faucets and strip out of my clothes.

While I’m washing my body, I try to think of the best way to ask Santiago to make love to me, but by the time I wrap a towel around myself, I’ve got nothing.

Letting out a sigh, I leave the bathroom. When I open the bedroom door, I peek up and down the hallway to make sure there’s no one around, then dart out and run to Santiago’s bedroom.

Just as I shut the door behind me, I hear the shower turn off, and my nerves skyrocket.

I walk toward the closet, but stop when I reach the bed.

Me being naked will spell it out to him. Right?

I take off the towel and as I drop it beside me and turn to face the bathroom, the door opens and Santiago comes out wearing a pair of sweatpants.

He’s looking at something on his phone, then he lifts his head, and he stops dead in his tracks. An eyebrow lifts, and he tilts his head, then a smile slowly lifts the corners of his mouth.

“Is this why you’re nervous?” he asks, taking steps toward me.

“Yes.” My voice is hoarse, and I quickly clear my throat.

He stops in front of me, and his eyes drift over every inch of my naked body. Lifting his hand to my chest, he places his palm over my heart, and his eyes flick to my face.

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